Not pregnancy related - Christmas gifts for LO's

lest12 · October 2015

So, not totally related to our May babies, but I was hoping to tap into my resources here, haha, and call upon the STM+s (or FTMs who have nieces/nephews/other kids in their lives)!

I'm trying to get some good Christmas gift ideas for DS (he'll be 18mo in December). It's just that he has so many TOYS. I'd like to get him one or two really nice things, but I'm not coming up with anything. A Teepee for his "big boy room"? Is it totally NOT fun to get him bedding for the twin bed he'll be getting a few months later?

Anyone want to share ideas?

laurenmdrn16 · October 2015

We got my son a Thomas the Tank Engine tent and he is obsessed with it! It was seriously the greatest gift of all time...and it was actually from a yard sale, so score! So I think getting him something like that or a teepee would be great. As for the bedding, my son is crazy about his (surprise!) Thomas bedding and it has made the transition out the crib so much easier. We were dragging our feet on that, but with the new one coming, we wanted him to be so excited about his big boy bed that he wouldn't be upset that the baby is in "his" crib.

I hear ya on the toys! We are drowning in toys! I actually cycle through and keep half in the basement and bring them up after he starts getting bored with his toys so like every month we have a "new" influx of toys. We do have a Tickle Monster kit that comes with a book and two Tickle Monster gloves that is really fun so it is more of a book than a toy.

We have started the tradition of Christmas jammies and a book to open Christmas Eve with the ILs when they do the Feast of the Seven Fishes (oh man, I just gagged typing that! Let's see how it goes this year!) and then one gift from Santa to open at our house Christmas morning (usually pretty modest...this year it will be a customizable Thomas wooden train with his name on it). Then we go to my mom's and the pandemonium begins! Between my mom, my sisters, and my grandmother, that kid gets absolutely SHOWERED with gifts. It is absolute insanity! And I have tried asking them to scale back, but you would've thought I punched my mother in the face, so I backed off. She has already shown me that she got him an entire wooden track set (those run like $200!!), 5 wooden trains, a whole new wardrobe, a snow suit, this jumbo pack of Playdoh, and 3 book sets with 4 books each.

Bltbear82 · October 2015

Ooh get a teepee. DS is 19 months now and it's his absolute favorite. I got his from Land of Nod and also got the cushion for inside, he and our dog love playing in it.

The only big thing we are getting DS is a kitchen because he's obsessed with them at every class we take. We don't have any additional space (2 bedroom apt), so I'd like to keep Christmas small since his birthday is in March. Can anyone recommend a relatively compact but nice looking play kitchen?

lionstigersbears · October 2015

@Bltbear82 Hape makes a tabletop "cook and grill" which looks nice and compact!

AmmyBelle · October 2015

My Mom, when we were little, had a sort of mantra she followed: 3 Xmas presents - 1 thing that you need (socks, pjs, backpack), 1 thing to teach you about the world (book, globe, instrument), and 1 thing you want (Polly Pocket, cd, whatever). It usually ended up pretty good for us, we'd have 3 things to open which always seemed like plethora of gifts, and 2 things were things she would have gotten us anyway, so it works out

Bltbear82 · October 2015

Thanks @lionstigersbears! Checking it out.

countrygrl5533 · October 2015

AmmyBelle said:

My Mom, when we were little, had a sort of mantra she followed: 3 Xmas presents - 1 thing that you need (socks, pjs, backpack), 1 thing to teach you about the world (book, globe, instrument), and 1 thing you want (Polly Pocket, cd, whatever). It usually ended up pretty good for us, we'd have 3 things to open which always seemed like plethora of gifts, and 2 things were things she would have gotten us anyway, so it works out

This is going to be the theme here as well as DD gets older. Right now, it's still fun to get her a bunch of gifts, mostly toys and books, as she is still the only kid. Since I shop consignment sales, use Amazon gift cards, or make things myself, I'm not hardly spending any money either.

Jesse835235 · October 2015

We're the boring aunt and uncle. Our niece has soooo many toys, so we get her a small gift and then put $$ in a 529 college savings plan for her bday and Christmas.

kbrands7 · October 2015

A teepee is a great idea! (Especially if it easily sets up and folds away). My DS is 18 months and is really into chunky puzzles right now, books, instruments, and blocks of varying shapes/sizes.

laurenmdrn16 · October 2015

AmmyBelle said:

My Mom, when we were little, had a sort of mantra she followed: 3 Xmas presents - 1 thing that you need (socks, pjs, backpack), 1 thing to teach you about the world (book, globe, instrument), and 1 thing you want (Polly Pocket, cd, whatever). It usually ended up pretty good for us, we'd have 3 things to open which always seemed like plethora of gifts, and 2 things were things she would have gotten us anyway, so it works out

That's a great system! I also heard a rhyme (very similar) that was "One thing you want, one thing you need. One thing to wear, one thing to read". I'm sure my son's gifts will start to decrease in number once baby #2 comes along, but right now he is my mom's only grandson (and my sisters' only nephew) so they are going bananas!

ceeesprof · October 2015

We also follow the "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" mantra. But we also lean towards experiences instead of things. For example, a family membership to the zoo. This year, we want to get DD an instrument and will be asking family members to contribute towards the cost of the instrument and (potentially) lessons or steer them towards accessories. We also tend to ask for consumable art materials.

mhc13 · October 2015

A tee pee or pop up tent sounds really cute. This slide is a huge hit around our house and we got it when she was 18 months. https://m.target.com/p/step-2-all-star-sports-climber/-/A-14375116?ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14375116&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=pla_toys+shopping&adgroup=sc_toys_top+performers&LID=34pgs&KID=1446f454-e7db-47d6-979b-6bd006b23525&gclid=CLrStMPc1sgCFQuGaQod4PkCOw

For Christmas we are getting her (will be 2 then) an easel with magnetic and a drawing side, motorized vehicle, Little People castle, robotic kitty, and some more play food for her kitchen. Clearly not as sensible as some of the above posters. Lol!

She also really started loving instruments (like actually playing them and not just banging) and her Little People race track around 18 months.

itsStackie · October 2015

My DD was 18months at Christmas last year. We got her a kitchen set. She too gets and has lots of toys. She is all into imagination and play time now. So, I'm thinking more dress up and dolls and such this year. But I think the kitchen set helped spark her imagination.

camillaandcarson · October 2015

Oh I love that age!
A play kitchen is great, we have a wooden one because it is in our main living space and I have to look at it for years to come. Just fits better with our decor.

Duplo blocks and mega blocks are a hit. Or the Melissa and doug wooden blocks provide lots of entertainment.

Usborne lift the flap books are a big hit here with my toddler.

Anything with wheels like the cozy coupe, that rolling ladybug (wheely bug) or a strider balance bike.

lest12 · October 2015

I love the ideas - keep them coming!☺

I'm happy to hear all the good feedback on the teepees! I'll start looking into them!

jaqualls · October 2015

My daughter almost 2 and her friend 19 MO love her train table and wooden train set.

doozer1345 · October 2015

We got DD things she could play with outside like a tot bike, swimming pool (for the summer), she loves books, we got her some keepsakes for when she gets older. We got her and my niece some tickets to go to a local bounce house place. Zulily has a crap ton of different things to look at when it comes to gifts for LOs (I've become such a Zulily pusher ugh).

nerdymama15 · October 2015

Amazon has this really cool kids drumset that is a learning toy. Helps with motor skills and teaches abc's and colors, and stuff. I'll have to find the link

Par13 · October 2015

DS has a teepee (this one: https://www.target.com/p/b-teepee-tent-sea/-/A-14723197#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=teepee)

and he plays in it a lot.

For Christmas this year, we're getting him a "roads" rug so he can drive his cars on it and a puzzle.

He'll also get some clothes, PJs, and underwear as well, but that's not the fun stuff.

bikramlass · October 2015

I got my daughter a really cute teepee from pottery barn kids and she is in it all the time! We live up north, so it is already cold. It gives her a different space to imagine in. It was about $160, but I'm sure they are sold other places for less.

I am starting the American Girl doll thing this Christmas. I am as excited to play with everything as she will be!

jhues13 · October 2015

In the same boat - my boy will be 19 months at Christmas and so many toys. Grandma is getting him a ride on plasma car. I'm leaning towards mostly puzzles and books as he loves both and can do all the puzzles he already has rather quickly. Maybe some new bath toys. Can't really think of anything big he doesn't have so will probably just do a savings bond or silver coin for his college fund.

cortney626 · October 2015

My daughter will be 8 on Friday. This is a tough age. She doesn't NEED toys although she wants everything she sees on TV. She is spoiled and gets everything she could possibly want. (Only grandkid on my side). I got her a caboodle with lip gloss, board game, fashion design sketch pad, clothes. She's getting a new bike from grandparents. For Christmas, I'll do clothes and she'll need a new pair of basketball shoes for basketball season. I'll do books. She has to read books at a certain level for school and we don't have many. I'm at a loss for any other ideas.

lest12 · October 2015

@par13 I like this price on that teepee!

Jesse835235 · October 2015

jhues13 said:
In the same boat - my boy will be 19 months at Christmas and so many toys. Grandma is getting him a ride on plasma car. I'm leaning towards mostly puzzles and books as he loves both and can do all the puzzles he already has rather quickly. Maybe some new bath toys. Can't really think of anything big he doesn't have so will probably just do a savings bond or silver coin for his college fund.

I would suggest doing a different investment vehicle than a savings bond. Check with your state's college savings program (529 plan) as they offer low cost target date funds and generally no maintenance fees. You'll get a much better return over the next 16 years!

jhues13 · October 2015

Yes I've had the 529 forms since he was born but at one point obama was talking about removing the tax advantaged status on them so I held off and haven't gotten around to it. As a regular savings vehicle for school I agree but planning to do something a little more concrete/tangible when it comes to Christmas/birthday gifts.

jk&kiwi · December 2015

I got my son a Lost My Name book..... It's a story of a boy (or girl's) journey meeting creatures who give the child a letter. At the end, the letters spell your child's name.

And I have a link that can save you 15% on each book (plus if I get a couple more people to order with the link, my LO will get a free Alphabet book).

https://www.lostmy.name/friends/jessica-kraft-7

jumpy57 · December 2015

I try to be more creative and sometimes it helps me to go for a theme. Some successful gifts have been a play tent with a fun kids sleeping bag and lantern. When my niece turned 4 I made her a curtain to put in a doorway to make a puppet stage and got her some hand puppets. Last year her dad built her a costume box so I made a few superhero outfits to add to her costume collection.

This year I am feeling less creative so my niece that is almost 2 is getting a baby doll, magformer blocks (these are really cool and don't take up a lot of space and I might also play with them), and books. My niece who is almost 5 is getting art supplies, princess walkie talkies, a crafting calendar, and books.

@lest12 I think bedding is a great gift as long as it has fun characters/designs on it and isn't just a plain color. You could pair sheets with pajamas, books, slippers, a nightlight, or stuffed toy.

thismakes4 · December 2015

For my 18 month old I'm thinking something along the lines of books, art stuff, an instrument, and tot bike.

For my 4 and 5 year olds... Either a go cart or quads.

I think the teepee and bedding are great ideas. What kind of bedding were you looking into?

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Not pregnancy related - Christmas gifts for LO's

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