Once again Christmas is nearly upon us and soon we will be breaking out the tinsel, baking our brandy soaked fruit cake, and opening our advent calendars. Already the shops are starting to fill up with over-the-top Christmas displays and tempting offers on boxes of chocolates, which, as any parent knows, can be a bit of a nightmare. “No, you can’t have that toy now, we’re here to buy bread, not a dinosaur”.
Not only do we have to contend with the never ending barrage of “please can I have that, please please please please please?” every time we need to buy groceries, we also have to start thinking about what Santa is going to bring our little ones this year (although, it seems unfair that a balding bloke dressed in an overly tight red suit and who breaks into people’s homes should get all the credit for the presents).
You might also be someone with relatives seemingly incapable of thinking up ideas for themselves who will then pester you for ideas for presents (and then they too will take all the credit), which means you have a lot to think about. Or maybe you’re here looking for ideas for someone else’s child. Either way, we have hopefully got it covered with our list of ideas for Christmas presents for babies and toddlers, complete with options to suit all budgets.
Presents For 0-3 Month Olds
At this age, babies will probably find their own toes just as interesting as any toy, and so if you are looking for something to buy for a baby under three months old, and you want it to be something they will use now rather than when they are bit older, then we wouldn’t recommend spending too much money. There’s a distinct possibility that that very expensive super-duper highly educational and interactive ball with flashing lights and no volume control may be as dull as dishwater to the baby when compared to say, Mum’s keys or the TV remote control.
Activity Gym
With that in mind, if you do want to splash out, then consider getting a baby activity gym. Brightly coloured, baby gyms encourage your baby’s motor skills to develop and many include flashing lights and sound.
Lamaze Range
At Mumblog, we’re big fans of the Lamaze baby toy range. These cute, affordable, plush toys come with lots of bold colours, which will appeal to young babies as their eyes develop. They also have various textured fabrics and many include a clip so you can attach it to the baby’s pram.
Soft Toys
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a soft toy, such as a Gruffalo inspired by Julia Donaldson’s modern classic. Or, if your child seems to have a favourite animal or responds well to a particular book, you can find soft toys in all varieties, shapes, and sizes. Perhaps they seem to love your cat or dog – why not get them a cuddly version?
Rattles & Teethers
Rattles and teethers are another good choice for young babies, and Sophie the Giraffe is incredibly popular amongst parents. You could even get a special gift bag that has a Sophie, plus other teething toys. If your budget is tight, a teething ring that clips to a pushchair may be a good option.
Presents For 4-12 Months Old
At around four months, babies start being more mobile and want to explore more. There are lots of toys aimed at this age group that encourage that exploration, as well as toys that are educational, or just good old fashioned fun.
Jumperoo
An absolute firm favourite of the Mumblog Team is the Fisherprice Rainforest Jumperoo. Yes, it’s expensive, but it has a great resale value on eBay and in local Facebook selling groups, so you have a good chance of getting a lump sum back once the baby has outgrown it. Unlike the traditional door frame bouncer, it can go anywhere providing there is room for its fairly large frame, and it has lots of interactive toys for your baby to play with, including a sound and light element that responds to your baby’s movements.
Interactive Toys
VTech do a whole range of interactive toys for babies and toddlers, such as a Turn and Learn Cube that has plenty of buttons to press with songs, animal sounds, and other noises. VTech have toys to suit a variety of budgets, including a cute singing bear. If you want to splash out, check out their ever popular First Steps Baby Walker.
Shape Sorters
Shape Sorters are another favourite for babies at this age, and they encourage the child to develop their fine motor skills, as well as their knowledge of different shapes. The Cookie Shape Surprise from Fisher Price is another modern classic with a song played in response to each shape being correctly placed in the coordinating hole.
Bath Toys
Finally, if you are looking for some stocking fillers, consider getting some bath toys, which make bath time more fun.
Presents For One Year Olds
Your one-year-old will be a lot more mobile now, and whilst everyday objects such as the kitchen saucepans will still be a great source of entertainment, there are lots of toys that will keep your little one amused.
Ride-On Toys
At age one most children are starting to walk or walking already, so it’s a great time to think about toys for the outdoors. There are a lovely selection of ride-on toys suitable from aged one and upwards, whether your child is into Thomas & Friends, Peppa Pig, or something else. Alternatively, why not consider a trike that grows with your child?
Puzzles & Flash Cards
If you want to get something educational, then there are plenty of puzzles to choose from, such as these farm animal puzzles. Alternatively, you could consider something more educational, such as flashcards, where your child can learn new words that will assist them with reading and spelling down the line
Buy Puzzles | Flash Cards
Interactive Toys
VTech again have a great range for one year olds and are popular in the UK. They include the Toot-Toot range of toys with special “SmartPoint” technology that enables one toy to recognise another and “talk” to it. We particularly like the Animal Tree House and the Drivers Police Station. You can even purchase animals and figures separately.
Presents For Two Year Olds
At two years old, your child’s personality is really starting to shine, and he or she will have particular interests, whether it be trains, puzzles, or playing shop. You might then have a fair idea of what to get your little one, but if not, here are some ideas to inspire you.
Balance Bikes
Balance Bikes have become increasingly popular in recent years and many parents report that it enables their child to skip the stabiliser stage of a standard bike as it helps the child to develop a sense of balance. Most are suitable from age 2 and up and have adjustable heights to grow with your child.
Duplo
From humble beginnings in Denmark in the first half of the twentieth century, to producing over 600 billion parts as of 2015, LEGO is staple of homes with children across the world. Their pre-school range Duplo, is suitable for toddlers aged two and up, and not only helps children to develop their fine motor skills, but also their imaginations as the possibilities with building are endless.
Educational Toys
It’s not too early to start teaching your two year old their letters and numbers, and many children will develop the ability to recognise different letters and numbers at this age. You can encourage this with interactive educational toys, such as the VTech Alphabet Apple that features keys for each letter that play different sounds and melodies.
Alternatively, you could opt for something more traditional, such as a wooden ABC puzzle. And, if you want your child to be able to practice writing letters without risking your walls being covered in multi-coloured crayons, then why not try an electronic scribbler?
Stocking Fillers For Under £10
Your two year old will have a vague understanding of what Christmas entails now (although be prepared for tears if you do take them to meet Santa!) and so you might be looking for some stocking fillers as part of the event. Play-Doh is an ever popular toy and you can pick up a Play-Doh starter set for a really low price with plenty of accessories available. Other ideas include floor puzzles themed with their favourite characters, mini art sets, board books, toy cards, mini xylophones, bath toys, money banks – just to name some!
Buy Play Doh | Floor Puzzles | Art Sets | Board Books | Other Stocking Stuffers
