It’s not that babies don’t deserve presents -- who doesn’t love and want to shower a baby with gifts? Answer: Evil, terrible people who get coal in their stocking, that’s who. But the reality is, your baby, my baby, that lady’s baby, all babies really don’t need anything at all for the holidays. Except love. Store-bought gifts? Not necessary!
Baby will grow out of or become disinterested in whatever it is you will get her in about five days. And relatives will probably get plenty of things for baby anyway so you don't have to contribute to the vast pile of things that aren't going to fit in your house. Plus, baby isn’t going to get mad at you for scrimping on her this Christmas -- she'll never remember. And besides, she probably wants you to buy yourself that coffee pot so you can be more alert for reading and cooing time. But just in case you feel you need something, here are some free ideas so you can have that Kodak moment.
A toilet paper roll can supply about an hour's worth of smiles. It's bendy and baby can put things in it. You can speak into it with a funny voice and kids find it hilarious.
Empty egg cartons are soft and textured. Plus, baby can learn the art of opening and closing.
Wrapping paper makes a similar crinkly sound as taggies. (Paper works well, too.) You can wrap anything -- even a toy baby already has -- and the unwrapping of it makes it as exciting as a good poop.
Not sure what it is about socks, baby's own as well as yours, but they are a good time for the littlest ones. Sock on. Sock off. Sock on. Sock off. Sock on.
If you love using your phone, wait until you give it to your child. This is of course best for adventurous parents only who won't mind if baby accidentally gets into your work emails and sends your boss a message that looks like this: kjoef opejfoewfjlf rkdfmkkalf.
Hats. Perfect for playing peek-a-boo! Bonus: Excellent photo op!
Does your baby like playing with any of these things? Are you still shopping for him/her for the holidays?
Images via AndrewEick/Flickr, uair01/Flickr; außerirdische sind gesund/Flickr; nathanmac87/Flickr; knit.spin/Flickr; GoodNCrazy/Flickr; joelk75/Flickr
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Comments 21
Yes, but only because my older children believe in Santa and I didn't want them mad at Santa that their baby sister was forgotten.
2 years later my oldest son is still playing with toys I got him for his first Christmas (at 9 months old). I bought most items off Craigslist.com as well as gave him used toys people had past down to us (and just hid them until Christmas morning). Now my younger son is just 8 days away from his 1st Birthday and for his 1st Christmas we got him toys that both he and his older brother will both enjoy not just this year but years down the road. This, I have found, is the best website to find creative and learning toys for children: http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toys/toys_by_ages/ages.cfm
I have an almost 3 month old and as he's just starting to actually be interested in toys he's only now starting to play with the stuff we got him while I was pregnant. We are just going to stuff his stocking with rattles and teethers and stuff like that and call it good this year. He'll get stuff from the rest of the family.
this is my 8 month old's first Christmas...and we went a TAD overboard with the gifts....he has 6 large interactive toys coming at him from me & his daddy alone, then we have both sets of grandparents that also got him toys & gifts...Yikes! we're gonna need a bigger house. lol
I used to wrap toys my son already had, because he loved unwrapping more hten what was inside! Wish that still worked :P