Christmas Shopping for the 1 Year Old

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

20 Dec 2006 06:52 AM

Shopping for a baby is a lot harder than it looks. I spent the last three weeks looking for something for my soon to be 16 month old nephew and it was definitely a struggle. Despite all the toys that are out there and trust me - there are a lot - it's hard to pick out a gift that will not only entertain the baby, but also provide for their learning curve.

There's nothing wrong with something for them to play with, but what do you get them that not only can they play with and grow with, but also learn with? That's the struggle and that was the key to my frustration over the last few days.

See & Says

The See & Say is one of the best gifts out there and it's a great deal of fun for little ones to play with. But it's not easy to manipulate for the under 2 year old at times. There are plenty of musical toys out there and while they are interesting, most kiddos at the age of 1 and up already have a half dozen musical toys. And most parents, myself included, tend to buy toys for the different developmental stages as the baby goes - making it even harder on those of us out there looking for a present.

So what to do? What to do?

Start by talking to the parents or taking a good long look at what you already have. Remember that to your 1 year old, a box is as interesting as any other toy out there and they aren't going to be keeping score and you can actually overwhelm them with too many presents. So just focus on one or two good toys and for the extended family - let them send clothes, a small toy or other useful baby item.

This can help relieve the pressure on your family and yourself and it can also provide you with the clothes, blankets and other items that your little one can use as they continue to grow and develop and change.

Oh and if you're wondering what did I finally settle on? A great little weebles while they wobble, but they don't fall down toy. It's a small building with lots of things to open and shut along with four little weebles to entertain himself with.

How hard is Christmas shopping been for your baby?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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