Baby Holiday Gift Guide

Baby, it's cold outside, so let's start thinking about the holidays...and presents underneath the tree. But before I get started, I'm just going to whip up a mug of hot cocoa and a batch of gingerbread cookies to get me in the right state of mind. Thinking treats, you know? (I swear...it's purely for holiday brain fuel!) If you want to join me, be my guest. ;)

Most of these gift ideas are things I've already bought or are going to be buying for my baby boy (who will be 4 months by Christmas), so keep in mind that most of these gifts will be for that age-range, but some of these ideas will work for older kids, too. There's a range of price-points, which I will mention in the text below each item, and every photo will be a clickable link to make it easier for you to shop (because parenting is time-consuming as it is!)

Cocoa in hand, let's begin! 
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1. Meet Everest the Penguin, from Cuddle and Kind. Not only are these hand-knit dolls ethically made, the sale of each doll provides 10 meals for children in need, so it's a gift that inhabits to true spirit of Christmas and the season of GIVING. I gave one of these dolls (Sebastian the lamb) to Teddy when he was first born and have Everest the penguin set aside for him for Christmas. I also snagged a bunch more to give to me nieces and nephews this Christmas because you really can't beat the message. 

Each doll comes in 2 different sizes. The smaller one is $50, and if you buy 2, you get 2 free prints, free shipping, and feed 30 children. This gift will work for any age child.
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2. When I was a kid, my mom was an Usborne book consultant, and I remember loving their books. They sparked my imagination back then, but I had forgotten how downright amazing the quality of their books are until I saw one of my IG friends post a preview of this "Peep Inside The Nutcracker" book on her instagram stories. The photos don't do it justice, so I'm going to post a video of it on my instagram highlights if you want to check it out at Instagram.com/ThatBlissfulBalance under "Gift Guide."

I bought this one to read to Teddy BEFORE Christmas, and he loves it. The textures and cut-outs make for a truly magical and imaginative read, perfect to get you into the spirit while you cuddle with your little ones next to the tree. This book is thick and sturdy enough for toddlers, but can be enjoyed by ALL AGES. (Even grown-ups will appreciate it.) I was so impressed with this one that I'm probably going to buy every other book in this series for future gifts.

You cannot beat the price of $14.99 for the amount of craft and detail put into this book. Just a plain board book goes for the same price, and this one has cut-outs, flaps, and intricate artwork on every page. I got a couple more holiday titles in addition to this that were also great quality.
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3. This one is perfect if you're into matching jumpsuits on Christmas morning as they have this in sizes for the whole family. This Burt's Bees Holiday Jumpsuit is actually listed as one of Oprah's Favorite Things for 2018, so it pretty much has the gold seal for quality. It's made of 100% organic cotton and is so soft and comfy. I am featuring this on my ladies gift guide as well because even if you don't have kids this is such festive and cozy loungewear for the winter, and oh so cute!

The price for the baby sizes is $19.95 and there are other prints if the peppermint stripe is not your thing. Would be super cute for a family photo, too!
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4. If you don't know this about me already, I am all about products that have a lot of bang for the buck, so even though this Skip Hop Explore and More Activity Center is on the pricier end for a baby gift, it is something that grows with your child through toddler years converting into an activity table, so there is plenty of value to be had. I have seen many babies of IG enjoying the stimulating activities and just knew I needed to get this for my Teddy, who will be old enough to use it by Christmas, and I am so excited to see him use it!

Every site that carries it lists it at $119.99, but if I see any Black Friday sales, I'll update the link!
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5. If you follow me on instagram, you've probably seen me post this brand. I LOVE how soft their 100% organic cotton jammies feel, and they have such adorable prints. They now carry jammies for bigger kids, too. I plan to add this Parade Organics Snowy Trees '2 Way' Zipper Romper to Teddy's collection now that he's outgrowing all his kimono nightgowns. I love that it's a smaller company and they print all the fabrics by hand! 

I think this snowy trees print is perfect for the holidays, but there are many prints to choose from. The price is very reasonable for the quality at just $24.
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6. I love a lot of the Melissa & Doug toys for their encouragement of learning and make-believe play. Teddy is a bit too young for the wooden toys at this time, but this soft play mat is perfect, and I love that it folds up for easy travel. We got this Wild Safari Playmat and the Town Playmat with soft cars for him to drive, but they also have a Farm Themed Play Mat as well. 

Depending on which you get, prices range from $20.99 to $22.49 on amazon. I often see good deals on this brand at TJ Maxx though.
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7. We aren't quite at the teething stage yet, though it's coming, and in addition to being completely retro and adorable, this Sophie la Girafe teether is a classic, being beloved by generations since 1961. It's made of 100% natural rubber with a soft texture for soothing sore gums, and it just looks so darn cute. 

Listed at $23.40 on amazon, this would be perfect for a baby shower gift as well!
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8. When I first saw these personalized hand-crafted wooden Noc Noc Christmas Blocks pop up in my instagram feed, I knew I had to get them for Teddy. They have such a classic look to them and would make wonderful keepsakes long beyond their childhood years. They are made to order in Australia, so make sure you get your order placed with enough time to arrive by the holidays.

The price is very reasonable for the customization at about $45 usd with the current conversion rate.  And as a tip, sign up for their newletter to get 10% off. 
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9. Okay, so this one is more a gift for the parents than the baby, but I'm sure the baby appreciates any way that allows them to be close to their mama or daddy, so it's still a gift they'll appreciate. This particular one is great for Disney lovers, It's the Lillebaby Disney Baby Airflow Carrier. If you're planning a Disney vacation, this would be the perfect one to take along with you because of the breathability of the material (and the print of course!)

I personally own the  Lillebaby 6-in-1 Carrier in Classic Black with Gold Details and the craftsmanship and thought put into this carrier are so gorgeous and functional. I love that it transitions from newborn to toddler, making it a great investment (I told you, I like a good value!) The lumbar support means no back pain and it just feels so well-made and sturdy. I am blown away by all the thought put into the design and how the different clasps have hideaway pockets when you aren’t using them so that it has a sleek look instead of a bunch of hanging straps. I love it, and Teddy does now, too.

This Disney one is listed at $150 and the classic is $120. A pricier gift idea, but another sturdy quality item with so much though and detail put into it. I'll share a video of this one on my gift guide highlights reel as well so that you can see what I mean.
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10.  Indoor "outdoor" play seems to be all the rage this year, and though this kind of toy might be beyond a young baby's level of play, these handcrafted campfire sets by Nixi Lauroo are perfect for toddlers and young children while being soft enough for baby as nursery decor, and something for them to grow into.

They have multiple color schemes to suit your decor. The one seen here is classic, but I ordered the limited "Pumpkin Spice" with birch logs. I love the little magnetic marshmallow sticks, but I'll be saving those for when Teddy gets older.

This is another gift on the pricier side, ranging from $169-$215 per campfire set, but they offer payment plans as an option if you're on a budget, and you can get 10% off your order when you join their mailing list.

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So that's what I have so far, but check back as I might add a couple more items as I find them. And be sure to check out my other gift guides as well, which I'll link here once they get posted.
I'll update the links if I find a better price for you, too. 

Thanks for checking out my Baby Holiday Gift Guide for 2018. Happy Holidays!