Gift Registry for 2Nd Son's 1St Birthday? Ideas?

I have two boys 18 months apart. I'm not a believer in b'day parties for toddlers, so we didn't have parties for them when they were 1 through 3. Just a family celebration at the park or museum. By family I mean me, my husband, and the boys. I put the money we didn't spend in a savings account for them. But I did ask for books from relatives. I agree with previous posters that a registry for a birthday is a little too much.

Ask for children's books, geared for age 0 through 7 years. Tell everyone you're hoping to build a library that he (and his brother) can enjoy through their childhood.

I don't think it's polite to ask people to donate toys instead of buying the guest of honor something just for them. If that is the routre you want to take, why don't you go through your toys and donate them to charity and make room for your youngest to have the same birthday experience your first had. You get a bonus of starting your boys early giving to needy kids.

When my second child turned two, I asked for the guests to donate to thier favorite charity in leu of a gift. Some still brought small gifts, but most were really excited to donate to their fav. charity. Some even donated in my child's name. It was really neat to hear the various charities the were donated to.

A friend of mine's friends and family contributed towards a Gymboree or Little Gym 8 week session. I thought that was a neat idea.

I am running into the same problem in that I have a 3 year old daughter and my son is turning 1. We are overrun with toys in this house! My daughter always played with blocks, puzzles and pretty gender neutral toys, so he can use all of that stuff. I put on his invitation that we already had plenty of toys and that we would be happy to donate a toy to charity if people felt led to give. I worded the invitation like this: "My mom says I have plenty of toys and my big sister shares a lot with me, so if you would like to donate a gift to the children in Iraq, I would be happy to have them delivered for you! I’m looking forward to playing with you!"

Our church has a donation box to send things to children in Iraq, so I thought that would be a good place to donate to. You could find another place to donate, obviously, but you get the idea. As far as family goes, I think books are such great things to have...we have tons of those, but in my opinion, you can never have too many! I know my daughter has worn out some of hers that I loved, so I would totally get them again for my son.

Good luck and congrats on little one's birthday.

I read through the ideas and the book one was good, but I'd go a step further and ask on the invitation that each guest bring a book with a personalized note on the inside cover in lieu of toys. I have passed down about twenty books given to me by family and my daughter LOVES reading the inscriptions.

How about asking for books?

You have already gotten some good advice, but what about clothes for the new summer season. You can't have enough for a 1 yr old. Also my kids have recently gotten a few savings bonds and I thought that was great. And I agree, you can't have enough books. Have a great celebration!

I am in the same boat. My younger 2 are 3 (3-15-06) and the one year old is one today (05-07-08). They are both girls. So what I did for my baby was I took the girls to Build-a-bear on the weekend and got them a cute bear that we could build up our collection (this is helping me potty train the 3yr old), for a party we are having it on Sunday so its a birthday/mothers day brunch with our family, couple friends.
I told everyone she really doesn't need anything and she's one so she won't know what shes missing, but as her mom I want her to have a couple things to open.
The membership ideas sounded good from some of the others. We have seaworld passes and the one yr loves it! Good luck!

Have a charity party- have the guests bring a wrapped item and give them to a local women's shelter or kids home. You son is 1 so he will not know the difference of not getting a gift himself.

Don't ask for toys.1 is too young for the child to even enjoy recieving gifts. At the last toddler party I was at the kid was 2 & she cried all the way thru getting presnts. (Nothing worse than your expensive gift not being appreciated) She had been playing with cups & they took them away to make rooom for presents. All she wanted were the cheap party cups. This has been my expierience at all toddler birthday partys. I made the birthday cake (which she liked) & I gave her parents a hand illustrated memory box (which they like & will pass onto her eventually). Kids that age enjoy boxes big enough to fit in filled with tissue paper & little stuff. Don't ask others to go all out on somthing he won't play with. I liked the charity, family outtings, & books ideas also.

I really like books for kidos. My kids had so many books when they were little and it is my personal opinion a child can never have too many books. For the party, I only had family over. I bought my daughter a very small cake that we put on her high chair. She did the face dive! Cute picture. I plan to use this when she gets married! I made my son his cake. Tasted good looked gross. I used blue dye and he was a smurf for a week. I plan to use that picture when he gets married. The moral of the story, create memories and take lots of pictures!

Choose a theme that you have no toys in. Like toy story, people tend to buy in that theme. I think that gift registry's for a birthday are rude. I would donate what I cant return. Another option is asking for books?

What about a family membership to a Children's Museum or zoo? My children were always hard on books and music CD's so those never lasted through more than one child and it's always fun to have new ones. Do you have a swingset or play structure in your back yard for the boys? If not, pick one out that you like and ask for gift cards to that store so that you can purchase it later.

Good luck,
K.

Books, special bookplates for your little one, memberships to places like the children's museum, arboretum, zoo, wildflower center, Sea World, whatever your child (and family) is interested in, gift subscriptions to children's magazines (National Geographic Kids, Ranger Rick, Highlights, Cricket, etc.), some kind of class (swimming, little chefs, pottery, etc) or maybe some things for your home you don't have yet or would like to update like children's furniture, an easel, outdoor toys and games, etc. if you're really at a loss and people really want to do something to commemorate your son's first birthday, a donation to his college fund is a great idea. he may not appreciate it now, but he will later. i've found that most one year olds i know tend to enjoy the box their gift came in sometimes more than the gift, so this may be a good option for loved ones wanting to give a gift. i hope this helps you!

I would suggest something that is going to last a while, such as a kitchen set, or toddler furniture, or a playhouse. I wouldn't expect just one person to buy each item as they are down right pricey but if two family memebers contribute to a large gift I don't see a problem with that. I would also suggust adding clothes for 12-18 months as they seem to grow through those pretty quickly.

I like the book idea. I agree that there is no such thing as "too many." I have told all of my family members, NO Toys. That forces them to get creative. It gets to be more fun as they get older.

See if they wouldnt mind giving cash or certificates like to the Zoo or Chrildens Museum even the movie theater. Cash could be put toward a large swing set or trampoline.