Baby, it’s Christmas!
What’s under the tree? Toys to delight, clothes to keep cozy and mementos to treasure
I f this year marks your baby’s first Christmas, it will be special no matter what gifts end up under the tree. To commemorate the occasion, consider classic toys that let babies explore their senses, warm winter clothes to keep your little one snug and gifts that will evoke memories for years to come.
Baby fun
For baby’s first Christmas, consider a few classic toys that will stand the test of time.
At Baby Bear, a children’s store on Lomas NE, everything is “kid-powered,” says owner Stella Noyce. That means toys by brands like HABA, Kathe Kruse and Plan that use natural materials, like sustainable wood and organic cotton, and emphasize creative play rather than battery-operated entertainment.
One time-honored gift is the beech wood ball track by HABA, $99.95, which tots use to send balls down a track beside two brightly colored goblins. Even infants can watch as Mom or Dad pushes the balls down the track.
Another classic idea is baby’s first set of blocks, like the multi-colored, multisensory blocks by Plan Toys, $22.95, which make noise when kids pick them up, or the first blocks set by HABA, $31.95, which features a buggy and driver with six building blocks.
For babies learning to grasp and hold objects, options abound.
Baby Bear carries several brightly colored teethers by HABA or rainbow baby grasping toys by Kathe Kruse, $18.95, featuring a wooden ring with a soft baby doll attached to it. A new item at Baby Bear is the shaking owl, $12.95, also from Kathe Kruse, which makes noise when babies grab and shake it.
Zap … Oh!, a children’s boutique on Amherst NE, also has colorful baby toys perfect for stocking stuffers, like the Kid O GoCar for $9.95.
At Babies R Us, several new products will appeal to parents looking for Christmas gifts that build baby’s developmental skills, says corporate spokeswoman Adrienne O’Hara.
The new Playskool Rocktivity Sit, Crawl ’n Stand Band Activity Arch, $69.99, lets children explore musical instruments like a guitar, jukebox, drum and keyboard in their own one-baby band. The toy can be used by crawling babies and standing toddlers from 6-36 months.
Also new this year is the Cruise Groove Ballapalooza from Fisher-Price, $59.99, which kids use by sending colorful balls down a series of twists and turns, accompanied by musical beats and lights.
“The action and reaction is what makes it so engaging,” O’Hara says.
Cozy clothes
When it comes to holiday get-ups for baby, the cozier the better.
“Everyone seems to want slippers and pjs,” says Zap … Oh! owner Charlie Christian.
At Zap … Oh!, a striped reindeer romper by Le Top is $39.50 and gingerbread-themed footie pajamas are $32.50. Little feet stay warm with fuzzy Santa or reindeer slippers with rattles by Baby Deer, $16.
At Babies R Us, pajama sets feature snowmen and Santas and holiday layette sets feature gingerbread men or candy canes and include a onesie, bib, burp cloth and doll, $19.99.
At Baby Bear, handmade baby slippers, $28.95, made from upcycled merino wool sweaters and lined with soft fleece, are a popular item, Noyce says. Made
in Arkansas by Woollybottoms, the slippers come in 6-12-month and 12-18-month sizes.
When it comes to taking that special Christmas day photo, Christian suggests a $54 red corduroy dress with velvet trim by fair trade fashion company Eternal Creation, based in the Indian Himalayas. For the soon-tobe rockstar boy, Christian suggests a Jingle Bell Rock-themed outfit by Tori Tierney, $48.50.
At Babies R Us, O’Hara suggests a glittery holiday party dress for girls and a first pair of shiny patent leather Mary Janes, $10.99, or a tuxedo-inspired bodysuit for boys.
Making memories
To make the holiday special, consider gifts you will be able to admire for years. At Zap … Oh!, parents can honor their new addition with a snow globe kit by Kid O, $28, which includes clay to make your own figurines for each member of the family.
At The Christmas Shop in Old Town, manager Stephanie Silva says customers often ask for ornaments to commemorate baby’s first Christmas. The store carries several options, including nursery rhyme ornaments, $7.50, and Navajo-made angels, $7.95. On both, people can write the date and baby’s name on the back. The store also carries special baby’s first Christmas stockings, and other kid-friendly stockings ranging from $8.95-$22.
At Babies R Us, baby’s first Christmas ornaments feature photos of your little one for $1.98 or tiny baby footprints for $9.99. For families still expecting their new addition at the holidays, a holiday ornament featuring your first sonogram, $2.98, or a memory book that parents can use to document baby’s first year make heartfelt gifts.