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Christmas

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

Original poster

How many presents do you buy for children

118 replies

Yamaya · 13/12/2022 14:24

Have got 4 and 6 year old 15 presents each (but some are small like lip gloss or a slinky) and a Christmas eve box.

Is that about normal?

OP posts:
Coconutmangoprune · 13/12/2022 14:27

Ive got about three bin bags full of presents for each child plus stocking fillers. No idea how many each, the main thing is you’ve got them things they will like.

I didn’t mean to buy so many presents I just lost track of it all and it was only when I started wrapping them that I thought I’d gone a bit overboard!

Helpmesortit · 13/12/2022 14:31

My dc have 3 each from Santa and 28 each from us.These vary from big to small gifts. Like Lego sets etc or hair clips etc

Cahveeare · 13/12/2022 14:32

Mine have got one main one from us and 10 smaller ones each from Santa.

Lovemusic33 · 13/12/2022 14:33

There is no normal. Some may buy 5 gifts and others 50, do what works for you and your family.

We don’t have the space for piles of gifts, in the past we have bought too much and the house has been full of stuff, kids ids h been overwhelmed and lots of plastic has ended up in landfill. My dc are older now and have around ten gifts each, more than half of them are clothes. I put more thought into what I buy now as I don’t want to add to landfill or buy things that won’t get used. I prefer quality over quantity. As long as they have one main gift that you know they will love then I am sure they will be happy.

Unicorn717 · 13/12/2022 14:35

I try and get as much as I can but it depends each year. Some years I'm skint so they get fewer, other years Theyl get quite a lot just because I have the money. They're happy either way. Everyone's going to buy differently.

HandsomeJack · 13/12/2022 14:35

My Daughter has got less than ten, shes four. Shell get more from her dad and shes got so much bloody stuff any way! At her age its quantity not quality and I'll go broke trying to get enough!

Original poster
Yamaya · 13/12/2022 14:51

That's the thing, mine have so much already. I am worried they will be disappointed though as there's not much big stuff if you know what I mean, but then I can't think of anything they would love enough to justify it.

OP posts:
december2020 · 13/12/2022 14:56

DS has recently turned 2, he's getting 3 from us, and has a shit load from his grandparents and other family members.

ItsaMetalBand · 13/12/2022 15:09

DS gets less than 10. in our family only godparents give a gift so he'll get a gift from his godmother, one from his godfather, one or two from us. Santa brings a main present, a smaller present, a surprise and a stocking.

Gran gives an experience now -a day at the zoo or the panto or something like that - she used to buy piles of tat that broke within minutes or were stuff he aged out of and it was such a waste so we asked her not to and to do a day out instead. She prefers it and so does the GC.

He's actually not a materialistic kid really so it's easier to make Christmas be about more than just a pile of presents. We do lots of movies and build a gingerbread house or play board games, and I think he loves that more.

Rudolphscarrot · 13/12/2022 15:55

My DS has 14 plus stocking of tiny bits. It's not 14 toys though. Mixture of toys, books and practical bits.

DD has about 12 plus stocking. More of her stuff is practical as she's only a baby.

15 is about average amongst the people I know

Fridaysgirl17 · 13/12/2022 16:00

Around 20 each,then a Christian eve box but that will have some crafty bits,a book,PJ's & slippers,then their stocking which will have some sweets,slime,pop it's etc

mam0918 · 13/12/2022 16:22

I buy a lot but dont spend a lot, they get:

  • 12 gifts from me wrapped under the tree
  • 12 gifts from santa in sack (just cheap small classic things like yoyo, whistle, ball etc...)
  • 12 gift delivered by santa mail from the factory on xmas eve night (the big sizeds awkward to wrap stuff, mostly second hand)
  • 12 things in stocking (chocolates/sweets and little things like bubbles, stickers etc...)

As you can tell I have a bit of OCD for the number 12 lol.

Really thats like 24 proper 'presents' each as the stocking is just little things not proper 'gifts' and the santa stuff is just little classic toys (also what many would call stocking fillers).

Most presents aren't that expensive and we go second hand a lot, the most expensive thing this year was £30.

PeonyRose80 · 13/12/2022 16:24

10 stocking gifts, 5 for under the tree. They will only get 2-3 more from friend/family members

Chillyoptimistic · 13/12/2022 16:28

5ish present each. I used to buy more but it was just too much and stuff was hardly played with. Also it just took up so much space so now I I just get 5 things I know they’ll love and will get lots of play out of.

MaryMollyPolly · 13/12/2022 16:33

A stocking with about 10 gifts , but small -hair clips, bubble bath, knickers, socks, sweets, etc. These are from Santa. One present from us parents, under the tree.

Tickledpickled · 13/12/2022 16:34

They’ve each currently have 11 stocking gifts and 12 for under the tree. Stockings are done, but I’ll probably buy a few more gifts for under the tree.

AdventuringAway · 13/12/2022 16:39

About 10 each in total from me and my mum (only people who buy for them). Plus a stocking, which I haven’t sorted yet but I’m planning on sweets, socks and bath bombs!

InvincibleInvisibility · 13/12/2022 16:43

Each DS will have

6 under the tree (1 main, the others are small)
8 in the stocking (including chocolate and sweets)
3 from family

Its not a lot but they will love each item and in the past 2 years we've drastically cut down on our possessions and all feel better for it.

Lurchintowardsyourfavouritecity · 13/12/2022 16:46

Around 15 each plus stocking (small stocking which only hold things like chocolate coins, chocolate Santa and hair clips etc)
Those 15 presents vary from 1-2 main presents, and includes things like new pjs, bath bombs, a couple of books, a board game, a craft set.
They mainly get money off wider family, maybe another 3-4 things to open from family throughout the day.

MrsThimbles · 13/12/2022 16:51

We’re a family of many different persuasions so Christmas Day is just one of a few holy days we celebrate. The children (my grandchildren) get 3 very nice biggish kind of presents each along with things that would be called stocking fillers except that we don’t do stockings. We much prefer everything under the tree in a pillowcase for each person and Anything that won’t fit the pillowcase sits beside it. My children and their partners don’t get presents from me or anyone else, they don’t even give to each other, but I do have a pillowcase full of different kinds of chocolates and they each just put their hand in and grab something a few times over. The pillow case contains all of their favorites and they then swap with each other so they end up with their favorite. We have a great Christmas.

gogohmm · 13/12/2022 16:52

I've never counted ever. They had stockings and a pile roughly of the same value

Fameinaframe · 13/12/2022 16:53

4 children they get 10 each from me and DH.
Although they all got a new tablet which we didn't plan on buying so this year they have 11.
They then get presents from family. So around another 6-7 ish.

EllieRosesMammy · 13/12/2022 16:56

I think I've got my eldest (almost 5) about 10 presents. And my youngest about 7 so far. I'm really really trying not to go overboard this year because last year was ridiculous. There was so much my eldest got bored of opening them half way through. Plus myself and her dad are seperated so he also brought over a tonne of gifts AND her birthday is 2 days before Christmas😂🤦‍♀️ so with gifts at her party on the 20th off her friends, then her birthday on the 23rd by Christmas morning I think she was over it haha x

WeWereInParis · 13/12/2022 16:57

DD (3.5) has got 2 presents from us and a stocking with about 4/5 little ones.

Unicorn2022 · 13/12/2022 17:04

For Christmas and birthdays all my children get the same amount of presents as their age. I've always done this - the kids love it and it means they always know how many gifts to expect and I never feel like I need to top up or buy extra presents. They don't all have to be expensive - my DD age 14 has things like lipglosses and a box of Lindors wrapped up among the more expensive items to make the 14.