Picking Out a First Birthday Gift
A child – yours or one you know – is turning one. As this occasion is the child’s first birthday, the day is going to be special for both the parents and the child. But, what kind of gifts do you give a child for his or her first birthday? A first birthday isn’t a baby shower and, at this point, the parents have all they need for the child. This day is essentially the child’s and, in terms of a gift, you’ll end up picking out a toy or a piece of clothing? But, what kind of gift do you give when a child is turning one? Educational website Genius Babies has some ideas in terms of gifts to give for a first birthday.
The toy that you pick out should be able to be of use for at least the next six months. Need some ideas? Popular gifts for a baby’s first birthday include:
· Rocking toys. Rocking horses aren’t the only rocking toys available, and, for a one year old, these toys are smaller and with a softer surface than traditional rocking horses. If you want a unique rocking toy, dogs, cats, and even insects are some rocking toy shapes.
· Push-pull toys. As a one year old now knows how to use his or her hands and maybe even walk a bit, he or she may be ready for a toy that can be pulled across a yard or pushed.
· Play sets. Play sets are some of the earliest make believe toys. Play sets have multiple soft components that are often coordinated together. Get a special birthday one – some have soft cake shaped toys accompanied by soft plates and cups – for the first birthday or choose from any number of themed play sets.
· Musical toys. Many toys at this stage are musical and, instead of making a jingling sound, these toys can play nursery rhymes or other children’s songs, Mozart melodies, or other familiar sounds like animals.
· Blocks. Blocks develop hand and eye coordination and are a basic stacking toy one step up from using rings on a stick. For added educational value, choose alphabet blocks.
If you still can’t decide, other options include birthday themed gifts. For a one year old, one popular gift is a first birthday t-shirt or a first birthday photo album.
Picking Out a Baby Shower Gift
Filed under: Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Showers, Baby Toys, Celebrations, Miscellaneous, Premier Baby Stores
Having a baby shower is traditional for new months. Typically, a baby shower consists of friends and family members of the new mother giving her presents for the new baby, most of which are useful items like baby clothes, strollers, furniture, and baby toys. Some other options for baby showers gifts can be a gift basket of mixed baby items. The mother, in return, has food and baby shower favors for the guests. This is often an occasion for a new mother to get the basics for her new baby and, in this case, some baby shower gifts can be diapers, sometimes arranged as diaper cakes, and diaper rash cream, as these will be used often, but also baby clothes that can be used during the first six months.
Some of the most common baby shower gifts include baby clothes, toys, and furniture. Although checking with the new mother if she has purchased anything beforehand like a stroller or highchair is recommended, all of these items should be geared toward the first six months or the next six months. While many of these items are designed with a baby girl in mind, if the mother doesn’t know the baby’s sex, unisex gift options are available in yellow or green.
Gift baskets are another common gift for a baby shower. If you can’t think of anything beforehand or have too many items in mind, many baby gifts websites allow you to pick through several gift baskets or design your own with items you’ve picked out. Baby gift baskets have a combination of basic baby items, including baby blankets, a few pairs of baby clothes, stuffed animals or educational baby toys, a few baby dishes, and baby crib books or mirrors. Gift baskets, like other baby gifts, are designed according to the baby’s sex, but unisex gift baskets, and even twins gift baskets, are available with the same types of items in yellow or green.