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Christmas

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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:
Gatehouse77 · 14/12/2022 07:49

gogohmm · 13/12/2022 16:52

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

Ditto

DilemmaDelilah · 14/12/2022 07:55

@MaryMollyPolly we do the same here, just one from us usually, maybe two if the second goes with the first, and around 10 in the stocking. I really don't understand the need for piles of presents.

TreacsPotNoodle · 14/12/2022 07:56

6 "medium presents" £10/£20 each

And a stocking filler with smaller bits like cars chocolates etc

Ds is only 2.5 so didn't want to overwhelm him as he will be getting loads of grandparents and other family.

ConfusedMumOfThree · 14/12/2022 07:57

10 under the tree each, 13 in stockings which are like blind bags and dissolvable eggs etc.3 gifts for sharing. Plus a family board game. It's alot i know but they're 5 and 3. DD who is 3mo has her brothers old baby toys rewrapped.

Choccolatte · 14/12/2022 08:01

About 10 in stocking (v little mainly secondhand books and hairbands)
And then 3 big ones each (adding up to £100). And one family one to share -. A board game.

Adelais · 14/12/2022 08:58

Mine get around 12 each plus 3/4 little things and chocolate in their stocking.
Not all presents are toys though. They’ve got things like new backpack and lunchbox for school, blanket, onesie, slippers this year.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 14/12/2022 09:08

I go on what they want or need and not how many presents they have. Why would I buy more just so they have 10, 20 or 30 presents. That's just madness. Buy them what they ask for or what they need. I have a budget, and I get what they ask for from it. I never get the massive pile of presents that takes over the whole lounge, it just seems crazy.

I dont care what others do, but I will stick to how I have always done it. Santa brings the stocking and presents are from the people who buy them.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 14/12/2022 09:10

We do 3 or 4 from us, i'm keeping it very small as don't want DD to get used to huge piles of presents, especialy as presents get more expensive as they get older.

1 small present from santa in stocking

Unifolorn · 14/12/2022 09:10

I go by value to be honest, although thankfully only have one child so don't have to worry about being 'fair'. I don't get loads though as I think it ruins the spirit of Christmas to be too greedy, DS asks for one or two things from santa and then we get a stocking with chocolates and small things in- more than enough to capture the magic of the day.

mam0918 · 14/12/2022 10:37

WomanhoodIsABirthright · 14/12/2022 07:42

93 presents? For 3 children?

Bit excessive, no?

Show quote history

Thats a different poster but not remotely.

The people who only buy a couple of thing CLEARLY must buy throughout the year, there no way the people who say 3 gifts (want, wear, read etc...) and a small stocking are expecting those 3 gifts to last ALL year and provide healthy verity of options.

A kid is not playing with 1 lego set and an oodie and reading the same book all year long or playing endlessly with their chapstick, bathbomb, bubble bath and new pants from the stocking.

As I said our kids get 24 'proper' thing (not stocking filler stuff) and thats equivilent to 2 items a month for a year, hardly 'insane' amount of toys annually.

Fusciainertia · 14/12/2022 10:39

2 each as I don't want to bring up materialistic children. They love Christmas and cherish the presents they get. We have lots of yummy food and a good laugh together.

Heliumburgers · 14/12/2022 10:42

I'm guessing your figure includes Stockings ?
In which case our figure is probably similar, including small stocking fillers. Under the tree I have got 4 but with gifts from family (they post/ give in advance ) there will be 10 each under the tree.

TokyoSushi · 14/12/2022 10:43

Mine have about 15 each, but they range from an Xbox & iPhone to a lip balm and chocolate orange.

Helpmesortit · 14/12/2022 10:44

@mam0918 exactly!! Mine get a variety of bits at Christmas and the only other time I buy them toys is at their birthdays. I don’t buy them anything throughout the year. I don’t even give mine pocket money!! They get money/vouchers at birthdays and Christmas from others and they are great at saving them for a rainy day etc

@Fusciainertia its not so black and white though, more presents doesn’t automatically mean they will be materialistic. Bit of a sweeping statement!?

StrawberryWater · 14/12/2022 10:44

We go by budget He’s had about £200 spent on him this year (mostly books and boardgames).

tabbysarerude · 14/12/2022 10:48

I think they get far too much now. I use my own childhood as a guide instead of my peers. Peers spend upwards of £300 on mountains of plastic tat each year. I was born in 81 and got a main present then lots of little bits of crap including Matey bubble bath, bath sets, socks etc.

This year I've got a huge main present, some specific things she asked for and then many smaller things.

It's still more than I would usually do but my husband left and he would go overboard so I'll be gradually tapering down. Children don't need all this stuff.

YouFilthyAnimal · 14/12/2022 10:56

4 DC, they get 10ish each presents from us, then 3 presents & 10 little things in a stocking from Father Christmas

I don’t buy toys at any other point in the year besides birthdays

Fusciainertia · 14/12/2022 11:15

@Helpmesortit I didn't make any sweeping statement. Have a read of what I wrote again. I just gave my reason for keeping the number of presents low.

ViscountessBridgerton · 14/12/2022 11:24

Not really thought about it as I set a rough budget to stick to rather than quantity but this thread prompted me to write a list and add up. Approx 15 and that includes presents from Santa, us and stocking fillers (including things like a new toothbrush haha). DS is 3. I think it's more than enough personally.

KillingLoneliness · 14/12/2022 11:25

mam0918 · 14/12/2022 10:37

Thats a different poster but not remotely.

The people who only buy a couple of thing CLEARLY must buy throughout the year, there no way the people who say 3 gifts (want, wear, read etc...) and a small stocking are expecting those 3 gifts to last ALL year and provide healthy verity of options.

A kid is not playing with 1 lego set and an oodie and reading the same book all year long or playing endlessly with their chapstick, bathbomb, bubble bath and new pants from the stocking.

As I said our kids get 24 'proper' thing (not stocking filler stuff) and thats equivilent to 2 items a month for a year, hardly 'insane' amount of toys annually.

Show quote history

Or it’s all they can afford?

I don’t buy my kids toys throughout the year.
If they sell something on Facebook or at a bootsale they get the money and can buy something for themselves.
We occasionally have gone out and bought them a toy/something they wanted but I’d say that happens once maybe twice a year max, they mostly only get things on their birthdays or Christmas, I find they have too much stuff as it is as they don’t like to ever get rid of things so they always have a variety to play with, it’s not like you get rid of everything from the years before.

Janieread · 14/12/2022 11:25

6 tree presents each and a stocking with about 12 small gifts.

InfinityOrUndefined · 14/12/2022 11:38

Both get 13 presents from us/Santa. Then some presents from relatives.

Travellingraspberry · 14/12/2022 11:45

In their stockings around 10 presents such as gloves, chocolate, books, Bath bomb etc. Then 4 under the tree from us. They also get presents from other relatives and friends so that feels like plenty.

Solmum1964 · 14/12/2022 11:51

DilemmaDelilah · 14/12/2022 07:55

@MaryMollyPolly we do the same here, just one from us usually, maybe two if the second goes with the first, and around 10 in the stocking. I really don't understand the need for piles of presents.

We did the same. One main present from us - and when they were very small it might be a joint present. Stocking (small sack) was from Santa and contained a book/annual; small selection box; socks; small game (possibly Top Trumps in a theme they liked) and a few other small but useful items. Still sticking to the same principal with now adult DC.

Sugarfree23 · 14/12/2022 11:57

I do think it's easier for parents who's kids birthdays are summer not to buy toys outwith Birthday and Christmas.

Christmas to Christmas can seem like a very long time with nothing new. In the past I'd put stuff away thinking I'll pull that out later in the year. But then I found they'll be wanting something different in the middle of summer, something new will be out or they'll have moved on.