1. Baby Formula
For infants to one year old’s, you are basically shopping for the parents more than you are shopping for the babies. Bottles, rattles, bibs, pacee (aka pacifiers), baby gyms, anything that will help the parents to calm the babies. When Oliver was still an infant, I was so grateful when I got boxes of baby formula as presents. If you don’t have kids, you should know that a box of baby formula is not cheap. Spending an entire year feeding the baby formula milk could add up quickly; all parents with babies would appreciate very much to receive a practical present like a box of baby formula. To elaborate for those who have never bought baby formula before, make sure you know which brand the parents are using to feed their babies. For instance, Oliver had Similac because Enfamil would make him throw up. If you are going to spend the money, make sure you get the right brand. After you know the brand, you should also find out which type of formula is right for their babies. For example, there is the regular Similac, Similac sensitive for fuzziness and gas, soy Similac, organic Similac, Go & Grow, Similac sensitive for spit-up, and the variety continues. So do a little spy work before you go formula shopping.
2. Portable Booster Seat
When babies are about 6 to 7 months old, they can start sitting upright on their own. By then, parents can no longer leave the baby inside the car seat while dining out. A baby portable booster seat is a very good solution for parents wanting to dine out with their babies. Not only can they use it outside, they can use it at home as well. The portable feature allows parents to have the flexibility to “lock down” their babies wherever they want, assuming the environment and the surrounding are safe for the babies. When dining out, parents can tightly secure the portable booster seat to any adult chair, and the chair will become a booster chair for the baby. The strapping process is very simple: the tray comes off, the back of the seat can be fold down, one buckle strap on the back of the seat, and one buckle strap underneath the seat. Strap, strap, click, click, that’s it. It is a very thoughtful gift for parents and for the babies, because for months the babies cannot dine on the same table with their parents, with the booster seat, they can start dining with their parents as early as 6 months old. I remember my first time having dinner with Oliver sitting at the table with everybody, absolutely one of the best experience ever.
3. VTech Rhyme and Discover Book
This is one of the best toys out there for babies and toddlers. It covers a wide range of age, it lasts for a good couple of years before the kids retire the music toy. It is wonderful for babies simply because it sings. It also has a lot of buttons that blink, making it very easy to attract babies’ attention. One little push then a nursery rhyme will sing, very easy and entertaining for the little ones. When they become toddlers, they start understanding some words and will begin to sing along. They also understand that they have control over the buttons, they can selectively choose the songs they want to listen to, they can also turn it on and off. It is a good toy for them to learn basic cause-and-effect through the interaction with the buttons. But do consider, kids can get bored too. If they look at the same toy over and over, they will eventually get tired of it. Parents should consider putting the music toy away once awhile, and then re-introduce it after a little while. The babies will re-discover the toy and will fall in love with it all over again.
4. Playskool Step Start Walk ‘n Ride
Babies crawl. Babies stand. Babies walk. Out of the many baby cars and activity tables available out there, Playskool has this walk ‘n ride that caters to crawling babies who are just learning to stand, young tots who like to get pushed riding in the car, all the way up to crazy toddlers who like speed-pushing the toy and smashing into things. The walk ‘n ride has two modes: it can be fold down like a car, or it can be pop up like a cart. When Oliver was about 1 year old, he was already a very fast crawler. Even though he just figured out walking, he would only crawl because it helped him get to places faster. Then we introduced the walk ‘n ride to him. The toy shared no interaction with a crawling baby, so it encouraged Oliver to stand up to either ride on it or used it like a walking aid. He also loved it when we fold it down as a car and give him rides (with us pushing him, of course). Now he is able to ride it like a car, and move the car using his feet. When it is pop up as a cart, he can push it so fast now. It will probably be another year before he can ride the tricycle, so until then, this little walk ‘n ride will be his car.
5. LeapFrog Learn & Groove™ Musical Table
Just because I said the walk ‘n ride is more awesome than an activity table, it didn’t all activity tables are bad. LeapFrog’s Learn & Groove™ Musical Table is a wonderful toy for babies from 6 months old and up. I first saw this musical table at Oliver’s daycare center. For many months, I would see Oliver playing with the musical table when I was picking him up. The variety in activities keep babies entertained without getting bored too quickly. Not only that, because it is a square table with each side having its own activity, it makes a perfect party table for play dates. The
musical table has 15 different musical activities in both English and Spanish, great for introducing babies to Spanish. According to LeapFrog, it is a “colorful, interactive learning station [that] introduces early reading, math and language development skills through fun and engaging activities.” When it is in music mode, it has “more than 40 songs and melodies, including nursery rhymes, real instrument sounds and upbeat dance tunes. It teaches: letters A-Z, counting 1-10, colors & shapes, first words, cause & effect, and instrument sound.” Enough said. Oliver will be 2 years old soon, being the flirty party boy that he is, this is prominently one of his favorite toys at the daycare center.
6. 2-In-1 Stand-Up Push Vacuum And Detachable Hand Vac
This toy is for babies who just learned how to walk. It is a great pretend toy because babies see their parents vacuum the house, with the toy they can mimic their parents. The first few years of a baby’s life are all about playing pretend. Once they get old enough to be able to pull some weight around house, they will not look at vacuuming as some awful chores; they will feel like they have graduated to become a big boy by using the real vacuum instead of the toy. Some parents might disagree with me, which is fine. I personally don’t believe in giving babies toys that they can’t relate back to reality. If mommy and daddy have a vacuum, baby can have one too that is baby-size. A toy lawn mower works too, like the Step2 Click and Whirl Mower Blower, it is the same concept. If the parents have a lawn, it is not a bad idea to get their baby acquainted with a lawn mower toy. Encourage them to vacuum or mow the lawn along side their parents, it can be a fun learning and bonding experience for both the parents and the babies.
7. Little Tikes Tap A Tune Xylophone
There are many different xylophones out there, I pick this one because it is designed for babies between 6 months to 3 years old, and it has wheels. We probably have all had a xylophone at one point in our childhood, it is a classic. Watching babies playing with a xylophone can be a fun experience, it can also bring in nostalgia, like remembering the time your little sister making terrible sounds, or trying to impress your parents with a tune you had just learned. Music is an important element in child development. By listening to the music (or noises) the babies produce, the parents can identify the emotion the babies are expressing; another word, before babies can communicate verbally, they use sound and body language to communicate with their parents. Xylophone is one of the easiest instruments with beautiful sound for babies.
8. LEGO Duplo Building Set (5506)
Probably more suitable for babies who are at least 15 months old; infants probably prefer round-edged toys. Young toddlers may not understand the creative concept of LEGO, but they understand the concept of blocks, and blocks can be stacked. When I first introduced Oliver to Duplo, he was not interested. Then I showed him the things he could build, like a car, a boat, a house, but none of them meant anything to him. He was probably too young, I thought. But when I left him by himself with a box of Duplo, first he slowly examined it, then he started to submerge himself in the pool of Duplo blocks (kid likes abundance). When he got up and out of the pool of blocks, he started to pick up only the 2×2 blocks. One after another, he started to build what I would called “a baby tower”, a stack of same-sized blocks. That was when I realized, babies might not play with toys as intended, but they could certainly turn anything into their toys. I would recommend starting with a big bucket of Duplo (instead of the small buckets), so it would give them enough variety in size, shape, and colors for them to interact with. Parents will be surprised to find out whether their babies are more sensitive to size, shape, or color. After Oliver’s initial Duplo Building Set, I got him the LEGO DUPLO Doctor’s Clinic Set (5695). He was so cute with the LEGO baby from the set, he would constantly put a blank on the baby LEGO. It was absolutely adorable.
9. Cloud B Gentle Giraffe
One of the best presents for babies and parents. This is a soothing sound machine with a giraffe disguise. It comes with 4 different sounds: jungle/safari sound with a hint of tribal rhythmic drum beats, sound of a stead running river, sound of ocean crashing waves, and sound of imitated heartbeat. The safari mode is great for afternoon naps, and the running river mode is great for night time. The best thing is, it caters to everybody of all ages! Babies are not the only ones entitled to use sound machine; adults appreciate them just as much. Oliver falls asleep to the running river sound every night. I am not sure if it has anything to do with the giraffe — Oliver sleeps through the night every night. The sound is so soothing and relaxing, sometimes it even puts me to sleep while trying to get Oliver to sleep. It is a very durable gift that is equally practical and delightful.
10. Kid’s Beanbag Chair
Beanbag chair is great for both babies and parents. For parents with infants, a beanbag chair can provide a comfortable setting for play time and cuddles. For toddlers, it is the best furniture they can ever ask for, especially when it is placed in front of a TV. Oliver’s grandma bought him a beanbag chair as a Christmas gift; Oliver LOVED it. As soon as he got it, he literally spent the entire day chilling on the beanbag chair with his blankie, watching Curious George on TV. Because the beanbag chair is round and it wraps around the child, it helps provide a sense of comfort and safety for the child as though he is still a fetus. I know, it sounds silly, and I am no scientist, I am just going by instinct, and instinct tells me that Oliver loves to curl up on his beanbag chair because it makes him feel like a baby, if you know what I mean. If the parents have room in their house, or better yet, space in the child’s bedroom, a beanbag chair will be an awesome furniture addition.
