12.17.2007
2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Last minute gifts and Stocking Stuffers
I never grew up with the tradition of stocking stuffers because my immigrant parents didn't know of such things (like the tooth fairy) so I'm super excited this year to stuff the kids' stockings for the first time and start this tradition in our house. Here are some ideas for some great stocking stuffers, and it's still not too late at most stores to get orders in time for the holidays.
This nice little tow truck with movable ramp and blue car is hand-finished in a small village near the Carpathian mountains with natural woods and non-toxic finishes. $15.95 (Jenna).
They look fantastic and they'll taste even better as a treat at the foot of a Christmas stocking. These chocolate penguins are one of a range of wintery themed treats from Madame Oiseau in Kent, England. £3.99 (Myf).
I just bought this adorable, bottle brush for my little cleaning fanatic. It's a perfect size for small hands, mini-dishes, and stockings! I just love the cute, wooden mouse head and natural bristles. Wish they made a larger version for my kitchen. $5 (Justine).
I love this little pig puzzle made of smoothly sanded basswood and it would make a great stocking stuffer. $10 (Jenna).
Another little pig-themed stocking stuffer, this time with a minimalist interpretation: a perfectly square felt piggy bank just under 5 inches. $16 (Jenna).
Let the snail races begin! $6.90 (Ben).
Pardon me, but aren't these little hair clips just deer? They’re handmade from cotton fabric and buttons by Baubles 'n Bows. If they sell out via this link, don't worry, Baubles 'n Bows has many adorable deer accessories and other clips (I love the dinos!) or you could request a custom order. $4.29. (Justine).
The very young may not truly understand what's going on when the presents start to exchange hands, but this bright and musical toy will raise a smile in any case. £14.99 (Myf).
You didn't think that we could resist stuffing a stocking without play food now did you? $6.90 (Ben).
We've written about solar powered toy helicopters and cars, but here's a grasshopper that's powered by the sun. $12 (Jenna).
Make scribbling a multi-sensory experience with Smencils...we can only hope there won't be any taste testing involved.$10.00 (Ben).
For newborns what could be more festive than this knit bear rattle with his snowflake flanks and holly-berry ears? $5. (Justine).
There's something very sweet about the facial expressions on this little set of finger puppets. It may be too late for those in the US to order from the UK, but a Google search will bring up plenty of similar sets, if not these precise ones. £9.99 (Myf).
Yo-Yos are such a classic toy, and isn't this silver number from Playsam perfect for the holidays! Made from solid wood, it features a festive finish that is also available in red, black and natural. $9.95 (Justine).
More hairclips, this time in sets of 3, in felt. $19.50 (Jenna).
Too often my 2-year-old will draw on himself and then have to take a bath. I'm hoping to reverse this process with these bright bath crayons from Muji. Safe for the tub or babies' skin. I just ordered some, and I must say, Muji got them here (to NYC) in record time. £3.95. (Justine).
What little angel doesn't need a pair of satiny red mary janes, especially at this price? $10.00 (Ben).
A toy with a lovely illustration style about it - this jumping zebra will look jolly wherever you hang it. A true stocking stuffer at just £4.49 (Myf).
Ed the mouse is just one of a range of sweet stuffed animals which are both organic and Fairtrade, so you can feel pious on two counts. £11.95 (Myf).
My kids are getting these ceramic animal mugs from their aunt which are the perfect size for hot cocoa and tea parties. $8.50 - scroll to the 3rd page (Jenna).
Vilac racing car. Rubber wheels, shiny hubs and slick design. $12 (Jenna).
Our house can't resist squirrels - can yours? $15.00 (Ben).
Its simple, crinkly, and machine washable! $4.95 (Ben).
If you're like me, before you had children you might have bought one of these adorable pocket gnomes for yourself! Now this magical little companion is the perfect stocking stuffer for your kids. Featuring colorful velour bodies, cute cotton faces, and real woolly beards, each gnome is handmade and filled with 100% pure wool. $4.90 (Justine).
Little wooden animals make delightful stocking stuffers. I love this penguin with his jolly red nose, but there are also many other cute companions to choose from. $11. (Justine).
What's cuter than a baby with a pom-pom on its head, I'd like to know? Not much. Made from alpaca fibres, these little hats promise to keep the 0-1-year-olds warm. £19 (Myf).
Maxe from Haba is such a classic rattle. Hanging from your finger or rolling around the play mat, his cheerful colors and flexi form are perfect for entertaining newborns. $10.50 (Justine).
Posted by Jenna
Category:
Holiday Gift Guide 2007
Tags: 2007 holiday gift guide
Email this
| Comments (0)
12.10.2007
2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts under $75
The second installment of the Babygadget 2007 holiday guide focuses on gifts under $75 (and most under $50)...and not surprisingly, features a lot of toys. Here are mostly new finds (and a few favorites from the past year).
I haven't seen very many toy rocking horses before, and this one from Bajo toys is so cheery in sunny yellow. $25.99 (Jenna).
Who can resist these adorable wool elf slippers, especially around the holidays! Felted from repurposed sweaters by master cobbler Jennifer Fay, these magical booties feature cashmere innersoles and non-skid leather soles. Also available in green and blue. $50 (Justine).
The wooden set of construction vehicles was one of my favourite finds of the year. Like every other Pintoy product, they just look so appealing and robust and you won't do much better for a midprice gift. Sadly, I was unable to locate a retailer in the US, but do contact us if you know differently. Meanwhile, Letterbox do deliver internationally - and don't charge tax outside Europe - but I'd act fast. £19.99 (Myf).
I really can't think of a better gift than this Neckies scarf from Oeuf. I scored one of these scarves at a Modern Tots sample sale and started putting it on Baby C when she was a newborn last winter. She's still wearing it now that she's 1, and she'll probably be able to wear it for 2 more years still (or more!). Can you think of another article of clothing with that much longevity? Well worth the $33 (Jenna).
There's nothing quite like a drum kit to help kids work out those winter weather crazies. We've gone through a couple of those little plastic drum sets - but this wooden one from Plan Toys looks like it will hold up a lot better! This kit includes a large and small drum, mallets, a cymbal, and all are made of preservative-free rubber wood. $49.95 (Ben)
Baby C received this blanket for her birthday from the folks at Giggle and it is one of the nicest fleece blankets I have seen. She's been using it in her crib ever since and it's keeping her warm during cold nights. The photos don't do it justice, but it's so soft, thick and plush with berber fleece lining the blanket on one side, and stripes on the other. The cool thing about this blanket? It's recycled from soda pop bottles. $58 (Jenna).
This holiday season I'm buying this adorable brush and dust pan set for my little spiller who, fortunately is also an enthusiastic cleaner as well. The pint-sized pan features a festive enamel coating, while the brush has a hardwood handle with natural bristles. $12.90 (Justine).
This sweet book about a boy's quest for his own star from Oliver Jeffers is the Kid's new favorite bedtime story. $11.55
We recently featured this felt mailbox playset and now I've discovered that there is a Letters to Santa playset to match! This set contains 2 felt envelopes, 2 postcards, and 13 stamps and messages, all made from felt and velcro. $18.00 (Ben)
A tea set that comes in its own attractive suitcase: that's sure to please any toddler. Made of tin, it's more tactile than plastic, and less breakable than china. Plus it has unlimited clattering potential. £24.99 (Myf).
Pull-toys are such a hit with toddlers and this brightly colored turtle from Vilac also doubles as stacking rings. $30 (Jenna).
Perfect for baby's first Christmas is this festive ensemble from Sckoon organics. Each set includes wrap-me-body onesie, bonnet, elf pants and soft doll. All 100% organic; dyed with metal free, environmentally friendly dyes. $68 (Justine).
If you're having a hard time explaining how there's a Father Christmas in every mall, these perhaps aren't the gift for you: there are five of them. On the other hand, if rolling a Christmas pudding at several fat Santas and snowmen is your idea of festive fun, bring it on! Available in the UK and most of Europe only, £8.99 (Myf).
This sturdy stainless steel cutlery set of aquatic sealife is pretty unusual...and thus a great gift. $20 (Jenna).
That sudden craze for dinosaurs which seems to descend on all three-year-olds need not mean that your home is beseiged by ugly plastic models. Not if you choose the DinoZone range, that is. I love their solidity and cartoony looks; they also come with 'environments' which just about means they can pass for educational. Mini's Toyshop deliver internationally within 14 days; Dinozone products seem to be widely available from other UK retailers too, so it might pay to browse until you find one that offers quick dispatch. £14.99 (Myf).
Watch your kid bounce around with these fun space hopper toys. $45 (Jenna).
I wrote about Kristiana Pärn's whimsical prints earlier this year, but some like this charming number above, are so appropriate for the holidays, that they're worth revisiting. Dated, signed and printed on enhanced matte paper with archival inks, Kristiana's prints are always limited run, so you're gift is guaranteed to be unique. $20 (Justine).
Habitat in the UK always come out with a fantastic gift range for Christmas. This set of Skyscraper building blocks, which transforms into a marble run if laid out correctly, was on offer last year too, and I scored one in the January sales. My verdict: great, even for my two year old, who loved the blocks and could understand the basics of making the marble run, too. Plus, and this is rare with baby toys, it kept the adults entertained. Sadly Habitat *still* do not offer online shopping (I think I may even have noted this last year). Readers in New Zealand and Europe can at least scope the products before going out to shop. £20 (Myf).
This 5 layered rabbit puzzle is one of my favorites - each layer reveal a smaller, different colored rabbit underneath. $25 (Jenna).
Keep baby warm and snug this holiday season with this dear bunting blanket. Made of cozy cotton flannel, it comes in pink or blue. $49 (Justine).
It's a creative gift and a new holiday tradition all in one. Cut out the sweets with this Felt Gingerbread House from Twinkle Kids. There are 100 decorations...and no baking! $55 (Ben)
Posted by Jenna
Category:
Holiday Gift Guide 2007
Tags: 2007 holiday gift guide
Email this
| Comments (0)
12. 3.2007
2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Big gifts
The holidays is the one time of year when you might not feel so guilty splurging a bit on your kids. We don't often buy toys outside of Christmas and birthdays so the we've given the Kid a play kitchen and a tricycle over the past few holidays. Not sure what the big item will be this year at our house, but in the first installation of the 2008 Babygadget Gift Guide, we present some of our picks for that special big ticket gift.
I have oft admired this graceful polar bear rocker by David Netto. And aren't the holidays just the perfect excuse to indulge! Crafted from solid oak, it should last for generations to come. $295 (Justine).
I admit that I'm not completely sold on the look of this Mushroom Forest Table - it's a bit too Alice in Wonderland for my taste (if I were to be in the market for a table and chair set that cost a small fortune, that is), but I keep looking at it because it's unlike anything out there. I do love the multi-level design of the various table tops and stools and I could totally see the kid all over this thing, arranging all her little figurines and play furniture as she does every day. But this Mushroom Forest would be about 100 times more fun to play on than her standard, one surface table. $985 (Jenna).
We're getting this Wheely Bug Bee for Baby C this year. She won't be able to ride it yet and so it'll get sabotaged by the Kid, no doubt, but she'll have fun rolling it around. Of all the various ride on toys for little tots I've seen, the Wheely Bug has the smoothest ride and all kids seem to go crazy for it. $64.95 (Jenna).
Hot off the holiday presses! Mahar DryGoods just announced that advent of Roebuck Studio's beautifully handcrafted furniture. Crafted from baltic birch plywood, which is strong, lightweight, and stable, this series is made locally to the highest environmental and safety standards. The collection includes two adorable chick chairs (one pictured above and a reclining one), a rocker, and a table and chair set. All available in six colors. $210 (Justine).
I've written about this treehouse before, and I'm still contemplating it as a purchase. The kid gets so frustrated by her dollhouse because it's a bit hard to really get in there and access all the rooms in the house, so the open, spacious layout of the treehouse really appeals. $129.98 (Jenna).
As a child, I remember hours of fun with stilts, but none so handsome as these. Made in Germany by Tau, their birch frame sports a festive red veneer. $245 (Justine).
I briefly mentioned this delightful little French kitchen this summer. But now that we've had it in my son's room for a time, I can wholeheartedly recommend it as a special holiday gift. My son absolutely loves playing with the cabinets, cooktop, sink and all the accompanying pots and play food, which feature sliceable velcro. $100 (Justine).
I know most kids prefer to open toys during the holidays (at even age 2, clothes often get glanced at and then cast aside during a present-opening frenzy), but when they're little tots, you may still get away with giving them a special little outfit like this Double Wall Jacket made from organic merino wool. $98 (Jenna).
I love the sleek, minimal look of these scooters from Italtrike. Comes in 3 cheery finishes with each color corresponding to an age range (blue, with 2 back wheels is for 1-2 years, orange for 2-4, yellow for 4-6). $159.99-169.99 (Jenna).
Lacking a horse and sleigh, if you're searching for a design classic to take your little one's over the river and through the woods this holiday season, take a look at LL Bean. Custom crafted in Canada from kiln-dried northern hardwood, this graceful little sled come is three options: Sled alone for $89; with jolly red cushion for $109; and with handle for $159. All make for a great day of sledding, and the handled option can be used much like a stroller for snow hiking or even skating! (Justine).
I don't know any kid who isn't delighted and engaged with a marble or ball run. This one's especially nice because it can be configured in various ways and is sized just right for toddlers. $114.95 (Jenna).
The Hamptons Rocking Horse from Pastel Toys borrows it's design from classic rocking horses, but manages to pull it off without being too nostalgic. I love that the seat is enclosed on 3 sides and the bar and strap further allows little ones to enjoy the ride. Pastel Toys is also a company that has a cool story which you can read on the website. $157.95 (Jenna).
Posted by Jenna
Category:
Holiday Gift Guide 2007
Tags: 2007 holiday gift guide
Email this
| Comments (1)
