How many gifts are you getting your toddler for christmas?

jimmyswife220 · November 2012

We have a very small family, my mom and brother and one aunt ( DH has no family, he was adopted and his dad has passed and has no contact with his adoptive mother). The gifts my mom gets DD stay at her house (very lame and a completely different issue) so the only gifts she will get to play with at home are what DH and I get her because my brother and aunt buy clothes. I want her to have a nice Christmas without going over board, so please critique my purchases. I just want to make sure she isnt short changed due to our lack of family. So far I have a loving family dollhouse that comes with a mom and dad and baby, the loving family mini van, a doll nursery thats a crib and high chair in one, a baby doll thats face moves like a real babies, a horse barn and horse for her loving family people, a mr. potato head, a memory game, a melissa and doug magnetic princess whose outfit you can change, a set of 4 minnie mouse wooden puzzles, a book and a play doh sundae making set. Every thing I have gotten has been on sale for a really great price, I started shopping months ago, so I haven't reached our budget yet. Is this enough? She is my only child and we dont have to buy gifts for very many people either. Thanks! BTW she turned 2 the end of sept.

LoCarb · November 2012

Sounds like you have plenty! Too many toys and she may lose excitement when opening gifts. If you still have money in your budget you can stock up for another occasion (rewards, b-days,etc...). Are you doing a stocking? I usually put a toothbrush, hair accessories and another small toy in the stocking. If you enjoy shopping you can concentrate in this area.

lynsef · November 2012

wow I'd say she's going to have a fine Christmas. DD got the Loving Family Dollhouse last year (she had recently turned 2 also) and she LOVES it. She plays with it daily. We try to keep Christmas scaled back because I don't want them to be so focused on getting "stuff" and they already have so many toys.

la79al · November 2012

That sounds like a decent amount of stuff. I tend to overbuy for my girls for Christmas but we don't get them a whole lot during the rest of the year. Keep in mind that as you get closer to Christmas, you will probably see a bazillion more things that you think she will love. We have that dollhouse and the minivan (be prepared for the doors to break off constantly!). DD2s favorite part of the dollhouse is definitely the babies and the cribs that we got. My only thought is the playdoh sundae making set, I know both of my kids would have tons more fun with a big pack of playdoh and some playdoh utensils (rolling pin, scissors, shape cutters, etc). DD1 got a cake making playdoh set for her 3rd birthday and lost interest in it long before she figured out how to use it. If you are inclined to get her more for Christmas, maybe go with things she needs. DD1 is getting sheets, both girls are getting a photo album, DD2 is currently in love with light up sneakers and twirly skirts so I might throw some of those under the tree.

lilhockeygurlMOM · November 2012

My parents are getting her a ton of presents. I've picked out around 5 for her, she will have plenty of presents to open on xmas.

brownmouse · November 2012

She is getting:

1. An easel with a roll of paper and paints/brushes
2. A wooden train set from IKEA on a board that can slide under the couch (THIS)
3. A quiet Book (THIS)
4. A stick horse (Actually a stick Unicorn, haha!)
5. A tin of colored wooden beads with some cords and pipe cleaners for jewelry making
6. A fairly large stack of books
7. An apron and chef hat

And in her stocking she is getting:
1. A set of trainer chopsticks (She always gets made that she cant use them when we get chinese)
2. Some lacing cards
3. Box of Hello Kitty Bandaids
4. Toothbrush
5. A skinny book
6. Some snacks

I am making the things in bold, so were only actually buying a few things.

dragon_chica · November 2012

We got her a KidCraft dollhouse and some stocking stuffers. I may get something for DS in his stocking but that's about it. We have a large family in the area so they're pretty much set with gifts.

I think for the time being there's no need to stress about this. Your DD's only 2. She won't have the capability to keep tabs on how many gifts/toys she got this year. It's you that will feel this disappointment.

superaunt · November 2012

wow that's a TON of toys IMO.

personally, i'm in the "less is more" camp when it comes to toys/gifts and kids. i grew up with very little and turned out just fine (ha) and i've watched nephews and nieces get bombarded with toys at Christmastime and they started to become unappreciative. JMO, of course. there are times when i feel bad that my girl doesn't have a lot of family buying for her, but the reality is that it's good for her. it makes her more appreciative, i think. again, JMO. this year she's getting a memory game, a wooden word puzzle set, a wooden play donut set, a wooden play cookie set, a sleeping bag, a keyboard & stand, and a set of Legos. her bday is 4 days after Xmas so she'll get the keyboard or Legos for that.

saturdaynightdoubletree · November 2012

LoCarb:
Sounds like you have plenty! Too many toys and she may lose excitement when opening gifts. If you still have money in your budget you can stock up for another occasion (rewards, b-days,etc...). Are you doing a stocking? I usually put a toothbrush, hair accessories and another small toy in the stocking. If you enjoy shopping you can concentrate in this area.

I agree with all this. Plus, save your energy for Christmas when they really remember and are into it.. you'll spend plenty of money in years to come Smile

At this age my kids are still more excited by tearing open wrapping paper, even if there's a pair of socks on the other side.

*LrCg* · November 2012

We don't have family so its just DH & I and our 2 kids- so we are the only gift providers. I know its a worn out saying but Christmas isn't about gifts and that's something that I really push on to our kids. Our kids get about 4-5 gifts each and that's it and I think that is plenty! My 4 yr old has an AMAZING memory (its scary) and its not the gifts he talks about when he thinks about past Christmases- its about the traditions we do: putting the ornaments on the tree on Christmas Eve while listening to my record player, making Jesus a birthday cake on Christmas, going for a walk in the woods on Christmas, etc. I especially love that both my kids (we have a 2 1/2 yr old) looks forward to the Christmas box that we get for shopping for other children where they pick out there own box and stuff to put in it for other kids. I think that's whats most important, not what or how much they are getting.

1026pumpkin · November 2012

I think you've got plenty! If you're going to give her a stocking, maybe put some practical items in it (new sippies/snack traps, hair bows, socks, small books). I feel like DS gets overwhelmed with too many new things at one time. I think we're going to give him about 4-5 bigger presents and 5-6 stocking stuffers on Christmas and if we have money left in our budget or I see great deals on things, I'll set them aside to use as prizes/rewards through the year or to put in his Easter basket.

BrittKav · November 2012

I think that's plenty. Last year we went bit overboard and bought the girls 8 presents each plus stockings, and they got bored of opening gifts after just a few. This year they will each get 3 gifts plus stockings. We do have a lot of family, though, so they'll have 4 other gatherings that they'll get gifts at.

Lariah14 · November 2012

Three.... I go by two guidelines- if three gifts were good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us... And buy one thing they want, one thing they need, and one thing they read. I have a big family, but they don't buy DS toys, mostly clothes. (And its not a money issue, its a principles thing). I just dont think Christmas is about tons of toys. Beides, kids don't need a lot of toys- and a two year old isn't going to remember...and will prob not even be focused enough to open 11+ gifts.

WestCoastMommy · November 2012

This year we are doing 5 gifts each. Plus they get gifts from lots of family.

DD who is 2 got

Leapster 2, Her name puzzle, cash register, Minnie mouse tricycle & Baby alive baby wanna walk doll. Her birthday is 3 days after xmas and I don't think we are giving her a bday gift but she is having a big party in January.

DS who is 4 got

Leapster 2, toys story bath toy, Dr. set and that's it so far. We are going out Friday to find him a couple more things.

AimeeL85 · November 2012

It sounds like plenty to me, but since you said you haven't reached your budget, if you want to keep shopping, I say go for it! I personally love shopping for toys for DS and only get to truly do it this time of year because his birthday is the same week as Christmas.

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