Cool Christmas Gifts for Babies and Toddlers

My baby's first Christmas is coming up and it's super exciting even though he, at 11 months, won't remember much of it.  He is, however, very much enjoying the lights, musicial decorations, and shiny objects that abound during the season.  Since his birthday follows right on the heels of the holidays, I've been doing a lot of research on gifts.  The focus of my search is toys that will be long-lasting (both as hand-me-downs and his length of interest in them), stimulating, safe, and as environmentally conscious as possible.  I've discovered a lot of great gifts that will be perfect for now and to keep in mind for the future.

And for those online shopping parents and grandparents out there, I highly recommend signing up for the free Amazon Mom program.  They don't tell you this when you sign up (so I was pleasantly surprised), but you get up to 1 year free of Amazon Prime benefits.  Even if you don't sign up for Amazon Mom, you can still get a free 1-month trial of Amazon Prime.  Amazon Prime is normally $75 a year, and it gives you free 2-day shipping on anything that qualifies toward free standard shipping without the program.  Get all your Christmas gifts delivered to your door with expedited shipping for free with no minimum purchase requirement!  Be warned, however - I have to say that free 2-day shipping is rather addictive...

Without further ado, here's a list of my favorite toys, many of which will be showing up under the tree and for his birthday this year and as he gets older.

For the wee ones (0-24 months)

Sophie the Giraffe by Vulli $18-$20

For the past 10 months since my son's birth, I have ignored this very adorable giraffe because I, like many others, felt this was more akin to an overpriced dog toy than a teether.  Curiosity finally got the best of me, and I clicked the link on an Amazon.com window shopping foray.  After all, with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating from almost 1000 reviewers, there had to be something to the hype.

For someone who teethes as ferociously as my son (I have many bruises, cuts, and bite marks from his attacks), it looks like Sophie just might be worth the $20.  The first thing I noticed was that Sophie is large for a teether at about 4"x7".  Personally, I think that's great because it means she's easy to hold, has plenty of surface area for biting, and won't get lost in the cracks of the couch or under the furniture if my son drops her.  When the teething phase is over, we might still get some use out of her as a conventional toy or bath time buddy because of her size.

She's made out of 100% natural rubber and food paint, so none of that made-in-China lead contamination to worry about and the rubber is phthalate and chemical free since it's plant-derived.   The rubber is very durable and long lasting.  Sophie squeaks when she's squeezed, so she provides aural stimulation for those babies (like mine) who love sounds.  The high contrast spots are great for younger babies to focus on, and the appendages, which are made of thicker rubber than the main body, are great for gnawing.  The legs are perfect for getting on the back gums when the 1 and 2 year molars come in, so she's a functional teether for infants and toddlers at any stage.  The bottom line is that Sophie is made to LAST and she's one of the safest teethers out there.

If you're still not convinced she's worth the investment, Sophie's friend Chan Pie Gnon, a smaller mushroom-shaped creature that comes in blue, pink, or yellow, is made to the same standards with equally great reviews for a fraction of the cost ($13.50).  For an even more economical choice, Vulli also makes a 2-pack of Vanilla Flavored Teething Rings ($9-$12).

Winkel by Manhattan Toys $10-$13

There's a plastic toy similar to this at the nursery where I attend church.  I haven't been able to figure out exactly what it is or who makes it, but my son is mesmerized by it every time he sees it.

The Winkel by Manhattan Toys looks like an even better option than the one at the nursery for many reasons.  Essentially a ball made of tangled, colorful loops, the Winkel is comprised of soft, bendable plastic that is great for teething and play that helps develop fine motor skills and spatial learning.  The bright colors are beautiful and will hold baby's attention with the many moveable parts.   For extra teething relief, the Winkel can be chilled in the refridgerator.  When baby gets older, roll the Winkel across the floor to encourage creeping, crawling, and cruising as he chases after it.








My First Blocks by Green Toys $18-$22





These beautifully colored blocks are soft and rounded for safe play with the youngest of children, but will probably get a few years of interest with stimulating, open-ended play.  The lightweight blocks are free of BPA, pthalates, PVC, and external coatings, and they are large enough and bright enough to be visible so they don't get stepped on by adults and will help make clean up easier.  Made in the USA from recycled plastic milk jugs, the Green Toys company helps reduce energy usage and greenhouse emissions with this earth friendly toy.  The packaging is also made of recycled material and printed with soy inks.

Pull-Along Snail by Plan Toys $15





This wonderful toy is colorful and made of organic, recycled rubber wood in Thailand.  The bright hues are attractive, and the snail body moves up and down when pulled.  There is no tipping factor with this cute snail because it will still move and roll if it accidentally gets placed upside down.  The curve of the wheels help the snail get back on it's "feet" when he's on his side.


Plan Toys also makes a Snake, Caterpillar, Puppy, Alligator, and many other earthly friendly toys for all ages (including tea sets, dolls, dollhouses, play food sets, toy vehicles, and more) created to "inspire children's imagination as well as promote physical and intellectual development" with "thoughtful design and age-appropriate challenges to stimulate children's creativity".  FYI Plan Toys has all of their products manufactured in Germany or Thailand and NOT China.






Baby Faith Videos $4-$15


This short series is hosted and narrated by Jodi Benson, the voice of Disney's Little Mermaid.  They are available in DVD and VHS for as low as $4 for a high quality used copy.  And I've seen used ones even lower than that when it's not so close to Christmas.

The puppets and visuals are very interesting and stimulating to my son, and the music is based on traditional hymnody and faith-based tunes.  In between musical interludes, Jodi Benson narrates the essential points of Bible stories and verses in ways that young children can understand and appreciate.  God Made Animals tells the story of Noah, God Made Music feature King David and expounds on a passage from Psalms, baby Moses is featured in God Made Babies, the story of Joseph is the focus God Made Families, God Made Me tells the story of the creation in Genesis, and the birth of Jesus is the emphasis of God Made Christmas.

My son has two of these (God Made Animals and God Made Music) and actually likes them better than Baby Einstein because there is a greater variety of stimuli (speaking, sounds, music, and visual scenes that are related to the theme and narration).  He gets excited when he sees us getting ready to play his videos, and responds to the reciting of lines from Baby Faith even when it's not playing.  He will definitely be getting more of these for Christmas and his birthday, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants another option to Baby Einstein, especially those who prefer a faith-based alternative.






For the not so wee ones (1-4 years)

PlayMobil Sets $10-$300

These fun sets by PlayMobil spark the imagination with high quality figurines and scenes that will get years of use.  The 1.2.3. play sets, like the one pictured to the right, are designed specifically for the youngest toddlers (recommended for 18 months and up) with larger pieces and easy to use/assemble accessories.  The regular play sets are recommended for children 3 and up.  

You'll find everything from fairies, veterinarians, farmers, pirates, Roman centurions, helicopter pilots, and everything in between.  They even make a Nativity play set.  PlayMobil sets remind me of highly detailed lego people and scenes minus the tiny building pieces.  I really like that the characters are generic and not based on TV or overly sexualized stereotypes.  Since many of the sets are historical or academic in nature (medieval knights, Civil War soldiers, Roman Empire Era soldiers, ancient Egyptian families, archeologists, frontier era townspeople, skilled professionals, Cossack warriors, etc.), there is a lot of room for learning and open ended, creative play.

Although they sell most items in sets from basic to extravagantly complete, many of the figurines and accessories are available individually so that you can truly customize your child's play set and add pieces and related sets if your child shows a special interest.  Sets are anywhere between $10 and $300 depending on how elaborate they are.  Many of the smaller sets can be used as add ons to create a complete make believe world--imagine an Egyptian play set complete with pyramids, the Sphinx, mummies, treasure tombs, soldiers, chariots, and camel-riding tomb raiders, Egyptian townspeople, and you'll get what I mean.  Individual figurines, character sets, and accessories start around $3.  All the sets are compatible so you can even mix and match for the ultimate diversity.

Radio Flyer Trike $45-$65



Radio Flyer makes a few different models of ride-on tricycles for toddlers not quite old enough to manage pedals or a house-friendly indoor ride for bigger kids.

Pictured is the Classic Tiny Trike.  The solid wood body makes it very light (8 pounds) so even your 1 year old should be able to manage it, but the classic Radio Flyer style will maintain its cool factor even when your child is older (up to 6 years old according to Radio Flyer).  It's equipped with chrome handles, ergonomic grips, streamers, and ringing bell for extra fun.  It comes with a padded seat like a big kid bike, and the wide wheel base makes it stable and less prone to tipping.

For a more "grown up" look, Radio Flyer also makes the Scoot-About ($45), recommended for 1-3 year olds.  Still very lightweight at just under 10 pounds, the Scoot-About features Radio Flyer's signature steel-constructed body, functional steering, adjustable seat height, streamers, ringing bell, furniture-friendly front bumper, rubber tires for rough terrain, and a wide wheel base.  I think this one is going to have to make it to the birthday list for sure!

If you're looking for a more girly trike, the Trike n Trailer ($57) by The Little Little Toy Company offers soft colors in a sturdy wood-constructed, ride-on tricycle that comes complete with it's own trailer.

I'm also a little bit in love with the Radio Flyer wagons.  Their 3-in-1 Walker Wagon ($35), which has a 42-pound weight limit and can be used indoors and outdoors, converts into push cart, a ride-on, and a pull wagon.  The Classic Walker Wagon ($80) has the signature look of an all-terrain wagon with an all wood body and stiffer wheels so it doesn't roll out from newly initiated walkers.  The 32S All-Terrain Wagon and the Radio Flyer All-Terrain Cargo Wagon (both $100), which is slightly bigger, sport pnuematic tires for outdoor use and detachable, fully finished wood sides so babies and toddlers can ride in them without splinters.  These all-terrain wagons can be use a "coaches" or stuffed animal carriers but are rugged enough and large enough to use in the garden or for outdoor wagon rides.  Radio Flyer even makes a tiny wagon ($12) that's perfect for toddler play with the stuffed animals and makes a great gift basket for little boys.


Stork Craft Rocking Horse ($35-$45)





What child doesn't love a rocking horse?  This inexpensive, all wood model will gets years of play and make a nice heirloom for future generations.  The long runners prevent tipping, and the detailing of the eyes, harness, mane, and tail are adorable.  Multiple color options are available.


For a plush rocking horse option, Tek Nek's "Rock N' Ride"Pony ($35-$40) comes in many colors including pink.  The soft, plush body is cuddly and the runners feature a no slip foot grip.  The Rock N' Ride Pony also moves its mouth to talk, sing, and whinny.









Magna-Tiles $20-$120





Recommended for age 3 and up, this fun take on blocks and Legos features unbreakable tiles with magnetic sides for amazing 3-D building possibilities.  Available in traditional and clear tiles, most of the pieces are large enough that some have said even their infants like to join in the fun although the pieces have corners that are not the most baby-friendly.  The magnetic pieces stick together for fast, easy clean up, storage, and organization.


Choose sets from 32 pieces up to 100+.  Other sets like the Working Trucks allow your child to build their own functioning transportation creations.  Edushape makes a Foam Version that may work better for younger builders.

Thrifty Thursday: Watch for Falling Prices

The clearance deals I mentioned a couple weeks ago at WalMart are even lower!  Summer clothes prices are falling to make room for back to school and fall inventory.  Rompers by Carters are as low as $3, Faded Glory Organic 3-piece sets (sleeveless onesie, t-shirt, shorts) are $3, and Garanimals single pieces (shorts, shirts pants) are as low as $1.  Some styles of summer shoes are also 50% off or greater.

At Sears get an additional 30-50% off clearanced infant, toddler, and children's clothing.  They also offer price matching on items if you find it cheaper elsewhere.

If you live in a hot climate where you'll get a few more months of use out of warm weather attire or want to stock up for next year, this is the perfect time!

The First Six Months--5 Lessons Learned

My son turned 6 months old on the 30th.  I can't help but marvel at how fast he's grown and how quickly he continues to develop.  In this short time, he's gone from a tiny 6 pound baby who barely knows what to do with himself to a strapping 20+ pound boy who can sit by himself, knows how to drink out of a glass, is able to ask for things, almost has standing by himself under his belt, holds his sippy cup, helps me dress him by putting his arms and legs through his clothes, and wants to copy everything everyone does around him.

What everyone says is true about it getting easier.  Post partum finally ended so I'm not an emotional, moody, cranky wreck anymore.  Since he can sit up by himself, it's easier to dress him, bathe him, and feed baby food.  His poops are on a pretty dependable schedule and are easier to get out of his cloth diapers than when he was a newborn.  He sleeps longer, often sleeping through the night, but he still has those nights where he's awake every 30 minutes.  Since he is able to entertain himself a little, he doesn't need to be held quite as often.  The nervous novelty of motherhood has begun to wear off, and I'm no longer afraid of every little thing.

As I emerge from the rite of passage that is the first 6 months as a mother, I have a few short words of advice for new and expecting moms as someone who has very recently been through this phase.

1)  Sleep when the baby sleeps.  You won't get it any other way.  The laundry and dishes can wait.  If you don't sleep, you'll burn out especially in the first 2-3 months.  As it is, you may not get more than 1-2 hours of sleep at a time and even less if you're breast feeding.  When I was nursing, there were days at a time when I didn't get more than 30 minutes of sleep in a sitting because my son would breastfeed for 45-60 minutes, fall asleep halfway through, take another 15-30 minutes to be sound asleep enough to put down, and I would only have another 30-45 minutes before his next feeding.  It was rough.

If a trusted friend of family member offers to help with chores or watch the baby for a bit so you can have an extra nap, learn to accept their offers with grace.  While we mothers want to do it all, we can't.  There aren't enough hours in the day to care for a newborn AND do all the housework.


2)  Don't let others undermine you and your instincts as a mother.  Moms don't pop out of a mold.  You don't have to do everything the way your mother or matrons in your life did it.  Follow your instincts and be true to your mothering style.  You'll be most comfortable doing what feels natural to you rather than trying to meet everyone's expectations and desires for the way you choose to care for your new infant.  You also spend more time than anyone else with your baby, so you are the expert when it comes to your child's habits, needs, and ways of communicating.  And, yes, your newborn will quickly learn how to communicate different wants, needs, and emotions.  It's amazing how articulate they can be even without speech!


3)  Everything in the world is NOT out to get your baby.  Contrary to all the information out there and the advice of concerned, well-meaning friends and family, it really just isn't that serious most of the time.  Yes, we need to take safety and health precautions.  But your baby won't die of SIDS if he wants to sleep on his stomach, especially when he's strong enough to turn his head on his own.  Your little girl won't get pneumonia if it's a degree or two colder than your grandmother thinks it should be in the house or bath.  If your little bundle of joy grabs something that touched the floor and puts it in his or her mouth, a sudden and fatal attack of dysentery will not ensue.  Yes, babies are more sensitive than adults, but if they were really THAT fragile, the world would be a lot less populated and no one born in the days before sterilized bottles, enclosed homes, and air filters would have survived.  Common sense, good judgement, and your motherly instincts are enough to make sound decisions in almost all of the situations you'll encounter in your daily life with baby.


4)  Get everything bigger than you think you need it.    I mean EVERYTHING:  clothes, bottles, car seats, the works.  Your little one will grow faster than you would believe and those cute tiny things will soon be too small.  My son outgrew the 4-ounce capacity of his newborn size bottles around 4 months.  Any day now he'll outgrow his 22 pound limit infant car seat.  He's already comfortably wearing 12-18 month clothes.  Most play pens are too small since he's over 26 inches long and the biggest ones I've seen are only 34-38" at the widest point, which doesn't leave much crawl space.  He was only able to use his swing for about 4 months, and he's almost too long for his baby papasan chair.  If we'd gotten him a bassinet, he would have outgrown it ridiculously fast.  Sadly, his little legs are almost too fat for his Bumbo chair, but I still recommend them because they're so useful.


5)  Less is more.  While it can be a temptation to try every gadget out there for babies, it will often end up being a waste of money in all honesty.  If your child is anything like mine, he or she would rather have less toys and more one on one time with you.  When it comes to toys and entertainment for my son, he really doesn't need that much.  I can count on one hand the favorites he will turn to again and again and still have fingers left over.  He would rather be with me than any toy I can buy or make for him.  There isn't a toy or video that can hold his attention for longer than 20 or so minutes on a good day, especially if he's playing or watching alone.  If he could talk, I'm sure he'd tell anyone that likes his toys and games much better when we play with them together.  More often than not, he's more interested in turning nontoys into his new play things and will derive more enjoyment out of them than most items that are supposed to be toys.  For example, he would rather have the mouse pad or the phone charger to chew than any teething toy in the house.

Size Matters

Usually in the 95th percentile for weight and height at each check up, it seems that I'm constantly facing a dilemma with my son's above average size.  At five and half months old, he's already about 21 pounds.  He lost a bit of weight during a teething week at the beginning of the month but quickly gained it back and then some. 

Before I became a mother, I used to think that preoccupation with the petite was reserved for adults.  I am, however, rethinking that as I've been researching exactly what it means to be in the 90+ percentile compared with the median weights for infants at various stages.

Even though my son is ahead of the curve, the median weight for a 6 month old boy is 18 pounds.  This is only 4 pounds away from the maximum weight limit of infant car seats which are ideally supposed to last until the child is 1 year old.  Many brands of infant clothing have a maximum recommended weight of around 19.5 pounds for 9 months sizes.  It seems that baby products are designed with girls in mind who have much lower median weights.  Since this is true, one would think that manufacturers would make different lines of products to accommodate the different needs of boys and girls, especially with clothing.  But they don't.  It's as if companies purposely under size their products so that consumers will have to purchase multiple items (often costly items) in order to span the entire period of use.

What about when it comes to play pens and the height limits on car seats?  The story is much the same.  I've blogged about my car seat woes, so there's nothing new there.  I've also been looking at play n plays, play yards, and play pens since my son is of the age where he needs to be contained to make sure he doesn't get away when I'm not looking.  The largest I've seen, however, is 34" on it's longest side, and it's not cheap.  My son is already over 26" tall.  That doesn't leave much room for crawling and exercise.  I was extremely disappointed because I have fun memories involving the extra large playpens from the days of yore.

Because of that, I've had to search for alternatives to the traditional play pens.  If you search for gate or fence style play yards, these start with dimensions of at least 36"x36" and most of them have optional extensions available for purchase.  The pros are that they are convenient, versatile, highly portable, often able to be reconfigured to the shape and size that best fits the room, and cost much less per square foot than traditional style play pens.  The cons are that they aren't padded in the walls, need a separate pad for the floor if your baby is still learning to sit up or crawl, and the selection and styles are limited.

In a world where manufacturer's capitalize on the fast growth of infants and small children by making products that run small and your child is already larger than average, a mom has to get creative sometimes.




Image: Rasmus Thomsen / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

10 Things Cool Mom Can't Live Without

These infant toys, baby supplies and websites make it easier for this mom to tackle her busy schedule while keeping baby happy and healthy.

1) Charlie's Soap is an all natural laundry soap made right here in the USA! One tablespoon is all you need for even a large load. It leaves clothes clean and smelling great without harsh chemicals, dyes, or perfumes. This soap rinses residue free to eliminate skin irritation and eliminates the need for fabric softener. This is the best soap for cloth diapers that I have found. For extra cleaning power, I usually use 2 tbsp on diapers.


2) Baby's Only Organic Formula by Nature's One is the only formula on the market that doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup. They use brown rice syrup instead. As a hypoglycemic mom, I have concerns about keeping my baby's blood sugar stable, but I don't need to worry with this formula.


3) Safety 1st Baby Monitor - A great value for under $20. The sound quality is good for the price. It has a long range so I can go outside or do chores on the other side of the house while he sleeps and know that I'll be able to hear him if he needs me. It works with either a 9v battery or the included adapter for use in variety of situations.


4) Winnie the Pooh Umbrella Stroller - I use mine for quick trips to the grocery store when I don't need to pack the kitchen sink. Sometimes taking a few laps around the house is the only way to make my son stop crying. He even falls asleep in it most of the time. If you do some comparison shopping, you can find them brand new for under $15.


5) Vtech Move & Crawl Ball - This brightly colored, motorized ball lights up, talks, and sings. It teaches numbers, shapes, animals, and animal sounds while keeping my son distracted so that I can wash the dishes or take much needed bathroom breaks.

6) Diapers.com - So far, this is the best place I've found for my recurring diaper and formula needs. The prices are hard to beat, and they constantly offer coupons and referral discounts. My purchases always arrive within 2-3 days of ordering, and they offer free shipping. They have a huge selection of baby and toddler products so it's easy to find those useful and necessary add-ons to meet the minimum purchase amount for free shipping.

7) Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher - Mix up to 32 oz. of formula at once. The unique design dissolves formula quickly and breaks up clumps while introducing a minimal amount of air into the formula. When mixing formula for individual servings, I usually have to shake the bottle to make the powder dissolve faster which creates a huge amount of air bubbles and gives my baby more gas. With this pitcher, that problem is solved and I can make a whole pitcher in less time than it took me to make one bottle.


8) Avent Powder Formula Dispenser and Snack Cup - Pre-measure up to 3 servings of milk for easier travel. No scooping and measuring in the car, just twist and pour for perfectly measured servings! The dividers are removable so the dispenser doubles as a lidded snack cup for long term functionality. Having 2 or 3 of these will make road trips more convenient from infancy on.

9) Ebay.com - Save big on new and used baby and toddler items! They grow so fast that most baby supplies are like new when they stop using them. I've saved literally hundreds of dollars by buying high quality used items. When your child outgrows his or her clothes, toys, and other baby gear, you can turn around and resell them for extra cash and room and more closet space.

10) Munchkin Bottle Warmer - Takes the guess work out of warming bottles. I've used it so much that I don't even need to time it.