Christmas Presents

I agree not too worry too much about balance at this age, as he is unlikely to remember that part. But what about getting the whole family something instead of him a bunch of stuff he wont remember anyway? Like a zoo membership (and you could adopt an animal and you get a little stuffed animal with that) or membership to The Henry Ford (and a little model T car to go with)? Good luck!

Plant a tree and as he grows, so will the tree - a nice way to mark the start of a new life and green and fairly cheap too.....

We're not getting much for my daughter who will be 13 months at Christmas! She doesn't know the difference anyway, and she also has all the hand-me-down toys from her older sister!

That being said, I can never have enough books. And I found Barefoot Books this year, and loved them so much I started selling them. They even have some board books, which are great for little hands and won't tear!! I bought a bunch for both my girls! Feel free to browse: www.mybarefootbooks.com/LoriHachenski And there's FREE SHIPPING right now through next Tuesday.

Thanks!

the good thing they won't remember this christmas at 13 months, so you don't have to do much. i was planning on getting my 18 month old plates and silverware because she needs them, and of course a toy of some sorts. i might even wrap dipers something she needs, and it gives her something else to open. we are on a tight budget maybe 50 dollars each child.

A ride-on toy. We got one for my son when he was 10 months old and it was the best gift we ever got! He still loves it 2 1/2 years old!

New books are good... crayons & coloring books always need replacing... get him a magnadoodle so he can "color" and draw when you can't be watching him with crayons...

At 13 months, he won't know that it's not perfectly even. If he's got plenty of toys, just get him some little stuff to open. Heck, just get him a big box of crackers and wrap them up! They might be his favorite present!

I don't know. I am wondering what to get my 6 month old for Christmas. I am totally confused

T.,
The 13 month old would probably be happy just opening up gift wrapped boxes with their toys in it. At that age my kids loved the paper and ribbons!

Well...I have an 18m old and we will only get 1 or 2 things for him and it's because I want him to have them. He doesn't know the difference and I think you should take advantage of that. Especially with the economy the way it is. But that would be your choice. I personally will probably get a set of blocks (which we might even make!) and maybe trucks, he loves trucks! But I can get those used because he doesn't know the difference. go for the classic toys.

So I guess I'm suggesting not sweating it. This is one situation in your life where you can save your worries :) Christmas is stressful enough. Pick out something fun and be done.

No need to balance gifts out this year. The baby won't know! I'd get the baby one fun toy and some practical things he may need - even diapers. Maybe your 8 yr old can make something for the baby.

Hi T.,

Even though you have been able to pass the toys and clothes down from one child to the next, since there is a 7 year difference between the boys, there may be a few new and exciting toys that your youngest would really like (and they would be unique and special for him as well).

R.

Greetings T.,

Give the baby plenty of love and attention. Take plenty of still pictures and video footage if you are able to. These life time treasures will be the excellent gift for him and his brother in the years to come. Right now it does not make a difference to him if he receives less gifts than his older brother he's not keeping count, however the older one maybe. So to achieve a balanced look give the baby books and some things he may need wrapped up in pretty paper and bows. Let him have fun with the boxes and paper from the other gifts.
Enjoy the holidays!

S.

At 13 months old they're happy playing with the boxes so don't worry too much. Books are always good, or new bath toys (Christmas always seemed like a good time to replace the grubby ones that couldn't be cleaned well).

Good luck!

I personally think that it is okay to wrap up hand me down toys too, especially at this young age, it's just fun to open stuff. Maybe something special from Santa (if you do that) and then wrap up some toys that you were planning on getting out for him soon. As far as new toys, does he need some new bath toys? Homemade playdoh? A small package of not too bad cookies :) I also the the Aqua Doodle toys. They work with just water so there is no mess!

I have a 12 year old and a 6 year old. I really don't think that it is neccessary to keep things even,financially right now. The 8 year old is going to have more expensive tastes and the 13 month old doesn't have a clue what things cost. Even at the age that my kids are, I still spend more on the 12 yr old and the 6 year old gets more gifts because they are so much less expensive. I think next year it may be in issue but you have alot of time left. Don't fret. Good luck

I know many parents have said this already so I'll just support it... I don't think you have to worry much at all about "balancing" presents this year. Last year, when my daughter was 17 months at Christmas, she still wasn't very interested in opening presents at all (in fact, after a while, she didn't WANT to open anymore gifts). I think she had more fun watching others open gifts and then playing with the toys that her older cousins received. You'll have plenty of years to come of making sure the gifts are even so I suggest maybe just enjoying this time.

Open a college fund or bank account. It is never too early and once he gets older he will want gifts :) :)

When my little ones are really little, I loosely wrap up things like new sippy cups, blocks, picture books, pacifiers, etc...everyday things that they use, only new. That way I am not adding to the HUGE mess of toys they already have, and Im not feeling like I left them out of Christmas. They have gifts to unwrap and things they know how to use are inside.

~L.

Well, the 13 month old will probably enjoy the boxes from the gifts the 8 years old get more than anything else. I don't really think you need to keep things "even". Keep gifts to a minimum.....Wrap EVERYTHING individually so they can open alot of stuff. We all need different things in our lives .... it's not about quantity but about the thoughtfullness we put into the gifts we give. Have a very Merry Christmas.

Honey, make him some things to help the "inside play" during the cold weather! A cardboard play house, a cardboard
throw board, paint or color something silly on it! Use "water balls" they are light and won't hurt anything if thrown inside!
Give him a small flashlight, what child doesn't like flashlights! Make him a homemade book, with pictures of family and friends! Make him some silly puppets. or turn his mittens into a silly animal! There is so much. want more ideas? e me amd I will give you more. Good luck , K.
MoM of 5 grown, childcare provider for 30 years!

Who do you want it to be even for? For him actually or for your own worries of guilt or unfairness etc?
I would address that deeply to see your motivation. My personal opinion is that he won't be expecting anything, and even seeing brother open things... it might be just fun for him to help brother tear into packages etc. At his age, he should be just fine with one or two special special things.

T.,

At 13 months he is going to be so much more interested in what everyone else is doing. He will gravitate to watch and "help" others open gifts. He will have a ball with the wrapping paper scraps and empty boxes. I would get him something he needs, like sleepers, socks, or clothes. He will not even know the difference yet.

I agree with Lacy,

My Daughter is 13 mos and this year we are getting her some new toys...( I just donated about half of our basement a month ago)...but last year I wrapped up clothes and other items that I was going to have to get anyway. This year we got her a ball bit (that both kids can actually play in) and a crazy coupe because my son still plays in his and I know it will be an issue when the weather warms.

Last year I also "re-gifted" some of my sons old toys. He had forgetten about them, and Isabel was only 2 mos old... I just but them in gift bags.

WHen kids are so little they don't know how much things cost - he'll be thrilled with even really small gifts. The eight-year-old is way more savvy though so I'd get him some of the things he wants - and probably sees advertised. I really don't think you can keep things even between them at this stage - my older kids want way more expensive things than my little one - it's just how it is - good luck - ALison