Can you spoil a toddler?

[Sunnyday14558]

My Toddler (2.5) gets a lot of gifts from us and grandparents. We’re careful about what we give him, with much of it being second hand, but I’m concerned we might be spoiling him. My parents bring him small gifts nearly every week and we’ll buy things for him adhoc as we feel like it. How do you navigate gifts and treats with toddlers? Is it really possible to ‘spoil’ a child?

You can, but not 'just' with stuff?

So DS has always had lots - but I make sure he says thank you and model looking excited every time he gets a gift/write out a card and get him to hand it over. He's now 5 and is great at managing getting quite a bit, but also being thankful/showing excitement etc. Kids pick up from us and the more spoilt ones I've seen are the ones who's parents are very blasé about their child being given something/don't pick up on a lack of pleases and thank yous. The child then just learns it's normal/to be expected/not appreciated I think.

It absolutely is possible to spoil at a child at this age (and younger) IMO. Mostly though never telling them no rather than through stuff per se, but they often coincide as children want stuff!

I'm intrigued by how much you're buying and how often. Ours only get toys on Christmas and birthdays really and you'd still walk in this house and confuse it for Smyths, are you not overrun? We don't get a crazy amount on those occasions either.

We also have grandparents who love to spoil, but one brings sweets (probably hated on here but I prefer it to stuff and more environmentally friendly too) and the other brings clothes which is useful.

I had a tactful conversation with my mum when she started doing this- a gift every time she saw my son. Not only do we not have the space for a new toy every week, he was only 1 and a half and was opening her bag when she visited before even looking at her. I didn't like where it was going!

She stopped and he's 3 now and can't even remember that. They have a wonderful relationship and she buys him a gift on his birthday and Christmas now. She gets to "spoil" him in other ways and they go to cafes together for cake and go on little outings. Much nicer.