S/O looking ahead - gifts

[aggiebug]

With DD's birthday being one month after Christmas, and because I am a planner, I have started to think about gifts for LO. I am trying to make a list so when I talk to the grandparents I can give them some ideas that will be good longer term/ she may grow into before next Christmas.

Has anyone else thought about this? What's on your list?

[ace226]

DH's parents asked if there's anything we wanted or needed, we just told them we're saving for a car seat for when he grows out of this one. We're boring/poor. Haha.

[emilyz320]

Convertable car seat. Amazon gift cards for formula and diapers. Spring or summer clothes for next year. +1 to being poor and boring.

[hollydfromtn]

I have no clue what to get or request for a one year old. I'm thinking developmental toys that he can play with for a while and clothes. It stinks having his birthday so close to Christmas. We're going to be overloaded with stuff, especially since he's the first grand baby on DH's side. I'm going to push towards Melissa & Doug items and maybe some from Green Toys.

[aggiebug]

Yeah I would love to be boring, but lets just say I know ILs will not go that route lol, so I am looking quality toys so at least I won't be buying toys and carseats etc.

This is the list I have come up with so far. It might not all stay on there.

A outdoor play cube
water/activity table
a wagon
“scout” dog
Little people farm, etc
melissa and doug blocks
M&D puzzles
cozy coup
baby/ stroller
wonder walker

[aggiebug]

Aug 13, 2015 10:28:37 GMT -5 mumomma13 said:

Do you mean you are going to ask for things for her bday that will let her until next Christmas when she's almost 2? If so, I have no clue what 2 year olds like. Lol

Yeah pretty much or at least get her close.  Like the water table, she will love that at 18months maybe not at a year since its winter but trying to look ahead a little bit. 

[aggiebug]

mumomma13, we have a postage stamp for a back yard. Its enough to let the dogs out to go to the bathroom and not much more. I figure the play cube is something I can drag in and out of the garage.

[michelle142]

DS was a December baby (2 weeks before Christmas).

Family started doing this on their own, so I can't take credit for it really. For his birthday, they bought things he'd be able to use then (though we pack some away for future use). For Christmas, they'd get him summer time items - outdoor toys, swim trunks.. etc.

Not sure if that's helpful or not.

[mishka29]

This is tricky bc DD1 already has soooo many toys! Probably clothes so she has some things that are just hers.

[mishka29]

I also agree that it's good to get 'older' toys that they can grow into since xmas and birthday are so close together.

[kartish]

LO has some little people already that he likes to chew on, so I think that those will carry over a large age gap. I want to get him a swing for Christmas, but I don't know what direction to steer the grandparents. I can just see mountains of presents in our future but I would much rather they get one thoughtful present instead.

[cloe111479]

One idea I had was a membership to like the zoo, or whatever is located near you. We have the zoo, aquirium and insectarium here. (We ended up getting our own but j know my mil has done that for dh's sisters kids before)

[Deleted]

I've started a private Amazon wish list to hold ideas. Basically, things that would be great but I don't need now or aren't age appropriate yet. Some wooden little people, wooden blocks, giant marbles (it's a set of six wooden marbles, 2" diameter), nesting bowls. I'm trying to keep to simple toys that will grow with her for 6-12 months at least. I haven't actually put much thought to it yet, just holding onto some ideas as I stumble upon them! I think I will ask for a little toddler size table and chairs too.

[ace226]

Aug 13, 2015 11:18:40 GMT -5 cloe111479 said:

One idea I had was a membership to like the zoo, or whatever is located near you. We have the zoo, aquirium and insectarium here. (We ended up getting our own but j know my mil has done that for dh's sisters kids before)

That's a GREAT idea!! We have well, nothing near us, but one day I hope we live in the city again and can gift this and/or put it out there as a gift idea!

[miniwheat]

I am a mean mom but DS is going to get my older LO's toys from when she was around 1 for both Christmas and his bday.

[hollydfromtn]

Aug 13, 2015 10:29:22 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

Yeah I would love to be boring, but lets just say I know ILs will not go that route lol, so I am looking quality toys so at least I won't be buying toys and carseats etc.

This is the list I have come up with so far. It might not all stay on there.

A outdoor play cube
water/activity table
a wagon
“scout” dog
Little people farm, etc
melissa and doug blocks
M&D puzzles
cozy coup
baby/ stroller
wonder walker

Ooh water table and wagon are great ideas. Definitely adding those to my list too. Off to google yard cube and cozy coup.

[psychobutthead]

If I gave a list of ideas everyone would just ignore them all

Instead I just tell people what not to get. (stickers, paint, super messy stuff) if they don't listen I split some of the toys up and the things that I don't want to deal with at my house goes back to their houses as toys for my kids to play with when they visit mwhahaa. AFter awhile they started to listen to what not to buy.

I don't know what to buy LO. With Christmas so close to his birthday I'm just like ehh. Maybe some toys where he can ride or push them to walk. And Christmas will probably be clothes and books, and maybe a bedding set since I never bought him a crib set.

I really haven't put thought into it too much.

[emilyz320]

Aug 13, 2015 11:18:40 GMT -5 cloe111479 said:

One idea I had was a membership to like the zoo, or whatever is located near you. We have the zoo, aquirium and insectarium here. (We ended up getting our own but j know my mil has done that for dh's sisters kids before)

Awesome idea!

[aggiebug]

Aug 13, 2015 11:30:04 GMT -5 hollydfromtn said:

Aug 13, 2015 10:29:22 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

Yeah I would love to be boring, but lets just say I know ILs will not go that route lol, so I am looking quality toys so at least I won't be buying toys and carseats etc.

This is the list I have come up with so far. It might not all stay on there.

A outdoor play cube
water/activity table
a wagon
“scout” dog
Little people farm, etc
melissa and doug blocks
M&D puzzles
cozy coup
baby/ stroller
wonder walker

Ooh water table and wagon are great ideas. Definitely adding those to my list too. Off to google yard cube and cozy coup.

When you Google cozy coupe you will be like 'oooh I didn't know that is what it was called',at least that was my reaction. It's the orange and yellow car foot powered car.

A yard cube is just a small cube structure they can climb on/ through and usually has a slide, but it doesn't take up much space and I can drag it in and out of the garage.

[hollydfromtn]

aggiebug definitely my reaction to both lol. Adding those to my list also

[Deleted]

Oh! I was also thinking of one of those collapsible tunnels. But I may want that sooner, depends on when she starts crawling I guess.

[seamonster]

Aug 13, 2015 11:25:44 GMT -5 miniwheat said:

I am a mean mom but DS is going to get my older LO's toys from when she was around 1 for both Christmas and his bday.

I think that's a great idea. I'm giving him some hand me down toys and a rocking horse I bought in May. A water table and play tent would be great if we have the room. A jogging stroller is also on the list.

[osumegs]

I also have an amazon wish list started that I plan to pass on to the grandparents. MIL hates lists like that. She wants to come up with ideas on her own, which is sweet in theory, but she often duplicates.

I think we are almost done with our Christmas shopping for dd. The things on our list that we've bought either on super mark downs or used are: v-tech activity cube, fisher price manners tea set, v-tech walker, ball tower, and a ball popper. We will split those up between Christmas and bday based on developmentally where we think she is. We will also pick up a few books and maybe an outfit. If I can find an anywhere chair used, that will be a grabbed item.

For family members we have on her list the following: the fisher price learning chair, elemenosqueeze blocks, one two squeeze blocks, a pounding bench, Melissa and doug first puzzles, fisher price bounce stride and ride elephant, Melissa and doug fill and spill toys, and a step 2 wagon. That gives them some direction and some items to choose from.

The list we have started

[hollydfromtn]

I was just reminded that the ILs are planning on getting S his Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License for his 1st birthday. In TN the price for the lifetime license almost triples after they turn 2, so you may want to look into your states regulations if you're interested in it. DH has his and it saves so much money for us when we don't have to keep buying fishing licenses every year.

[krispy83]

We got DS a Cozy Coupe for his 1st birthday and he still plays with it at 3 1/2. It's an incredibly long-lasting toy. My Pal Scout, Leapfrog Poppin' Play Piano, Leapfrog Farm Mashup, music/activity table and activity walker were other big hits from his first Christmas/first birthday (he's a Feb baby so they're fairly close together).

I get a lot of gift ideas from this website: www.babycheapskate.com/2014/10/02/toys-that-get-played-with-2014-13-to-24-months/

Everything that we've gotten DS from that list has been a big success and they tend to be long-lived toys too.

[mands1125]

I know that I want to get her a PB "Anywhere" Chair but I think I might request that for Hanukkah from my inlaws.

[mands1125]

@holachica- Great Mandy(i)'s think alike! lol.

I'm trying to decide if I am going to embroider her name on it. I think it will look cute but then again, I think I will be able to unload it easier when she outgrows it without the name on it. Although I think you get easily get a new cover for it maybe?

[GeekBeagle]

Aug 14, 2015 7:24:31 GMT -5 mands1125 said:

@holachica- Great Mandy(i)'s think alike! lol.

I'm trying to decide if I am going to embroider her name on it. I think it will look cute but then again, I think I will be able to unload it easier when she outgrows it without the name on it. Although I think you get easily get a new cover for it maybe?

We already have one with DS's name on it. You can get a new cover for them. I see the chairs for sale all the time on FB B/S/T groups with names on them. They seriously sell really fast no matter if there is a name on them or not. I always tried to grab one, but was never quick enough, so I just went ahead and bought it straight from PB.

[osumegs]

Aug 14, 2015 7:49:17 GMT -5 GeekBeagle said:

Aug 14, 2015 7:24:31 GMT -5 mands1125 said:

@holachica- Great Mandy(i)'s think alike! lol.

I'm trying to decide if I am going to embroider her name on it. I think it will look cute but then again, I think I will be able to unload it easier when she outgrows it without the name on it. Although I think you get easily get a new cover for it maybe?

We already have one with DS's name on it. You can get a new cover for them. I see the chairs for sale all the time on FB B/S/T groups with names on them. They seriously sell really fast no matter if there is a name on them or not. I always tried to grab one, but was never quick enough, so I just went ahead and bought it straight from PB.

I was going to ask your where you got N's. I saw you had one in one of his pics. They seriously are gone within seconds. It amazes me.

[ChickenOnSunday]

Great things in this post. So many we got for Willa during her first year.

I don't think I saw the mention of an Anywhere Chair from PBK. Best thing ever. I know there is a knockoff that is cheaper but I can't speak to the quality.


*doh! Page 2 for the win.