Kid’s birthdays are trying under the best of circumstances: they usually involve some combination of melted ice cream, cloying music, and the screeches of other people’s children. While there might not be a way to get rid of chocolate ice cream stains and unsettling clown performances, there is one thing in your control that can get better: the gifts. Because the last-minute mall run for a gift is a near-universal parting experience, we asked real moms how they manage birthday gifts. And, yes, a lot of them use a gift closet — but their real tricks are the easy ways they keep it stocked. You’ll never have to see what gifts Walgreens has, or debate if a seven-year-old would like a Starbucks gift card, again.
When In Doubt, Call
“Always remember: you do have the option of checking in with the parent to find out what their child might like, want, or need. A quick text is all it takes. Don’t have their number? Check the RSVP on the invite — 99% of the time it’ll be there, or if not, an email address will be in its place. This will help you avoid the risk of duplicating a toy that their child may already have, and it saves you the time and money of purchasing any unwanted gifts. Plus, there’s nothing worse for the gift-giver than giving a gift that gets tossed to the side as soon as it’s opened, or worse, hearing a comment from the gift-recipient that “they already have that.” ALL kids enjoy getting something they really want, and it’ll bring a smile to your child’s face too when they see that their gift is well-received and appreciated.” —Courtney Elmer, life coach
Create A “Gift Pool”
“As a mom of a first and fourth grader, I field a lot of birthday invitations. Every time I let my kids choose the gift, we end up wandering around Target for an hour before they finally make a decision (with a cart full of other stuff to boot)! I have simplified the gift-giving process by buying something from a small pool of ideas that I change up each year as the birthday kids repeat and get older. This year it’s usually a nice coloring book and gel pens for friends of my youngest, and a Target gift card for friends of my oldest. My kids add their own personal touch by creating a handmade card to go along with each gift. While it would be nice to stock up on gifts ahead of time, I purchase them when the invitations come in so there are no issues with return periods ending, in case anyone receives something they don’t want.” —Kelly Rupiper, Content Director at Upparent
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Stock Up On Sales
Start A Trend
“The absolute best way to make present buying easier for kids’ birthday parties is to throw a ‘Fiver Party.’ Here’s how it works:
Step one: On the party invite list all of the party specifics time, date, location, etc. At the end add a section and title it ‘What not to Bring’, followed by ‘a gift’. If you feel inclined to do something special for (name of birthday kid), make it a fiver. Then, he/she will have a nice pile of cash for something special after the party.
Step two: decorate a card box to collect all of the cards.
Step three: listen to all of the excited parents as they drop off their kiddos because of the ‘fiver’ idea.” —Nicole Cline, Not Quite Super Mom
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Get The Kids Involved
“Whenever my kids receive a party invitation in the mail, I hang the invitation on the fridge and pick a day that week to go gift shopping. I make it a fun adventure with my kids where they get to help pick their friend’s gift (and they usually get a little treat too!) They also watch me wrap it and help sign any cards or tags. That way they are involved and feel ownership of the gift when their friend opens it. By putting the gift shopping on my calendar and having it be a special time with my kid I feel like I’m ahead of the game. We all know I was going to Target this week anyway” —Ashley Rowland, Attempts At Domestication
Re-Gift Without Shame
“There’s no shame in regifting. Think of it as recycling. If you get two of something, put a sticky note on the item that says who gave it to you (so you’re sure not to give it back to the same person), place it in a closet or drawer, and you’re ready to go!” —Amber M. Shimmel, MSW, Amber Likes
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Wrap It Immediately
“I have 3 kids aged 4, 9 and 13, boys and girls, plus lots of children in the wider family, so we have lots of parties to buy for. I visit a big store every few months and stock up on gifts, wrap and cards for the birthdays I have in my diary for the coming few months. I wrap presents and write cards in advance so I’m fully prepared when it comes to the day of the party. For friends and family that live far away, I order presents online to be delivered straight to their homes in time for the big day.” —Rachel King
Give Experiences
“I do keep a stash of toys ready year-round in my office closet — I stock both birthday presents that I find on sale (Lego kits are a favorite in our house), and one-of-a-kind creative gifts that I know others would like to receive (items like Unicorn play dough and classic books).
Another favorite way to make a birthday kid (and parent’s) day, is to give an experience gift instead of a “thing.” Think: Zoo passes, Audible memberships, swim lessons, trampoline zone gift cards or a flower-planting kit. These gifts are enjoyed much longer than cheap plastic ‘stuff,’ and often create lifelong memories that far outlive the shelf life of an object.” —Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly
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When All Else Fails: Amazon Prime
“Using Amazon Prime for all birthday purchases saves me so much mental load! I often have one go-to emergency gift on hand, something anyone in my son’s age group would enjoy. Since I tend to select toys that are educational or encourage movement in some way, they are gender-neutral and inclusive. As soon as we get an invitation, I make sure I have an acceptable gift or order one right away. I also keep wrapping paper on hand so I can quickly wrap up the present and put a label on it. Simple is the best way to go when you’re a busy working mom of a very busy preschooler.” —Julie, Fab Working Mom Life
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