Anonymous
Post 01/13/2024 20:26     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Insist that instead of wasting their money on junk that will eventually break or be trashed, they contribute the amount they'd use on those gifts to a 529 or another account for future education expenses.

We did this with my parents and ILs. They still bought the kid a present, but something much smaller and with a restricted price, like $20 or under for kids and $50 or under for tweens & teens.


The grandparents that want to wow their grandchildren with exciting gifts are the exact same grandparents who will balk at being ask to write a check to a 529 instead. Ask me how I know.

My kid's favorite grandparent does not get them big huge gifts on Christmas. In fact, she often gets them nothing! But the rest of the year she is engaged and loving and will treat them to things at other times (like Target impulse buys!). It's really do much better. They don't remember who got them what, but they do remember being made to feel special *any* other time of year too.


Exact same situation. She and grandma go to target once a week to pick a snack.
1SWMom
Post 01/13/2024 20:20     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:Ideas? Both sides of grandparents want to get something big. So far we have woom bike, toddler bed on our lists of things we were planning to buy that might be helpful. Anything else we should be thinking about? We have no outdoor space/backyard so no playset or other large outdoor toys.

Bounce house with water attachment (i even loan mine out)
We also did a large wooden indoor jungle gym at 2.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2023 22:21     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:I'd remind them that the 3 year old is easily wowed. When my oldest was that age she was thrilled to get Frozen branded PJs that cost maybe $9 from Kohls. Honestly, it was the hit of the year.

At age 3 my youngest kid also really loved getting their own little backpack.

I also like to recommend consumable things like washable paint, play doh, big bubbles, outdoor balls etc. All things that wear out.

A fuzzy blanket or giant squishmallow will also be a hit.


This tracks. I put this $2.50 glitter light-up Santa ball in my 3 yo's advent calendar last week; she is obsessed:
https://www.michaels.com/product/cre-cmas-chrctr-gltr-bll-santa-10727397
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2023 04:02     Subject: Re:Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:Ar people seriously giving 3 year olds iPads/tablets ?


Of course! Life saver!
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2023 17:18     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
How is your son’s room? Mine would love new cool furniture. A new bed (perhaps bunk beds for future sleepovers. Climbing wall in his room, etc.
Perhaps something like this:
https://www.wayfair.com/Sunside-Sails--Hager-Twin-Solid-Wood-Platform-Low-Loft-Bed-by-Sunside-Sails-X116111117-L1074-K~W005000006.html?refid=GX562164284346-W005000006_1757322257_1801131095&device=m&ptid=1222603799430&network=g&targetid=aud-1613017764926:pla-1222603799430&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=33560576&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=1757322257&PiID%5B%5D=1801131095&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ISC66FWgrYRY5MYFDCTDziYIQm&gclid=CjwKCAiApuCrBhAuEiwA8VJ6JghqY_47Ihlu9RSBFWbJVun7nJa2N5klcOfCW_NRGD1wfm9fN1FCuBoC8KQQAvD_BwE

https://www.wayfair.com/Zoomie-Kids--Aisling-Twin-Solid-Wood-Low-Loft-Bed-with-Ladder-Slide-Tent-and-Tower-X116381630-L1074-K~W005270529.html?refid=GX562164284361-W005270529_349216077_401931751&device=m&ptid=1344407925077&network=g&targetid=aud-1613017764926:pla-1344407925077&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=221140950&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=349216077&PiID%5B%5D=401931751&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ISC66FWgrYRY5MYFDCTDziYIQm&gclid=CjwKCAiApuCrBhAuEiwA8VJ6JuWPSHVW4u7xEdIEn1pX6-6GkafRWhSum9V4yFwSbepJ3mtJ1tuUwBoCuUAQAvD_BwE

Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 13:58     Subject: Re:Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
A bounce house! The little-kid sized one. My old neighbors had one that they would inflate in the driveway and it was the best thing ever.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 13:54     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:Insist that instead of wasting their money on junk that will eventually break or be trashed, they contribute the amount they'd use on those gifts to a 529 or another account for future education expenses.

We did this with my parents and ILs. They still bought the kid a present, but something much smaller and with a restricted price, like $20 or under for kids and $50 or under for tweens & teens.


The grandparents that want to wow their grandchildren with exciting gifts are the exact same grandparents who will balk at being ask to write a check to a 529 instead. Ask me how I know.

My kid's favorite grandparent does not get them big huge gifts on Christmas. In fact, she often gets them nothing! But the rest of the year she is engaged and loving and will treat them to things at other times (like Target impulse buys!). It's really do much better. They don't remember who got them what, but they do remember being made to feel special *any* other time of year too.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 13:51     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
I'd remind them that the 3 year old is easily wowed. When my oldest was that age she was thrilled to get Frozen branded PJs that cost maybe $9 from Kohls. Honestly, it was the hit of the year.

At age 3 my youngest kid also really loved getting their own little backpack.

I also like to recommend consumable things like washable paint, play doh, big bubbles, outdoor balls etc. All things that wear out.

A fuzzy blanket or giant squishmallow will also be a hit.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 13:41     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:what about one of those personalized pottery barn kids chairs if you have the space?


This is a gift for a 1 year old.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 13:39     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
I double the tonie box and/or nugget!
We have both and my 3 yearold and 8 yearold use them every day!

I chose the tonie over the yoto because it looked so much more fun for the kids with the little figurines. It has been a hit here, even for my 8 year old!
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 12:26     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
what about one of those personalized pottery barn kids chairs if you have the space?
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 12:04     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Sarah’s silk scarves, Duplo, scooter, Nugget, play kitchen with good Melissa and Doug play food sets, Yoto are all favorites.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 10:51     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:Nugget couch.


Yes! This would be awesome.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 10:42     Subject: Re:Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Would your grandparents really say ok to a 529? Mine might not be pleased and would view it as a cash grab probably. Im guessing they want the satisfaction of giving something physical and tangible, not fund something they think mom and dad should pay for.


No way - they would look at it as more of a gift to me bc they know I will pay for all that.


I agree. Both sets of our parents view funding college as my responsibility and they think I better fund 100% of it. They absolutely don't add to my kids' 529s.

Funny thing is that my grandparents (kids' great grandparents) all have 529s for my kids and put in a lot of money yearly. My grandma didn't get to go to college because her family only paid for sons. She's making sure that all of her daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters go (she pays for boys too, it just really means something for the girls to go).
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2023 10:31     Subject: Big ticket presents for 3 year old?
My 3 year olds' big ticket gifts:
-Yoto and yoto cards
-air fort (it's so cool! It inflates to be a tent with a box fan, but folds up very small for storage)