Baby Christmas Money - what is it for?

Loz01

I would use it for essentials such as highchairs/car seats/buggy etc - Babies need those more than a load of toys that they wont use! Especially if its a very young baby, they wont have a clue about toys and teddies etc, its better to buy something useful IMO.

My Mum used money from my Nan n Grandad etc to buy me a highchair when I was little and it didnt traumatise me.

Love_A_Bargain

My lo is 6 months and with his Christmas money I got him a highchair that we so desperately needed to make feeding easier and happier for the both of us, a few other bits for him and the rest I put away for a rainy day when he needs something else. So its all up to the parents really, anything to make life happier and easier for them and their lo.

inkie

I would expect for any monetary gift to be put into the childs savings. With this in mind, I would give a cheque not cash - so if people want to use it for something else, they then have to go to the hassle of paying it in and then withdrawing it :-)
All monies that we have ever been given have been put in our children's accounts. It wouldn't be morally right to me to do anything else with it.

DaisyFlower

I'd either put it in savings or buy a toy with it - depends what context it was given in.

I wouldnt use it on a highchair etc as I believe parents should provide those things not use the childs own money to do so and I certainly wouldnt use it for bills or on a car.

mirrorimage0

i think it all depends on circumstances, when my eldest was a baby i was a single mum (who worked) but had no extra cash, so money he was given or that he earnt (he used to do modelling) was spent on things that he needed ie clothes highchairs, bed etc but as my boys have got olderand im now married and me and hubby both work we have been able to put money aside for them into thier savings account which is more than what i originally spent anyway, so they will get it when they are older for college or towards a car or deposit for a flat not just to spend on whatever they want.

im afraid in certain situations morals just do not come in to it, if my children needed something i spent the money on them as it was for them . as they have got older and im able to work more hrs i have put the money back, i personnaly do nt see anything wrong with it.

chickywiggle

any money given to DS (2 yerars old) goes on him but maybe not directly. I.E. I have just bought him a new toy that cost me £9.25 now he doesn't have christmas money for it but I know will enjoy it and get endless use out of it..... therefore if his nanny was to give him £10 next month as a present I would have no qualms about putting it in the household kitty to replace the money used on said toy.

I went shopping with him yesterday and bought him some thomas engines to add to his collection. This cost me almost £10 - it came out my money - however before christmas he had been given £10 as a present which I used to buy food instead of putting it on the credit card.

When DS had his first christmas he was only 2 months old.......... yes he got a lot of money....... this at the time went towards baby milk/ nappies/ food etc I have spent this money on toys etc hundreds over since then. So i don't feel in the slightest bit bad about it.

re: the comment about selling toys....... yes I have been known to sell his presents if it is something too young for him or that I think he will never play with or a duplicate!! again he will always get this money re-spent on him at some point.

themull1

Any money for a baby should be put in a savings account. If you can't afford a high chair etc yourself, don't have a baby. If you do have to borrow the money, put it back.

kegg_2

I could never just keep money that was given to my child. It wouldn't be right as it is not my money. If i was desperate i would borrow it but it would have to be repaid into their savings account.

lilac_lady

I gave money (cash) to a baby this Christmas but after reading some of the posts I'll be giving Mothercare vouchers from now on.

I don't think it's right to use money given to a child for other uses unless it's paid back as soon as possible. What would the parents have done if the cash wasn't available for them to use?

Katyag

When my boys, aged 9 and 3 get money for Christmas or birthday. We see how much they end up with each and then split it, 60%-40% or 70%-30% (depending on how much they have) they get to spend the smaller amount on toys they want but didnt get for that occasion and the higher amount gets put into their bank accounts for when they are older. I dont mean I add both boys money together, they each have a seperate amount and accounts.

They now both have a decent nest egg starting which will benefit them much more when they are 18 or whenever they get it than million more toys to add to the huge pile they have already!