Christmas Gift Ideas - Keokuk,IA

When my daughter was 9 months old for her first Christmas I got her the Playskool Peek and Play Discover Dome. She LOVED it. Check it out here: http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?guid=92EC7647-6D40...

It retails for around $49.99

Hi S.,

What a great way to get ideas! I didn't read them all but thought:
*family pass to the zoo
*family pass to the Science Museum
*Fisher Price Zoo
*Ride/push toys

I also like the idea of buying a savings bond or putting it into a savings account. We've asked grandparents to do that for birthdays and Christmas instead of a BIG toy or a bunch of small toys. You will find that it won't take long to fill a room with toys even when you try not to.

Have fun! Merry Christmas!

You could get her a wagon. Or a tricycle. Or one of those tables for when she is standing, she can push buttons and it plays music and stuff. Or one of those big stuffed rocking horses. Or you could get her a little play kitchen. I realize all these things she can't really play with now, but she will soon! Have fun! Merry Christmas.

The Busy Ball Popper by Playskool is one of the most entertaining toys I've seen out there and costs less than $20. My son received this as a gift when he was a baby and still enjoys it on occasion at almost 3 years old!

You could get a high quality wooden block set. My daughter received a set when she was one. They were colorful with designs on them. At that age she loved just looking at them, banging them together, and knocking down towers we would make for her. Six years later her and her brother like seeing how tall they can stack them and make little cities and use their cars and dolls with them.

My brother and I got a LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table for our nephew when he was little (7 years ago). He loved it, and I wish we had one for my boys now. It's on sale for $33 on Leapfrog.com...

Put it in the bank, she will get so much for Christmas she will never know that she didn't open a gift. Or you could just yet one Fisher Price toy and put the rest in the bank. When I was little that is what my dad did for me and when I went to college I had some spending money and that was way better than a gift that I wouldn't remember:) My little boy is going to be almost 4 months and everyone asked what to get him, and I said forumal and daipers:)

My little girl will be 8 months, and we got her the LeapFrog Learn & Groove musical table also. It is for 6-36 months & I have heard great things about it, for all ages! It has legs for the table, but can also be used without them until your baby can stand. Walmart had them on sale for Black Friday, only $19, but now I can't find them for less than @ $35 (ONLINE). Walmart in-store was $40 in our town. Good luck!

I agree with the busy ball popper. We got one for our now 6 year old when she was 6 months old and she still gets a kick out of it when we bring it out for her baby brother. It has worked just as well as the day we bought it even though it is 6 years old.

My daughter's getting the Fisher Price Learning Farm. It's more like $60-70 bucks though. Was about the only thing I could find that was one big item that would grow with her for a few years.

At this age, she isn't going to realize the importance of the holiday, so get something that is fun, not too expensive and put the rest towards savings or college, or buy a bond. She will really appreciate when she is 18 knowing there is money for her education instead of toys that are in a garage sale or attic.
You could also buy an experience such as a children's event, music and movement class etc. When you look back on this special time, think about what you will remember and cherish. Is it a toy or an experience? What was really special to you when you were really little?
I know this is a special time for you and your family, and you can make it special without spending a lot on things that won't mean much after a short time. I know many little ones prefer to play with the box that a toy came in instead of the box! Which incidentally, the box recently made it into the toy hall of fame.
Blessings on you and your family at this special time. We waited a long time for our daughter too. Take care and savor this time and experience.
Merry Christmas!
J.

A little riding toy car that has a high back on it that will help her when she walks. They love sitting on it driving and then when they start walking they go behind and push it. My granddaughter is 3 and she still plays with hers.

A cozy coupe for sure!!! Little Tikes is great. Will last forever and my 4 1/2 year old still plays in hers! She received it for Christmas when she was 9 months old. (And she loved sitting in it and "driving" at the beginning. As she got older she was able to make the car move.) I saw Toys R' Us had their anniversary car with the cute eyes on the front on sale for only $40 just recently. Normally they are $60. EVERY child should get a cozy coupe! When I did daycare they were always the biggest hit out of any toy. (And I had a ton of toys......)

The other thing she got for Christmas that year was a busy ball popper by Playskool. Another great toy. This only runs about $25.

My kids love the fisher price ball popper. So much fun to watch and play with the balls. It will be good for when she sits up and even into walking so you'll get lots of use out of it.

I have to say either the ride on/push toy or the IncrediBlock from Fisher-price. My son has loved and played both of his almost to pieces over the last 2.5 years. The IncrediBlock is now being passed on to our neighbors little boy.

How about the Jump a Roo? It's like a johnny jump up but on it's own frame. Great thing for the kids. They all loved jumping in it.

My son absolutely loved the VTEC 3 in 1 smart wheels. We got it for him when he was 6mths and he still plays with it at 2 1/2. It was the toy everyone fought over at playgroup. The steering wheel comes off until they learn how to sit on it well, then it turns into a rocker, and finally a car. Was around 40.00.

I think Fisher Price Little People are WONDERFUL! We started getting them when my oldest was about 6 months old... He is almost 5 and still plays with them from time to time with his 3-year-old brother. They are durable and usually have no small choking hazards with them. And, you can get $5 sets up to $50 sets. I think they're adorable. I would still buy more if we didn't have so many! :)

Check out the Neurosmith Music Blocks at http://www.creativekidstuff.com/music-blocks.html

I bought this about 7-years-ago for my oldest when he was about 9 months. He was crazy for this thing and would "compose" music for hours. This remains a top favorite at our house regardless of age (you should see my dh do an Irish jig with the Celtic cartridge). You can change the type of music with special cartridges. I think the machine comes with a couple of cartridges to start you out. But there are many others. They're hard to find in stores, but you can find them on-line or on ebay.

I second the Playschool busy ball popper. Another toy that even the older kids still play with! Find this at Target.

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Playskool-Busy-Ball-Popper/d...

My kids loved the Parents brand "Puzzle Park-Puzzle Cube". You can find these at most Target stores. It looks small in the picture, but it's as big as a small toddler sized table and wooden.

http://www.funbabytoys.com/parent-pm9012a.html

My son got a wagon last year when he was about 1 and loved it! I think it's within your price range and we kept it in our basement and pulled him around the basement before we took it out in the spring. Another possibility, Radio Flyer also makes horses they can ride. They can bounce and rock. He loved that too!

This is a little bit more but my first daughter played with it for over a year. I think you can only buy it at Toys R Us

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=226526...

This is what my 8 month old is getting from Christmas from Grandma and other people are getting her the smaller things that go with it.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3505875

My parents bought this for my daughter when she was exactly that age for Christmas. My daughter LOVED it! Its a Fisher Price "Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage". It runs about 30-35 bucks depending on where you buy it. I used to babysit a three year old when my daughter first got this and even she liked it!

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2341&e=detail&...