Please help a helpless auntie!

[user1471443026]

I have 2 nieces who both have birthdays in December, they will be 2 and 5 this year. I need Christmas and Birthday presents for them both and I am totally stumped. In previous years we've either been given a very specific list from the parents or been asked to contribute to a big family gift, so I've never had to shop for them properly. This year all my DBro has said is that they've run out of space so would prefer something small, or clothes or books would be fine.

These are the only little ones in the family, and I've not got loads of experience with kids, so I need help! What would you get for these 2 lovely little girls? I've got a budget of about £25 per niece per gift, so £100 in total. I'm not sure what's appropriate or what's fun for their ages.

They will get their Christmas presents on Christmas eve, so I was thinking matching PJ's and a book each. Is this nice? Or boring? Their parents won't be doing anything like a Christmas eve box so it would be unlikely to be duplicated.

For their birthdays a small toy, I was thinking of getting a Barbie for the 5-year-old, she loves dolls and the one I've seen is related to her hobby. For the 2-year-old I'm at a total loss! They have loads of toys in the house already and mostly they go for wooden ones. Would arty type stuff be a mistake at this age? Or sticker books?

Basically, what I'm asking is, what would you get for a 2- and 5-year-old girl? And do my ideas sound ok or super boring?

How about a family ticket for a day out to the zoo or farm ? If they're running out of space they'd probably love a day out much more than more stuff. I

PJs and a book each is perfect.

Taking them out somewhere is always good. A gift for them and for the parents (ie a break).

For the two year old if it's wooden toys you can't go wrong with building blocks

They have a family pass to the zoo and go there pretty regularly but a farm or something else might be nice.

I have offered to take the kids out in the past, but they will let me have the 5-year-old but not the 2-year-old yet. I am taking the 5-year-old to a Disney show next year already 😍

Soft play vouchers?

Swimming lessons?

Something for outside? Mud kitchen

Shoe vouchers, shoes super expensive. And then a book to open.

If your DBro has said clothes or books, go clothes or books. Your PJs and book idea sounds ideal for Christmas!

Do either of the children do swim classes/ballet etc? You could offer to contribute towards this or any uniform requirements.

Other than that as they have bdays and Xmas close together maybe a voucher so that new things can be purchased in the spring summer when possibly needed.

I have a dd with a bday and Xmas within weeks of each other so vouchers are appreciated to enable us to get something new later in the year when she wants a paddling pool for example

You could then give them small gifts of a Christmas & birthday book each

What about a fancy dress outfit (princess dress etc)? Both my girls (and boy!) Loved dressing up at this age. Disney store and sainsburys both have a great selection and they don't take up much space. You can get the corresponding book as well.

We have also had personalised books from Dinkleboo, Wonderbly and other places over the years which have always been a big hit (well especially for the 5 year old who will recognise their name!).
My kids love getting pjs especially if it's a favourite character. They also loved getting those animal hooded/hat scarves hats with hand pockets.

Personalised pencils might be nice for the 5yo.

Vouchers for a shoe shop are a good idea! So expensive, so often replaced...

We really appreciated vouchers for the sea life centre here. Meant we could save it for a bit of a lull time of year (also have a birthday close to Christmas). Any children's theatre nearby?

As suggested upthread, taking them for a day out or to some special event could be a very good option. My SIL, even now that she's technically my ex-SIL but we're still very close, takes my DD to a panto every Christmas and it has become a tradition now. They both look forward to it every year 😊

If you are not too sure you'll be able to manage a day-long outing with two small kids, then fancy dress outfit as suggested by noscoobydoodle is also a very good idea.

Mine often get a onesie from my mum at Christmas, they’re always thrilled. That and a book would be brilliant.

If you combined each girls Christmas and birthday money you could 4-6 months comic subscriptions each. Not big, doesn’t need to be kept and nice getting post once a month for a few months.

Magformers (or a non branded equivalent) have been a massive hit with my DD since she was 2 and are still played with daily by her now (she’s nearly 5). Duplo as well was another hit, could get a bundle off of eBay or marketplace? Stickers, aquadoodle, colouring in books, a paint with water colouring book or kinetic sand have also been a hit with her.

She also loves make up and nail polish, but I wouldn’t buy that unless you’ve got the parents blessing! I am basing this purely on my DD being strong willed and not giving it up without a fight.

I have a young niece and I usually buy accessories to her main present from her mum and dad. So last year she wanted a bike (which her mum and dad bought) so I bought the helmet and knee pads etc.

I'd get clothes for Christmas, tops / leggings / jeans.

For birthday I think I'd give a book and cash, they can then either do a day out in summer or let the kids buy something in the middle of the year. Its a long time to go from Dec - Dec with nothing new.

For the 5 year old rock n roller skate dolls are good and on offer at £29.99 in Smyths at the moment. My girls also liked tea sets, bath toys and fluffy onesies.

I always like the grimms small rainbow, it would be perfect for the 2 year old and if they are anything like my girls it’ll get played with for years and when not being played with it looks pretty in their bedroom.

www.lunaandcash.co.uk/grimms-medium-wooden-rainbow-10444-p.asp

I think pjs and a matching book sounds great! Maybe a small cuddly toy in the same theme? A panda onesie , a book with a panda on it and a panda soft toy, or whatever animal they like.