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Family gifting children differently for birthdays

9 replies

ChicBlueBear · 30/01/2026 03:29

I have 2 children. One a August birthday and one a January birthday. It’s recently been my January child’s birthday, while family came and celebrated with us everyone spent significant less on gifts than they do for my August birthday child.
I understand it’s post Christmas etc but it’s left me feeling really sad and frustrated. These are the only children in our family so have no comparison to others.
My question is, am I being dramatic, is this normal?

OP posts:
SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 30/01/2026 03:34

How many people?
How much per person?
How much net difference?

How old are the kids? Is the little one or big one getting more?

liveforsummer · 30/01/2026 03:36

Second needing and answer to the above questions before being able to have an opinion

Coffeeandbooks88 · 30/01/2026 06:46

I don't understand why people need further answers. The children should be treated the same and given the same amount of money.

Elizabeta · 30/01/2026 06:57

If they routinely give younger kids smaller amounts which increases as they get older, that’s fine.

If they’re always planning to give the January birthday kid less because it’s just been Christmas, that’s not OK.

I have a Jan birthday kid and there’s one family member who makes a point of saying that she’ll get a present for her half-birthday in July. That’s fine as it stops anyone feeling hard done by!

converseandjeans · 30/01/2026 06:58

YANBU they should get the same regardless of when the birthday is.

landlordhell · 30/01/2026 07:02

In my family the chn have a mixture of birthdays including January. All the aunties and uncles give the same- £25 or £25 gift thereabouts for each child and we do the same for their children. The birthdays don’t move so you know it’s coming! YANBU!

BreakingBroken · 30/01/2026 07:04

December and January birthdays suck.
Sorry but it’s true it isn’t right but money is always tight at that time of year.

liveforsummer · 30/01/2026 07:55

Coffeeandbooks88 · 30/01/2026 06:46

I don't understand why people need further answers. The children should be treated the same and given the same amount of money.

Not necessarily. If there is an age gap then they need totally different things and this can vary in value. No need to buy extras for the sake of it if they are both receiving items they want and enjoy. A younger dc won’t realise the cost difference if they get a big toy they’ve been desperate for vs a small piece of tech for an older dc that costs significantly more but they need for whatever reason

DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/01/2026 07:59

The time of year shouldn't make a difference but other factors (age, etc) can do.

Our family birthdays mostly run from Dec to Mar.

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