Gift shopping for family kid that you don't know well

[Anonymous]

DH's family are not into birthday/holiday celebration, and none of us (we have a 3 year old plus baby, and BIL has a 3 year old) gets together to celebrate for little kid's birthday yet. We all live local. However, we do mail gifts for the kid's birthday & Christmas if we cannot meet together. It is painful to shop for gifts because I don't even know what their little girl likes & I am the one doing the shopping. DH does not want do the shopping, but he wants me to do it. I only have seen her once this year, and I am surprised that her interests have changed so much. Last year, she loved to wear t-shirt plus pants, running around like a monkey, was into blocks and cars. This year she is so ladylike, wear dress & little purse, loves all girly things (tutu dress, princess & all blink blink & flower thing). I am glad that I didn't get her any blocks this year for her birthday gift.

How do you do gift shopping in this case if you have no clues that what the other kids like at all? DH does not want to ask the parents (BIL) because he says it is supposed to be a surprised gift. I always buy genetic gifts, like top 10 best gifts for girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH's family are not into birthday/holiday celebration, and none of us (we have a 3 year old plus baby, and BIL has a 3 year old) gets together to celebrate for little kid's birthday yet. We all live local. However, we do mail gifts for the kid's birthday & Christmas if we cannot meet together. It is painful to shop for gifts because I don't even know what their little girl likes & I am the one doing the shopping. DH does not want do the shopping, but he wants me to do it. I only have seen her once this year, and I am surprised that her interests have changed so much. Last year, she loved to wear t-shirt plus pants, running around like a monkey, was into blocks and cars. This year she is so ladylike, wear dress & little purse, loves all girly things (tutu dress, princess & all blink blink & flower thing). I am glad that I didn't get her any blocks this year for her birthday gift.

How do you do gift shopping in this case if you have no clues that what the other kids like at all? DH does not want to ask the parents (BIL) because he says it is supposed to be a surprised gift. I always buy genetic gifts, like top 10 best gifts for girl.

I sometimes look at the Amazon shopping guides for the specific age group to get ideas. I stick with pretty generic gifts and include a gift receipt. That's the best you can do.

Sometimes I'll get a gift that is more something for the family to do together. For example, we got Exploding Kittens (card game) for an 8yo birthday because my kids got such a kick out of it.

[Anonymous]

For a little girl that is just getting into dressing girly, maybe hairbows or some inexpensive, age-appropriate jewelry, bubble-bath, etc. You'll pretty much just have to pick something if you can't ask the parents.

[Anonymous]

If she’s your niece why not open a 529 and just put $50 each birthday and Christmas? That’s what we did. Especially at these young ages where they don’t get toys.

Or send an amazon gift card.

[Anonymous]

It can be a surprise to your niece even if you ask the parents. Other than that just be sure it is easy to return.. Seems like if you only see each other once a year you do not have to exchange gifts. 529 could be a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Gift card from Amazon or if they don’t feel comfortable with that I send some age appropriate amazon books with a gift receipt.

[Anonymous]

Art supplies

[Anonymous]

Kiwi crate subscription

[Anonymous]

I always just pick books from Barnes and noble that we have enjoyed. They will exchange them if she already has them. I’m okay with being the book aunt.

[Anonymous]

My kid got some lego duplo for her third birthday that she totally loved. i believe that have a few that are more 'girly' themed - princess, unicorn etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH's family are not into birthday/holiday celebration, and none of us (we have a 3 year old plus baby, and BIL has a 3 year old) gets together to celebrate for little kid's birthday yet. We all live local. However, we do mail gifts for the kid's birthday & Christmas if we cannot meet together. It is painful to shop for gifts because I don't even know what their little girl likes & I am the one doing the shopping. DH does not want do the shopping, but he wants me to do it. I only have seen her once this year, and I am surprised that her interests have changed so much. Last year, she loved to wear t-shirt plus pants, running around like a monkey, was into blocks and cars. This year she is so ladylike, wear dress & little purse, loves all girly things (tutu dress, princess & all blink blink & flower thing). I am glad that I didn't get her any blocks this year for her birthday gift.

How do you do gift shopping in this case if you have no clues that what the other kids like at all? DH does not want to ask the parents (BIL) because he says it is supposed to be a surprised gift. I always buy genetic gifts, like top 10 best gifts for girl.

What does how she dresses have to do with whether she likes blocks? I'm a former preschool teacher, and I've never seen a correlation between tutus and disliking blocks.

Books are always a wonderful gift for 3 year olds. They don't need to be "books for girls", there are plenty of wonderful books that all sorts of kids like. If you also have a 3 year old, get some books that he likes. (I'm assuming gender given that you're acting like girls are some unfamiliar species). Since no one likes shopping, order the books on Amazon, pay for gift wrapping, and have them shipped.

[Anonymous]

Play-doh set. I’m a preschool teacher and every three year old I’ve met loves play-doh.

[Anonymous]

Art supplies, play doh, chalk, bubble stuff, classic books, magnifying glass, bath toys, cookie cutters, binoculars, any add-on for a set that she currently enjoys. I've never known a child to not enjoy Magna-Tiles.