Mom Shares What Her Only Child Got For Their First Christmas, Splits The Internet
Christmas is a joyous occasion for many families, who tend to use this chance to enjoy quality time together and maybe treat their loved ones to a gift or two.
It’s no surprise that kids often receive quite a few of them, especially when grandparents are involved. This TikToker went viral after she showed what her baby’s—who happens to be an only grandchild—first Christmas looked like. Needless to say, Santa was rather generous.
This woman went viral after she showed the number of gifts her baby got for its first Christmas
Image credits: mjbex
Some gifts were likely sent by grandma
Image credits: mjbex
Image credits: mjbex
Image credits: mjbex
Image credits: mjbex
Image credits: mjbex
The TikToker’s video seemingly split the internet into two camps
@mjbex Baby’s First Christmas 👶🏼🎄💸 #firstchristmas #onlygrandchild #nanna #vtech #merrychristmas @snapshades #spoilt #santa #babysfirstchristmas #toys ♬ It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters
Some people enjoy gift-giving more than others
Image credits: Porapak Apichodilok / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Not all people are equally enchanted by the idea of getting every loved one a gift for Christmas, not to mention multiple ones. But for some people, few things are more exciting, which is why they might go crazy during the holiday season; and quite a few people seemingly do.
Statistics reveal that Americans, for instance, spend nearly a thousand dollars on holiday shopping on average. Even though that’s reportedly nearly the same amount as the median pre-tax weekly salary, if people can afford it and they want to spoil their family and friends a little, why not do it?
Such thinking often becomes especially favorable when it comes to family, and kids in particular. Showering the littles ones with love, attention, quality time, gifts, or any other expression of care and fondness, on Christmas—or any other time, for that matter—is something many parents, grandparents, and other close people can hardly resist.
A 2023 survey revealed that nearly one in five parents are planning to spend more than $200 on gifts per child. Roughly 15% of them are looking for something for more than $100 to $150, and the same number hope to find something for more than $25 to $50 per kid.
Needless to say, it doesn’t have to be a huge expensive gift for a child to be happy with it (the viral video of a boy receiving an avocado is a great example of that); it doesn’t even have to be a palpable one. But at the end of the day, it’s up to the parents to decide what their bundle of joy might like best and what they themselves can come up with, find, or organize.
Gifts can make both the giver and the receiver feel good
Image credits: JESHOOTS.com / Pexels (not the actual photo)
But why is it that some people enjoy showering others with gifts more than others? Or even more than receiving them themselves? Also, what makes a good gift-giver? These questions are difficult to answer as there can be many reasons for each of them; but some experts believe it often relates to a sense of sociability and accomplishment.
An expert in the psychology of gift-giving, professor of psychology at University of Worcester, UK, Daniel Farrelly, told BBC that humans are an extremely social species, which is why we want to get along well and cooperate with others. One of the best ways to do it is gift giving, and Christmas is an excellent occasion for that, the expert suggested.
Presenting someone with a gift can benefit both of the involved parties as in addition to the smile on the receiver’s face, it can make the giver feel good, too. Another expert studying the psychology of gift-giving, professor of business administration at University of Pittsburgh, US, Peggy Liu, pointed out that for some people on a similar mission as Santa, giving gifts can bring a sense of accomplishment and make them feel good about themselves, which becomes a motivating force to continue to do it.
Liu also emphasized that some people are better at giving gifts than others, as they tend to be more attentive, organized, and are typically on top of things in life, in general. Bearing that in mind, it’s not that surprising that moms seem to be the best at giving gifts, according to last year’s survey. It revealed that more than half of the 2,000 surveyed Americans seek the title of the best gift-giver in the family, one in four of them saying that their biggest competition is mom.
It is unclear if all the items in the TikToker’s video were gifts the baby received from their mother. (The bib and the audio suggest that the grandparents might have been involved, too, and their gift-giving habits are often a whole other story.) Be it as it may, the video sparked varied opinions, which netizens shared in the comments under the mom’s post.
Some believed that a child this age doesn’t need that many gifts
Others saw no harm in covering the little one with gifts if the family has the means for it
“Stop making stupid people famous” I hope this will happen in 2024. I’m not holding my breath. :(
Load More Replies...A baby doesn't need any Christmas gifts at all. If the grandparents want to pitch in with gifting the parents some clothes or other useful baby stuff that's fine. But the baby doesn't even know what's going on.
Nobody *needs* Christmas gifts. This is too many but books are good. Babies may not remember the first couple years, but it still affects their growth.
Load More Replies...Crazy quantity aside, the baby won't even remember any of this. No one remembers the first 2-3 years of their lives.
I was that parent, not her first year but after the second I would over do it. Kid doesn't remember, and the money I spent could have been put towards her future instead of toys that will be thrown away or donated. She will realize the waste when she's already spent too much.
Unless people have kids, or MULTIPLE, themselves. They don't understand how much SPACE this takes up. Especially after just a few Xmas and birthdays.
Babies are like dogs and cats. They will always like the boxes better than whatever is inside.
Personally I wouldn't buy that many gifts even for a first child first Christmas because the kid doesn't care. A couple toys and then clothes and general baby stuff. Nothing extravagant nothing expensive. But it's also not my business what they do with their money it's entirely up to them how much they be spending on their kid and how many gifts they think their kid needs. They're excited so it's understandable that they decide to post it online and I think people should just be happy and excited for them even if it is way too many gifts
Pick out 3-5 toys for play, store the rest. When baby tires of the first batch, switch them out for a new batch and donate the previous one. I did this the whole time my son was a kid and it was fun! It was like he had brand new stuff each couple of weeks and someone else still benefited from the donations! As he got older he would go in his room and pick things out to donate around his birthday and Christmas and he loved taking them to the donation centers. We even did clothes and shoes like this. He had a lot of relatives and friends buying fir him as he is still at 19 the only grandchild on his father's side and 1 of 2 on my side. Some bdays I would put a list of gift ideas in the invitations so people knew exactly what to get and it cut down on the more extravagant items that may not have been age appropriate.
See THIS is a smart idea. Or even if you have the space just rotate them every month.
Load More Replies...I put my foot down for the first 3 years for both my kids. Birthdays and Christmas gifts were 1-3 toys/books and everything else had to be clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, etc. The best part is everybody's stuck to that. As my daughter's gotten older (she's 10), her gifts are starting to change from inexpensive toys to actual cool stuff. Last year, her dad and I got her a telescope, and this year she's getting a microscope and a crystal growing kit so she can look at the crystals under the microscope (she's very much into science).
I really, REALLY hope that is going to charity after. That is an insane amount of things for someone who has no idea what is happening.
My youngest (who was 1 on NYE 2021) got his big brothers old toys rewrapped. They were in perfect condition so why not? And just as I thought they were only played with a short time so then got passed on to his younger cousin. People be stupid.
Way too much much stocking filler c**p that the baby will lose interest in in under a minute each. Why not co ordinate and get a 1/2 dozen quality items? AKA have grand parents chip in together and get one decent $200 present that will last and not end up thrown into a corner and trampled on or thrown out?
I think the key thing people are missing is that this wasnt the mom spoiling her kid. The caption said grandchild. There are lots of reasons a grandma would go all out like this. I count at least 12 books and at least 10 shirts, and toys that look to range a little with their targeted age. Maybe grandma knows Mom can't afford much and wants to keep them set for as long as she can manage without making it feel like charity. Maybe she's up there in age and worries this could be her only chance to spoil her grandbaby even if they WON'T remember it. Maybe she's expecting another baby on the way soon and knows the extra toys will come in handy. Or maybe, just maybe, she just wanted an opportunity to spoil her grandchild and it's NOBODY'S FREAKING BUSINESS
Damn the shelters and thrift stores nearby are sure going to be happy in the next 2-3 months when she realizes how much space the toys her fetus isn't able to play with take up. Lol kid doesnt even look old enough to hold up their head
It may be alot but if most of the toys aren't touched then if she has another or if a family/friend has one she will have them to use and give. Buy now store give later. Works everytime
Why does anyone care? Why is this bs being posted online??? So that it can be talked about elsewhere. Ugh.
That's why I'm controlling and partly even forbidding giving gifts. My mother in law is crazy about getting gifts and I already had to forbid her to buy stuff unless she talked with me about the necessity of it.
Why do people, like the woman above, assume that it must be jealousy when others suggest, rightly, that it is far too much to spend on a baby? Jealousy doesn't come into it. If I was a millionaire I wouldn't spend that much on a baby. It's common sense, not a lack of funds that stop us doing the same. Yes, things could be put aside for when he's older but don't forget he'll have a birthday coming up. Plus next Christmas, and the one after that, etc etc.
The "firsts" in a babies' life are not m ade for babies. The first birthday, the first christmas is to throw all material things onto this little human who is then expected to be happy about that. A child at this young age isn't aware that it owns this huge piles of stuff now, neither will it play with all of this (and rarely the "right way"). Maybe the most exciting toy is a thumb or a mitten. So why not having some nice toys and a lot of time you spend with the children and the toys playing and having fun? And if it plays with the box the toy came in, try not to be disappointed!
I mean its a lot of stuff for a baby, but a lot of grandparents love to spoil their first grand babies (my parents included), but in that spoiling, I have been able to donate a ton of stuff to families in need whenever my little dude is too old to use/play with things
No s**t it's her money, do you really think anyone is demanding a say in how she spends it? No, they're just pointing out the stupidity of the ordeal.
Load More Replies...oh let them have their fun and spoil their first child/grandchild for their first Christmas together. A lot of those gifts are for toddlers, so they will last a few years and also probably get handed down to future kids or friends/family who have kids too.
“Stop making stupid people famous” I hope this will happen in 2024. I’m not holding my breath. :(
Load More Replies...A baby doesn't need any Christmas gifts at all. If the grandparents want to pitch in with gifting the parents some clothes or other useful baby stuff that's fine. But the baby doesn't even know what's going on.
Nobody *needs* Christmas gifts. This is too many but books are good. Babies may not remember the first couple years, but it still affects their growth.
Load More Replies...Crazy quantity aside, the baby won't even remember any of this. No one remembers the first 2-3 years of their lives.
I was that parent, not her first year but after the second I would over do it. Kid doesn't remember, and the money I spent could have been put towards her future instead of toys that will be thrown away or donated. She will realize the waste when she's already spent too much.
Unless people have kids, or MULTIPLE, themselves. They don't understand how much SPACE this takes up. Especially after just a few Xmas and birthdays.
Babies are like dogs and cats. They will always like the boxes better than whatever is inside.
Personally I wouldn't buy that many gifts even for a first child first Christmas because the kid doesn't care. A couple toys and then clothes and general baby stuff. Nothing extravagant nothing expensive. But it's also not my business what they do with their money it's entirely up to them how much they be spending on their kid and how many gifts they think their kid needs. They're excited so it's understandable that they decide to post it online and I think people should just be happy and excited for them even if it is way too many gifts
Pick out 3-5 toys for play, store the rest. When baby tires of the first batch, switch them out for a new batch and donate the previous one. I did this the whole time my son was a kid and it was fun! It was like he had brand new stuff each couple of weeks and someone else still benefited from the donations! As he got older he would go in his room and pick things out to donate around his birthday and Christmas and he loved taking them to the donation centers. We even did clothes and shoes like this. He had a lot of relatives and friends buying fir him as he is still at 19 the only grandchild on his father's side and 1 of 2 on my side. Some bdays I would put a list of gift ideas in the invitations so people knew exactly what to get and it cut down on the more extravagant items that may not have been age appropriate.
See THIS is a smart idea. Or even if you have the space just rotate them every month.
Load More Replies...I put my foot down for the first 3 years for both my kids. Birthdays and Christmas gifts were 1-3 toys/books and everything else had to be clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, etc. The best part is everybody's stuck to that. As my daughter's gotten older (she's 10), her gifts are starting to change from inexpensive toys to actual cool stuff. Last year, her dad and I got her a telescope, and this year she's getting a microscope and a crystal growing kit so she can look at the crystals under the microscope (she's very much into science).
I really, REALLY hope that is going to charity after. That is an insane amount of things for someone who has no idea what is happening.
My youngest (who was 1 on NYE 2021) got his big brothers old toys rewrapped. They were in perfect condition so why not? And just as I thought they were only played with a short time so then got passed on to his younger cousin. People be stupid.
Way too much much stocking filler c**p that the baby will lose interest in in under a minute each. Why not co ordinate and get a 1/2 dozen quality items? AKA have grand parents chip in together and get one decent $200 present that will last and not end up thrown into a corner and trampled on or thrown out?
I think the key thing people are missing is that this wasnt the mom spoiling her kid. The caption said grandchild. There are lots of reasons a grandma would go all out like this. I count at least 12 books and at least 10 shirts, and toys that look to range a little with their targeted age. Maybe grandma knows Mom can't afford much and wants to keep them set for as long as she can manage without making it feel like charity. Maybe she's up there in age and worries this could be her only chance to spoil her grandbaby even if they WON'T remember it. Maybe she's expecting another baby on the way soon and knows the extra toys will come in handy. Or maybe, just maybe, she just wanted an opportunity to spoil her grandchild and it's NOBODY'S FREAKING BUSINESS
Damn the shelters and thrift stores nearby are sure going to be happy in the next 2-3 months when she realizes how much space the toys her fetus isn't able to play with take up. Lol kid doesnt even look old enough to hold up their head
It may be alot but if most of the toys aren't touched then if she has another or if a family/friend has one she will have them to use and give. Buy now store give later. Works everytime
Why does anyone care? Why is this bs being posted online??? So that it can be talked about elsewhere. Ugh.
That's why I'm controlling and partly even forbidding giving gifts. My mother in law is crazy about getting gifts and I already had to forbid her to buy stuff unless she talked with me about the necessity of it.
Why do people, like the woman above, assume that it must be jealousy when others suggest, rightly, that it is far too much to spend on a baby? Jealousy doesn't come into it. If I was a millionaire I wouldn't spend that much on a baby. It's common sense, not a lack of funds that stop us doing the same. Yes, things could be put aside for when he's older but don't forget he'll have a birthday coming up. Plus next Christmas, and the one after that, etc etc.
The "firsts" in a babies' life are not m ade for babies. The first birthday, the first christmas is to throw all material things onto this little human who is then expected to be happy about that. A child at this young age isn't aware that it owns this huge piles of stuff now, neither will it play with all of this (and rarely the "right way"). Maybe the most exciting toy is a thumb or a mitten. So why not having some nice toys and a lot of time you spend with the children and the toys playing and having fun? And if it plays with the box the toy came in, try not to be disappointed!
I mean its a lot of stuff for a baby, but a lot of grandparents love to spoil their first grand babies (my parents included), but in that spoiling, I have been able to donate a ton of stuff to families in need whenever my little dude is too old to use/play with things
No s**t it's her money, do you really think anyone is demanding a say in how she spends it? No, they're just pointing out the stupidity of the ordeal.
Load More Replies...oh let them have their fun and spoil their first child/grandchild for their first Christmas together. A lot of those gifts are for toddlers, so they will last a few years and also probably get handed down to future kids or friends/family who have kids too.
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