PW: B-day & Holiday Gifts

lulu8109 · November 2013

I'm trying to brainstorm birthday and Christmas gifts for DS and other kiddies. What have you guys come up with?

For Christmas, I'm really having trouble coming up with something. The kid has way too many toys already and I'm sure our family will get him some toys for Christmas, so I'm trying not to add to DS' toy collection. We might get him the Leapfrog Tag reader, but my SIL mentioned she might get it for him.

For stocking stuffers, I'm thinking Cars or Mickey Mouse sippy cups, fun socks, and maybe Skip Hop's monkey fork and spoon (he has their monkey lunchbox and suitcase already).

I really want to get DS a scooter for his birthday. He loves being pushed around on our neighbor's long board, so I think he'd like it. We'd need to get him a helmet too.

EMOmamma · November 2013

A lot of our ideas are add-on to things we already have. Like the play pizza set for the kitchen, more train tracks, another tent thing for the tent-tunnel play fort set, longer books, harder puzzles, older kid bath toys, tool set, art supplies, etc. We're debating about asking the grandparents to combine efforts for a PowerWheels.
Our bigger issue is picking new things for DD since we already have so much.

jnicolen1 · November 2013

if we can come up with the money id like to get the boys joint gifts of train set/table and kitchen for christmas. we are soooo behind on these...everyone already has been enjoying them!

we were going to get oliver a scooter for his birthday, but my MIL just bought him one...so back to the drawing board for the birthday gift!

duncan needs a helmet (O already has one).

oliver asked for a sleeping bag.

little things i know they would like as stocking gifts include: soft frisbee, art supplies (my sister is getting O an easel), childs flashlight, knee and elbow pads, fishing pole bath toy, bubbles, lacing cards.

SugarSnap83 · November 2013

Noah has SO much already and he barely plays with it! He has about 2 favorite things and he switches back and forth between the two, so I'm really struggling for gift ideas.

For birthday, we are going to do what we've done the past 2 years, we're going to a waterpark and put money in his account instead of buying him a gift.

For Christmas, we're going to get him a kindle or something of the sort and maybe 1 or 2 little things, but if he doesn't need it/want it, I'm not going to clutter up my house!

(As a side note, I still have presents from his first birthday party in the basement that I put away because he didn't need all the gifts at one time!)

babycakes · November 2013

As you've read in my other post, we're thinking of getting a kiddie tablet for Griff for his birthday.

For Christmas, I'm really not sure. He'll get a ton of toys and clothes from family so I don't know whats left to get him lol. He still loves those matchbox cars so I'll get a few of those as stocking stuffers. DH mentioned maybe a bike but that would suck cause he won't be able to really use it til summer. Maybe we'll get one big thing for both boys.

bumpuser260585 · November 2013

I got J a few things when Target had the end of the summer clearance: Mater car transporter, more Thomas tracks and a play dough toy.
The one big thing I want to get him is a trampoline. One of my friends has one for her 4 year old and she says he loves it. He gets out all of his energy in the evenings or when they can't play outside.
When people have asked, I say longer books, 24 piece puzzles, games, and bath toys.
For stocking stuffers I want to get him some new cups and socks. MIL got him a steel Tonka truck excavator.

bosha711 · November 2013

I've surprisingly done some shopping already!- totally unlike me! I'm just not sure how we'll split the stuff b/w his bday & Christmas yet.

Some of the stuff we have lined up are: some Thomas trains, a MMCH playset, a Dream Lights dog, Thomas bed set, a Camelback cup, The Polar Express book, an Animal Encyclopedia book, and an owl shaped lantern. I have a few other small things like a light up bouncy ball & action figures for his stocking.

And thank you for reminding me I want to get him a small suitcase & a backpack.

We don't have a "big" item in mind, per se.

Coltsdad · November 2013

We are getting J a few things.

Our children's museum had a Hot Wheels For Real display for over a year until just recently, and they had Hot Wheel stuff in the gift shop (still do)... the past 4 times he's gone, he's picked up the exact same Hot Wheel track and given it to 4 different people to try to "talk" them into buying it for him... .me, my mom, his aunt and my wife. We figured after the 3rd time, it would be a pretty good idea to get it for him... he's got tons of cars already, but no ramp at home. So he's getting that for his birthday.

We are going to get him a bike, helmet and pads as well.

He doesn't have much for the bath, so we are buying him and his brother each one of those Octonaut gup toys that are good in the water, so they'll be exclusively bath toys, and maybe for the pool outside. They are each getting one to try to avoid the inevitable fights.

He's also getting a remote control Tow Mater (from Cars), his cousin got a R/C Lightning McQueen from us for his 3rd birthday and it went over well, and he took it to the family reunion a few months back and J was all about it and from Santa he's getting the Fisher Price Imaginext Batcave.

Outside of clothes, I think that is the "fun stuff" he's getting from us between birthday and Christmas.

lulu8109 · November 2013

@EMOmamma - Good idea to just get add-ons of current stuff! SIL got DS Power Wheels for Christmas/b-day last year and he only recently started to enjoy it. It's a good toy! I'm expecting the same issue with bebe #2 - we already have so much, what more could we get for the next baby?

@jnicolen1 - Ooh, love the easel idea. Adding it to our list. And that's so cute that O asked for a sleeping bag!

@CarlaBrett - You are not the only one that still has gifts from b-days/Christmases past. I even gave away some of his gifts =X He just got so much for his 1st and 2nd b-day and Christmases.

@babycakes - Oh, I still get DS outside toys for Christmas/b-day. I know he can't use it much until spring, but those are usually the only big ticket items I can think to get him. For his 1st b-day, we got him a wagon and we used it inside a few times.

@letranger - Do please elaborate on this ribbon dancer thing. We went to a wedding that gave out little ribbons on sticks as favors and DS loves it.

@Coltsdad - LOL to your DS trying to get everyone to buy him the Hot Wheels!

jnicolen1 · November 2013

kind of inline with the ribbon dancer thing...my sister got oliver a set of those silk play scarves last year...they are a big hit in our house. we use them during music/dance time, and they serve wonderfully during make believe (the are capes, pirate scarves, we use the green one for grass, the blue for water...oliver fishes in it or puts his boat on top).

missmuffin87 · November 2013

For Bday FIL will make her a doll house and everyone else is getting her the loving family dollhouse stuff.

For Christmas she's getting a play kitchen and all the accessories from ikea. I'm going to try to makes some play food for her too.

babycakes · November 2013

@lulu8109 yea, its true we could still get Griff a bike or another outdoorsy thing for Christmas but I think I'd be more sad than him that he wouldn't be able to play with it right away lol.

lrn327 · November 2013

missmuffin87, C's had that Ikea kitchen and play food for probably 1.5-2 yrs now and STILL plays with it almost daily. It's soooo cute. I'd recommend stocking up on cheap batteries and teach her to turn the "stove" burners off after she's done. It's a great gift though. We have a bunch of their play food too and it's very nice quality. (You could probably make them for cheaper, but last year we gave C the Haba felt cupcake set and it's by far his favorite. The candles are magnetic which is pretty awesome though don't know if that is a concern around your littlest.)

mommyfied · November 2013

B-day gift are two puzzles and two books (and money in his BA/stuff for his room over new year)
Christmas gift: Two books (for him to open on the day of) and stuff for his room (Pirate bed, full set of furniture, sheets, etc)
Advent calendar: I can't decide between buying a box of animals (or something) and wrap one for each day or just do what I did last year, which was wrapping raisins and other snacks for him for open when we get home from DC (to eat before dinner)
Stocking: In my family we put 1 chocolate bar (his will be a tiny one), 1 small bag of gummybears (or similar), 1 mandarin, 1 magazine/book/DVD/CD and a couple of small candy items. - I like that and will be doing that this year as well

(his first year he got diced fruit instead of all the candy and a Winnie the Pooh DVD)

stephy1221 · November 2013

Ainsley is in the nothing big planned camp. She still plays with so much from last year that I can't see adding to it much.

She is in to a few new shows so maybe some books and puzzles with those characters. I use the holiday as a way to restock our arts supply bin and maybe one or two small toys.

Doesn't sound like much but add it to the loads of stuff she gets from others and it will be overwhelming. I still have toys in the basement she hasn't opened from last year.

erind0213 · November 2013

If you think you will get a lot of gifts, try and look for a membership to a local museum, zoo, aquarium, etc.

Last year my mom did Sesame Place for DD. I am not having her renew it this year because I this summer I will have a newborn and juggling the two would be tough. I am suggesting the zoo or aquarium though which I can do while on maternity leave.

chickaboo1974 · November 2013

My boys' birthday was last week- they got the Fischer Price Tough Kid Camera and sticker books. For Christmas I really have no idea- I am thinking some games- like cooties, barrel of monkeys- a nice table and chairs set, some dress up/pretend play clothes from Melissa and Doug, more pieces for their trains, maybe some DVDs of the movies they love.