3 year old birthday presents

[TooBusyGazingAtStarss]

How much is enough?
Ive got some bits and bobs that hes going to like - he's obsessed with Disney Cars at the moment so all relating to that mainly.

As his main present we're getting him his first bike with stabilisers and a helmet - all lightening mcqueen/disney cars related most likely.

Ive had banners made with his picture on and got all cars related decorations too

So far ive got him:-
2 disney cars caps
Disney cars sunglasses
A disney cars bag for nursery
A paddling pool
A disney cars picnic mat
Disney cars blanket - personalised with his name
Disney cars pants
Disney pixar box of books
2x disney trucks
3x disney cars
1 disney cars fire engine

His dad thinks this isnt enough and when he was younger he remembers opening loads of presents...
tbh I thought this was enough from just us along with the bike?
Obviously he's only 3 so surely this will seem like a lot to him?

Just wanted some other opinions on it tbh

Thanks!

Well it's a bit of a how long is a piece of string question. To me that sounds like loads, when my daughter turned three we just got her a bike plus helmet.

That’s loads.

Its not as straightforward as a number of presents.

Do you update stuff as necessary or wait until birthday/Christmas?
Do lots of other people buy them stuff?
Do they get hand downs from siblings or others?
Do they find a lot of stuff overwhelming or enjoyable?
What can you afford?

We don't get masses of stuff generally. But they gets loads from grandparents etc. We have two close in age who share toys etc growing up. We would have gotvthe bike and the helmet from the sibling. Then there would have been 20 or so presents from other family members. So more than enough, just not from us.

Bloomin heck…. What happens when he goes off Cars within a week of his birthday? I’d future proof a couple of presents OP!

The sunglasses, pants, blankets, bag…. Will be of limited interest to him

Im praying this doesn't happen 🤣

I would add though, some of the stuff seems like things he might need anyway. Eg if he needs sunglasses, pants and a bag for nursery it's just sort of being tied to his birthday but really you'd buy them anyway (bit different if he already has, for example, a perfectly fine nursery bag)

IMO the bike and helmet is enough.

He does have a perfectly good nursery bag, but its a Bluey one so I was going to swap - his nearly 2 year old brother is now obsessed with Bluey so he can have that one.

In my head i wanted to get him stuff he would actually use and like rather than a mountain of cars because family etc will probably get some as its an easier choice i think? - tbh I don't think he cares much what nursery bag he has anyway🤣🤷‍♀️

There's no right or wrong way to do it. It seems like a lot to me and potentially overwhelming for a small child. It's also very 'themed'. Most children go through lots of crazes and phases. It's up to you whether you go along with it.
Some people will say it's not enough. It sounds like you and his dad have different ideas.
It's not about having 'loads to open' but having a really good, appreciated and well used present for the next few months. The rest is just land fill.

But it will though. Maybe not a week. Perhaps 2 days or perhaps 2 months. And then all gather dust. Mix it up a bit

3 year olds really don’t care about the amount of birthday presents they open. Literally one toy/present that they really love would be enough.

There's no right or wrong but I always took the opportunity to buy socks, pants, tooth brush, crayons etc to add to the present pile even though I would buy them anyway

Maybe you and your DH can discuss and agree for future?
my DH got loads as a kid, whereas I was always the one main present. And that was always enough!

I discussed with DH while pregnant lol that I’d like to stick to the one main thing with baby so there’s not always too much expectation on piles of gifts.

He was reluctant at first but now that money is right he’s relieved lol.
LO will still get gifts from family, as did I and I played with everything I had loads because it wasn’t too much.
I do know some kids that have so much that they get bored with what they have very easily.
I think it’s hard to appreciate what you have when you have too much.
so maybe you can discuss with your husband, that your little one will actually feel like they have more when they get less if that makes sense?

Also I think bulking out with the practical items that you got is a good compromise

That sounds like a lot to me to be honest. We use the rhyme "something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read" and then family members buy other fun bits for our kids. It's hard to stick to just the 4 things as of course you want to spoil them, but there's no expectation of a massive pile of presents that may get harder and harder to replicate as the years go by. They are always happy with what they've got.

Also I agree with other posters, diversify a bit on the Cars theme as it really will only last for a few months, if not weeks!! Xx

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions everyone, really appreciate it!x

We've got my son a balance bike and a helmet for his 3rd birthday next week. Spending about £100 and that seemed a lot! The cars stuff seems a bit overkill.

Yeah.. I'm starting to think I've over done it.. got a bit too excited myself I think 🤣

I'd be worried about overwhelming him on the day, it's a lot of physical presents to open.

I agree it's a bit samey. I try to get stuff that covers a range of different types of activity: a game, something for imaginative play like figurines or dolls, a craft, a physical activity (e.g. bike or trampoline), something for the bath. It's not that your presents are terrible but in my mind that's all they'll get until Christmas so they have to cover all bases!

On the face of it that's shitleads of presents. My littlest turns 3 soon and will have about 5 presents to open from us.

But personally I wouldn't give things like clothes, blanket/bag as birthday (or Christmas) presents at that age. We only really give toys, games and books as gifts.

Also like pp said it might be overwhelming, both of my DC always open the first present then want to play with it straight away, so they'd never actually get through a big pile of presents!

*shitloads 🤦

That sounds like Christmas presents! It is more than enough for a 3rd birthday. The bike and helmet would be enough.
Is he also having a party and getting gifts from wider family? If so he is likely to get very overwhelmed and the presents become meaningless

He’ll probably be thrilled with whichever car he prefers and a couple of the extra stuff.

I do agree with the other posters it’s plenty enough.
If you wish to add variety you can, if he already has tons of stuff, nothing wrong with going with the Disney cars craze, it’ll be a nice memory

It sounds like you haven’t bought the bike, so I might go with his favorite color only for durability, just get the Disney cars helmet, so you can switch that around for much cheaper when his interests change

The only thing is of course your budget (hence the neutral bike suggestion) : definitely don’t feel the pressure to go above and beyond for blanket type things, the backpack is plenty