Children's gift ideas by age

Shopping for little ones can be confusing - - what's age appropriate?  What's safe? What will they actually PLAY with?

Here's are some great ideas taken from a guide that my pediatrician's office put together.

Infants (0-6 mo's)
If the child already has what they need, consider getting a gift for mom and dad... my friend brought a lovely tea and some body lotion as a gift to the hospital.  So appreciated!

• Mobiles or hanging toys out of baby's reach
• Rattles
• Soft squeeze balls

Infants (7-12 mo's)
Personalized gifts are always nice.  Even before they can read, kids appreciate things with their name on them.

• Cloth, plastic or board books with large pictures
• Large blocks
• Soft, washable animals dolls or balls
• Floating bath toys
• Stacking toys

Toddlers (1-2 years)
Gift certificates for a fun outing are another nice idea.  How about swim passes, or zoo tickets?

• Cloth, plastic or board books
• Ride-on toys (no pedals)
• Rhythm instruments like bells, drums, cymbals, and xylophones
• Nesting and stacking blocks
• Push and pull toys (no long strings)
• Pop-up toys
• Matching and sorting games

Preschoolers (3-5 years)
Imagination begins to rule at this stage, and toys that can be used to "pretend" seem to be lasting favorites (as opposed to toys that do only one thing).

• Books (short or action stories)
• Simple board games
• Crayons, nontoxic paints, play-doh, chalk
• Housekeeping toys or toy tools
• Number and letter puzzles with large pieces
• Dress-up clothes
• Pretend cooking, food, dish sets

Find! Affordable holiday gifts

A reminder that "Annabelle's Garden" is ready for the holidays! The Red Rooster in Milton has beautiful home decor and gifts, and the booths in the basement feature very nice antiques and secondhand steals.

Gift: Scrapbook baskets

My favorite little girls are turning 5 (already!!)! This year, I couldn't resist these apple-baskets at a thrift store for just $2.50. Sure enough, Target had all these cute fall-themed scrapbooking supplies in their dollar bins.

I tucked in some 5x7, 8-page scrapbooks too... keeping the "scrapbook" small seemed age-appropriate and not too overwhelming.

I know my 4-year-old loves cutting, pasting, gluing, stamping... so I'm pretty sure the girls will have fun with these supplies. (Their moms are creative and artistic, too!) Annabelle started a scrapbook of her own this year. She loves looking through the computer with me to choose photos to include, then working on a page at a time. I try to stay hands-off and let her do things her way. The results are absolutely darling. It's a glimpse into her world: who she loves, what is important, and her own creative personality.

Gift: Dressed up for spring

My mother-in-law's birthday is in February, when we are both desperately longing for spring. While I know by now that her preferred present is usually a gift certificate to one of her favorite stores... I hate to just hand over an envelope. So dull! Certainly not good enough for this very special person.

Here's a simple idea for dressing up a plain 'ol gift certificate:
- Glass apothecary jar (from Target)
- Lily of the Valley (from Cranberry Moon - - the gift certificate too!)
- Decadent chocolate bar (wrapped in the certificate)
- Raffia and a cute, homemade tag

Gift: Kid's birthday

Here's a gift I put together (I did two of them, actually) for my favorite preschoolers. Yes, the glass canister isn't ideal for 4-year-olds, but I figured the moms could find another use for them (and they were just $10!).

There's no gift wrap required. Just slip a colorful card with their name in, and fill the jar up with colorful, creative craft supplies! Little ones love foam stickers, stampers, pipe cleaners, markers, and more.

Gift: For a new baby

Here's an easy approach to creating an extra special baby gift. It can be scaled up or down according to your budget.

I always start with a little something they registered for (in this case, the red towels). If it is a firstborn, the parents will appreciate the practical stuff.

Next, I add a few things that I've found to be indispensable - - maybe a silly-but-effective diaper cream, a handy gadget, something I never leave home without. This is a thoughtful way to welcome newbies to the crazy world of parenting.

Because I can't resist, I always tuck in a few cute extras. Favorite board books, rubber duckies, picture frames are all affordable and useful. This is where I try to add some personality or tie things together with a theme or color scheme.

Finally, I am a big fan of packaging gifts together in a useful container. I've used baskets, colorful pails, photo boxes... a container can be used to keep the nursery tidy later. (Choose a neutral container or one that you know will match the baby's room.)

Gift: Housewarming

Buying your first (or second, or third) home is a big deal, and thoughtful friends commemorate the occasion with a gift. Your basket of dining/kitchen goodies can be as elaborate or simple as you please. If you're savvy about theme and style, you can create an elegant gift without over-spending.

This basket was for my delightful sister, so I splurged a bit. Add or subtract items to hit a price point that works for you. When in doubt, keep things simple (white) and coordinated. Everything in this basket worked together, so Josie could set a breezy, summery table using just what's inside:

A wooden spice rack; a simple white serving dish; a woven chocolate-colored table runner; round green place mats; white cotton dish towels; chocolate-scented candles; a summery cookbook; cloth basket in perfect green and brown stripes.