Buying a Christmas gift for a baby is a strange one. If you’re anything like us – you can’t help but get excited for them, yet they literally have no idea what is going on. They just have a great time lapping up the extra attention, looking at twinkly lights and playing with wrapping paper. What a brilliant day without a gift in sight!
I openly admit that we do not spend an equal amount of money on each of our children – it depends on the longevity of the gift, who it will get used by and who needs something. Perhaps this will change as they get older. For a baby, we buy just one present – usually a toy. I try to find things that will be interesting now, but then serve a purpose once they get older. I’ve been deciding what to buy Otto, and thought I would put together a little gift guide. The term ‘baby’ is used loosely and denotes anything under 18 months.
Here are my picks:
- Wooden tea party biscuits – These are visually appealing to babies – brightly coloured and different shapes, but useful as they get older for tea parties and learning numbers 1-10 (on the reverse).
- Pear and watermelon cup – Ok, ok. Not really baby, baby, but isn’t this the most gorgeous first proper cup? There is a watermelon on the reverse, and a few more delicious designs in the collection. Made from extra sturdy plastic to cope with drop after drop.
- GALT pop up toy – I’ve come across this toy a few times and babies that can sit up will enjoy looking at it and having a little nibble. Eventually they will learn to press the little people down so that they pop back up. Thrilling I reckon, and good for basic colour recognition.
- Noah’s Ark – Babies love posting things, seeing them disappear and then rediscovering them again. As they get older they can have a go at slotting them in the right places.
- Baby Milestone cards – I have never bought any baby milestone cards, but I do think they are great. I found it amusing that these ones include: ‘I ate quinoa for the first time’. One for the posh babes out there.
- Colour Creatures heads and tails – A simple and fun matching game. It has numbers and dots on the back too, for basic counting. This one will be relevant for a good few years.
- Peter Rabbit wooden skittles – These are so beautiful. Lovely to look at, baby safe. Perfect for storytelling and skittle playing as your baby grows.
- Balancing cactus – This will look fabulous on a windowsill, or a shelf until it’s no longer tempting to eat. It’s a fun balancing game that older children can enjoy with their friends.
- A radish rattle – This goes against everything I mentioned earlier. A rattle has a limited lifespan, but I’ve always had a thing for radishes (and swedes) so I couldn’t resist adding this in!
- Go Get ’em Tiger print – More for parents, than babies, but I love it. Go get ’em indeed.
E xx
This is not a sponsored post…just pure love.
Lovely choice of gift ideas! I’m in love with wooden toys, although some family members seemed to forget this at little boy’s first birthday. Those items can live at grannies and she can deal with the noise! x
Thanks Hollie! I agree! I don’t like anything big or noisy!!! They can certainly stay at grannies!!! x
Aah I absolutely LOVE all your choices! You have the same taste in baby toys as me- I love wooden toys and anything that’s multi use or open ended and can be used for a long time. I’d nevertheless thought of using wooden skittles for storytelling! What a wonderful idea! And how cute is the radish? I too love a good radish haha. I think the rattle has longevity too! It can be used for ages! Good for music- shaking and copying rhythms, clapping along to the beat of music, counting songs etc. I might get a few of these toys for Luca for Christmas! A xx
I’m so glad you like them Amelia…and thanks for your tips with the rattle. You are so right! and I’m glad you are a fellow radish lover. I honestly just LOVE them!!! Hahaha!!! x
Love these ideas, thanks Esther! I haven’t as yet got around to thinking what to buy for Miss Martha. I love the Little Maldod website – such gorgeousness.
Thanks Kathryn! YES! Little Maldod is stunning!!! x
These are lovely little gifts, I really like wooden toys. I’m the same as you regarding value. At a young age it doesn’t matter how much things cost, it’s better to get something that they will love that costs a fiver than something they’ll be underwhelmed with that costs £100 even if you’ve spent £100 on their sibling.
Nat.x
Yes! Absolutely! x
Cute ideas! We are very similar… One toy for baby… And I’m a total wooden toy fanatic, so this post was right up my street! I’ve just got Jonas a wooden pound-a-peg board from Melissa and Doug with a little hammer. So cute!
I’m glad you liked it Claire! You guessed I’m a wooden toy fanatic too…I can’t cope with the noise, or remembering to buy batteries 😉 Esther xxx