Birthday presents

How dreadfully rude...are the presents for the mother and a status symbol? Rather like that horrible fashion of giving a child it's birthday cake to smash! Yuck!

Horrified, why not take the time and ask about the child's interests. What stories like like to etc. Otherwise why not a book token.

Very sensible and very practical. We don't consider it greedy if a bride-to-be registers with a wedding registry, requesting items of various prices the couple will need to get started. It's the same with children, whose sizes and tastes change with alarming frequency. I'd much prefer shopping by a list than resorting to guesswork, which is often a major headache!

Last Christmas I knitted reindeer (unsolicited) for twin GC (not life-size) and DD posted a pic of them on FB naming them as her and their favourite gift.

Personally, I'd find it helpful as my only GC lives in Spain and I've no idea what he has / doesn't have. My DIL mentioned that she needed to buy a high chair and I thought I'd surprise her with one. After I'd ordered it from Amazon, the next day she sent some lovely photos and my little GC was sitting in his new high chair. Fortunately, I was able to return the one I'd ordered.

In these circumstances a list would be useful but for those GPs who are lucky enough to see their GC regularly it could be as a bit cheeky.

Don't people talk to each other anymore? why does it have to be a gift list?

I love the Katie Morag sweater and Tam O Shanter ideas, inique things and not those rubbish things that kids hve forced upnthem by peer pressures or advertising.

I tend to by the kids experiences rather than stuff now..although if the charity office has something funky I splash out on that too, dressing up items and so on.

Give them books, imaginitive play things and stuff made with love......gettng pe ople aged 3 to have the happiness wish list is forming a bad habit.

We used to get hand me down clothes when I was a kid and I often liked them more than the new things my parents bought for me.

Surprises are still a little bit of magic.

My GDs have lists on Amazon as well, jolly useful. Without guidance the gifts are duplicated and such a waste of money.

My 5 year old grandson is hoping that I'm going to buy him an 'instability' scooter complete with sat nav for his birthday so an Amazon link would be much appreciated!!!

I too am torn about this. I always ask for ideas for birthdays and Christmas and it's sometimes suggested that they have seen something which can be bought on Amazon (or where ever). My GS lives a long way away so I can order and have it delivered to him, Mummy wraps it and I send a card. And a present of my choice. I also send small presents as and when I see something I want to give. I see it as a way of maintaining contact as much as anything. Some of the suggestions are not what I would have chosen but I have to accept that his parents know him best. GD is different, she lives round the corner and I know better what she'd like. My problem is keeping it fair!

DS gave me a link to a Playstation game for 12-year-old DGS's Christmas present. DS had egg on his face when DGS tactfully informed him (not me) that he had already bought that game himself. Fortunately DS was able to exchange it for him, but it all goes to show that parents don't always know what to recommend. It does get more complicated when GC can go out and do their own shopping so that makes the case for hard cash or vouchers, usually with a smaller token gift.

Our family all have amazon wish lists. Living in a small country town is a bit limiting for choice so I welcome ideas.

It isn't a case of being dictated to, or being grabbing or materialistic, it's to help people with ideas of what someone would like. You don't HAVE to buy from it. Can't see the point of putting it on Facebook though.

My granddaughter goes to an awful lot of parties throughout the year-up to 30. Her mother and I are constantly on the look out for suitable reduced items in Tesco etc. for present ideas around the £5 mark (up to £10 for special long time friends. For a while, singing bird toys were popular. She also buys boxes of 10 genetic birthday cards off the market for £1 otherwise she would be spending a fortune each year on other people's kids.

The recipient gets what they are given, I'm afraid, and if my granddaughter gets unsuitable presents or ones her mother or she( unlikely) really doesn't like, they are recycled!

My DGS took a book to school as asked by his teacher. She asked him why he had bought this one in to show the class.
He said my Nan bought this for me because i wanted it & Nanny listens to me! Something i try to do so that he gets what he wants as i have no idea what 6year old boys are into!

An unnecessary faux pas! I always slip a gift receipt in with the card whatever the occasion.

I really don't see what the issue is. I don't want to be spending money on something that I think a child will like, only for the child to never use/play with it. What a waste of money. So an Amazon wishlist seems like an excellent idea. Presumably there will be a large range of items to choose from, so you can pick something according to your budget.

And it's not like its the the ONLY things you are allowed to buy. If you knit/sew/craft something you know the child will like, then there's no problem. You're not forced to follow the wish list.

And at three years old, the child wouldn't have a ruddy clue what parents put on Facebook, or even what an Amazon wishlist IS, so it's not "teaching the child to be greedy" or rude.

Is an Amazon wishlist any different from asking a parent what the child wants - or having a wedding list? No one slates a bride/bridegroom for having a wedding list at a shop, do they? This is just the online equivalent.

Don't like this idea at all. It encourages greed and materialism. Not a nice trait to encourage. Anyone who knows the child/family really well would have some ideas already surely.Sorry but don,t think this is the way to go. To much emphasis is placed on big presents. What are children going to learn from this as they grow older.

Why does life have to be lived through 'Facebook'these days...???

Very good idea ifyour family lives in America, spend more on lresent andno postage costs

I'd like to know what the kids are 'into', would they appreciate Lego, books on dinosaurs, PlayStation games? I don't want to be told to buy this £30 book on dinosaurs or which £50 Lego set

Rude and greedy.

personally, I'm happy to be given a list of suggestions (amazon or otherwise) for grandchildren's birthday/chirstmas presents. I have 6 grandchildren, and it saves a lot of time if you don't see the children regularly enough to discuss with them what they'd like. Parents do know best sometiems! its the modern way as other people have commented

personally I think they are a good idea, my daughters both have them, with small items on.Do not however share them on facebook! I have one myself, mainly of books, as my children would rather get me something I want and my son loves it! You know what men are for shopping.

I once knitted DGD a Katy Morag sweater, Amazon doesn't have that, nor a tam o shanter like that worn by the heroine in 'The Secret Garden'. It also doesn't offer a bedroom interior decoration service.

Is there anything not on Amazon for GC? Seems we have daily deliveries.

What happens if Amazon does not sell the items the child would like?