https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 13:38:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786267 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 07:25:36 +0000 Adira 2786267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: These are all great ideas, thanks! Sharing is pretty much expected in our household too, but I was curious what others did. I don't remember having to share a ton of toys with my brother growing up - I feel like we always just had two of everything!!</p> <p>We got the boys a play kitchen for last Christmas! It's a great gift because they can both play with it together! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786166 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:14:29 +0000 gingerbebe 2786166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our boys are 20 months apart. If its small stuff, like a cup, I get one for each boy. If its a little bigger, I get coordinating things - like one kid gets a Marshall figurine and one kid gets a Chase figurine. If its bigger, I say its for both of them and they have to share or take turns. Actually, taking turns and sharing is expected of any toys at our house, because frankly DS1's stuff is going to be handed down anyway so really its all for both of them.</p> <p>Because DS2 gets so many hand me downs from DS1, I try to give parity for certain things. For instance, DS2 has his own PBK Anywhere chair, personalized towels, and backpack. </p> <p>This year for Christmas, I think we're getting the kids an IKEA play kitchen and a bunch of the pots and pans and food. All the stuff for the boys on the Amazon wishlist for relatives is in one joint list and I'll just make sure there's an even number of items to open.</p> <p>For DS2's birthday, I asked for add-ons to things we've already got - more blocks, more Magnatiles, more V-Tech Smart Friends - so that it becomes a bigger set and easier to share. </p> <p>At some point, for bigger things, like tablets, we'll have to get one for each kid, but they're 3 and 18 months old right now, so I'm waiting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786161 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:02:33 +0000 snowjewelz 2786161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like K2 never needs anything; I picked out one thing that's "for her" so far and I'm just gonna pretend some stuff is hers; K1 will prob hog it all anyway and K2 doesn't care as long as she can get her hands on her sisters toys! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786083 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:59:53 +0000 looch 2786083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: That's what I would have done as well, they have no idea what the packaging looks like! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786080 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:46:55 +0000 Adira 2786080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: haha, I'm seriously considering doing this!!! Then they could be stocking stuffers too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786079 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:43:37 +0000 Smurfette 2786079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: just split open the package and wrap the figurines up for each of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786072 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:14:11 +0000 Adira 2786072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2littlepumpkins: Yeah, I didn't think this through. I just bought a PJ Masks set that has all the characters, but now that I think about it, it might've made more sense to buy the smaller sets so that I could give them each a small set of their own... but buying a set with all the characters was cheaper! But now I have a single "set" that they'll both want. Gahh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786070 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:05:08 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2786070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: +1! </p> <p>If I had two kids who were genuinely very interested in the same you I'd probably buy two though. Or two variations anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786068 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:01:44 +0000 Adira 2786068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Given them first dibs for the week and then making it communal makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that! Most of our toys are pretty much shared too, but if there's something we only have one of, they fight over it. I think I need to do a better job of giving each kid something AWESOME that the other kid will also enjoy. Until just recently, Logan didn't seem to care as much about toys and who's was who's, so Xander often got the awesome gift or it was given to both, but Xander took it over. That's not going to fly anymore now that Logan's almost 3! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786067 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 11:56:41 +0000 Truth Bombs 2786067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are 3 years apart and different genders but they still like a lot of the same toys. We buy them gifts that are given to just that child with the knowledge that often their sibling will enjoy it as well. At our house, you have to share, so even if the paw patrol plane was given to DS, that doesn't mean DD doesn't get to play with it too. We might give him first dibs for the first few weeks, but then it just becomes a part of the communal toy arsenal that is taking over my home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786019 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:04:00 +0000 PinkElephant 2786019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do I do? I struggle with it, I overbuy, and I regret it. They still find a way to fight over it. I have three girls 5.5, 3.5, and 1. The older two have been trying to repossess all of the 1 year old's birthday presents since October - really?!</p> <p>As an example, I had two different park-themed playsets (one hatchimals, one puppy in my pocket), when I realized we already HAVE a Little People playground as well. I decided enough is enough, and put back the puppy one - I'd originally only wanted the Hatchimal one for my 3 year old. I can always hope this will encourage playing together a little more?!?!? Maybe??!!</p> <p>I think I am making them SHARE (as in, putting both their names on the box) a set of Hatchimal Surprise Twins though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786018 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:00:58 +0000 ShootingStar 2786018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha, my kids are 30 months apart, different genders, and they still want to play with what the other one has. Doesn't matter if it's a baby toy, a ride on, legos, or whatever. All of our toys live in the playroom so we have to force them to share everything all the time. There's not really way at this point for us to say, "No that's your brother's toy" or vice versa.</p> <p>How are they going to play with the toys - in their rooms or in a shared space?</p> <p>In general I lean towards get only one of something unless it's going to cause a fight by not having two. For example, my kids constantly fight over chairs. We had one kids rocking chair for a while and they both wanted to sit in it constantly. But if it's a Little People set or trains or legos, they can either share or take turns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786009 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:48:32 +0000 Adira 2786009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: Totally with you that the older is easier to buy for! He's into more things, plus he's older, so I can buy him new stuff that we don't have, whereas there's not a ton of stuff that my younger wants that we either don't already have or that my older doesn't ALSO want! This year is going to be a STRUGGLE.</p> <p>But it helps to know I'm not alone! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786005 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:46:15 +0000 ValentineMommy 2786005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Girl.....I feel you. It's HARD.</p> <p>My boys are 2.5 years apart, but this year are really getting into the same things. For us, there are some things that each boy specifically likes that the other doesnt (Star Wars for the big boy, Peppa Pig for the younger), so they'll get that stuff for themselves. Then there are other things, like Paw Patrol, that they both like. </p> <p>Unfortunately, for us, it's a lot easier to buy stuff for DS1. I mean, he's super into Legos, so that opens a whole world of toys that are too small/advanced for DS2. So, DS2 is getting some Paw Patrol stuff that I know DS1 is going to want to play with too.</p> <p>Basically, I'd just split it up and deal with the repercussions. At least in my household, they're going to fight over them anyway, no matter who it is "given" to. </p> <p>That probably didn't help....but at least you know you're not alone! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-vs-together-gifts#post-2786000 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:34:45 +0000 Adira 2786000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do you decide whether to make something a gift to both (all) your kids, give it to just one kid, or buy two (or more) of the same thing to give one to each kid??</p> <p>I have two boys who are only 21 months apart and they are interested in all the same things. I'm really struggling on how to figure out what to give each kid without having to buy two of everything or having them be disappointed that they didn't get something the other did OR forcing to share EVERYTHING. </p> <p>What do you guys do? </p>