. . . if I buy my in-laws a bottle of wine instead of a gift for their 1 year old?

[Iconfuseus]

Hello All,

I have no idea what to buy.

Last weekend we were supposed to pop down to DH's DB and SIL party for their 1 year old daughter. Unfortunately my DS and I were sick with a nasty cold and we couldn't go. I'd planned to get a gift the day before the party but this didn't happen due to illness.

We are going down this weekend instead and will drop off a gift then. Problem is I have no idea what to get. The factors are . . .

• They have an older DD so they already have more then enough toys for DD2 and probably feel they are drowning in a tidal wave of pink plastic and I don't really want to add to that burden.
  

• As a family we've agreed a 10 pound gift limit, which I whole heartedly approve of - but it does limit our options a bit.
  

• They have loads of books and if I buy a book it will probably be a repeat.
  

• What does a 1 year old DD really need anyway? I had to get rid of loads of unused toys and stuff from when my own DS was one.
  

• Our DN is going to have no memory of this birthday and will have no idea whether we buy her a gift or not.
  

I'm seriously tempted to just get them a nice bottle of wine and say this is for you in honour of her birthday - because I'm totally stumped for ideas.

Suggestions welcome

[Flexibilityisquay]

Can you not ring them and ask if there is something they would like you to get?

[EduCated]

What about a book or some Duplo that's not pink? Seems a bit odd to me, wine would be nice in addition, but not instead of.

[Daddypigsgusset]

Put the tenner in a card and they can put it in her bank

[VeryStressedMum]

Get a £10 voucher for the toy shop then they can get what they like.

[Iconfuseus]

Flex I could ring them but I feel embarrassed because I should technically have already of bought something by now.

EduCated They already have tons and tons of books/duplo etc. You name it they have it.

I might be projecting but I feel like all our kids are drowning in crap. I'm already dreading my own sons birthday and Christmas because I have no idea where we are going to put the inflowing stuff.

I was looking online at some nice children's art for their bedrooms, but it's all way over the 10 pound mark.

[deplorabelle]

Voucher for soft play or petting zoo or similar?

[attheendoftheday]

I'd get another book, but try to make it a more obscure one that they might not already have.

Or clothes. They'll presumably have loads of hand me downs, but it's nice to have something new (disclaimer: I don't give clothes to children old enough to be disappointed).

[MissCalamity]

What about a nice outfit? You can get some lovely things for £10 in the supermarkets.

I frequently buy clothes for kids birthday presents, especially younger children as I agree they often have too many toys.

[DizzyKipper]

Get something but give them a gift receipt?

[QuietBeforeTheStorm]

what about this...

www.livingsocial.com/deals/1244668-personalised-children-s-story-book

Was on the site earlier and thought about getting it and stashing it away for DDs Christmas.

[QuietBeforeTheStorm]

Ah actually you probably wouldn't receive it in time.

[WildFlowersAttractBees]

Pyjamas are always needed.

[Greyola]

Yanbu - but make it prosecco & tell them to toast surviving their first year of parenting two!

[QuietBeforeTheStorm]

Or how about a wee backpack? Or a nice lunchbox type bag?

[Namechangearooney]

I always appreciate nice 'basic' clothes, I would buy the nicest pair of tights that you could for £10 - or fancy legwarmers.

[Marcipex]

Buy a fun thing that gets used up eg giant bubble blower.

[BackforGood]

Definitely put the tenner in a card and ask that it gets saved for driving lessons or some such.
The 1 yr old will have no concept at all at the moment that there isn't a 'gift to open' from you, but the 17 yr old will really appreciate a small fund when they have to start forking out for driving lessons.
(Speaks as Mum to a ds having driving lessons who has been very appreciative of all those tenners I put away for him as a child).

[QuietBeforeTheStorm]

Personally if I gave money I would absolutely no way specify what it was to be used on.

[Droflove]

Just get the child a pressie, its her 1st birthday and although the points you make are logical, I think its a bit off not to make the occasion for her. There is a log you can get a 1yr old for £10. An adorable outfit for 18-24 size if you want to be practical? Some lovely books because they start to get v interested in books at this age. A tea set? Something that involves categorising and putting shapes into a container? An etch a sketch (she will love that when she's 18 mts or so). A pretty nightlight?

[Droflove]

Make=mark, log=lot....sorry.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Buy something that's targeted at boys, a brio train track or similar.

I always do that when faced with a family with lots of the same gender!

[Ragwort]

Just give the money in a nice card - we used to get so many presents for our child that we were over whelmed and really, really didn't want any more - if they want to buy something specific for the child they can choose - if not it goes into his savings account.

My DS (13) has already saved several £100s towards university/leaving home .

A one year old has no 'concept' of a gift.

[Ragwort]

TeWi - but not everyone wants brio - the number of Lego gifts we had over the years was horrendous - and my DS had absolutely no interest in Lego but it seems to be the default gift for boys .

[saoirse31]

Just buy something u think the child would like. You're massively overthinking this.

[saoirse31]

Just buy something u think the child would like. You're massively overthinking this.