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 children get lots of parcels to open but lots of it is stuff they need throughout the year rather than toys and tat, new shoes, new clothes etc I don’t buy anything apart from at Christmas or birthdays. If they need a new cost or something they’d have to wait I wouldn’t just buy it.

Mine get around 20 presents in a large ish stretchy stocking. Then a few gifts under the tree-usually this woud be the main thing they want plus some clothes and books. Main present can be anything from a console, large lego set, bike, scooter, fancy dress costume, football shirt....
They probably get over 10 presents from other family members.

I think it’s absolutely fine!

They are your children you can buy as much as you want for them. Thinking back to when my DCs were 6 & 4 they got way more than that, that year. I know I go mad each year, but as their parent I can buy as much as I bloody want.

Rough idea of this years,

10yo x 30+ gifts including main present (sewing machine) accessories, learning to sew books, threads, bobbins, material etc…, clothes (Nike pro leggings etc) PJs, other wanted gifts, drawing/colouring books, soft toys, switch games…

8yo x 30+ again, main present (drawing table) and lots of art & drawing accessories to go with it, more Nike leggings, T-shirts, coat, other clothes, pjs, makeup and so on.

5yo x 20+ slightly less but her main present is huge (Barbie dolls house) her presents are bigger in general so will probably actually look more next to her sisters. The lower number is mainly related to all the clothes the older 2 have got, youngest dosnt need more clothes, especially not branded ones and that she dosnt need as many accessories to go with her main present as she has plenty to go in the house.

I haven’t done selection boxs and Christmas chocolates yet but I usually fill their stocking up with chocolate Santa's, kinder choc, coins etc, I also wrap bigger selection boxs, meter long Oreo’s or other things like that.

In the past it has all gone under the tree and we’ve never specifically said either from Santa or us, last year they became more aware of us buying presents, this year we will clearly label what’s from us and Santa, main present and anything related will be from Santa everything else from us.

It sounds a lot tbh but the stocking is probably just bits and pieces? Then a few books? If they are getting ten gifts under the tree, it is a lot. I'd be more concerned that you are raising their expectations for future years. If they expect the same number of gifts when they are writing lists and looking for technology, you are making a rod for your own back.

Haha that made me laugh! X

@Inasec24 ha, I'll stick my hand up! It's A anonymous and B I couldn't care less what people think of how I do Christmas!

My kids are older - one an adult and one 16. I aim for about 30 gifts each. I also do advents and Christmas even boxes. I spend a bomb, start buying in September and we all love it she meh 😜

P.s I don’t think your making a rod for your back with Santa lists. We only have 2 items they are allowed to ask Santa for and 1-2 they ask us for, everything else is extra. We also say no to expensive gifts, though we have given in the past it’s extra special as they didn’t think they’d get it.

Mine get a walnut and half an orange each. Anything more is tacky imho.

I do the same. The kids are allowed ask for three. They get a few more.

But… now they ask for very expensive Lego sets and electronic things. I’m very glad they never expected twelve gifts!

😂

My kids ages 10, 6 and 3 have 15 gifts each plus a small stocking though it’s only got a light up a bath bomb, chocolate coins, crayons etc in it.

The 10 year old stuff was 3 times the price of the other kids. His stuff just costs more as a Lego set alone is £35 but the other 2 have Bluey figures and play sets, play dough sets, arts and crafts etc all bought in the sales. They have a work station toy thing to share.

I do get them a more than some people but I don’t buy toys out with Christmas or birthdays and we can afford it. They also get a 1st Dec box with chocolate advent calendars, a Christmas jumper and Christmas pjs (again bought in the sale) normally a chocolate Santa each, some Christmas books (put back up the loft after Christmas for next year) and we do a Christmas film that night.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. My kids don’t get from anyone else out with my mum and MIL.

This. Fucking hate these threads. All my 3 dc’s will be getting £50ish advent calendars. Ones getting a £700 phone and an £800 parajumper, plus she’s getting her room done up which we’ll spend approx 1k on. Another wants a new parajumper, a smart tv and a beauty fridge so far. The youngest is getting a child’s electric motorbike and some private land to ride on it. They’re all grateful and well mannered kids. Who gives a shiny shite what other people are buying their kids for Xmas?? Tbf they’ll only get a few presents each, but they’ll have around 3k spent on each one with stockings and Xmas eve boxes included (yes we do those too) 🙄😂

You seem a lovely aunt. Your nephew is lucky to have such a loving aunt.

Mine are 8 and 5. Last year they had stockings and I think 13 gifts each under the tree. I think it was slightly too much, especially for the wee one who gets overwhelmed easily, so this year I'm trying to keep it closer to 10.

I've just looked at my list and I reckon it will be about 12 each and then stocking fillers. Some are things like bath bomb sets that are too big for a stocking but not a big gift as such
My job on Friday whilst they are at school is to get it all down from the loft to make sure the look evenish sizes piles.
They both have one large pressie they have asked for then things like books/crafts/clothes/kinetic sand

Around 15- 20 presents each for my two under the tree ( not all expensive) from santa,10 ish small things for the stocking and a few bits from us parents. They don't get a big present just more smaller things they want. Big things we get them for their birthday. Mine are 6 and 8.
Yours sounds absolutely fine 🙂

I must just add I save from January for Xmas, and we don't buy for adults in our family.

That's a lot of gifts. I would ensure that you give things they will actually play with or need rather than fixating on quantity, mine used to stop opening them after a handful to play with things!

I think it sounds far too much. 7 or 8 little bits in stocking 1 larger gift in stocking. 1 large gift from us under the tree and a gift each under tree from Grandparents and siblings. I could easily afford more but not everyone can and I didn't want my kids telling other kids what they got and other children not understanding why Santa brought them less. I tended to give my children more for birthday. My children are grown up now but DD does this with dgc. We are also only allowed to gift dgc 1 large gift and a few little bits.

That's tons. My 3 yo will get a stocking then three things under the tree

DC’s 8, 7, 5 & 3. They all get a sock sized stocking, no idea how many gifts are in it but it’s full (Stationary, hair bits, book etc).They get a main present from Santa and 4-5 presents from us. Grandma brings them 4-5 presents, a bigger item and a few bits. No other relatives. Works for us and them. They get a decent selection for birthday.

Absolutely. A lot of my DCs presents when they were younger would get put to one side and may not be touched for months but they do got used eventually. Now they are older the presents are used more in the moment.

I think people aren't honest. It's always a competition when people ask this on who buys the least, but I've never been to a child's house who doesn't have way more things than 5 gifts at Christmas could get them. People claim a budget over £100 is excessive, so why do so many children have games consoles, trampolines, bikes, tablets, climbing frames, swing sets, masses of Lego and games and other expensive toys. Something doesn't add up.

I've honestly spent so much time trawling through posts like this, because I was worried about being personally excessive, and it's rare to find a real answer and not someone pushing want, need, wear, read 🙄. YouTube videos on the other hand revealed to me that people give more. And the 'what have you bought' posts on here. And I don't just mean rich and famous YouTubers with sponsored merch.

Rather than a set budget I aim to get mine 10 gifts each plus a stocking, and a couple of shared gifts like a board game. That 10 usually includes at least one thing second hand, practical but fun items, something crafty, the thing or things they really want, a Lego set or something to do like a puzzle, books, something educational, an unrequested toy I think they'd really like and something they can use outside. I think variety is important. A gift could have cost £2 or (rarely) £200, but they don't really know the value of things so that is why I prefer to have a similar amount for each rather than cost.

It sounds like you are happy with what you have bought OP so trust in yourself and give them those well thought out presents.

DD has always had 30-40 presents from us at Xmas, and a Xmas eve box. This is also my experience of what friends, family and work colleagues do. In mumsnet land though you always get these posters that appear every year to froth about how obscene everyone's present buying is and to proclaim that children will be 'overwhelmed' which is just utter bullshit.

Mines based on budget as opposed to quantity. Ds14 only has 5 presents because his asks are far more expensive. Dd10 has about 9
they both have 12 presents in stockings. I always make sure they have the same amount in stockings as we have a little tradition in the morning so it would be unfair.