It has been so difficult buying Christmas gifts for Riley. He doesn't need anything because he has all the toys from Caleb. And it's not like the toy industry has come out with some new exciting toy in the last 2 years for infants. So for now, Riley is getting a music table and that's it. I know that he's not going to know the difference now, but at some point in his future he's going to realize that Caleb gets new toys for Christmas and he gets all the hand me downs...
What have you moms' of multiple kids done to solve this unjustice to the younger sibling(s)? Or if any of you are the younger sibling in the family, what did your parents do at Christmas?? I have a younger sibling, but I was always too concerned with myself to be concerned about how my parents solved (if they did) the problem for my younger sister.
9 comments:
We have struggled with this. I was so excited to go out and buy for Tim this year! A boy! For MAdi, she just really didn't get a lot for the first two years. But she was too young to notice. Then I decided that she had to have an interest in something else so I bought her the pony sets to make that 'her' toys. You just have to wait until he's older and find out what he likes. Good luck!
Sorry it was not an issue for us with 6 years difference and girl/boy. John got all the good stuff too. I do have a problem with John being a Thanksgiving baby though saving something for Christmas is tough. Tough on him because he is like in disbelief if he does not get it on his birthday. I love that picture of Riley, he is so cute.
I agree with Ryann. Hold off on the gifts for Riley till he is a little older and you can determine what his unique interests are. For example, Ruby really likes dolls and Maeve never has so she gets dolls for Christmas and her birthday. And just because a toy is a hand me down doesn't mean you can't wrap it and make a big deal out of it.
With the 4 kids I try to get one thing for each of them.... that is really their interest. I have 3 boys so P the 3rd of the boys does get a lot of hand-me downs...but at the same time I try to give him one thing that is his....they are all so different in there interest..... I also give each one of the kids a book that way even though there are tons of hand me downs they each have one thing of their own...... it isn't quantity that matters. Often our families want to buy stuff for the kids too so what I have done is have them send a small amount to the kids college funds.... if they don't want to do that I have them send money for an outing.. I pick a place to visit for each kid around their birthday that they might like and then have everyone send money to the fund ( 5-10 $.. then of course I send pictures...... for someone little like Riley it could be an indoor play area he likes ... or in some years if the kids have wanted something big or expensive I have everyone buy it together... it minimizes the huge amount of toy collection and it is always a special thing. Really it isn't the stuff that matters..... you could have Caleb put some of the hand-me downs in a special basket or bucket or whatever and present them to Riley...even wrap them... Caleb will like doing it and riley will still feel like he is getting something exciting...
oh let me tell you as the youngest of 5 kids... I got nothing!! I am lucky that there is even any pictures of me. JoAnn got presents, got to go the movies, dance lessons, etc. etc... They were out of money and breath by the time I came along! So Im with ya Riley honey! You come to Aunt Jane's, I'll take care of you!
(love you guys!)
Jane seems to forget that she had 3 older brothers and a sister to buy for her. She was spoiled rotten-
Next year you will find all the right things that will "fit" only Riley--just wait and see!
Buy him things he needs for Christmas that you'd have to buy anyway. I used to get my second girl and second boy diapers, wipes, sippy cups, new tooth brush, etc. Then he'll at least have gifts under the tree to open. It is hard, but eventually he will have his own favorites and they'll probably be totally different than Caleb's. Riley is a doll by the way!
Riley wont even know the difference for now. He sounds like he has Sadie personality when she was a baby. Just sit back and atch whats going on around him without a complaint. Im sure you will all have a Merry Christmas!!! I hope Caleb gets his train from Santa.
I've had these same concerns for Alaina. For Lizzie's first Christmas we gave her a stuffed toy and that's it. Now I feel like I have to give Alaina presents because Liz will be watching. This year I'm shamelessly regifting Lainey some of the baby gifts she recieved in the past few months.
I'm all about recycling. We gave Liz the same thing for her first three Easters. She played with the stuff for an afternoon and then I would just scoop it up and store it for the next year.
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