What to get the second child when they have access to all their sibling's toys?

[GeorginaA]

Major dilemma, and I'm sure I'm not the only one in this position!

In laws and my mother have asked for ideas for what to get the dses for Christmas so I have to get my thinking cap on. Have already planned what we're getting them, but having to think up extra ideas is really hard!

Ds1 (4) is easy - every TV advert he says "I want one of those!" but ds2 (18mths) is almost impossible. What do you get a child who already has access to every appropriate toy his brother has?! Last year we got away with not very exciting stuff because he wasn't aware of what was going on - this year, however, he will be aware so we can't go that route!

Short of duplicating up to replace stuff that's got rather manky over the years, has anyone got some brilliant inspiration so he has something exciting to open on the 25th!

surely there must be some new toys etc on the market that were not around 4 years ago. Have you tried the various toy websites? I'm sure something will pop up.

just wait til you get to the 3rd of the same sex in just a short time. dd3 - also 18m - needs absolutely nothing. she will probably just get her own doll and buggy so she doesn't have to borrow her sisters' dolls.

our dd2 will be one at Christmas, so a double whammy for christmas and birthdays AND her big sister has all the toys that we need in the house! She doesn't know the difference so she is getting a sock only. If your little one is older what about some family puzzles or dvds or games? I'll be needing this advice in a few years time when dd2 does know the difference...

At 18months he won't really want anything so I'd take advantage of that. Buy him something ultra cheap.

one of the presents we gave ds for his second birthday was a 99p pack of crazy straws and a new plate with car map on it which cost £1.99. He loved both of them....

I asked grandparents for money for his ctf and they wrapped up some crayons, colouring books for him to unwrap.

I'm ashamed to say I followed Cods advice for the 1st xmas or so, got some old baby toys out of the loft, and rewrapped them .
the older ones either didn't notice or said "we had one of those!" to which I replied "really?" and we moved on!

Only really works if they haven't seen the toys for a year or so though

fennel lol re doll, that's what I'm doing for DD3.

I have children of an almost identical age as you Georgina. Ds2 is totally not interested in any baby toys - only plays with his brothers stuff. I have put aside a couple of new toys for him for christmas, but not much as he just won't care. The main thing I saw for him was a wooden track thing that you put a car at the top and it slides down the slope to the next slope and down again, etc. I think he will enjoy this and his brother does not have one! But it is really hard - I agree.

I got round this to an extent Georgina by having a girl, but the fact is that she has been wandering around all day with a matchbox car (out of about 150 of DS's) in her pocket all day. But she would definitely be cross if she did not have a reasonable number of presents to unwrap compared with DS. Last year I did like pph and got wrapped baby toys out of the loft. This year we are getting her a kitchen but still a bit stuck for the grandparents. I think we want more books but thats mainly because I am sick of reading all the same ones so many times. Also we're getting Disney film DVDs - one each because they are on 2 for 1. A bit old for DD but she will watch them in time.

In a way I do feel a bit disappointed for DD because she just keeps getting bought dresses all the time. The odd pair of trousers (ie a hint of practicality) wouldn't go amiss from my pov but I think she would like toys. Sorry for lots of waffle and not much help.

Ooo! Where are the Disney dvds on 2 for 1??

Oooo! Disney DVDs, good idea!

Ilana - we have the click clack track thing you describe - both dses love it, I'm sure it'll be a hit

Can't get stuff out of the loft as unfortunately just about everything is out that is still intact. (They don't have a huge amount of toys, but they do have a generous spread over all possible toy categories, if that makes sense?) Plus, I can't see grandparents being keen on not buying something "big" for the grandchildren.

I'm relieved that I'm not the only one with this dilemma!

I've toyed with the idea of ds2 getting some little metal cars of his own (he's fairly safe with them and copies ds1's play) - but we're not at the stage where we're happy him having unsupervised play with them just in case so ds1's cars still remain in his own room, and also have no way of then easily identifying which small car belongs to ds1 and which belongs to ds2. They both got some from McDonalds recently and it's been a NIGHTMARE stopping ds1 from walking off with them and packing them all away in his own toybox!

Crikey - I have 4 boys so when ds4 who is now 11mths is a little older I will have a real problem with what to buy him too.

The thing is when they are this young, you can get away with only getting one or two things.

Does anyone else also have the problem I have of ds3 and ds4 each having their birthdays 9 days each side of Chrsitmas? It really is hard knowing what to get them withing such a short space of time.

Tell me about it - I've got 3 boys of 4.5, just 3 and 14 months. What on earth do you buy a 16 month old for Xmas when we have everythign for a boy of that age! And anyway, he just plays with everything anyway!

Ds2 just had his birthday and ds1 hasn't left his gifts alone!!

Georgina. DD has unsupervised access to DS's little cars. When we went to the Railway Museum at half term I bought them each a matchbox sized train - DD's was pink so we definitely know its hers! And she carries it around in a little clear plastic handbag along with some coppers and a conker! Is there anything that the boys play with together than DS2 could have an addition to. Or anything that it would be worthwhile having two of?

I got Bambi (for DS) and Mary Poppins (for DD) on Play for £17.99 delivered. Think Asda have them at about £9odd each as well.

ds2 who is 8 months, is having several of ds1s old toys out of the garage wrapped up

if i am feeling generous I may get him a couple of small things.....
santa has to be seen to be fair in the eyes of ds1

Ds3 is getting a wooden noah's ark I bought in the sale in January, a set of board books, a Thomas Island of Sodor here and then just a few bits in his stocking.

And I can guarantee that ds1 and ds2 will not let him get a look in - poor little chicken!

In fact, I'm going to get that THomas thing tomorrow beforethey sell otu!

(Bozza, actually... he does have unsupervised access in practise because ds1 is useless at remembering to tidy them up ... we just still like to kid ourselves that we're being sensible )

I think I've done quite well for our presents for them. I've got them a joint present of one of those wooden train table things (was in a sale), got a pop up ball pit tent for ds2 and a ... oh god, I've forgotten what we got ds1. We have something... in a box ... somewhere ... waiting to be wrapped (oh well, it'll be a surprise for me too!)

OH I hate the fact that we have to work out what all the rellies want for Christmas, but we have to give them ideas on a plate

Gobble - I'm sure there will be plenty going on to keep him happy. Georgina my trouble is that they expect a list of things to choose from - so I don't have to just think of something for them to buy but alternatives

Snap - I have the "to choose from" list too Is doing my head in...

Oh God, I hate rellies asking for ideas! As if it's not hard enough to think for myself for 3 boys under 5 all wanting the same thing and at the same time having most things from ds1's previous 4 christmas's and birthdays, and ds2's previous ones....

Why can't they go to bloody ToysRUs and look at what age things are appropriate for and just get on with it?!

Fair enough if they looked and came back to you to say 'what do you think - do they already have it, do you forsee a problem' but at the least they should get off their arses and go shopping!