Do you recycle gifts?

Do you recycle some of your children's gifts?

  • Yes

    Votes: 30 71.4%

  • No

    Votes: 12 28.6%
  • Total voters
    42
B

Buckeroo

Registered User
Just curious whether any of you recycle gifts that your kids received for birthdays/Christmas... If not, what do you do with duplicate gifts or ones that you deem "not appropriate" for your child?
 
Yes, I've been known to do this--especially when we receive duplicates of something or simply there is more than enough for my son--I'm always quite careful about the manner in which I do it in order to not offend or hurt the gift-giver.
 
Yes. This Christmas my kids got way too much stuff... and I got a perfume gift set that will find a new home when the time is right.
 
No. If I recieved a duplicate, I would just return one of them. If it was inappropriate age wise, I would put it away unitl my child was older and could play with it. If it was a junk toy I either let them play with it knowing it will break right away, then i throw it in the garbage, or I put it in the pile of stuff for the next garage sale or the pile of stuff for the next donation box. i couldn't re gift it, because if I thought it was a piece of junk I would be to embarased to give it as a gift.
 
I haven't done this - even with stuff that I'm 99% sure she won't ever use... I don't think I would - like babymommy said, (paraphrasing) I'd be embarrassed to give a gift that I personally didn't love - and if I loved it, I'd keep it - not give it away!!

If I get clothing that is a size too small, I'd try to exchange it for the exact same thing in the correct size, even if I like something else better - I figure that's what the "giver" wanted to give - so I'll graciously accept it :)
 
I lean towards babymommy2's thinking. I have a box with toys "for a later date" and every 6 months we cull the playroom of toys that have not been played with very often. I will sell a couple and give away the others to charity.

I have forgotten to do this with books so we have an abundance of those at the moment which I can't seem to be able to sit down and look at as to which ones they no longer read. I really need to do this.

My biggest annoyance is the little oys and items that are given to children at Seven7 McDonalds and the like... They are rubbish but the kids love them!
 
yep, i do it when my son aslready has the item or if he has something similar to it. i figure another baby would appreciate it more!
 
i set aside lots of gifts for those long plane rides!

there are also lots of charities that can use the gifts, or schools.

if the gifts are inappropriate, (in our house, bratz dolls are inappropriate), then i don't pass them on to anyone.
 
I have become cold heartedly systematical about recycling now. We unwrap and list all the presents given to my 3 yr old and 17 month old daughters and whom they are from. We keep the ones we like and think would be appreciated by the girls and the rest (60-70%) remains unopened and stored away. The presents then gets recycled to other friend's children, which is why we note down whom the presents were from, or it can get really embarrassing.

It's such a waste to have the kids play with stockpile of toys, each only couple of times, then each christmas and birthday becomes just another occasion to accumulate more rubbish. Think this method may get harder to carry out once they get older and realise some of their presents are missing.
 
I think that as has been brought out here, that people "recycle" gifts for many reasons--and not just because they didn't like the gift. Sometimes, honestly with babies, you do get too much--especially if you have a big baby shower--and everyone gives you a 10-pack of white onesies--if you have 150 white onesies--and there is no way you can use all of them before your baby outgrows them, it is such a good thing to pass them on to someone who can use them. I totally believe in recycling gifts.
 
I had a really great changing mat which was given to me by my friends b/c I had already got a changing mat, I didn't want to be greedy and use another one and wanted less stuff in the house so I re gifted it.
It's not being cheep, it's being responsible and it helps the environment.
 
Another suggestion is to let the parents know to include the receipt / gift receipt so that you can go back to the shop to exchange for another gift.
 
I always include the receipt in an envelope to the parents. We often get duplicate gifts.

Another alternative I have been thinking of recently is a receipt of a charity donation.

I'm going to ask for charity donations to WWF for my youngest son's 2nd birthday. He already has so much stuff (hand-me downs from his older brother) and he's young enough not to be too upset by getting less gifts.
 
For those who want to donate children books and stuffs, go to the St. John's Cathedral. They will be holding the 'Michaelmas Fair' on 31st Oct and they are receiving donations now.

Tel.: 2523 4157

I will be very careful if I recycle gifts. I once received a present which was my own wedding favour. Nice!
 
I have yet to recycle my baby's gifts, but I think it's time! If it's something appropriate, I would try my best to use it, especially if it's from a close friend (and you know some friends do take a lot of effort to choose a gift for the child!) If it's stuff like clothes too small by the time we get to it, I would pass it on, but will let the recipient know it's not something I have gotten specially from stores. I have not received many toys and such, but yes, chances are, by the time toddlerhood comes, would likely be giving away unwanted and duplicate toys to charities. Storage is a serious issue in HK! I think what might work would be a network of mommy friends to do some toy/clothes/book exchange so we don't have to buy and store so much! =)
 
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