How many gifts for DC?

[Inasec24]

Sorry if this has been done, had a search but couldn't find a thread.

Just interested if we have gone overboard. This isn't about budget, just actual number.

We have 2 x DC, age 6 and 4.

They have 14 little things each in a stocking - things like chocolate coins, top trumps etc.

Then 12 things each under the tree. Nothing expensive but some are physically bigger than others.

Then 1 thing each from FC that he leaves on the end of their bed.

I'm guessing as they get older their gifts will be fewer but more expensive like tech etc.

We just went through it and wonder if it seems too much or about normal for this age.

My kids are getting around the same amount, stocking full of (cheap) bits and 12-14 presents each for the older three, nothing really expensive (most expensive gift was £15 for middle two and £26 for eldest), the younger two will get around 6 gifts (as they are bigger in size) plus stocking. Seeing family over Christmas is hit or miss so it can be only our gifts, and around 2 extra small things each if we see family. If they had an expensive present, the gifts would have been less.

I haven't spent alot, and as they get older the gifts get much, much smaller. I wouldn't worry too much about what others do, your kids wont be sitting under anyone elses tree so wont know any different.

On mumsnet you're always going to get posters saying it's too much . You get what you want to get and don't worry about what everyone else does. I personally set a budget rather than amount of presents . This year I've got DD a few colouring books , how to draw books and lots of stationary so by amount of presents it seems loads but it hasn't cost a fortune . Now she's not really playing with toys im getting more for my money. She's my only child so we do probably indulge a bit ( but not thousands like you do hear about ) . I also make her advent calendar to avoid too much tat .

I have teens now but when they were younger they got a stocking which had about 15 things in, about 10 medium size presents in a Santa sack and a couple of big presents like dolls, pram, scooter. Then loads from family as well. Never got overwhelmed, when they had opened something and said thank you, we would put things to one side to open the packaging another day.

now they are older they get a stocking with about 15 things in like makeup and sweets, a Santa sack with about 10 things in like jewellery, books, clothes and a main present which would be £££ like a phone, iPad, oodie. I like to spoil them at Christmas and buy them loads of nice things. They have never been overwhelmed, they have always been grateful and love all of their presents. We save up all year to buy for Christmas and never go into debt. I buy lots for my nephew as well as my DS doesn’t have much money and we buy his big gift which we say she can give from Santa if she wants to.
I will probably get banned from mumsnet for this. 🙄

We try to make sure everyone, (even the adults 😱) get at around 10 gifts each and homemade foodie gifts too.

Another thing to remember is that people's definitions of small gifts, stocking fillers etc varies. For some people its size, others value. Your 12 gifts might just be someone's Christmas Eve box and stocking!

I haven't really bought anything yet!
DC1 has 9 things on their list, DC4 has about 20 things.
I use the list as a guide and throw in a few surprises.

Ours get less gifts but they are expensive 🤦🏻‍♀️.

Stocking each around £75
Tree gifts x 8 from us (iPhone/iPad, perfume/aftershave, Outfit, game/Lego, jewellery, handbag/trainers, make up, concert/theatre tickets etc)

They each get festive pyjamas on December 1st, advent calendars too.
New outfit for party season.
Christmas Eve pyjamas (not festive) and treats.

Two are adults but live at home.

It really varies doesn't it. Probably pointless comparing as PP said. Everything we have bought they will love and use/play with, I'm confident of that. Not all on Xmas day, but over time. I suppose that's what matters.

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to spoil your kids.
I forgot mine also gets a Christmas Eve box 😂

So true - their face in Christmas morning is one thing I look forward to all year!!

Last year was my babies first Christmas and he got 22 presents from us (8 were clothes and 4 were books) but it was still too much and took weeks to open as well as all the other stuff he got from grandparents 🙈 He also had a stocking of 9 items that were mostly useful things and a Christmas eve box with Christmas pjs, Christmas Socks, a Christmas book, a personalised bauble and a rattle. Way too much but yeah 🤷‍♀️🙈

This year he's got 10 presents from us so far (3 toy cars, 4 puzzles, a book and teddy set I bought last year but he was too young for it, a vtec grow and go ride on and a gymnastics bar). He's also going to be getting a play kitchen and that's it unless there's a decent black friday offer on a drum and bubble machine. His stocking currently has 5 things and I've got a nice warm sleepsuit, a little stacking toy and a book for his Christmas eve box. It'll probably be too much again but I don't really buy stuff unless it's Christmas or his birthday

We have similarish aged children and they had 12 gifts each last year but it was too many so they will be getting fewer this year.

My daughter ends up woth around 12- 15 from us/santa and a stocking

She will receive 5 presents or money or gift card from other family members.

I don't thing this is excessive. She gets stuff in the year as needed. The presents are a mix of wants and needs or to tie in with hobbies or interests. Some are relatively inexpensive as well (under £10)

I hate the answers you will get. You will get the oh that’s way too much busy bodies.
as long as you haven’t put yourself in massive debt , and YOU are happy then whatever amount is fine.
do what’s good for your family ❤️ For the record mine are getting pretty much Jack shit this year as there naughty ! X

@badassbaby

"Omg I get my dd about 50 presents every Christmas, I always have done.
And a stocking and 3 advent calendars
She's my only one so I absolutely spoil her...I love seeing her face when she spots the huge pile of presents!"

You are joking, I presume?

About 20 main presents and 15 in the stocking. BUT his main present cost less than £20, and I've spent about £130 in total as I buy everything in the sales. He's grateful for everything and takes his time during the day. Some parents will spend that amount on 2 or 3 presents so you can't really compare with others - if you can afford it then go for it, they're only little for such a short time!

There are so many things to consider.
How many other presents they'll get, for example, mine will get at least 8 from other people. They are given to them to open on the day so will be quite a pile between all the children. So I have bought them 4 plus a stocking each. They also get little bits throughout the year. It feels to much all together. They are appreciative but not until they've ripped their way through their gifts. I wish they'd open one and appreciate it rather than racing their way through.

Someone else might have nobody else buying and nothing else except on birthdays. I.e. no treat at a gift shop, never the odd thing at a charity shop, waiting until birthdays/ Christmas to buy new pens if they've all dried up even if it's awhile etc. So I can understand why those parents buy more.

No absolutely not!
I do it every year.

Sounds pretty average to me and similar to what most children I know get. I think it depends where you're from (I'm in the North of England).

DS is 3. He will get 2 main presents, then about 10 smaller ones in a sack, plus maybe 7 tiny things in a stocking. This includes some practical gifts

DD is only a baby but will get roughly the same (although hers has more practical stuff).

I haven't spent a fortune though. Maybe £100 each. Got some real bargains and their main presents are second hand.

Oh and a table present and christmas eve box. I make no apologies!

Like you say, they might not all get played with or even opened on christmas day but will be appreciated over the year

Mine have got 14 presents, but one of each has been split up, my eldest has 6 fossils (total just over £30) that are all wrapped individually. My youngest we got 10 paw patrol cars as part of a playset on vinted (less than £20), so the playset and one vehicle is in one box, 2 vehicles in another, and the rest of the vehicles in another. They've got lots to open but I've spent £350 between them.

Stockings are just little things, blind bag//mini figure/matchbox type stuff and chocolate, total about £20 each

They're getthing:

• 10-12 under tree wrapped from me
• 12 delivered by santa sleigh (Santa is a delivery service in this house but parents pay lol this is usually the big sized stuff or awkward stuff that cant be wrapped, santa leave it out ready to play with)
• 5-6 small cheap things in stocking (+ choclate coins/orange and some sweets)
• 12 from santa in the sack (only cheap traditional toys like skipping rope, whiste, yoyo etc...)

Similar to us, they get a lot in number but I bargain hunt so its a budget of £130 each.

Their main presents this year are all recycled/second hand, just got my daughters main gift today for all of £5 off facebook marketplace.

Mine get xmas eve too but I dont count them as 'gifts' really, its:

• PJs
• an annual to read before bed
• a small teddy for bed
• something for the bath (like bubble bath)
• hot chocolate
• gingerbread
• something for supper
• a toothbrush

Most of which I class as nacessities or thing its my job to buy as a parent anyway, its all just 'new versions of stuff' for the bed time routine.

OP doesnt 'need' to do anything on your say so.

Yeah I'm not gona lie, I have 4 kids and they definitely get more than 12 presents each. I love christmas and I love spoiling them, they're great kids and always really appreciate everything they get! Give them as many or as little as you like OP, every family is different.