Hey sisters. What is considered a normal amount of presents to get your child? My ex husband’s family had an unrealistic expectation on presents for each other so my son would always end up with a ridiculous amount of gifts. I know that was an unrealistic expectation but now with my new husband and our youngest and I feel guilty for not buying them enough presents. It all seems so trivial I know but I feel like I’ve lost reality on what I should be doing.
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The secret is to buy what they'll love rather than quantity or cost.
We buy 3 gifts because they don't have much family around to buy for them. One bigger thing they really want (e.g lego, new Switch game, scooter), some books they're into & something else small they've been eyeing off. It's a dull formula but it works for us.
Depends on the age/price of the toys. My youngest is two and wants Peppa pig toys and bouncy balls, my eldest is 10 and wants Nintendo switch games and electronics so he gets less because his presents cost more, it’s really up to individual families but I spend about $300 on each of mine
I go buy dollar value. I spend the same amount on each child for birthdays and Christmas, but depending on what they each want as to how many they will actually receive.
It depends. But we don’t buy gifts or toys ‘just because’, you get something because you saved, worked for it etc, so birthdays and Christmas we tend to buy a bit.
We don’t have a set number, just cause there were 4 presents last year that doesn’t mean you’ll get that next year.
When there are younger (under 3) we buy lesser value items because let’s face it, they’d play with a box a wooden spoon and the Tupperware cupboard.
I used to buy up big for my kids at Christmas when they were little. Overboard even. It was the only time of year I bought them stuff that wasn't a necessity though, I had someone put me down for the amount of stuff I had under my tree but her child always had the latest things, or "these were on special at Target so we got one". We also didn't have extended family to buy them gifts. I just loved watching them open gifts too it really is a special day, my youngest is 16 and some of my best memories of my kids are Christmas morning when they see the tree and get all excited. There's no right or wrong, if you want to do a lot of gifts then do it.
Oh such a dumb ads, this is about birthday presents, sorry 😂
We do the same thing for birthdays and Christmas: something they want, need, wear, read, watch and eat. Although this year instead of read we’re doing board games
It really changes with their age. My eldest wanted an xbox so got that and nothing else (two presents from sibling, one book from me) my youngest wants toys so got quite a bundle. They dont cost as much.
For a bundle Id say 7ish different things. Toddlers probably wont open that many even. I agree get them what they want and something big and cool or something special and keepsake.
We just buy what we think they'll like and make sure there is a few gifts. Sometimes it will be cheap, other times up to $1500. Depends what we're getting them and if there was a big gift we were planning to buy anyway (I.e. we got my son a motorbike at 6. That was 1100 and required helmet and boots etc and we added some small toys etc too).
I can remember my step sister being absolutely overwhelmed with gifts when she was growing up. She also had a large extended family who'd go nuts, her dad lived interstate so he over compensated with gifts out of guilt, then my step mum and my father would go wild with gifts to 'one up' her bio father.
It would take her literally days to open all the presents, by which stage she was over it, couldn't remember/didn't care who gave her what and I reckon 90% of it was never even touched.
That really shaped my views on gift giving with my own children. I don't want to buy my kids stuff just for the sake of having stuff.
So I usually do one thing they really, really want - for example, this year my son has asked for a basketball hoop.
Then I try to get them one educational thing - that might be a book, a board game or puzzle, a science kit etc.
Then something creative - arts, crafts, blocks etc.
Then something outdoorsy - skipping ropes, balls, totem tennis, frisbys, even did a pop up tent once 😂.
Then something they need - that's at times been clothes, new sheets, socks and undies, swim wear, backpacks, drink bottles etc.
Then after that, if I can afford it, I might do a few miscellaneous items - things like Barbies, Nerf guns, Hot wheels, etc