What's the going rate for a birthday present for a 3yo's party?

cathys1_2

Yes we spend between £3 and £5 round here too! Personally I like to find toys reduced to a fiver. Best buy recently was a Bratz doll with computer stuff - was £20, down to £5. Bought three, so had extras for future parties!

discountshoppers

It is difficult as some parents do really good/expensive presents and then I feel guilty if I know i've only spent a £5.

But I agree I wouldn't spend more than that and if you search around you can get some stuff that looks like it's more than a £5. The key for me is avoiding typical brand name stuff that they would know how much i've spent and get something more original where they wouldn't have a clue.

i've also picked up great new stuff from charity shops for kids.

mr_and_mrs_t

Hi
The amount of parties my dd1 goes to, I can't afford to keep spending £5 - 7 per child. I feel a bit tight sometimes, however try to look around for bargains and toys which make the present look more if you know what I mean. When I see a bargain I sometimes buy 3 of them to put to other party(s).She's going to a boys party next week so got a mattel jigsaw puzzle from pound shop and adding it with two bags of lego from the paper.

I think it's the thought the counts....trying to make it thoughtful yet within your own budget. When they start school you feel the pressure with these big parties they go to and feel you have to buy more. It shouldn't be like that - everyone's different.

lynneinjapan

Thanks - I got a Crayola Color Wonder set (new product, normally £5 but on offer at £3.50 in Tesco) which is supposed to be really good: it's a sponge painting set but the colours ONLY show up on the special paper - not on walls, floors, clothes etc. - so it should please her parents too... until they have to buy more paper, of course!

Got another one as a stocking filler for DD as well.

MissKay

I bought these books from Redhouse as we have a lot of boys' birthdays coming up;

http://www.redhouse.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productSearch_10151_18251_95168_100___10_SimpleSearch_2_1_2__basicSearch_cd%20books

As a parent of a recently birthdaypartied three year old, I would say that they are only expecting a token and will be relieved if you don't turn up with something too big!