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Birthday presents

(95 Posts)
Lillie Wed 26-Apr-17 15:06:01

He he. grin My MIL bought the same presents for our children 2 years running, mainly because she never bothered to visit us or ask anything about her GC. We used to joke that she'd probably bought a job lot in the sales!

yggdrasil Wed 26-Apr-17 11:51:08

<That's a shame because it doesn't allow the givers the pleasure of choosing what they think the little boy/girl might like. >

My MIL used to do that when my kids were little. She never had the faintest idea what her grandchildren actually did like. This was very embarrassing when they came for Christmas and expected gushing joy. I did teach the children to be polite but there is only so much a little one will do :-)

seacliff Wed 26-Apr-17 09:59:56

I am torn on this. First thoughts are Nooo ... seems so materialistic, almost like giving a wedding list, and for a three year old!

But, if I were lucky enough to have grandchildren, and didn't seem them very regularly, I would have no idea what to get them. I could guess, but it might be a waste of money or duplicate present.So I'd ask for some ideas and be given a small list. So this isn't really any different I suppose.Like someone said, it is a ongoing list of ideas, not just aimed at you. It is just the way things happen these days.

If I could, I'd want to talk to the child and try and elicit some ideas. Sometimes you can think of something they never knew existed, and would love.

Menopaws Wed 26-Apr-17 09:37:26

What happened to sitting down with child and writing a cute wish list which the mum can then pick the bones out of and helping the child in a sweeter way than pushing a button, sad.

Lillie Tue 25-Apr-17 23:03:56

That's a shame because it doesn't allow the givers the pleasure of choosing what they think the little boy/girl might like.
It seems very greedy of the parent.

M0nica Tue 25-Apr-17 22:07:52

Shows a very unimaginative mind. Very few of the presents we have given our DGC over the years could have been bought on Amazon. Most have been bought on the spur of the moment having already consulted with the parents.

Cherrytree59 Tue 25-Apr-17 16:59:37

Too many plastic toys that will be at the bottom of the toy box in no time at all. hmm

grannylyn65 Tue 25-Apr-17 16:51:51

Greedy

Norah Tue 25-Apr-17 16:45:38

I read the OP more closely. At 3 yrs old the gifts are what mum wants anyway, not the childs favourite.

Norah Tue 25-Apr-17 16:40:55

It's not my favorite at all, but I do try to live today's world.

I'm with GC and GGC several times a week, I don't have any notion to what they have or need.

Nice to buy what they actually want, so a long Amazon list is helpful for larger gifts and gives many options. I fill in with little items that I want to buy because. Or I give money to their mums to buy.

I hate to be dictated to, but I really don't know what most toys and clothes are named.

My daughters and granddaughters, who have small children, keep ongoing lists at Amazon, not directed to me. Anybody can have a look, so I don't find that quite rude, just their way to accomplish.

Lona Tue 25-Apr-17 15:31:46

It's a good way of showing exactly which toy/game is which, just being told what something is called doesn't mean a thing unless you spend lots of time in toy shops.

Ilovecheese Tue 25-Apr-17 13:37:07

Maybe a few people had been asking for ideas and this seemed a sensible way to give them. Christinefrance the children wouldn't need to know.

Riverwalk Tue 25-Apr-17 13:20:52

You can always ask the parents for suggestions, as I do regarding the DGC, but sending out Amazon lists for a three year-old, or any age for that matter, is bad manners, IMO.

Izabella Tue 25-Apr-17 13:07:06

Sensible. We have an extremely small budget and this way I am sure whatever we do get is wanted and will not be immediately recycled. Like other posters I was initially horrified until I reflected .....

Christinefrance Tue 25-Apr-17 12:18:03

I totally agree with chocolatepudding , what is this teaching the children ?

mumofmadboys Tue 25-Apr-17 12:12:49

Grabbing and materialistic!!

yggdrasil Tue 25-Apr-17 10:59:19

Very sensible. You will know what the child likes even if you don't get the exact thing. And the parents can make sure they don't get 10 unwanted barbies :-)

Saralou18 Tue 25-Apr-17 10:54:52

Horrified!

chocolatepudding Tue 25-Apr-17 10:50:25

Firstly, a sign of the times we are living in.

Secondly, incredibly bad manners.

JackieBee1 Tue 25-Apr-17 10:07:35

How do we feel about putting on the dreaded Facebook, a link to Amazon, listing what presents their child would like for their 3rd birthday?