Pregnancy & Parenting

With the holiday season upon us, I'm starting to think about what to get for everyone, and I'm hitting a brick wall with the baby (she'll be 4 months old at Christmas).  We've got more than enough baby toys from older brother.  I went crazy clothes shopping before she was born, and she shouldn't need clothes again until she's in college.  LOL!  I've already got a swing, bouncy seat, walker, etc.  She already has a sterling silver baby ID bracelet.  She's got a baby/toddler set of Oneida flatware.  I can't think of a single thing to get her!  I did get her a pretty set of baby's first Christmas keepsake ornaments, but I wanted to get her more than one gift.   

So what is everyone getting for your babies? 

For the baby that has everything....a savings bond is nice. My fourth baby pretty much has everything she needs so the relatives started doing savings bonds. Thats a good idea because if they stuck cash in an envelope, I might grab it and spend it on groceries or gas. Just a suggestion!

I am trying to figure out what my spending limit should be this year on Christmas stuff for the kids. I have an almost five year old, twin 3 year olds and 6 mo baby. Everything is soooo expensive! Oh well. The joys of Christmas.

Well, maybe this might seem crazy, but why buy her anything?  The spirit of the holidays isn't really about gifts, in my opinion...especially for a little one who really only wants/needs love and affection from people who love her.  I'm not planning on buying my boy (7 months now) anything for at least a couple of years.  (Then again, we really don't do gifts in my family, anyways...)  But alternately, the savings bond thing sounds good.  Or maybe start a college fund.

I am not buying Reid anything. He is my fourth boy, he needs NOTHING! I did buy him a teething ring for $2 but that's it. I might actually wrap up some of the baby toys we already have just so it looks like he's getting something but I am not buying him anything new.

Okay, now I don't feel so bad!  I really didn't want to buy her anything because there really is nothing she needs.  I just felt like I'd be a terrible mom if I didn't have something for her at Christmas.  I realize she won't even understand, but still....there's the section in her baby book about her first Christmas.  I didn't want to write 'you didn't get anything because you were too little to know any better anyway.'  LOL! 

I like the savings bond idea, and I like the idea of wrapping 'new' toys.  We've got tons of 6+ month toys that were our son's.  She hasn't seen them yet, so they're new to her! 

At 4 months old they don't know what Christmas is. I would spend the money on something for the future. College fund, savings account, savings bond. Subscription to a book club. When my son was little we got him a Dr. Seuss book subscription. Got a new book every month and we loved it. He is 15 now and I still have all of the books. I love Dr. Seuss :)

I agree with the others.  No need to get a baby anything.  They don't understand anyhow.  Babies and toddlers have more fun just playing with the boxes and wrapping paper.

Otherwise, my vote goes for the gifts for the future - savings bonds, book club, etc.

IF you are lucky, your baby may understand how to pull the wrapping off a present. They really don't start to understand presents until around 2 years old -- especially during the excitement and action of Christmas. Personally, I got my baby a fisher price baby toy for Christmas that was recommended for a child about 3 months older than he was. He had more fun playing with the discarded wrapping paper and ribbons than he did with his present.

My favorite parent-tested toys and gifts:

- Baby Einstein CDs -- I know that reserach says that they do very little to boost intelligence but my kids love them still (they are 3 and 5 years old)

- Puppets -- babies love them and as kids grow they can be used for learning and fun. Plus they are fantastic for long car rides

- Play telephone -- babies and children are pretty quick to realize that mom is on the phone a lot and they want one of their own. My 2 year old daughter used to walk around having full conversations with hers -- and would then pass the phone to me saying "it's for you".

Most small children just like empty boxes.  LOL, my 8YO grandson still loves empty boxes.

Baby will get enough gifts from relatives.

I agree that nothing is necessary. The savings bond thing is a good idea though. Some banks also have special college savings accounts. Opening one would be a gift for both of you. Through the years, you and relatives can deposit "gifts" into it.

I like Sweet Potato Prints onesies. Very cute. Google it.

Does the baby have one of those clay hand foot stamps?

Ah I forget what they're called. It's ceramic paste and you mix it up, press their little hands in it, and then you can write with a toothpick "First Christmas" and the babies name. It's just really neat to look back at those ornaments when you're older. I have one of my hands! Here's a good link.

I also think the baby einstein gifts are great.

My nephew is 10 months old and just starting to walk, so I got him a firetruck push walker because he LOVES that. But when he was around 4 months old, anything that flashed with lights he loved. He had this clip on light up star melody thing for his swing.

Original Post by scaroppo:

- Baby Einstein CDs -- I know that reserach says that they do very little to boost intelligence but my kids love them still (they are 3 and 5 years old)

- Puppets -- babies love them and as kids grow they can be used for learning and fun. Plus they are fantastic for long car rides

Baby Einstein DVDs are almost as much of a present for the parents as they are for the child.  If it weren't for those in the early years, I would have never been able to eat or shower outside of naptime.

Second on the puppets.  And they don't even have to be store bought (although my boys still love the Baby Einstein ones).  Even a 4 month old baby can appreciate a mini puppet show with animal sounds - my youngest stared wide eyed at them and always reached for the cow.

However, as previously mentioned, at 4 months there is really no appreciation for gifts yet.  And even when they do develop that, they're more likely to play with box the toy came in - heck, that just recently happened with my 5 year old.

Good luck! 

My son is going to be almost 11 months at christmas. I'm going to wrap his gifts up in bright paper with ribbon so that he'll have lots of interesting things to play with and destroy!! I know that the grandparents are going to go beserk, so My husband and I agreed to just get him little things, but lots of them, like 10.

Thanks for all the great ideas!!!

I love the ceramic hand prints!  I made one of those in kindergarten, and my mom still has it.  I'm actually thinking my 2 year old son would love to make one, so that might be a good project for him to do with my mom.  She keeps wanting him to 'help' her make the ornaments that you bake in the oven, but I think he's too little this year. 

hey there, i think you should get something for your daughter, i have a son who will only be just over 3 months at christmas and we will definately be getting him some things. i think we are more than likely to get him things that he will grow into, toys, clothes.  we are also making him things he can keep, photo albums, keep sake box, so we will be adding to these with things from christmas. you dont have to spend alot on them, but for me it doesn't matter how old they are, if you celebrate the holidays then they should be involved too. And like you said, you can't put a photo of them in their baby book of them with nothing. And most of all, they might not remember it, but you will. Merry christmas.

Um, no offense but she is only 4 months old. I dont think she is going to be crushed if you dont get her anything.

Like if it were me i wouldnt get them anything till they were like 2 yrs old so i could save money and spend it on people who know whats going on.

I'm probably going to get bashed for saying that but hey, its who i am!!

I ended up buying her two Little Golden Books in addition to the keepsake ornaments.  One is The Story of Jesus, which seems appropriate for Christmas, and the other one is about farm animals.  It's never too early to start reading to children!  My son already has about 100 Little Golden Books, so I'm starting her collection.