One of the most exciting times in a child’s life is their first Christmas. While the likelihood that they will remember their first Christmas is slim to none, it is still a very special time for their parents and other family members, and a great deal of planning and preparation can go into their first holiday celebrations. It can be very difficult picking out Christmas gifts for babies, though. Most new parents and relatives spend a great deal of time and effort on deciding what to buy for baby’s first Christmas, and worry endlessly about whether or not they picked something out that the baby will actually play with and enjoy.
If you are buying for your own infant’s first Christmas, you want to find them gifts that they will play with and that will encourage them to grow and learn. “Busy” toys are great selections. Department stores have huge selections of toys that are designed to stimulate learning and development in very young children. These toys are often interactive, lighting up or playing music when the baby does certain actions. Something to remember when purchasing this type of toy is that you should keep a few spare batteries stored somewhere. The baby will not be happy if their favorite toy suddenly quits lighting up or playing the music that they are used to seeing or hearing. Another popular choice for young babies are toys that they can push around or drag. Ride-on toys are great picks, too.
If the baby that you are shopping for is a close family member, consider getting gifts that the parents will appreciate, too. Keepsake gifts such as Christmas ornaments, picture frames, footprint or handprint kits, or baby books will last for years to come and will be something cherished by the entire family. Because babies grow so quickly, clothes and shoes can also be very helpful, appreciated gifts. Babies can never have too many coats, hats, socks, or sleepers. Purchasing gift cards for their parents to use to stock up whatever supplies they need is a thoughtful gift, too. Diapers, baby wipes, and other essentials can get very expensive very quickly. A great gift for grandparents or aunts and uncles to buy is one that many don’t consider. Buying savings bonds or putting the initial deposit in a college saving account will ensure that the baby has a head-start later in life, and while they won’t be able to thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity now, it is something that they will be extremely pleased to have when they are much older. Adding money to a college savings account or buying savings bonds can also be the start of a family tradition that you can keep going for years and years to come.
Despite the stress that can go into picking out the perfect toy for baby’s first Christmas, they are very easy to buy for. Many parents will agree that often, the baby’s favorite toy from the holiday season is the wrapping paper and packaging that their toys or other gifts came wrapped in. They love to sit and play with the ripped wrapping paper, and they also love to put things in and out of boxes and other containers. For that reason, don’t be offended if the baby doesn’t seem impressed with her actual gift and seems to prefer to play with the packaging instead. The holidays can be very overwhelming for little ones, with lots of noise and people and things that they aren’t used to seeing on an everyday basis. Later, when they have time to explore each of their new toys more thoroughly, they will like them much more.