Do you buy bday gifts for friend's kids if not invited to the party?

Mrs Manners

One of my good friends has a daughter who just turned 8. My 3 year old son wasn't invited to her all girls skating birthday party (obviously) and I don't expect him to be invited to her parties going forward because of the age/gender difference. Do you still buy birthday gifts for friend's kids if you aren't invited to the party?

ETA: I bought gifts for her before I even had a kid so I'm leaning toward buying gifts now too...just wondered the protocol.

AggieCouple

If I didn't have 28 n&n to buy for throughout the year, then yes, probably.  But, our gift budget is stretched thin as it is, so right now, no.  If money was not an issue, then yes, if I have some sort of personal relationship with the child (not just the parent).  If they barely speak to me when I see the parent, then no.

akaoct2005

I think it depends on your relationship...are you best friends?  Do you see the daughter a lot?  Do you give gifts a lot (does she know you're a "gifter"/would she be offended if you didn't)?

jlw2505

AS a general rule, I don't buy gifts for friends kids or honestly, even for my friends birthdays.  My close friends and I agreed years ago to not buy each other gifts and when we lived in the same city, we all got together for dinner and the others treated the birthday girl for dinner but that is it.  It is just way to expensive.  The only time my kids have bought a birthday gift for another friend when a party was not part of the picture was my older DD for a friend of hers from daycare.  He has not had friends parties but we have always included him and his little sister to our kids parties, we see them weekly at swim class (we met at daycare when the kids were 1).  The kids birthdays are about a week apart and my DD really wanted to get him something so we did.

Jodi&Joe

No.

And even if I'm invited, and can't make it, I still don't buy a gift (as a general rule - there have been times where I have but more times than not, I don't).

How's that for a Nestie no-no!

jessica1080

Jodi&Joe:

No.

And even if I'm invited, and can't make it, I still don't buy a gift (as a general rule - there have been times where I have but more times than not, I don't).

How's that for a Nestie no-no!

Ditto!  No party = no gift from me.  And if I can't make it to your party?  Sorry!  This goes for everyone except immediate family.  My friends and I also do not exchange and would rather go out for lunch or a girls night out.