CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!! How do I pick a good gift for my baby?
I love this time of year. All the anticipation, preparation, decorating the Christmas tree, the smell of cinnamon and gingerbread, caroling together…
For as long as I can remember, I’ve associated Christmas with joy and the warmth of my family home.
But ever since I became a mom, when I think about Christmastime, there are other things that also come to mind — presents!
Despite my great passion for giving gifts… these associations are not so positive.
Why? Let me explain. 😊
Since my husband and I became parents, the period between November 20 and January 6 has been packed with gift-giving occasions:
- My oldest daughter’s birthday is on November 20,
- My son Tad was born on November 30,
- On December 6, we celebrate Saint Nicholas Day,
- Then comes Christmas,
- My younger daughter’s birthday is on January 6.
Whew! 47 days and five different occasions…
And maybe it would all be fine if not for the fact that not only me and my husband are the gift givers here. There are also grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and uncles.
Two years ago, after such a marathon of gift-receiving, my husband and I decided that we must do something about it.
We had so many different gadgets in the house that our children were not really interested in.
We decided if we want to change the world, we must start with ourselves.
And that we did! — I’ll get back to that later… 😊
Now, let’s focus on the topic of this post:
A discussion about toys but from the perspective of a mom whose love for minimalism grows with each child. I’ve learned that the time when your baby still doesn’t know what’s going on is the time to supply him or her with sensible gifts and needed accessories. I did this shamelessly while I could still get away with it. 😉
But when it comes time to buy a REAL present for your child, what should you keep in mind?
1. Think about whether your gift will help build stronger relations.
It may sound ridiculous, but let’s face the facts — even the best, most expensive toy won’t be able to occupy your baby for a long time if you aren’t playing together!
That’s why, when you wonder what to buy, it’s good to consider if YOU will enjoy it as well. 🙂
Playing together can be a great opportunity to build a stronger bond, which, after all, is the absolute basis for healthy and balanced development.
2. Make sure the toy you buy is suitable for your child’s age, skills, and interests.
Sometimes it may seem that your baby is already mature enough to cope with slightly more difficult tasks, but remember — just as you don’t buy shoes that are too big, you shouldn’t buy toys which are not compatible with the current needs and capabilities of your baby. Ultimately, success is the best motivation!
And what are your child’s abilities? You can read about them here:
3. Consider whether your gift stimulates the Foundational Senses.
We live in the 21st century. The pace of life is incredibly fast. The amount of stimuli we have to deal with every day is enormous.
Considering how much the world has changed over the last 2-3 generations, it’s not difficult to see that the human brain doesn’t have it easy. Every day it has to deal with a lot of stimuli, regardless of the fact that in terms of evolution, the brain hasn’t caught up just yet.
That’s why, when choosing toys for your baby, make sure that they don’t overload those sensory systems that are already quite challenged.
WHAT SENSORY SYSTEMS AM I TALKING ABOUT?
First of all, the senses of sight and hearing. The 21st century is full of flashing images, screens, electronic devices, unnatural light, and a cacophony of sounds…
For that reason, I tend to approach any blinking toys with caution and try to replace them with something more “natural” — something that won’t overload an already heavily exploited and still immature nervous system.
I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but for me, after the first minute, any noisy or flashing toy is like a red cape to a bull. I get irritated and all I want to do is to throw the batteries away and silence the contraption. So how you think it is for a child whose sensory processing is not as mature as ours?
Of course, I don’t mind good visual or auditory stimulation. There are a lot of interesting items (like cards or music) for children on the market, but they require observation of the child’s reactions and should be used in moderation.
It’s important to remember that babies have more senses than just sight and hearing. 😉
There is also a sense of taste, smell, touch, balance, space, and interoception (a sense of the internal state of the body).
Paradoxically, sight and hearing are not the most important senses. The ones that are particularly worth taking care of (not only in infancy, but also in the following years of life) are: touch, balance, and space, which allow the child to get to know him or herself as well as the surrounding world and help them build a “map” of the body.
So, let’s tend to these senses first! Cuddle with your baby, have some active playtime, roll together, climb, jump, and carry heavier objects…
4. Before you reach for an “educational” toy, think twice and consider what you want to achieve.
It may seem that if a given toy has the word “educational” in its name and is two times more expensive than an ordinary toy, then there must be something to it.
However, it often turns out that these toys fail when compared to far more simple household items. 😉
Children really want to explore their surroundings! They are curious about what is in the drawer, what will happen when they lick the glass, or spill dirt from the flowerpot and smear it on the floor…
Isn’t that fascinating for a little explorer? 😉
Research shows that in order to learn something EFFECTIVELY, there must be interaction. Of course, educational toys can provide that to some extent, but they are certainly not able to replace interaction with another person who knows how to sense a child’s mood and adjust playtime to the situation.
5. How about a shared gift?
If there are more people who want to prepare a little something for your baby, consider if there is anything bigger on your child’s wish list that might require spending more money.
If so, then maybe there is a chance for everyone to contribute? I do this all the time! 😉
Also, I recommend checking out my other post about buying toys for children. 🙂
And… how does our story end?
Today, a birthday gift in my family is simply spending TIME TOGETHER — having a lot of fun and laughter, maybe going on a trip, making new memories, looking at old photos…
I was really touched when, after introducing this change, my daughter Lili said: “Mommy, it’s my best birthday ever!”
So now… I want to show you a heartfelt gift idea. 😉 Because the best thing you can give your child is YOUR TIME!
You may also be interested in:
And… what about a Christmas present for YOU? 🎅🎁 Well, I have something that you might like. The best gifts are the ones we can share with one another.❤️ So, how about sharing PLAYTIME with your baby? There’s nothing more important than the TIME you spend together. ❤️ That’s why, make use of it and have FUN. But also, turn that FUN into something that not only brings you joy, but also supports your baby in their developmental adventure. 😊
