in this post:

gift ideas for newborns (0-6 months old)
gift ideas for babies (6-12 month old)
gift ideas for toddlers (12 months - 3 years old)
gift ideas for bigger kids (3-5 years old)
gift ideas for mama & mama-to-be
gift ideas for dad & dad-to-be

I can’t believe it’s already time for holiday shopping! Since my kids all have Fall/ Winter birthdays, for holidays we tend to keep things minimal with gifts (which is a lot easier said than done with three kids now). Three years ago I invested in this gorgeous advent calendar (this is a sweet option too). I start on Dec. 1, or a bit earlier if we’ll be traveling for Christmas Eve/ Day, and fill it with a random assortment of things like experiences (such as a hot cocoa date, donating some items or baking cookies together), SMALL surprises like a new ornament, a new card for our Yoto Player, a hot wheel car, etc., and edible treats.

As for Christmas presents, we try to save “big ticket” items that we want them to have throughout the year (like a bike or scooter) for Christmastime, and otherwise don’t get anything too crazy. Rather than lots of little things we try and go for a few great, well-made and open ended toys that we know they’ll use for a long time to come. Now that O is a little older (6 this year!) he’s also asking for some things that aren’t what I would normally choose (like Paw Patrol cars) so I am going to be grabbing a couple of things from his list as well.

For the baby we will go super basic, and stick with getting them some stocking-stuffer type gifts that are practical and that she needs anyway- like books and new jammies. I also pull out some toys from storage that are “new to her.”

For each other, my husband and I never exchange big gifts. We usually have to budget to travel back East to see my family for the holidays so don’t want to spend extra money on arbitrary gifts. We usually just do stockings with little things for each other which is always fun!

When it comes to the holidays with kids, remember to keep expectations in check. I find that with toddlers, they don’t yet have the ability to hide feelings of disappointment, to show gratefulness and appreciation, or to have delayed gratification. They’re just not amazing gift-getters. This can lead to big disappointment on the parent’s part, if you’ve spent a ton of time and money buying presents that it seems your toddler couldn’t care less about. And babies just have no clue what’s going on and would often rather play with the boxes and wrapping paper. Remembering this is allllll developmentally normal and knowing that it’s not your child being ungrateful or spoiled can help you keep your own feelings in check and embrace Christmas morning and all the chaos that can come with it!

Below, I’ve broken down gift ideas into age groups for little babies, older babies, and toddlers. I also have a section dedicated to the special Mama or Mama-to-Be in your life (even if it’s you!) so feel free to send this along to your partner or family member for a not so subtle hint ;)

*Some of these will be affiliate links meaning I get a commission when you shop from here, which I appreciate so much!

Simply click on the item to shop! As always, if you are looking for more of my favorite things, you can check out my Amazon storefront or shop my LTK! Happy Holidays!

xo Rachael