Christmas Gifts for Babies

Drea926

Someone posted about this on my BMB and I feel like I'm in the minority of getting actual gifts for my LO. He'll be 10 months on Christmas and I get the whole "they don't get what's going on - they just want the wrapping paper" thing, but I still want to get my kid a bunch of toys. It's fun for me! I don't know - "playing Santa" is bringing back a magical aspect of Christmas that I haven't felt for a long time.

So I'm curious, what does Parenting do for babies on Christmas?

ReeseFox

I say do what you want. No, he won't remember or understand, but you will and that's just as important.

Drea926

Thanks @ReeseFox - what a nice thing to say!

JackoftheBox

Your baby, your choice. DS was only 8 months on his first Christmas. Santa still came with a plush ball pit, soft blocks, teethers, ect. He even filled his stocking up with puffs and yogurt bites! Just don't get upset if your LO doesn't show interest in something. 

Eleventy11

I'm with PP. It is really more about you at that age, but that's totally okay. We did a big Santa production with unwrapped Santa stuff and wrapped gifts from us last year. DD was 9 months. Like a PP, we put puffs and yogurt bites in her stocking along with some teething toys. It is fun to watch the video. DS will turn 7 months on Christmas Day. We are planning to do the same, though probably won't have anything wrapped. DD didn't get into the wrapped stuff as much.

Nechie122

Babies need toys! Especially at that age, when they're learning and developing so fast. So go ahead and have fun!

That said, I don't judge someone for wanting to keep things simple too. This is the first year (when DD is 2.5) that I've really gone all out for the holidays. Before that, I just did whatever DH and I used to do pre-kids. Now I'm finally starting to think about cute traditions and making things special for DD because she gets SO excited.

CurlyQ284

My 1 year old helped open his birthday presents and then laid down on his tummy and "swam" in the paper his weekend. It was hilarious.

Get toys if it makes you happy! I got him some baby toys and clothes last year when he was a month old.

MrsT0514

My son will be almost a year old on Christmas and although he won't remember it, we certaibly will. MH and I plan to get him a bunch of books, clothes/jammies, and a few new toys that he'll have a ball unwrapping, so it'll definitely still be fun for him.

I say do what you want. Who the hell cares what anyone else thinks?

Spin313

At 10 months, I'd do board books, beginner puzzles, and a crawl-to-cruise/walk activity.

CurlyQ284

People actually get pissed about this? Geez what fun suckers. If you don't want to, fine but why care if other people do it? Christmas is fun!

klondikebar

We always did presents for babies. It's fun, shiny, crinkly wrapping paper amuses LOs and there are cute family photos.

Drea926

And this is why I love the Parenting board!

CurlyQ284

Are these FTMs? Or non-Santa households? How would you explain to older siblings why Santa didnt bring the baby a present?

CurlyQ284

KlondikeBar said:

We always did presents for babies. It's fun, shiny, crinkly wrapping paper amuses LOs and there are cute family photos.

After DS swam in his paper, DH saved it all in a big bag for him to play with later haha.

Drea926

CurlyQ284 said:

Are these FTMs? Or non-Santa households? How would you explain to older siblings why Santa didnt bring the baby a present?

It was mostly people that were giving "practical" things like diapers, formula, etc, or doing homemade gifts, or just really simple small things. I posted early on so I felt silly being like here's this big list of toys, Things are evening out some now. But that's a really good point about Santa and older siblings.

snowclouds

Babies need toys.  Use this as an excuse to stock up on 1 yr old toys.  My DS was 10 mths old last Christmas and that's what we did.  A lot of the toys he got he didn't really play with until 18 mths anyways, but it was fun having lots of wrapped gifts for him.

Drea926

snowclouds said:

Babies need toys.  Use this as an excuse to stock up on 1 yr old toys.  My DS was 10 mths old last Christmas and that's what we did.  A lot of the toys he got he didn't really play with until 18 mths anyways, but it was fun having lots of wrapped gifts for him.

Yes - that's what we've been doing. Getting him "older" things that he will enjoy later on.

theimpossibleastronaut

We're getting DD one big toy and a few little things. We keep going back and forth on what the big toy will be. An activity table maybe or this little people zoo thing. Not sure yet.

Drea926

RiverSong82 said:

We're getting DD one big toy and a few little things. We keep going back and forth on what the big toy will be. An activity table maybe or this little people zoo thing. Not sure yet.

That's what we're doing too. The big toy is going to be the 4 in1 Radio Flyer Trike.

theimpossibleastronaut

Oh yeah, stocking presents too. First ornament and cute PJs for Xmas too. If we get the zoo, we'll get her extra animals too.

theimpossibleastronaut

Drea926 said:

RiverSong82 said:

We're getting DD one big toy and a few little things. We keep going back and forth on what the big toy will be. An activity table maybe or this little people zoo thing. Not sure yet.

That's what we're doing too. The big toy is going to be the 4 in1 Radio Flyer Trike.

I just read the thread. And while I get it, I'm gonna get her toys anyway. It's her first Christmas, and we're doing toys, and watching Frosty and Rudolph and the whole she-bang!

LoveActually4

@Riversong82 I love our LP zoo. DS2 is 11 months and loves it and DS2 is almost 3 and he still uses it all the time.

We got DS2 the LP Farm for his bday, I can't wait to see it open. I hope it's as good as the zoo

Drea926

@Riversong82 Frosty and Rudolph are my favorites! I still have my old VHS copies from when I was 4!

sandyapples

Drea926 said:

CurlyQ284 said:

Are these FTMs? Or non-Santa households? How would you explain to older siblings why Santa didnt bring the baby a present?

It was mostly people that were giving "practical" things like diapers, formula, etc, or doing homemade gifts, or just really simple small things. I posted early on so I felt silly being like here's this big list of toys, Things are evening out some now. But that's a really good point about Santa and older siblings.

What is the point of giving a baby diapers for Christmas?  That just seems dumb to me.  Either give them stuff and realize it is mostly for your own amusement or don't give them anything since they don't know any different.  For DD2s first Christmas last year I bought her a few things so that DD1 wouldn't think Santa neglected her, but honestly I don't think she would have noticed.  She was 2 at the time.

This is coming from someone who didn't even buy their kid a 1st birthday present, so keep that in mind lol.

nixieknox3

it would never occur to me to not get your baby presents for christmas!  there are going to be a whole lot of things in their lives that they won't remember.  go ahead and get that baby all sorts of toys and fun things!

chardonnay24

I got him some toys, puzzles, books, and clothes and wrapped it all up.

Then I unwrapped it again on Christmas morning because he lost interest after ripping a tiny shred of paper off the present.

If I had to do it again, I'd get him one or two things for the pictures and put the rest of the money into a membership or college savings or something.

Lawplusbabyweight

9 month old Max will be getting a couple of things. Not as much as his big brother though. He doesn't need much in the way of toys as he has Jack's hand-me-downs. We've probably spent 4/5x as much on our 3yr old.

angelashly

JackoftheBox said:

Your baby, your choice. DS was only 8 months on his first Christmas. Santa still came with a plush ball pit, soft blocks, teethers, ect. He even filled his stocking up with puffs and yogurt bites! Just don't get upset if your LO doesn't show interest in something. 

Mine was a month and we still got her a toy. Even her second Christmas at 1 we did what @jackofthebox did. It's fun. Do what feels right to you.

fancynewbeesly

I think we gave Reese the laugh and learn house for her first holiday season and books. Lots of books. 

Last year we did a LITTLE more, but not a huge amount. 

This year she will REALLY get Hanukkah and Christmas---so I made up for the last two years

Mags748

Connor was 10 months at his first Christmas, so we only got him one thing (a ride on toy). He got lots of presents from others and was not interested yet in the unwrapping.