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Toddler birthday present etiquette - should I reciprocate?

3 replies

SealMum · 16/07/2026 07:05

DD just turned 2 and we had a little party (picnic - very low key) with close family and some of her friends (basically the kids she mentions most from nursery/swimming, plus a couple of kids of friends I made on mat leave - who she does also mention!)

The friends I made on mat leave and I get each others kids presents regardless of whether we can go to each others' parties - usually something small like a book or stickers.

The parents of a couple of her more recently-made friends bought DD incredibly generous presents. Both of the kids are about to turn 2 - we've not been invited to a party for either (I don't even know if they're having one) but I wonder if we should get them something small at least? I'm not going to try and reciprocate a similar scale present but just as a gesture.

I'm aware I'm probably overthinking this! We see them regularly and I don't want it to be awkward either way - either that I'm making a point about not being invited, which I'm not, or if I should have got something but didn't. It's not just about the scale of the gift but it just so happens that the two whose birthdays are coming up bought the super generous presents. The others had already had their birthdays or are a couple of months off so I don't need to worry about them just yet!

OP posts:
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flingalingalong · 16/07/2026 07:14

a thank you card and then you reciprocate if/when you are invited to their party.

margaritabonita · 16/07/2026 07:15

Yes as above

mindutopia · 16/07/2026 13:45

Just say thank you and buy them something if they invite you to a party. I wouldn’t buy anything if not invited. Not everyone has big parties at 2 and it comes across as a bit passive aggressive to give a gift despite being left out of the party. If they invite you, then bring something, but it doesn’t need to be extravagant.

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