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They never have, in previous years. This year we are thinking about getting them a play kitchen, so it might be the first/only year we do a big gift. It will be a shared gift, and maybe some small gifts to go along with it like some food sets. They don't need any clothes at all, and they are set on books, so I'm not even doing want/need/wear/read this year.

We have gotten a big gift the past 2 years but won't this year because we are going to Disney in March. They are each just getting a Christmas dress, a book, and a small toy from us plus stockings. Last year our older daughter cried because she was overwhelmed with presents and our younger one will be just 2 months old so I don't think they will care anyway.

@Bao: how is the washer dryer? I was considering it. I also thought the grocery stand would be good to hold food stuff.

I don't know what we will get her his year. Last year was the first xmas she really got it, and she got a play kitchen that gets used daily still. I feel pressure to get something big, but I also don't want it to take away from her using the kitchen. I'm considering a doll house as her big gift, but may forego it this year and wait for her birthday or next year. She really doesn't need anything or even seem bored with what she has, so I don't know what to get!

We don't usually do a big gift. I know one year we got her a nice play kitchen set up but it just happened to coincide with something we thought was age appropriate that we wanted to get anyway and there was a good online deal for the holidays.

We get her things as she needs them throughout the year. For example, when she was ready for a bike we got her a bike. We didn't wait until Christmas to reveal a big special gift for her. I think Christmas is already such a magical time of year that a big gift isn't necessary and I just don't want Christmas to be all about expecting some huge gift they've been waiting for all year. I know this may change as she gets older but for now getting her some little special gifts is enough. And having all the other special traditions is enough. She gets so many gifts for her birthday a month before Christmas anyway. And we do get her several things she loves to open on Christmas but nothing huge or expensive or extravagant. And for now that works great for us

My kids have never gotten a big gift for the holidays. We are like @sandy: and we buy certain things as needed like a bike or scooter. So far though, neither of them have expressed an interest in a big gift.

We aren't doing a big gift either, I may open the manga tiles and build something with them for more of a wow factor. Last year she was 1.5 and we got her a duplo barn set that we built for her since she was so little and it worked out really nicely as a "big" gift.

Nope. We didn't even really do gifts last year... Our families aren't huge gifts people. I get her what she needs through out the year, and she can get big or small gifts depending what she's missing.

We already spent a lot of $ on doing her big girl room recently so she won't be getting any "big" gifts.

@SweetiePie: that's us! We actually just sold a bunch of our bigger items, because we both agree we weren't getting anything else large until we got rid of it all. So we sold the activity cube, the play table, 1 ride on toy that someone handed down to us, and the V-tech walker. And are replacing all that with a smaller sized play kitchen.

So basically, our apartment will still have lots of kid crap, but different kid crap.

Yes, however we were in the same boat this year, they just did not need anything big. So we decided to take a mini vacation as their "big gift" and we are going to Great Wolf Lodge which is 3 hours away. Santa usually brings the big gifts, but this year Santa is bringing a smaller toy for each and mom and dad get to do the "fun" gift!

A big gift doesn't have to be an object, it can be an experience...those are always memorable, like lessons to something or a membership.

I'm a big fan of "experience" gifts in lieu of toys. I've done swim lessons, gymnastics and dance class in the past. This year, I was thinking of a zoo membership and membership to a children's museum! My kids are young and don't really ask for anything. Plus, they get so much from grandparents and uncles/aunts, so we never go overboard.

Before I liked to get the kids one big gift and maybe a few smaller ones. Now that they're older, we do it a little different. Each person in the family gifts one item of their choosing to the birthday/christmas child. Sometimes it's simple like a puzzle and book. Other times it's a $20 toy.

Last year LO asked for an ice cream set for his birthday, and I already had it in my stash of extra toys. It worked out. He got what he asked for, and we didn't have to spend a lot of money.

You could always consider putting a smaller gift in an organizing storage container. Like art supplies in pull out drawers or a table top organizer. Or Lego with a bit lego bucket. Makes the gift look bigger and gives you storage.