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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

How much to spend on a toddler at Christmas

65 replies

Vbree · 24/10/2021 22:21

I was thinking no more than £30. Budget isn't really an issue, maybe I'm being a bit stingy. What do you usually spend on an 18 month old at Christmas?

OP posts:

Stompythedinosaur · 25/10/2021 14:35

When mine were that age I wanted to do a stocking and a few gifts under the tree. We have a lot of family who don't do gifts, so I think we did 5 little things in the stocking (a teddy, choc coins, egg shakers, hand bells and a satsuma as I recall) and there were 4 gifts under the tree from us and one from dm. It felt like a good amount and wasn't overwhelming.

I think £30 is fine if that is what you can afford, but I certainly spent more.

riotlady · 25/10/2021 15:36

I think we did about £50-60 at that age, now that she's 3.5 it's more like £100. I think that results in a nice amount for us- I had piles and piles of Christmas present as a child and sometimes felt overwhelmed.

Cherryrainbow · 25/10/2021 15:58

We have spent £100 on dd who will be 15m old and £200 each on the boys who will be 8 and 7 in comparison.

As others have said it'll vary, you could be spending £100 and get 1 item, or loads of little things. Generally for little kids you spend less but the boxes are huge then older kids you spend more and the things are tiny!

No judgement here, I always say 1. Spend what you are happy to spend and don't go into debt 2. You know your kids interests and likes best 3. Everyone wants to enjoy xmas and find enjoyment from different things - do it your way :)

noscoobydoodle · 25/10/2021 16:05

I've spent about £40 on my 18 month old on a pop up tent, Duplo set, some new books and some little cars. He is getting a balance bike from my mum, and a few bits and bobs from other family who will all be with us on Christmas day. He is our third so we have a lot of stuff already! I don't have a fixed budget but try to have an equal number of presents for each DC (until they are old enough to understand the value/cost of things etc).

maofteens · 25/10/2021 16:34

I didn't have a limit, but at that age we got a number of gifts from outside the family. So I just got a few things - some were needed some were fun things. Second hand is a good idea.

surreygirl1987 · 27/10/2021 20:23

We didn't spend much at all. Both my boys have so many toys anyway. We got some books from a charity shop, and bought some clothes that they needed. I think that's it! They got lots of presents from their grandparents though. I feel like we may as way not spend much now as it won't be long until they're requesting expensive stuff anyway!

NigelSlatersXmasTaters · 27/10/2021 21:39

I'd do a stocking and stick to less than £30

£200 on a 5 month old? Nope, better in a savings account for them.

HairyToity · 27/10/2021 21:42

About a tenner. Spending wildly on a baby or toddler is wasteful. As they get older their list will get more expensive.

Floralnomad · 27/10/2021 21:43

We’ve never set a budget , ours are now adult , I never gave clothes as presents when they were children . At 18 months they are big enough to enjoy opening a few things so I’d definitely spend more than £30 if I could afford to .

firstimemamma · 27/10/2021 21:51

Ds is 3 and so far we've spent around £50 on him each Christmas including his stocking. This year we've started involving him in putting together a box for Love in a Box and to me teaching him to give to those less fortunate than him is the best gift. I know he's a bit young to really get it now but hopefully it'll stick as he gets older.

mowly77 · 27/10/2021 21:55

Age 16 months we bought her the IKEA kitchen as just was right age so why not & a few things to unwrap but mainly nice charity shop etc. Last year didn’t spend much but got her a few things she loved. Definitely am waiting to spend a lot until she can actually ask for expensive things. They don’t care much at this age tis true but I enjoyed it frankly

Iamanicepersonreally · 27/10/2021 21:59

When I read the title of your thread, my first thought was £30. It's plenty. An 18 month old won't know anyway

BrilloSolar · 27/10/2021 22:00

At 18 months, they're just as excited by the box. Or unwrapping one of their existing toys! Or actually - a balloon! Last Christmas DC was 18 months. My philosophy was that I had bought him things off Amazon (lockdown!) as and when throughout the year when I felt he needed something new or I discovered something interesting from a Facebook post or thread here, so I actually bought him nothing for Christmas. He had plenty of presents from grandparents and aunties. He knew absolutely no different. If, in January / Feb, I though 'Oooh, I bet he'd love to play with that now', I bought it for him, knowing I hadn't skinted myself for Christmas.

The only reasons to buy an 18 month old a pile of Christmas presents are: 1) for your own joy and pleasure in buying the presents (no harm in that if it doesn't put you in debt) or 2) for photos to post on social media.

AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 27/10/2021 22:02

DD will have just turned two the week before.

For her birthday she's getting a wood railway set (actually her cousin's old one from when he was a child...now 17!)

And she's getting a photo album of her second year for Christmas and her stocking from us.

MsSquiz · 27/10/2021 22:09

I don't set a budget for dd as her birthday is the 18th December. She gets lots of lovely gifts from family. Last year, when she turned 1, I definitely went overboard for birthday and Christmas. Overcompensating for lockdown and a dying grandparent!

This year she will have a birthday party and has a baby annabelle doll already bought. She will also get a new outfit and maybe a couple of books and paint sticks.

For Christmas I have bought her a brio train starter set, a new dress to wear on the day with tights and sparkly shoes. She will get pyjamas on Christmas Eve and I'm not sure what else from us.

She will also be getting garden play equipment in the spring/summer (once the garden has been done) and possibly a bike or scooter when the warmer weather comes. So her gifts will be more spread out through the year while shes younger.

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