How much to spend on 3 year old

[MCMP13]

I’m a first time mum. Little boy is 3. First Christmas that he’s actually understood what’s going on. My question is - how much do people spend on their kids? Especially 3 year olds.

I am spending €120 on our 3 year old, getting her little bits for that, the most expensive thing is 30! Because I am riddled with mom guilt we are spending the same on our 1 year old who hasn't a clue what's going on! I would say just remember they have no concept of what things cost and could end up loving a toy for a tenner more than something worth 150! (Learned that the hard way last Christmas 😅).

3yo here too and we’re spending around £100 ish.
Main present should have been £45 but I got it for £30. Stocking is around £10-15 then there are books, PJs, a few games, puzzles, an ‘adventure kit (binoculars, torch, magnifying glass, notebook, whistle) and some fancy dress outfits.

About £300, we got him a bumper car and a few Bluey playsets , the supermarket , playhouse & plane ones. Plus stocking fillers & selection boxes.

At this age, I think more in terms of number of gifts than total spent. When they're (quite a bit!) older, they'll understand 'well, you wanted the really expensive X, so you've only got that plus a couple books and a selection box', but when they're little, they have no concept of that. The toy kitchen or big car garage or new bicycle is a big wow gift whether it was £100+ brand new or £10 off marketplace.

Probably about £250-£300, but only because she's getting her first bike. I wouldn't spend that on just toys. They grow so quickly at this age it's trying to keep up with what are the next age appropriate toys for her development. Her santa sack will have things like dolls accessories, books, craft kits, jigsaws and board games. She has a 6 year old brother so i need to make it look like they have the same number of gifts, but the reality is that her extra bits will cost less than his. She won't notice!

Why do you need to think in terms of ‘how much’? At that age he will not have a clue, and may well be as delighted with something that cost a tenner, than with something far more expensive.

It’s just how much you can afford / want to spend. Personally, I think it’s a great chance to shop second hand, I’ve got some great bargains on Vinted and have spent £100 on his stocking and presents from (8 gifts from us). £40 on a monster jam remote control car but most other bits were nearly new from Vinted.

I've got my three year old mostly second hand toys from Facebook marketplace and charity shops 😅 There are some amazing quality toys on Facebook marketplace, I'd recommend a look! Also a £10 pack of 10 picture books from The Works. I'd guess we've got easily £400 worth of presents for about £80 total.

I am staggered by how much people are spending - just gobsmacked!

(As long as you can afford it) Just spend what you need to get him what he wants/will make him happy/excited. There doesn't need to be a target.

Some years he will want cheap things.. no need to force yourself to buy more.
Some years he will want things that are over budget, and I wouldn't arbitarily say no, unless I couldn't afford it.

E.g.

at 2 my Christmas was really cheap because my son was into cars, and it doesn't cost a lot to impress a little boy with new car toys.

at 3, it was a lot more expensive because he was after playmobile and Pokémon, neither are cheap where I live, because they are both imported...

But at 4, it was back to cheap, because it just happens that the toys he is obsessed with are not at all expensive, so he can have quite a few for very little money.

Then later, I'm sure it will go up, for the years that he wants tech presents etc. And down if there is nothing big he wants..

I have 4 and spend about £300 on each but I know people who spend about £1000 per dc!

Whatever you can afford. Don't over spend.
Purchase one gift that you know he will really enjoy and will have a Wow when unwrapping.

Spend also on things that you will have to buy anyway - toothbrush, socks, some tasty edibles, some craft activities, paste, paint brush, second hand music and story CDs etc. for stocking.
Know your child's size so that relatives can buy useful clothing or bike helmets etc..
Know which books you don't have and would like - for ideas for relatives.
Know an activity or two that relatives could purchase - year sub. to bird park etc.

Your child will have no idea of cost so investing in a pricey cubby, mud kitchen, bicycle, play swings, trampoline, piano etc is also a good idea if you want to have YEARS of use and these things can be attractive for relatives to help purchase as group presents for multiple children.

At three he will enjoy participation in singing carols and community Christmas events, wrapping gifts for others, seeing shop decorations, decorating your tree and wearing Xmas pyjamas; his own gifts are not the main focus.

Not much. £30 on her "big" present which is an animal hospital playset from the 90s! I try to do the rule of 4: something they want, something they need (a watch), something to wear (PJs), something to read. Plus stocking bits. She did get a climbing frame in the summer.

I’d keep it cheap at that age - £100 max. You’ll have plenty of years spending more as they age.

Its very difficult to say how much is the right amount.
Some kids all their toys come from parents, other families gifts are spread out with grandparents buying lots too.

But at 3 I'd try to buy what they ask for. Which is often wild and funny. And decide if they need any thing like a bike or play kitchen