Etiquette/presents for 1 year olds.

SavingPennies_2

Hi after some advice as I don't have or know many children Im a bit stuck.

Two (seperate) friends have children with 1 year birthdays coming up. For one I will be attending the party, for another I will be visiting around the time of the birthday (although not specifically for it).

I have bought cards. Im inclined to think that 1 year olds cant want or need much that they havent already got and therefore was thinking I wont buy a present. I dont want to waste money or buy something that wont get used but at the same time dont want to upset anyone. What is the general etiquette?

Would you buy a present? If so any ideas im clueless!? It's for a boy and a girl.

plumpmouse

SavingPennies wrote: »

Hi after some advice as I don't have or know many children Im a bit stuck.

Two (seperate) friends have children with 1 year birthdays coming up. For one I will be attending the party, for another I will be visiting around the time of the birthday (although not specifically for it).

I have bought cards. Im inclined to think that 1 year olds cant want or need much that they havent already got and therefore was thinking I wont buy a present. I dont want to waste money or buy something that wont get used but at the same time dont want to upset anyone. What is the general etiquette?

Would you buy a present? If so any ideas im clueless!? It's for a boy and a girl.

I would certainly buy a gift for the one whose party you are going to. And depending on how close you are to the parents I would also probably buy one for the other child.

I think you are right in that 1 years don't need/want much but you could buy them both a really nice book. Guess how much I love you is one of my favourites!

Have a look on the bookpeople

*max*

I don't think it's worth risking upsetting the parents for the sake of a few pounds, personally. Get something small, like a soft toy maybe, but do get something.

365days

On my DS's 1st birthday two lovely friends clubbed together and got ME a day at a spa.

Depending on how close you are to parents you could go down the 'I'll babysit and heres a resturant voucher' route.

Gillyx

I'd agree, I wouldn't go empty handed. I second the book idea, they always get used and we love having a variety here.

[Deleted User]

You buy your friends kids presents on their birthdays; that's the etiquette

Best thing to get - vouchers for a clothes shop, since kids ALWAYS need more clothes. We always liked Next vouchers as they have pretty decent kids clothes. Books are ok, but unless you get a 'decent' one they can end up in a pile and never read.

Make-it-3

If you were my friend I wouldn't be offended. I don't buy gifts/cards for my friend's children and vis versa.

If you are invited to a birthday party then I would take a contribution or flowers or something for the mother (a nice luxury hand cream is always a good one as us mothers are constantly hand washing which makes the skin dry).

First birthdays are more about the parents celebrating anyway the kid doesn't know what it means.

jackieblack

plumpmouse wrote: »

Guess how much I love you is one of my favourites!

Oh, ours too! We know it by heart
(My DD is 17 now and if she's away overnight and feeling homesick we sometimes text each other with little quotes :lovethoug)

fluffnutter

I wouldn't be offended if someone didn't buy my child a present but it can be fun choosing something for children. Most decent places that sell toys will categorise by age, e.g. John Lewis, ELC and you can go in and ask what their popular toys are for a one year old. I've found the staff in ELC in particular really helpful.

lostinrates

I don't buy cards for tinies. But I do buy little gifts. Usually rag books or noisey books or other baby books which I am then prepared to sit and read making a fool of myself making funny noises and voices.


Otherwise an appropriate thing as steered to by the people in ELC or whereever.

fluffnutter

I don't buy cards either. The kid couldn't care less and I've got a bit of a thing about the greetings card industry anyway - a load of pointless, overpriced, resource-heavy rubbish that just ends up in landfill. Just a personal belief of course