6 and 12-year-old cousins trade Labubu gifts before parents discover one is rare, sparking parent drama: 'Someone was willing to pay him $225'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jan 4, 2026 5:00 PM EST

Two cousins have accidentally started some major family drama after a simple Christmas gift exchange — who knew that a Labubu could be so valuable? 

Every year, there's a must-have holiday toy, and this year, kids across the globe couldn't get enough of Labubus. You might remember other past toys that sparked same the kind of fervor, like Tickle Me Elmo dolls or Beanie Babies, which sent parents frantically scouring the shelves of toy stores for these precious items. There truly is a toy like this every single year, and while it's easy for parents to be cynical about, kids just want toys. They don't care about the larger meaning of what a toy's monetary value is. They just want to buy whichever toy is popular at the moment and play with it with their friends or siblings. It doesn't have to be complicated… but this family certainly found themselves in a tricky situation after a Christmas-morning Labubu gift exchange went awry. 

I personally think Labubus are like, horrible looking. The first time I'd ever heard of them was when one of my little cousins told me that it was what she wanted more than anything (and she thought they looked cute, not creepy). These little dolls with furry outfits and sharp teeth are super popular — they also have these clear carrying cases that can be attached to one's jeans belt loop or purse. Although I don't personally see the appeal, their virality is unquestionable. They're this year's hottest toy, so of course, parents went shopping to find the best deals. Shopping these days is way different than when we were kids — it's a lot more of checking Amazon at 3 AM to see if the toy has restocked, rather than shoving through hordes of shoppers in a crowded Toys R Us at midnight on Black Friday. 

This person shared their story, explaining that their daughter and her cousin were opening presents for the Christmas season, and lo and behold, these Labubus were found under the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the scarcity of one of these Labubus quickly spiraled into a family-wide disagreement. It's a shame, too. It's not like this toy was worth like, a million dollars. Even in it's "rarity," it was only worth about $225. I know that's quite a lot of money if you're on a shoestring budget… but is it worth blowing up your family's goodwill over the cost of a few grocery trips? That is not life-changing money, and yet the dad is unquestionably changing his family's life for the worse with his insistent demands. 

Check out the full Labubu drama below, and see if you side with Labubu-selling Dad, or with the creator of the post, who seemingly just wants both kids to be happy with what they got. 

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  • 01
    White Labubu toy next to 2 girls in Christmas pajamas opening large present with brown bow
    via David Kristianto on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    Throwaway because family is on Reddit. This happened over Christmas and it's turning into a whole family drama. My daughter "Sofia" (12) and her cousin "Martina" (6 - daughter of my sister "Maria" and her husband "Jose") were gifted blind box Labubus as part of their Christmas gift from my other sister "Sara". They each opened
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 03
    their boxes. Martina got a brown one and Sofia got a pink one. Martina immediately wanted the pink one and Sofia immediately offered a trade because she already has the pink one and was hoping for the brown one. They traded, both girls were happy, and that was that....or so I thought.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 04
    Later, Martina's parents found out from taking to someone that the brown Labubu is apparently a rare "secret" version that can sell for $250+. Once they learned that, they called me said the girls needed to switch back and that Sofia was to return the brown one immediately. They even wanted me to drive over with it then and there despite the fact they live an hour away and it was already 8pm.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 05
    I asked if Martina actually wanted the brown one back. They said that wasn't the point. After some pushing back, Jose admitted someone was willing to pay him $225 for the Brown one and give Martina the pink one she wants. I said I wouldn't force Sofia to swap back. From my perspective:
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 06
    . Both kids were happy with the trade and got the Labubu they wanted. ● Sofia didn't pressure or manipulate Martina into switching (if she had, I would have stepped in immediately and told her "you get what you get and you don't get upset").
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 07
    • When I asked her, Sofia admitted she knew the brown one was rare, but when I asked how much they sell for, she said they are blind boxes so you can't buy the brown, they just make less of them. She didn't know it was worth money. She's not a good liar, and she appeared to be telling the truth.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 08
    • Martina . originally didn't want the brown one and basically got upset when she saw Sofia got pink. • It feels like Maria and Jose only want the brown one back because they can sell it and pocket money from it.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 09
    Now they're upset with me and saying I'm being unfair and taking advantage of a 6-year-old and Jose even called Sofia a Manipulative B***h which I think is a reach when Sofia didn't know it was worth a lot of money, she just knew they were rare to pull, that she already had the pink and Martina was crying for the pink one.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 10
    Sara has said this is "stupid parent drama" and she's staying out of it and said we can sort it out ourselves. So AITA for refusing to make my daughter give the brown Labubu back?
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 11
    EDIT: Jose called Sofia a Manipulative B***h to me on the phone discussing it, not to Sofia's face. He'd be a dead man walking if he said it to her.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 12
    skye-a-11-11 NTA. Even if it was worth a bit more, I would still never sell it if my child wanted to keep it. Especially if it's only $225. Not worth the tantrum! And if anyone called my child a manipulative B, even just to me, they would be a dead man walking and completely cut off
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 13
    of_gold_ NTA. It's a labubu. It won't resell for what they think. Let kids be kids
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 14
    ScaryButterscotc... NTA Currently both girls are happy. If Jose carries out his plan, then only 1 girl will be happy. Stick to the current arrangement. Jose can kick rocks.
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 15
    KyleGrave "EDIT: Jose called Sofia a Manipulative B***h to me on the phone discussing it, not to Sofia's face. He'd be a dead man walking if he said it to her." Dude what. That right there earns the 9pm house call. Must've forgotten the Labubu at home, good thing I remembered to pack these hands
    via u/TheSecretLabubuDrama
  • 16
    Two young girls in Christmas pajamas sit on green couch in front of Christmas tree and open white present with brown bow together
    via Kateryna Hliznitsova For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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christmas toys kids family labubu cousins children
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