Christmas presents for step children

Jinx

I would ask the mother for a list of what your child wants and split it, so she buys some of the childs pressies and you buy the other half. This means no duplicates and you can let your child take the pressies knowing they are exactly as wanted. Maybe this would stop recycling.....

My exhubby and I used to do this and it kept us both to a more reasonable budget while our child got what she wanted. She did keep most of these pressies at her dads but she was there every week and any cash she got while there got spent while with her dad (tho this caused friction in later years - from daughter not me)

Spendless

What about an experience like sponsoring an animal at a zoo, one that gives the child a free ticket to go see animal. Choose one near to you and you can take her on a trip there when she visits.

Threebabes

Again another one for the personalised gifts. In the disney store you can get nightwear etc with their names put on.

newidentity

Thanks everyone for all the replies. It has been much appreciated and there have been some very useful comments.

With regards to presents staying at ours, I am still of the opinion that they should stay with SD. I don't think it would be fair for her to leave them with us, particularly when our own dd would likely find and play with them. We have a few toys which are SDs only and do not allow dd to play with them. SD also has her own bedroom here which is HSM themed which she is into (although we will probably have to change that soon).

I think we do have a good idea of what she likes and what she doesn't. I have no idea why her mum wont suggest anything reasonablel as all the suggestions we get are tiny things which are impossible to get. Last year she said she didnt want anything but clothes for SD but I thought that was unfair so did buy toys aswell. I don't think I would have wanted just clothes from my dad at aged 6.

A day out or sponsoring an animal is a great idea. And I will look into all the personalised present ideas too.

I have actually bought quite a few things already this year for her but the suggestions on here will be great for her birthday as the same thing happens then. It would make it so much easier if we could get ideas from her mum.

We have coped with the BM for 7 years now and things have never changed. It used to stress me out but now I have to accept it and just hope that we are doing enough for SD. She will know the truth one day and can make up her own mind.