Author Topic: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?  (Read 3005 times)

CloserToFree

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Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« on: December 21, 2016, 02:30:56 PM »
Anyone have ideas for inexpensive/used/DIY gifts or stocking stuffers for toddlers?  I need to get some gifts for our 2-y-o son and my niece and nephew (3 and 1) to unwrap on Christmas morning.  Was all set to hit "buy" on some Amazon purchases for about $20 each but then figured...there must be a better/cheaper way.  I'm planning to hit up a local kids' consignment shop later this week but am worried they may be out of good options this close to Christmas.  I've tried our neighborhood listserv and have a couple leads on free/inexpensive stuff from neighbors so hopefully something will come of that!  The other idea I had was our local library - they sell used books on the cheap and I'm thinking they may have some children's books for sale as part of that. 

Trying to take advantage of the kids being young enough to not really know the difference between new and used gifts!  We're otherwise skipping gifts for the adults in our families, but still want the kids to have a few things to open :)

Prairie Stash

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2016, 04:54:37 PM »
some classics annual gifts for kids of all ages are appropriate
1) Socks, some people do underwear too
2) Mandarin Oranges - these use to be a treat for me, replace with a seasonal fruit treat to suit your child. I still love Christmas oranges.
3) 1 candy cane

My 3 year old daughter is also getting dill pickle popcorn seasoning (her favourite) for our movie nights. We've been without for a few months, she's missing it so will be excited. I think a colouring book from the dollar store and some other small stuff will also make it in.

My wife makes bath bombs for the kids; every kid gets a few. I would recommend home made bath paint, its basically soap and food colouring, so that your kid can "paint" their bath toys. Our daughter spent an hour in the tub the first time, she was pretty insistent on staying and we cant complain about kids enjoying bath time. Basically any stuff they can make crafts with is always appreciated.

Kmp2

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2016, 04:57:56 PM »
My son is almost one and my daughter is 3... we got her used ice skates from the sports consignment store... although I think we will still need to buy her a hockey stick to go with, she is currently using a shoe horn as a hockey stick. And our son got a Thomas the train set from the toy and clothing consignment store.

Arts and craft stuff can be good too, like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, bubble bath,puzzles. They really don't need much at that age, the one year old would be content with a big box.

CloserToFree

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2016, 07:22:05 PM »
Love these ideas, thanks so much for sharing.  My son loves Thomas the train so I'll see what I can find on that front.  Arts & crafts stuff should also be a big hit.

PrairieStash, I have the same memories of Christmas oranges (in our case tangerines, always at the bottom of our stockings) so will definitely carry that one on.  Thanks for reminding me!

Grogounet

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2016, 11:28:08 PM »
Bought a 3 wheels scooter on ebay locally. $30 AUD.
They love that thrill!

meerkat

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2016, 05:58:15 AM »
I gave my eighteen month old a box of "tissues" - the box used to be a wipes box, the tissues are various scraps of fabric from my scrap bin. He pulls them out one by one then we stuff them all back in. I peeled off the labels from the box and doodled on it with some colored permanent markers, I think all together it took less than ten minutes to make.

mrsfrugaln

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2016, 11:10:42 AM »
I always get my kids (2 and 6) character bandaids and character toothbrushes for stocking stuffers. They are practical but the kids get so excited to have special bandaids and toothbrushes compared to the plain cheap ones I usually buy. My 6 year old even made a comment the other day that we were out of character bandaids but Santa will probably leave some in their stockings!

MrsDinero

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2016, 11:16:26 AM »
My daughter is 15 months old and we got a $10 set of Duplo blocks and 3 books.  The books are mostly for us because we are tired of reading the same ones over and over again.


I though about getting her a wooden hammer and peg toy, but I will most likely make her one out of scraps we have around the house.

At this age I would go with anything that improves their dexterity.

merula

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2016, 11:28:14 AM »
Santa always brought me "fancy" bandaids, toothbrushes, microwave popcorn and candy.

My kids are 2 and 4. Santa is bringing them: one small toy each, new notebooks for coloring, stickers, oranges, applesauce in squeezy pouches (that their parents never buy them), and possibly some candy.

When my oldest was one, I heard a really good argument against "big" Santa presents: it's easy to explain why one kid's parents bought them a new iPad AND iPhone AND XBox while another kid's parents bought them a hat and mittens. It's much, much harder to explain the difference when those gifts come from Santa.

CloserToFree

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2016, 12:03:03 PM »
Thanks everyone for all the great ideas!  I ended up scoring a used train set, wooden tracks, and large train table (thinking it can double as an art table too - it has a top/cover) for $25 from a neighbor -- woohoo!  Will supplement this with some homemade goodies, orange, and candy canes and my son will have a very nice Christmas morning :) 

Also, not toddler-related, but a PSA for folks looking for little gifts for neighbors/friends/family: CVS is selling small tins of Danish butter cookies for $1.50! They make the perfect add-on gift to a holiday card for those times when you feel bad giving just a card.

I gave my eighteen month old a box of "tissues" - the box used to be a wipes box, the tissues are various scraps of fabric from my scrap bin. He pulls them out one by one then we stuff them all back in. I peeled off the labels from the box and doodled on it with some colored permanent markers, I think all together it took less than ten minutes to make.

LOVE this idea.  My son would be in heaven - he loves pulling tissues out of our tissue box! 

When my oldest was one, I heard a really good argument against "big" Santa presents: it's easy to explain why one kid's parents bought them a new iPad AND iPhone AND XBox while another kid's parents bought them a hat and mittens. It's much, much harder to explain the difference when those gifts come from Santa.

This is an excellent point.  I fear where I live "Santa" routinely gives things like Xboxes and iPads to kids -- but I'm going to start spreading this idea around my neighborhood and hope it catches on.  Thanks for sharing.

chemistk

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2016, 05:37:55 AM »
We splurged on one thing for our 20 month son this year - a play kitchen from Ikea. He LOVES playing with all the pots and pans, etc. but unfortunately he's broken or damaged too much (who knew that melamine shattered so easily, or that silicone utensils are no match for toddler teeth??). So $99 later, he has something that will last us for a very long time and will see good use for years.

Otherwise, he's getting a $5 set of alphabet blocks, a tassel blanket my wife made, and some socks. The rest of his gifts will be from Grandparents.

Last year, he barely was walking at that point, so we just wrapped empty boxes for him and deposited money into his 529.


Tjat

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2016, 08:09:24 PM »
Local Facebook groups and church (or any)  thrift stores should both have options for much cheaper than amazon.

appleblossom

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #12 on: December 25, 2016, 04:42:01 PM »
Santa always brought me "fancy" bandaids, toothbrushes, microwave popcorn and candy.

My kids are 2 and 4. Santa is bringing them: one small toy each, new notebooks for coloring, stickers, oranges, applesauce in squeezy pouches (that their parents never buy them), and possibly some candy.

When my oldest was one, I heard a really good argument against "big" Santa presents: it's easy to explain why one kid's parents bought them a new iPad AND iPhone AND XBox while another kid's parents bought them a hat and mittens. It's much, much harder to explain the difference when those gifts come from Santa.

As a child our stockings came from Santa and presents were from people. Our stockings were little too, I still have it and it barely fits on my leg now, so nothing like those Santa sacks that some kids have.
The contents were a bit like yours, chocolate and fruit, stickers, books/magazines, socks or underwear, just little things really.

I'm pregnant, so this was my last Christmas where I didn't need to think about Santa, but I probably do the same with my children (might get to avoid it next year, 10month olds don't know what Santa is).

marty998

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2016, 07:21:48 PM »
I hear rubber duckies have gone down well in a friends household who have young kiddos.

One little boy wouldn't let them go all day :)

waltworks

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Re: Mustachian Christmas gift ideas for 1-3 year olds?
« Reply #14 on: December 25, 2016, 09:16:00 PM »
Walk around to the neighbors and ask for their big appliance boxes. Cut a few holes for a door, a window, etc. Get some markers and decorate the "fort" (castle, house, train, boat, etc) together.

We all know the kids like the box better than what's inside, so why not skip the inside part completely?

If you get two of slightly different sizes, you can make a pretty realistic looking (and fairly durable) train.

I know this is too late now, maybe helpful next year, though.

-W

 

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