Christmas ideas

djm31012

I know there have been a couple Christmas threads recently, but what are you planning to get your almost 2 year old? DS is super into trucks and cars right now, but we have a bunch and hes totally content with those still. I was thinking maybe a train table? Then thought about Magna tiles but I can probably wait a year on those, hes a little young. Open to any other suggestions!

wineandcake

His toy this year is a tea set. We have afternoon tea everyday and he always wants some too. We figured a tea set would be perfect so he can have milk/water/weak decaf tea with us.

He's really into the bubble guppies as well, we're asking one set of parents for the fisher price bubble guppie school play set. Asking the other set for a camping play set since we're big into camping and love setting the tent up downstairs to play in.

djm31012

@luxannie great list thank you!

@wineandcake we are bubble guppies fanatics in our house. That was his first birthday party theme. Cant get enough....

wifeofadam

To be honest, I'm hoping I can get away with another year of giving her boxes and wrapping paper, and that it will entertain her as much as a toy.  lol

The grandparents do so much for the kids and toys x 4 = insanity. 

The baby might just get some new board books.

singingsea

I kinda want to get Kieran a play kitchen because he loves to watch DH cook and always wants to help.

Side note: My friend's husband said he'd never get his son a play kitchen because it's for girls :-@

Ah sexism.

SummerLove21

We bought DS a chair similar to this one last weekend for Christmas: https://www.target.com/p/kids-club-chair-ottoman-set-navy-blue/-/A-11862458#prodSlot=_1_41

It was on sale and he loves to sit in it every time we go to Target, plus he's started getting into my glider to read on his own, so we figured it was a good fit.  Also hoping it will help the transition of moving my glider out of his room and into the new baby's room. 

He'll probably get a board book or two, and then lots of gifts from his grandparents and aunts.  Truthfully, DH will probably buy him something else, because as much as DH won't admit it, DS has him wrapped around his finger. I'm going to try to do a toy purge in the next couple of weeks in anticipation of the holidays.

djm31012

DS LOVES kitchen sets! My sister actually has 2 and she said we could have one. Is it super tacky to get it and just have the used one set up CHristmas morning for when he comes down the steps? He wont know the difference.

khaze

For Christmas we are going to get him one of those upholstered Pottery Barn chairs for his reading area in the playroom, some new books, wood puzzles, a Little People pirate ship, and a big craft supply box (crayons, markers, paints, play doh, etc).

We are going to get him one of those balance bikes for his b-day as well as some big trucks that he can sit/maneuver for his sandbox.

Poppy523

My friend just got her LO a bounce house for Christmas. Sounds fun, for like a day, but insane to me! We are probably going to stick with lots of books, clothes and one big item- I am thinking we will make a work bench so she can hang out up in the shop with Daddy when he is working.

ericalee27

djm31012 said:

Then thought about Magna tiles but I can probably wait a year on those, hes a little young. 

DS1 got these for his birthday last week, and DS2 is CRAZY about them.  So if you're interested in them, he might be old enough to really enjoy them.  DS1 is also crazy about them as well. They are seriously magic.  His grandmother bought them so I didn't have to foot the bill, even better!

I am planning on getting both boys plasma cars for christmas.  DS2 might be a little young for it at first, but he can grow into it.  And I've heard they are magic like the magnatiles! 

That's all I got so far...

colinsfebmommy

We have a ton of cars and construction vehicles too. We are so far getting these blocks because there is so much he can do with them and use his little imagination:
https://www.amazon.com/Mondo-Bloxx-Cardboard-Block-12x6x3/dp/B00LNIUYZE/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1414091853&sr=1-4&keywords=cardboard+blocks

My inlaws are getting him this to use all his cars in:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Step2-Canyon-Road-Table-Lid/4837473

djm31012

@ericalee27 that is great to know. now my next question is...how many magnatiles are necessary? i heard you need a lot to be able to build anything significant...but obviously they are super expensive....thoughts?

https://www.zulily.com/p/rainbow-36-piece-building-set-97980-11381100.html?pos=10&e=1&fromEvent=97980&

these are them right?

ericalee27

djm31012 said:

@ericalee27 that is great to know. now my next question is...how many magnatiles are necessary? i heard you need a lot to be able to build anything significant...but obviously they are super expensive....thoughts?

https://www.zulily.com/p/rainbow-36-piece-building-set-97980-11381100.html?pos=10&e=1&fromEvent=97980&

these are them right?

Everyone told me to not get the ~30 piece set (too small, not enough pieces) - we got the 100 piece set.  But yeah, it's spendy.  This is what we got: 

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Tiles®-Clear-Colors-100-Piece/dp/B000CBSNRY

kleigh926

I know MIL has already bought DD a kid's Bible book, a baby doll, puzzles, and clothes. I think my mom is getting her a Little People set, although I don't know which one. I'm thinking of getting her a book, coloring books and crayons, bathtub markers, and probably one or two things from Melissa and Doug (I saw someone mentioned a reusable sticker book on here, might try that). 

DS is getting a book, the Sophie giraffe teether, and probably a truck/car of some sort. He'll only be 3 months old so that'll be it for him. 

ericalee27

Oh, also planning to get some more Melissa and Doug dress up sets.  We got DS1 a fireman set for his birthday, and surprise, surprise, DS2 wants it all the time too now.  I figure we'll get some others - policeman, construction worker, etc.

Gftf7

Another vote for the play kitchen. My H's sister had 2, so we got the smaller one as a hand-me-down. (This was prob 3-5 mo ago.) LO loves it!

And I would totally consider the hand-me-down gift as the real gift. I figure there will be many upcoming years that LO will insist on the latest trendy first-issue gift, so I'm planning to be cheap while I still can.

MalRiggs

Just saying you ladies are way ahead if me. I barely have Halloween together, the thought of Christmas just scares me

tamarar5

Gah I have no idea what to do for the kids! I *want to make the babies matching crib quilts. Hopefully I can be talented enough to do this. But for C? Maybe I can sew her some doll clothes?

My biggest problem is trying to come up with ideas that aren't TOYS. No more toys. I think toys were created just to make mom's crazy. . We've reached the hilt with toys. But at the same time, we bought all the "cool" big toys for C years ago, and now the babies get them as hand me downs. I'd love to do a train table for E but no space. I think it's even harder too, because this is the first Christmas E will really know what's going on. He's already seeing Santa all around — and go figure, Santa is one of the clearest words he says.

eriannc22

Right now I am thinking of getting DS a ride on fire truck because he's obsessed with them. I also really want to get him a set of Pete the Cat books and download the matching audio.

Amstreagle

Ds is really into Cars the movie so we're getting him a ride on Tow Mater. I'm really excited for this Christmas because Ds is so much more interactive!

ally2011

We might buy a trampoline. It would have the safety enclosure. My dd is a little young, but she absolutely loves them and if we get it now, it's just that much more use It will get. We don't normally do things like this, last year she got a doll and her stocking. We don't want Christmas to be crazy, so we might also wait and get it in the spring just because.

caladpi02

Our list is play food and things for her kitchen, an easel and a scut bike which we will save for her birthday. I am embarrassed about how many things on that list we have already.

wifeofadam

You'll never regret a play kitchen.  My older boys still love it.



I will say that it doesn't really see much action until the kids are 3-4.  Before that, like with DD2 now, they just like to open and close the doors and play with the food.  Once they get a little older they start play baking and stuff.

TarheelMama202

I've already started Christmas shopping only because I cannot be spending all of that money in one month. I've got to spread it out. That goes for other people's gifts as well as DS'. 

So far, I've gotten him a couple of Alex brand toys, a few metal trucks to put in his stocking, a new pair of Minnetonka moccasins, a little ride-on car thing, and a toy bulldozer. If you aren't on Zulily then do it. Pretty much everything I've gotten him has been from there. 

His big gift is going to be a play kitchen and lots of play food and dishes. We go to the local Waldorf school for their parent-child program, and every week he plays with the kitchen the whole time. We are also going to get him the Ikea easel because he is very into drawing and coloring right now. While that may sound big, I think the easel is only $15 or so. 

So that's where we are with Christmas shopping. 

Also @luxannie thanks for sharing that list, it is super helpful. 

singingsea

So I did it I bought the play kitchen.

https://www.target.com/p/dishin-up-delights-kitchen/-/A-16251866#prodSlot=medium_2_4&term=play+kitchen

It even has a place to put "puppy" Squeeee.

colinsfebmommy

singingsea said:

So I did it I bought the play kitchen.

https://www.target.com/p/dishin-up-delights-kitchen/-/A-16251866#prodSlot=medium_2_4&term=play+kitchen

It even has a place to put "puppy" Squeeee.

You will love it! My LO loves pretending to make me "bacon" and insisting I take pretend bites lol

singingsea

colinsfebmommy said:

singingsea said:

So I did it I bought the play kitchen.

https://www.target.com/p/dishin-up-delights-kitchen/-/A-16251866#prodSlot=medium_2_4&term=play+kitchen

It even has a place to put "puppy" Squeeee.

You will love it! My LO loves pretending to make me "bacon" and insisting I take pretend bites lol

And it has a coffee pot! Kieran is obsessed with me making coffee.

holly321

seadragon2013 said:

We're getting DS the Little People City Skyway set. My DS is really excited to get to play with it

I'm planning to put together a set of sensory and craft supplies (finger paints, play dough, crayons, IKEA easel, etc...). He's also getting a set of Star Wars Christmas PJs and slippers from Hannah Andersson. We'll probably also pick out a few books. 

We're thinking about doing a skuut or trike for his birthday. 

I want to get Ds one of those. Maybe for his birthday.

We are getting ds a tool table. He LOVES his sister's kitchen, and we don't need too, so I think he will love it.

TarheelMama202

seadragon2013 said:

We're getting DS the Little People City Skyway set. My DH is really excited to get to play with it

I'm planning to put together a set of sensory and craft supplies (finger paints, play dough, crayons, IKEA easel, etc...). He's also getting a set of Star Wars Christmas PJs and slippers from Hannah Andersson. We'll probably also pick out a few books. 

We're thinking about doing a skuut or trike for his birthday. 

ETA: Changed DS to DH in the first sentence.

Dude I want to play with that thing.