hmm elijahs birthday is coming up. we are going for a day out and have saved some pennies but we dont really have much money atm so i need to choose something to get him for less than £50. i am a bit heartbroken really because this is his first birthday ever, but we have a couple of toys from christmas that we put away knowing we wouldn't have much now so we are going to give him those...is that really horrible??!

i was thinking like megabloks and a brio toddler wobbler (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00004T19V/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE) or something?

not sure what he would definitely use, don't want to waste pennies on things he won't really need.....i was also going to get him some waterproof dungarees for summer but maybe that isn't much of a bday gift

I really wouldn't feel bad. We bought Immi a special bracelet for her bday but nothing else. Or i can't remember buying anything else. She barely plays with toys that i just didn't want to waste my money and i knew she's get spoilt by others.. which she did.
I would go with megablocks as thats about one of the only things Immi will play with and i know my neices and nephew love them too.

see he really loves his stacking cups and has for a couple of months so i guess the megabloks are sort of a step up from that? im hoping he won't get too bored as we have a garden this year so new things to explore...

Tyler has blocks and he's just not interested in them, if he does ever play with them its for about 5 minutes and then he loses interest. His favourite things are hiding inside his pop up tent that we got from Amazon. He also loves just pushing around cars. you can get some really good ones.

I am planning to get some garden toys for LO this year as it will be the summer. Like a slide, i have a little pool for him. I find it hard even if u do have the money. Get him a little trike bike thing from amazon on cheap.

Char

he has a couple of little fisher price cars he likes a lot and a wooden push along turtle, i saw this though http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10094767 looks pretty cheap n fun!

Why dont you try and get 2nd hand toys? Much more for less

Hey I wouldn't feel bad at all. We spent less than £50 on ellie for the simple reason we didn't think she'd play with anything anyway! We were right. We got a vtec thing that gets great reviews but she's only just started to play with it. I'm sure he'll appreciate the day out though.

I've got older kids and they cost a fortune because they tell me what they want! So don't feel bad because pretty soon your little man will be asking for footy kits and trainers etc!

that tent looks fab! Like I say Tyler loves his, he hides in it and we play peek a boo and sometimes he just likes to sit and play quietly in it. You could get some outdoor toys like a paddling pool or sand pit or something?

I really wouldnt worry about it... Aimee didnt ever play with anything we got her for her 1st birthday, they just dont get it at that age.

Sticklebricks are good too, and something he can play with as he gets older.

x

i feel loads better reading this, thanks ladies. i saw elc do a my first paddling pool for £4 so i can maybe just get a few bits for the next few months it just seems like i should be doing/giving him something special!!

I wouldn't feel bad about it. Chances are his going to be more interested in the wrapping paper.

that's true...maybe i'll just get him a cardboard box for his birthday

We didn't buy Flick a 1st birthday pressie
We went to the zoo
We didn't really get her anything for her first christmas or last christmas. We got her clothes 1 st Xmas and clothes and talking Iggle Piggle and Makka Pakka last Xmas x

Have to say callum didnt really play with his stuff at 1 x
But he got a ball pit which he loved at that age not so much now and u can do that so cheap too x

That tent looks great. Me and hubby are going to get one for Immi, i think she'd love it.
We bought Immi a paddling pool last year for £2 in Asda (tesco do them too) and we got some balls to fill it and she loved it. had it out most of last summer. It's great cause you can have it outside with water when it's nice or inside with the balls when it's a bad day.

I was gonna suggest same as terri-have you considered looking on ebay for some bits? theres some lovely as new stuff on there. Might make your money go further. Also the 2 for 15 pound toys in argos are good value for money. Dont fret though. And yes give him the3 xmas stuff hes not gona know honey xxx

oooh thats a really good idea shell, i think elc do them? its hard to judge what he will find amusing in a month from now he seems to be changing so quickly!

Oh an idea for you not necc for bd but just for fun - get some plastic bottles, wash em out and fill one with lentils and one with popcorn kernels. Bing instant maracas. I made c some about 18 months ago and she still plays with em now. Money free toy

I know what you mean, you think they're into something then next week they change and it's boring for them now. I must say the paddling pool &balls have lasted ages for us. She had it filled with balls in her bedroom all winter and she was still playing with it. This thread had actually reminded me to get it out of the boxes i still have yet to unpack

And bubbles! C adores her bubble machine we got her at a year so mcuh that when it broke the grandparetns replaced it cos she was gutted.

Sorryill shut up now

awesome ideas! mario, eli has some of those film canisters with lentils and beans and stuff in that he loves, and a fireguard that makes a splendid noise when bashed (ahem ) i think just being inventive is a good idea, we are making the old pond into a sandpit too so a bucket for that will probably be cheap

Also have a look in the pound shop they sometimes have some good cheap toys believe it or not!

And dont forget some bath crayons lol!!! Im like a bath crayon pusher i think every house should have some!

what do you do with the crayons when c has gone to bed sniff them i bet