The season of giving is officially here, complete with a to-do list that keeps getting bigger and bigger by the day. If the thought of gift shopping has you feeling sick of Christmas before it’s even begun, you’re not alone.
And what do you buy for those little relatives in your life? It can be a minefield, especially if you don’t have any kids yourself. But we’re here to give you a little helping hand with our baby and toddler gift ideas that will definitely work this Christmas. We’re giving you a head start with some picks for stocking fillers and big-ticket items.
Gifting etiquette: How much should you spend and does it have to be a surprise?
Honestly, you don’t need to go all out. For parents, it’s great when you gift their child something practical that helps with the day to day. And when it comes to the kids, they don’t care about price or size. Often, it’s the smallest presents that end up being the biggest hits on Christmas Day anyway.
Don’t be worried about asking the parents what they want. This doesn’t mean that you don’t “know” their child, it just means you’re trying to be helpful with your gifting – and which parent wouldn’t like that?
So, with that in mind, here are a few ideas to help with your Christmas shopping this year:
Bath toys to aid with learning
Bath toys are great to help little babies and toddlers learn through play. They make a fairly inexpensive present but will be a lifesaver for mum or dad to get some peace while their little one entertains themselves (and learns) in the bath. They’re also great options if you’re on a budget.
Some of our top picks for bath toys include:
- Music can help little ones with their creative, cognitive and emotional development. And bathtimebath-time is the perfect time to get a little creative with music. Top picks to help bathtimebath-time go with a musical bang include our 3-in-1 Octodrum which encourages musical exploration through imaginative play and our colourful Dingray xylophone which brings hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills to the tub.
- Patience and problem solving skills can be developed through playing games. This Deep Sea Fishin’ bath toy comes with a magnetic fishing rod and underwater bobbers and is ideal for bath-time. Plus it not only helps with patience and problem solving, but it also encourages fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination too.
- And to bring a bit of creativity and self-expression to the water, you can’t go wrong with these Bath Crayons and Learn Bathtime Letters and Numbers.
Great Christmas presents for little travellers
For tiny travellers, the aim of the family game is all about exploring. And with a few thoughtful gifts at Christmas, you can upgrade their travelling experiences with baby- and child-friendly travel gifts. Air travel can be quite germy, but a UV Mini Steriliser will take care of that – safely sanitising bottles teats and soothers in less than a minute.
If they’re journeying by car, travelling and dining out on the road will be a breeze with the travel booster seat, plus our Bento lunch box with stainless steel utensils.
Presents for parents with a baby on the way
New parents or parents-to-be will likely have an essentials list way longer than your Christmas shopping list. So, what should you get them?
If you’re a parent yourself, it’s a good idea to get them something that you found really useful when your own kids were babies. But if you’re not sure what to get new parents, it’s definitely the time to ask what would be a helpful gift. It’s no use for new parents to get five of the same thing and none of the items that they really need. So don’t be afraid to ask.
Here are some great ideas for Christmas presents when there’s a new baby in the house:
- Portable White Noise Sound Machine – white noise works wonders for some babies to fall asleep. This portable version means it can travel around the house and go to grandparents’ homes when it’s time for a baby sleepover.
- Nursery & Toy UV Steriliser – this can be an essential piece of kit to keep nasties away – after all we know how much babies like to put things in their mouths.
- Teether toys – if these toys are going in their mouth and getting chewed, you can never have enough teethers.
Big ticket items that will really make a difference this year
If you’re buying for parents with a really little one, you might want to go all out and opt for a big ticket item that will be useful for both baby and parents. Like a baby swing or bouncer – this offers a safe space for a baby to relax in, and it also gives parents the chance to have a rest of their own or get on with those essential jobs around the house.
Our baby swing recreates the calming side-to-side swaying motion that babies love, creating a comforting and safe spot to put a baby down. The fact it’s lightweight and portable means it can be carried around the home too, so it’s super useful for parents. It also has Bluetooth compatibility – why not make a special playlist for baby to relax to over Christmas? Now that would be a thoughtful addition to a great present.
Remember, don’t just get Christmas presents for the sake of it. Opting for thoughtful presents that are useful for both kids and parents is the way to go. And it doesn’t have to cost the earth either. Interested in more baby advice? Simply head to our blog or check out our StrollerCoaster podcast.