A MUM has shared her shock after being given “insane” gift requirements ahead of attending a child’s fourth birthday party.
Brittany Robinson confirmed her three-year-old daughter would attend, before the parent throwing the party sent a list of rules to follow when it comes to bringing a gift.
Brittany Robinson was shocked when she got the list of gift requirements[/caption]
People slammed the party after the mum shared the weird request on TikTok[/caption]
The strict list of requirements included no plastic and no toys that make noise[/caption]
The 37-year-old was horrified to learn that colourful presents, toys that make noises, and anything with plastic or wasteful materials were not welcome gifts.
“I was stunned,” Brittany, a sales executive from Southwest Florida, US, told What’s The Jam.
She shared her reaction on TikTok titled “kids bday gifts are insane!”, which garnered a whopping 2.8 million views.
In the video, she says: “Birthday parties now are really getting out of control.
“My daughter was sent an invitation and we RSVP’d, and then like three days before the party, the mother sends out a text to all of us parents.
“She was like, ‘We have a strict rhetoric that we’d like you parents to follow when picking out gifts.”
Brittany goes on to list that the mother had asked for gifts that don’t have any colour, don’t make noises, and are ‘waste-free’.
She added: “I Googled ‘waste free’ gifts and that means nothing that comes in packaging that is plastic, and no plastic toys – nothing that has plastic that would be thrown out.
“And then it can’t be colourful and it can’t make any noise.
“Then she said if you can’t abide by these stipulations, or whatever word she used, just give [the child] a handmade card.”
The mum also specifically added not to just buy a card, because that will also produce waste.
Brittany said she thought the list of requirements was “extreme” and asked viewers if any other parents had experienced this.
She even doubted if she wanted to bother taking her little one to the celebration.
“I don’t want to make a mistake and be the one that broke the rules.
“It was so much easier in the 90s,” she said.
Ultimately, the mum decided against her child attending the party in fear of offending the parent with her gift choice.
TikTokers shared their thoughts on the fiasco, with one commenting: “Demanding a specific gift rule is INSANE.”
“I would gift a book but also be very annoyed cuz this is bizarre,” another viewer wrote.
Someone else added: “I would immediately laugh and disregard all instructions because WHAT.”
One person offered a gift suggestion: “So like a rock?”
“How old is the kid?? This is bananas,” said another viewer.
Someone else added: “‘Please don’t bring my child anything that would bring them joy’.”
One person joked: “Is the mom Kourtney Kardashian?”
“Perhaps the child would enjoy a sourdough starter?” another quipped.
However, others felt the rules were appropriate.
One person said: “We have the EXACT same gift rules, we said we’d rather not receive a gift then receive a noisy colourful obnoxious toy that we will not use and donate.
“We don’t do toys that are too bright, have any sounds and we try to stick to recycled materials and such – natural toys and materials like wooden toys etc. 100% relate to them.”
Another supporter commented: “Living zero waste is a great thing to support! I think these asks are a good example of being proactive about mindful consumption and what we bring into our homes.”
The insane list of gift requirements made the mum think twice about attending[/caption]
How much do experts advise spending on a child’s birthday?
A study by major toy retailer TK Maxx revealed that one in three parents admit to spending less on presents for their own children and their children’s friends compared to five years ago.
Average Spend: Parents spend an average of £175 on birthday gifts for their kids, while presents for their children’s friends can cost up to £95 a year, adding extra strain on household finances.
Gifts and Parties: Children receive around 12 presents per birthday, and parents take their kids to an average of four birthday parties annually.
Top Five Gifts Parents Buy for Children:
Clothes: 49%
Books: 46%
Technology: 39%
Traditional Board Games: 38%
Remote Controlled Toys: 26%
Dolls: 25%
How Much Should You Spend on a Child’s Birthday?
Experts generally suggest keeping birthday spending reasonable and within the family’s budget. A common guideline is to spend around £10 to £20 per year of the child’s age. For example:
5-year-old: £50 to £100
Remember, the focus should be on creating memorable experiences rather than adhering strictly to a spending rule.
Simple, thoughtful, and creative celebrations can often be just as enjoyable and meaningful for the child.
