3 year olds birthday - how do I stop her younger sister wondering why she's not getting piles of presents?

[padboz]

she's nearly two and at the 'THATS MINE' stage of asserting herself - a whole day where her sister gets spoilt is going to be really hard for her, but I don't want DD1 to miss out.... anyone handled this successfully?

[stripeymama]

Not yet but the best I can suggest is not buying piles of presents and sticking to a couple of things that she will really enjoy, and buying one present for the younger child too.

This is what worked in my family as a child.

[GooseyLoosey]

Same here - always one present for the non-birthday child. Also when they have parties, non-birthday child always gets to have one friend along (they are very close in age and still pretty young - 4 and 5).

[nailpolish]

it really irritates me when muy ILs bring presents for the children whose birthday it ISNT

a simple explanation should be enough. they can help blow out the candles, help wrap the presents, talk to them about big sisters birthday "isnt it brilliant and exciting that its big sisters birthday!?!? lets wrap her present really nicely and hide it shhhhhh its a secret!!!"

let her choose the cards and wrap. possibly even a small rpsent just from her. make the cake and elt her decorate it

ou can involve them other ways than just getting their own presents

i think its daft

[nailpolish]

i actually think its a shame on the child whose birthday it is. makes it less special for them.

[AMumInScotland]

I was one of three, and the non-birthday two would each get a box of maltesers from our grandparents. It was just a nice little something, not comparable with birthday presents but felt nice to be remembered all the same.

Not that I'd dare suggest boxes of maltesers for small MN children, of course

[lou031205]

I remember being given a bunny for my birthday one year. My parents' friends owned a farm. But my brother and sister got one too! Because it was for my birthday I got to choose first