Attention parents! Mind helping me out??

RubyRed8067
RubyRed8067 Posts: 301
in Chit-Chat
I'm shopping for a Christmas gift for my sister in law and her husband. They are new parents, their child is 8 months old. Does anyone have any suggestions on gifts that would not only be useful but desired as well? I'm already planning on getting Aesop's Fables for them to read to her when she is older. Any other suggestions? I'm not very close to them, so I have NO idea, but I don't want to just get something for the sake of buying a Christmas gift.

Replies

  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    Ear plugs, We had a colicy first child and could have used these, or a date night coupon.
  • MrMeowGi
    MrMeowGi Posts: 171
    pop up book. kids furking love pop up books.
  • MrMeowGi
    MrMeowGi Posts: 171
    Or a kitten, cot dam I wish I had a thousand kittens. Nobody hates kittens. (this is probably not a winner idea though. and may be very bias )
  • susehocking
    susehocking Posts: 30 Member
    Date night coupon! For sure! I would have LOVED one of these when my kids were babies! You offer to babysit for them so they can have a date night. That would have been my dream gift!
  • texasaswang
    texasaswang Posts: 24 Member
    Diapers! :)
  • orrmichelle77
    orrmichelle77 Posts: 15
    Date night coupon! For sure! I would have LOVED one of these when my kids were babies! You offer to babysit for them so they can have a date night. That would have been my dream gift!


    This one for sure! It's nice to get out of the house for a little bit and not be parents.
  • samanthawarren
    samanthawarren Posts: 120
    A gift certificate for a couples massage might be nice if they like that kind of thing. Also if they use disposable diapers you could attach the gift certificate to a big box of diapers with an offer to babysit if needed.
  • ReNewYou
    ReNewYou Posts: 49
    Date night coupon! For sure! I would have LOVED one of these when my kids were babies! You offer to babysit for them so they can have a date night. That would have been my dream gift!

    ^^This my wife and I have been on two dates in 2 years. Our first child is 2 by the way!
  • Flowers4Julia
    Flowers4Julia Posts: 521 Member
    Well, let's think! At 8-9 months old babies are crawling and starting to pull up on things and they are very interested and curious about stuff that they can touch and hold, taste (lol) push and pull etc. They can sit up fairly well and love to shake, etc.

    So, while I don't have an exact "toy" in mind, hit the stores and look for things that encourages all that interactive stuff.

    AND, I think it is wonderful to buy books! Just the act of reading to a child even at this age encourages language skills and communication. I started reading to my kids at this age, just really short big picture colorful books. The kind with cardboard pages, so they could touch (and not tear) and learn to love books! And, it worked! They had no problems in school learning, reading, etc. They are happy college educated kids no, doing really well in their lives.

    So, I vote for the more educational and FUN colorful stuff! In the end, it is all about parent child interaction, so think along those lines for a healthy happy baby gift!


    OH _ WAIT A SECOND, YOU SAID FOR THE PARENTS!! :laugh: Sorry I totally mis-read your post! Yeah, a date night coupon for sure! Or maybe a weekend away and a book on Tantra :bigsmile:
  • Shua89
    Shua89 Posts: 144 Member
    Let's see if I can describe this because I don't know what they are called. They are little car dashboards. They have the steering wheel, a gear shift, lots of buttons to push. Both of my kids would sit on the floor and play with that thing all the time around that age, they loved it.

    It also built their hand eye coordination, and stimulated them when the buttons would make lights or sounds.

    BTW, not sure if it has a connection or not but both of my kids are very good drivers now. :wink:
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    I just saw these today and would love to have this for my kids. At 8 mos old, the baby should be getting the hang of solids. My kids are 2 and almost 4 and they still eat a lot of applesauce, they enjoy smoothies and they enjoy fruit-based puree blends. These are often sold in single use pouches that get expensive and are wasteful. This company makes some that are reusable and I just thought they looked pretty cool! I would be able to fill them up with stuff that I make for my kids for when we're out and about - much cheaper and less wasteful too. I promise I do not work for nor have any affiliation with this company!
    http://www.thesilico.com/
  • KWake1
    KWake1 Posts: 148 Member
    Well, let's think! At 8-9 months old babies are crawling and starting to pull up on things and they are very interested and curious about stuff that they can touch and hold, taste (lol) push and pull etc. They can sit up fairly well and love to shake, etc.

    So, while I don't have an exact "toy" in mind, hit the stores and look for things that encourages all that interactive stuff.

    AND, I think it is wonderful to buy books! Just the act of reading to a child even at this age encourages language skills and communication. I started reading to my kids at this age, just really short big picture colorful books. The kind with cardboard pages, so they could touch (and not tear) and learn to love books! And, it worked! They had no problems in school learning, reading, etc. They are happy college educated kids no, doing really well in their lives.

    So, I vote for the more educational and FUN colorful stuff! In the end, it is all about parent child interaction, so think along those lines for a healthy happy baby gift!

    ^ This - My daughter is two now, but her favourite toys were all about bright colours, soft textures, and starting to mimic mommy and daddy (toy phone, etc). I'm a huge fan of buying "up" for kids. Don't get a toy for 6 - 12 months if she's already 9. Get her one for 12+ months she can grow into and have for a long time. Don't get something gigantic unless you're sure they have room for it, (Thanks MIL for that huge toy kitchen in the middle of my living room...) and avoid something too noisy. It's not funny, and karma's a ***** (hear that newly pregnant sister?!).
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    Savings bond, stock share(s), or savings account! The baby doesn't care what it gets at this age, and 18 years from now, your gift will have grown substantially and they will REALLY appreciate it then!
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    Savings bond, stock share(s), or savings account! The baby doesn't care what it gets at this age, and 18 years from now, your gift will have grown substantially and they will REALLY appreciate it then!

    lol
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Staying with the book theme, every child needs Make Way for Ducklings and Goodnight Moon.

    Also clothes are always a great gift, especially for a few months down the road so the kid has something to wear as he or she grows.
  • tropaze
    tropaze Posts: 317 Member
    My kids are all older, but a date is always appreciated. My family usually collaborates and everyone gives us one component of a date, gift card for restaurant, movie tickets, babysitting, etc. Without knowing their particular interests, that's about all I have.
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Savings bond, stock share(s), or savings account! The baby doesn't care what it gets at this age, and 18 years from now, your gift will have grown substantially and they will REALLY appreciate it then!
    *snorts*


    You're funny.
  • Brianna72994
    Brianna72994 Posts: 887
    You could get them a gift card to a restaurant and tell them that you'll babysit while they go out
  • xnikkixsikkix
    xnikkixsikkix Posts: 64
    Oops, nevermind! I agree with the date coupon!
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Savings bond, stock share(s), or savings account! The baby doesn't care what it gets at this age, and 18 years from now, your gift will have grown substantially and they will REALLY appreciate it then!

    If you go this route, at least put in in a big cardboard box. The kid will have a lot more fun with the box for the 17+ years it will be before they appreciate the actual gift.
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    Date night coupon! For sure! I would have LOVED one of these when my kids were babies! You offer to babysit for them so they can have a date night. That would have been my dream gift!

    THIS... and give them a gift certificate to a NICE restaurant that they would enjoy.

    at 8mo old, the kids is more interested in sucking it's toes and crawling than anything else. You can get the baby a colorful, bright mirror.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    A date night! After that, diapers, music, mobiles and stuffed animals.
  • cmcorn26
    cmcorn26 Posts: 253 Member
    Date night! I think a few more of those would have beneficial to us and my children(we may have stayed together)!!!
  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    I'd make a basket with:

    A date night coupon.
    A gift certificate for a restaurant. Preferably one that isn't known for their kid's menu, if you know what I mean.
    A bottle of liquor or wine.
    One Shel Silverstein book.
  • boomboom011
    boomboom011 Posts: 1,459
    my sister bought my baby girl a drum set when she was 2. i realize the baby is 8 months but at least you have a gift idea for later on.

    i say a gift card to eat out and a night of babysitting like the others said.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Go the F*** to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and an offer to babysit for one night.
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
    Savings bond, stock share(s), or savings account! The baby doesn't care what it gets at this age, and 18 years from now, your gift will have grown substantially and they will REALLY appreciate it then!

    ^^My husband just cashed his out. **They were 30 year? bonds. Unless the parents lose things...
    I would do a GC to a theater and decent place to eat that they like. kids get oodles of presents. but happy parents make a happy house and we always appreciated these.
  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    Savings bond, stock share(s), or savings account! The baby doesn't care what it gets at this age, and 18 years from now, your gift will have grown substantially and they will REALLY appreciate it then!

    I appreciated mine. I bought...party supplies.
  • Irish_Chica
    Irish_Chica Posts: 295
    Hire them 3 hours from a housekeeping service. Someone who could wash their windows, organize
    Cupboards, clean out fridge:...all those things seem harder to get to once you have kids

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