Lets get started for Christmas 2011

tazmac25

Not yet esmer will take some tomorrow ~ not sure if Im allowed to attach photos yet as a relative newbie??
xx

Wendy5704

Well I nipped to Claire Accessories today and took them up on their 10 items for 10 pound. Got loads of lovely items for my nieces to put away. Managed to pick up some necklaces, headband, smellies, pens, books, shoes etc.

NiceGuyEddie_2

Could I please ask for some help from the parents/carers on this thread for suggestions for presents for little ones? My friends/family have had a baby boom recently, and having just finished my list of who I need to buy for this year, I seem to have a million babies! Slight exaggeration, I admit but in Christmas 2011 I'll have the following:

3 x 12 month old (2 boys, 1 girl)
1 x 13 month old (boy)
and all being well a 4 month old. (obv. not sure which flavour yet!)

I prefer to get presents that will actually be of use (I was talking to friends yesterday who have storage crates full of new toys from Christmas presents) and will still get used in, say, the following 6 months of development or so. Happy to spend anything up to £20 on each but preferably with a few lower-priced items.

My main problem is that because I don't have little ones myself I'm not always entirely comfortable when looking at presents for babies/toddlers because I don't know if the age ranges stated are truely accurate, or if they're the sort of things that parents would like their children to have - so parents, what sort of things would you like your child to received? Any preference between toys/books/clothes or suggestions for things that babies of the above ages seem to really enjoy?

Thanks in advance xx

ETA: Well done to everyone who has been so organised so far - I've got one present sorted, and all wrapping paper and thought I was doing well - you've put me to shame

keys_2

Oh I love this thread

Ive decided also to be more prepared for xmas this yr as it was rather rushed in 2010 !!

• So far I have bought all my Christmas cards for only 20p each from the local card shop so am keeping my eyes out for wrapping paper cheap now .
• I am going to write a list of ideas of what to get each person for presents and stick to a budget for each of them so I can keep my eyes out in the sales / car boots etc in the year .
• 2009 I made hampers and will do again this year as it works out cheaper to do them for couples I know { a movie night in hamper filled with toiletries and wine / food munchies etc}
• Ive already bought a "Babys First Xmas " box reduced to 60p for my niece born this week so am going to fill that throughout the year with babrgains I spot .
• Im going to keep my eyes peeled in charity shops / car boots and sale rails for new smellies I can take out of packets to make hampers up.
• I am going to look at opening a bank account that I cant withdraw from without notice to save at least £10 a month into {probably post office account }
• Buy gift vouchers for clothes stores { next , bank , debenhams etc} £20 a month ready for after xmas sales for dd oh and nye outfit for me
• Save throughout the year all my points on boots , tesco , quidco , surveys etc for last minute presents in december
• purchase gifts with all shop voucher deals I dont use { like no7 - perfume in boots }
• Sell all dd's old toys on Ebay around november in exchange of money for new toys

Overall I want to be all wrapped and food baked and frozen by the end of November and money saved to enjoy taking dd to christmas shows or euro disney again as I really enjoyed doing that last december

sarah*a

NiceGuyEddie wrote: »

Could I please ask for some help from the parents/carers on this thread for suggestions for presents for little ones?

All my friends/family ask for clothes for their LO's when asked. I've found that I get the best response by buying a slightly bigger size - ie: at 12 months buy for 18 months, for 1 yo buy for 1 1/2 - 2yo etc.

It helps us as we buy in advance (now ) and covers us if they have a growing spurt but can be put away if they are the 'right' size for their age.

HTH

esmer

Clothes in a bigger size are always great. Dont get teddies, children dont play with them, they get a favourite and then the others get lost in the toy box.

Presents I got and loved, and will probably treasure the thoughtfulness of them for years.

I got a set of books as a gift and my DD is now three, and we still read them. Guess how much I love you is the title of the book, and they are amazing little books.
A gorgeous blanket for her bed
A Toy chest from IKEA and my friend painted it with stencils
Someone took the time, to gather photos, and a poem and got her little handprints on it.

Toys, it all depends on the child. My DD was interested in some things but not others, and they all develop at a different levels.

hope this helps a wee bit

sarah*a

esmer wrote: »

A Toy chest from IKEA and my friend painted it with stencils

My mum did this for my nephew - it helps with 'the tidy up game' as he knows it is 'his' and only his toys go in it.

housewifeintraining

we were given a roald dahl bookset which will last for years - i read them as bedtime stories ( a couple of chapters a night) and then my little man will be able to read them himself when he is bigger.

To be honest if you're going to buy toys I wouldn't get them too far in advance - we did this with DS and ended up having to give him some things early and buy more for christmas as he was developing faster than we expected and so some things wouldn't have been much good to him by christmas!

yummy-mummy-amy

children - as daft as it sounds put the money you would spend on gifts into their bank for the future, they get sooooo many clothes and toys.

wammy77

esmer wrote: »

Clothes in a bigger size are always great. Dont get teddies, children dont play with them, they get a favourite and then the others get lost in the toy box.

Presents I got and loved, and will probably treasure the thoughtfulness of them for years.

I got a set of books as a gift and my DD is now three, and we still read them. Guess how much I love you is the title of the book, and they are amazing little books.
A gorgeous blanket for her bed
A Toy chest from IKEA and my friend painted it with stencils
Someone took the time, to gather photos, and a poem and got her little handprints on it.

Toys, it all depends on the child. My DD was interested in some things but not others, and they all develop at a different levels.

hope this helps a wee bit

My two children also have the 'Guess How Much I Love You' books (the original book and the 'seasons' box set) and still read them now - they are just lovely!!!

I bought one for each of my nephews too when they were born and they love them - it's their special bedtime story