Yes I am starting to think about it already and shop around.

T already has enough toys to fill a small toy store... and there is stuff from last christmas and her birthday that I still haven't taken out of the box (stuff she needed to grow into).

I'm really at a loss of what to get her for christmas, in all reality I know that she doesn't fully get this christmas thing and that I have an opprotunity now to save some money on gifts... LOL.

She loves mickey and minnie mouse right now... so maybe I will get her a stuffed mickey from santa...

She will be 18 months by christmas. Right now she loves coloring and books. So coloring and books are going to be on the list.

Any parents of kids around this age, or have experience with this age that have any book suggestions or gift suggestions (that aren't toys or are at least educational toys that grow with her).

I want to start shopping now.

I'm big on experience gifts - I'd sign James up for a playgroup, or swim lessons, or something like that, and then get him something small so he did have something under the tree from me to open. It's not like the dude needed a toy!

His grandpa on his dads side gets him a subscription to a nature magazine as part of his Christmas gift every year. It wins on every level - he gets the excitement of getting something in the mail, he gets to read with his dad, and he's learning alot from the magazines. Made of win!

Maybe something for the backyard like a jungle gym or swingset.

kk~

Actually good idea, I might sign her up for gymnastics (parent tot) or something like that... anything that burns off energy is good for me.

Backyard stuff isn't an option for us, we are still stuck with my parents...

I'm not looking to spend hundreds of dollars... in all reality 100 is pretty much my cap.

Hubby and I aren't doing christmas gifts for each other this year.

I'm looking for creative ways to get the child something for christmas that isn't throwing away money on toys. I keep my eyes out for things in flyers...

I don't want to spend a lot of money... I just want to have something to put under the tree and something from santa. I think santa is bringing a mickey mouse stuffed animal... she loves mickey and they are always on sale at the disney store. Maybe some new crayons and paper (dollar store)...

I just want something else that she will use that isn't that expensive.

Ok, LLD, I get what you mean now. How about a little plastic dishes set? Either a play set for pretend tea parties or a real one for meals? She'll be old enough for that by the time Christmas rolls around. My daughter loved her little dishes!

kk~

Yeah that works... I just want to get some little things that I know that she will actually use that aren't toys, that aren't expensive, that she will still enjoy. I'm going to look for some mickey mouse plates.

I'll admit I'm not a parent, but from watching my younger cousins unwrap presents the younger ones are sometimes more entertained by unwrapping a present and playing with the paper than the actual gift.

I'd buy some clothes too for her to unwrap (but know which presents are which so when she opens them she wont end with clothes).

Do they have a Dollar General where you are? That store has a cheap toy section. Pretty much every thing is an off-brand of something. I know you said no toys but you never know what kinds of toys you'll find there.

We always wrap up clothes and books to make it look like there are more presents.

Helen

I don't know if she's still too young for this, but some 2 year olds I babysat LOVED playdoh.

If you want her to have more stuff to unwrap (not saying you do, but others mentioned it), could you just wrap up the stuff from last year that you haven't used yet? She won't remember.

CheesePlusCake wrote:

I don't know if she's still too young for this, but some 2 year olds I babysat LOVED playdoh.

That stuff is a nightmare to get out of carpets!! We banned it!
How about paints? Baby Llama could do handprints and footprints. It's great fun and feels good too!

Queenie xx

Moonlitefairy06 wrote:

If you want her to have more stuff to unwrap (not saying you do, but others mentioned it), could you just wrap up the stuff from last year that you haven't used yet? She won't remember.

Not gonna lie. I've totally done this. Works great! Go shopping in your stash of held back stuff.

kk~

Yeah, I ship all the playdoh to my aunts house. I've got carpeted floors, she doesn't. It's much easier to clean up at her house. I've tried putting papers down, telling him he could only play at the table, everything. Nada.

Playdoh is strictly an outside thing at this house! lol It's too much of a Pain in the bum otherwise!

I think for her age just a small stuffed Mickey and maybe some cheap play dishes would be enough. I also liked the idea of recycling some of the "un-used" toys.

LLD at this age she is so little that she is going to be thrilled with ANYTHING she gets. Try not to worry about it....I know it's hard though when you want to give them more and just aren't able to. It will be ok though.

I didn't go overboard last year either... I fully am aware that at this point she just doesn't get the christmas thing, but I am looking for creative ideas.

I want to get her a few board books though... any suggestions? She LOVES books... more than some of her toys.

Dear Zoo and Where Is The Green Sheep were huge favourites here.

Helen

LlamaLlamaDuck wrote:

I didn't go overboard last year either... I fully am aware that at this point she just doesn't get the christmas thing, but I am looking for creative ideas.

I want to get her a few board books though... any suggestions? She LOVES books... more than some of her toys.

If you are looking to save money and want to get her a couple of books try looking at the local Thrift stores first. I don't know what your local GoodWill is like (because some are better than others) but ours tends to have a decent book collection.

Ok you are going to laugh at my being neurotic, but she is in an eating the book phase and I refuse to get used books because of this. I just don't want other peoples kids cooties in my kids mouth.

I'm going to check out the bargain books section and see what is in there.

James likes books with textures, even still. If it's something he can feel the differences in, he's all up on it.

Yeah the dollar store has some of those... yay for dollar stores.

I seriously have a major love affair with the dollar store.

We bought our girl diapers, as they were on sale and she will only be 8 mos. What about things like that? Honestly, they don't care about what they are getting at this age, and, everyone else gets them presents too. We have also decided instead of presents from us (AKA Mommy & Daddy) we are going to sponsor another family with the money we would have spent. So, we are just doing diapers as her santa gift. Just another thought. You could also do jars of baby food (if you are using it), or new utensils, pacifiers (if she has one/a certain brand), anything small and useful as stocking stuffers.

I got a dolly with a stroller and a toy accordian... there is a bit of a special reason why I got the accoridian. My dad used to play before his stroke... so it's kind of a family thing I guess.

I have been picking up a few small things here and there as well... some hair bows etc...

Where Is The Green Sheep

Slightly off topic, but I love that book! I buy it for almost every little one I know.

I made my god daughter some play dough, and now I feel kind of bad for her mum! I'm childless and hopeless, evidently.