*Image above of mini and I on her first Christmas! I can hardly believe she was ever so tiny.
On the heels of my post sharing gifts for babies: what to put in an infant’s stocking! Below, my top picks.
SILICONE BIB (I ALWAYS SNEAK A FEW PRACTICAL/FUNCTIONAL GEAR PICKS INTO THE MIX)
HABA SUN CLUTCHING TOY — THIS GERMAN BRAND MAKES BEAUTIFUL WOODEN BABY TOYS…MINI HAD A FROG SIMILAR TO THIS ONE SHE LOVED THAT SHE THEN LOST IN THE WHOLE FOODS AT COLUMBUS CIRCLE. RIP LITTLE FROGGIE
COLLAPSIBLE SNACK BOWL (THESE ARE ALSO A CHIC OPTION, WITH HANDLES FOR LITTLES TO HOLD ONTO)
JIGGLING BEE TOY — THIS MAKES ME NOSTALGIC BECAUSE HILL HAD THIS ATTACHED TO HIS INFANT STROLLER…COULD CRY THINKING OF IT
BATH BOOK AND TOY SET — MINI LOVED (!!!) BATH BOOKS! (THESE ARE FLOATING, WATERPROOF BOOKS)…THIS BRAND CHANGES COLOR IN THE WATER, WHICH IS FUN
PULP FEEDER (SUCH A GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE SOLIDS, AND BABIES CAN FEED THEMSELVES! I USED THESE MAINLY FOR FRUIT)
WOODEN PERCUSSION SET
HONEYSTICKS CRAYONS — 100% BEESWAX, SO TASTE-SAFE, AND MY CHILDREN STARTED USING THESE AROUND 1 YEAR…THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES IT WAS ALL EXPLORATION AND VERY LITTLE CRAYON TRANSFERRED TO THE PAPER, BUT THEY ARE BOTH AVID ARTISTS NOW AND I THINK IT’S ABOUT STARTING YOUNG!
SILICONE SPOON SET (GREAT FOR LITTLES LEARNING TO FEED THEMSELVES — WE ALSO LIKED THESE OLABABY ONES, SHAPED LIKE ASPARAGUS)
SKIP HOP BEE TOY — I SWEAR THIS TOY TAUGHT BOTH MY CHILDREN HOW TO CRAWL…YOU TURN IT ON IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS AND IT MOVES AROUND AND BABIES CHASE IT; ONCE BEE IS REMOVED, IT STOPS MOVING!
LITTLE PEOPLE FROZEN TOY SET (MY CHILDREN WERE OBSESSED WITH THESE FROM AROUND THE AGE OF 1 ON)
WORD FLASH CARDS — IT SAYS FOR AGES 3+ BUT MY CHILDREN USED SIMILAR FLASH CARDS WHEN VERY YOUNG…GREAT FOR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, ANIMAL SOUNDS, ETC.
Not seen above, but I almost always throw new toothbrushes into my children’s stockings, which my mom also did. My children both loved this banana toothbrush, mainly for gumming while teething! And board books like Peek-A-Who are always a big hit. I have a soft spot for that book in particular because mini laughed for the first time in her life while reading it. The last page is a mirror and she saw herself and actually giggled! It was incredible. I remember sprinting downstairs to tell Mr. Magpie! I treasure that book for the gift of that moment.
P.S. It’s been awhile since I revisited my baby gear guides, but my sister just had a precious new baby boy and maybe I’ll update based on her feedback on all the new new.
P.P.S. To the new mom nursing her baby in the middle of the night.
P.P.P.S. Adventures (cough, cough — it’s a euphemism) in nursing, parts one and two. A close girlfriend of mine is in the process of weaning her second and has been having major heartache about it all. I still can hardly speak about weaning without feeling tears at the back of my eyes, and I absolutely wept re-reading this post. I can remember all of those emotions so keenly, and all the exhausting calculations and tweaks and trials I went through during that process. You do get through it, and then you’re onto the next big challenge, and life continues, but man! Did breastfeeding throw me for a wild, emotional loop! I’m just sending some big, huge, loving energy out to any of you feeding your babies right now. You go girl.