Has anybody else two children of same sex close in age and ended up buying two sets of nearly every present?

[emkana]

It's insane really, but the dd's are incredibly aware of what the other one gets and they are into the same things.

Therefore the vast majority of presents for them is identical.

Can you not just teach them to share? I will have 2 girls close in age so will watch thread with interest.

Yes. An awful lot of red watch, blue watch goes on in this house for the DS's. They have different interests but for stocking fillers I tend to double up.

I had a sister close in age and some things lend themselves to sharing more than others. E.g. two similar dolls but a mix and match of clothes, rather than identical items.

my boys are 14mths apart and i used to buy the same ish for them for example:
football (different colours)
socks (different patterens)
jigsaw
books
money boxes

etc etc but now at 11 and 12 they are both so different and know what things cost that they get different
11 yr old still believes in father christmas (hes at high school) but 12yr old doesnt now

When my sisters and I were growing up (there are two years between each of us) my mum bought three of everything and we still fought. i.e. "thats not my Oasis CD its yours mine wasn't scratched."

If we had to share anything there was hell on because we always decided that we wanted what the other had and that it was our turn. So it's a no win situation really. atm dd1 is being quite charitable and even let niece open some of her birthday presents and has jsut helped dd2 use her music player. But it won't last.

DS3 and 4 are 20 months apart and they seem closer in age with each day that passes.

yes, dd's are 2.11 and 4.2 - 19 months apart and in there stocking I have got 2 of everything. However, I've been radical and instead of getting them big different pressies and having them scrap over it all they have one big pressie to share - it's a really decent wooden dolls house with furniture and people and Father Christmas is leaving a note to tell them to share!

Yes, my dds like so many things the same. Dd2 likes younger things like Polly Pocket but then gets upset because "I never get anything I want" when dd1 gets clothes and more grown up stuff.
It's very difficult to keep them both happy, as dd1 doesn't want to be the same! Today I bought them a 2009 Guiness Book of World Records as a joint pressie.

I think they are going to get a drum kit to share as main present, last year they got a piano. (very cheap second hand)

I have boys and a girl the youngest is one in January so doesn't count this year so to speak. The other two however have dupliate art/crafts stuff in their stockings because i've witnessed the fights otherwise.

*2 boys

I didn't want to - but if you want any peace, and do not want to play Kofi Annan all Christmas, you have to double up.

Even gps have been instructed to buy the same for each girl. They are 5.5 and 2 - so not that close in age. dd2 is happy to share, but dd1 (PFB) is not happy at all.

They have got a drum kit each (god help us). But am also giving them one box of wooden instruments to 'share'. Dh is still worried that they will fight about the one triangle

yes dds are 12mths apart and a few presents are doubles..double dolls, art bits etc. They fight over the most trivial things so sometimes it is easier to buy the same with a very minor detail change

not same sex, but 20 months apart so buying 2 ds lites this year (age 6 and almost 8), but always get similar things - socks, tooth brushes, gold coins, in stockings.

My DDs are 7 and 8 (15 months between them) and I end up buying doubles, otherwise the fights and sulks would be unbareable

Mine are 7 and 12 - and we have always made sure they they had some presents they have to share. For example, they have had an electric guitar and amp (from ebay - best bargain ever!) and a playstation. Both of these they share. ALL DS and playstation games are common property (doesn't matter that he doesn't want to play Pippa Funell and she doesn't want to play Fifa 08-they are still jointly owned) I have a friend who buys two copies of the same game for hers and I think that's a)bonkers and b) a really bad precedent to set.

oh would never buy copies of games (except Nineteno (sp?) dogs, as they like to have their 'own dogs') Anything like Ps2 and Wii is 'everyones' present. But they have the same glo-teddy this year, and the same secret diary, the same bits in their stocking, just because they can fight over the smallest thing ('she looked at me funny mum' ) so its not worth the hassle. They don't get extra due to this, they just get the same

My children are 2 years apart and we haven't bought them the same of anything this year- they always share each others' things without a fuss (I must be lucky!)

However, PIL asked what they wanted for Christmas this year (a first) so we asked for an interactive doll's house between them, and consequently their Godparents have brought them each one accessory to go with the house. So in theory, that's the same item, different character IYSWIM.

My boys are 2 and 4 and get a few things doubled up but it's mostly stocking fillers like colouring sets ds1 has Thomas the Tank and ds2 has Bob the Builder but they are the same set.

Also they both have a Coke xmas truck this year as ds2 asked for one and ds1 saw it and fell in love, they were noly £2.50 form Ebay so it wasn't a big deal to just get another one!

I will never double up games for consoles ect though when they are older they can bloomin well share things like that!

Yes

2 boys, 18m apart. From about the ages of 8 to 14 they've had duplicates. Now that they are 15 & 16.5 and very different personalities they like different things.

three of everything for the girls (in different colours)

two of everything for the boys (in different colours).

even down to the clothing......if I buy different they complain that they prefer the item I got for their sister/brother, so I get the same and there is peace and goodwill to all family members.

the only things different are the main pressies, but that is because they confer on their lists and work out who can ask for what!

the only thing that is not the same is DVD's and CD's.....but by general consensus any DVD and CD in the house is a shareable item.

My ds's are 17 and 13 so are old enough to get their own gifts with no moaning or fighting.

The dd's are 4.5 and 2.5 and really into Snow White and Disney Princess etc so we have got those kinds of toys but got each dd different things.

I think a letter from Santa may be a good idea re the sharing.

My nieces are 10 months apart. They are 3 and 4.
They have to have everything the same, including clothes or there would be carnage!!

Oh god i am just about ready to go and buy more of everything i have bought eeekkk!!!

What have i done??? They will fight the whole day wont they???

NO! Don't buy copies of everything! It's like people who buy the unbirthday child presents on a sibling"s birthday!