2010 Smarty Holiday Gift Guide: 0-2 Years

By Susan:
The 2010 Smarty Holiday Gift Guide is sponsored by Toys & Co in Cotswold – if you haven’t been, check them out! You can find anything and everything on Santa’s list at Toys & Co!

Every year when the calendar turns from October 31st to November 1st, pumpkins become instant outcasts. Halloween is a distant memory even though it ended merely the day before. On November 1st, I heard Christmas music rotated into the mix on a local radio AND Santa was already camped out at the mall. Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet for crying out loud!

All of this can make a Smarty feel behind in the holiday shopping game. Well, fret no more! The Smarty Gift Guide Series kicks off today with swag ideas for the littlest ones, 0-2 years old. Next week, tune in for the rest of the series: Smarty Gift Guide 2-4 years, Smarty Gift Guide: 5-9 years and Smarty Gift Guide Tweens & Teens. Let’s get to it!



DIFFERENT & FUN

Pillow Pets – Suitable for boys and girls and many animals to choose from. There is also kiosk at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte. Can’t beat it for $19.99!

Robeez – Soft, comfortable shoes for non-walkers in very fun patterns.

Inchbug Bumpy Name Orbit Labels – An ingenious, mom-invented product that solves the problem of labeling bottles and sippy cups for day care, school, camp and activities. These are non-adhesive and reusable. I leave them on the sippy cups and run them through the dishwasher.

Baby Legs – Leg warmers for babies and toddlers with the grooviest designs ever! Boys and girls alike can don these hipsters!

My First Touch ‘n Feel Flash Cards – Babies as young as 6 months love pulling these out, looking at them, feeling the textures. Big hit in my house!

Anamalz – Bendable animal play figures made from organic maple and natural fibers – ADORABLE!

Skip Hop Hug & Hide Owl Toy – We love some owls in my house and this has been my go-to baby gift this year.

Sing-a-ma-jigs R-O-C-K!

Twilight Turtle – This little guy has been a hit for years and is still helping the munchkins fall asleep at night.

Stocking stuffers from The Land of Nod – This catalog is so fun to look at. They have a variety of affordable items that will up your game in the stocking stuffer department!

THE CLASSICS

Cups – These cups pull triple duty – they nest, stack and teach colors. This will be the best $4 you ever spent.

Stacking rings

Shape sorting toys

Wooden ABC blocks

Mega Bloks Building Imagination Bag Classic – Comes with a storage bag with zipper to keep your house tidy!

Fisher-Price Little People Toys – Self-entertainment at its finest! Here are some faves – pirate ship, farm, garage, airplane, school bus.

Melissa & Doug wooden puzzles

LeapFrog Fridge Farm

Playskool Busy Ball Popper

LeapFrog Learn & Groove music table

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Counting Maracas

Good Night Thomas Talking Cuddle Pillow


BATH TUB TOYS

Baby Einstein Bath Tub Books

Sassy Bathtime Fun Appliques (ABCs and 123s)

Funny Face Beakers Bath-time Toys for the Bath Tub

Alex Toys Rub a Dub Squirters for the Tub


BOARD BOOKS

Always a great gift! Books with flaps or interaction such as pages where they can touch and feel different textures are a plus.

Dear Zoo: A Lift the Flap Book

Usborne Touchy-Feely Books

Sandra Boynton Board Books

This Little Chick

Maisy Board Books

Eric Carle Board Books (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, The Very Busy Spider, etc.)


TRAINS & DOLLS

Chuggington and Thomas are currently fighting for the throne at our house! Whether you are a Thomas, Chuggington or GeoTrax family, trains provide hours of enjoyment (and self-entertainment!). I’m considering buying a train table on Craig’s List (because I know it’s not a forever toy!) and asking family members for trains, accessories, etc.

Chuggington

Thomas

GeoTrax

Lillabo trains and track – I peeped this out at Ikea on my inaugural visit there last week.

Fisher Price My First Dollhouse – Compact, encourages pretend play and you won’t go broke. My daughter got it when she turned 2 and it has provided hours (and years) of enjoyment where your child is entertaining themselves and Mommy can take a break.

Corolle Dolls

Groovy Girl dolls – plush, hip fabric dolls dressed to the nines and you can buy super fun accessories including a bed, a pony, you name it!



PUSH OR RIDE TOYS

Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon – We have a 2-year-old and 4-year-old and we’ve used this item more than any umbrella stroller, jog stroller, double stroller, etc. We got it 3 1/2 years ago and it’s a transportation staple in our house.

Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon – awesome and sells for a great price used on Craig’s List.

Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trike

Step2 Push Around Buggy

Step2 Whisper Ride Buggy – If I were you, splurge for the Whisper Ride. It will cost you an extra $20 but you will not be able to hear yourself think with the noisy tires.

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe – We got this for our son when he was a baby. They can use it before they are walking because it has a “floor”. When they are older, you pop the floor out and they maneuver it “Fred Flintstone style”.

Supermarket shopping cart – I have a cheap one that I got for $15 and both kids love it.

Fisher Price Go Baby Go Lion – Perfect for babies pushing up and just sitting up all the way up to those cruising.

Doll strollers, any and all!

TABLES & CHAIRS

Table and chair set – Where else are they going to host tea parties, pound out Play Doh and fill up coloring books? There are many options so it depends on how much you want to spend.

Pottery Barn My First Table and Chairs Set (wood)

Ikea Mammot Children’s Table and Chairs (plastic)

Floor Chair – The gold standard is the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair

Make your list and check it twice! We want to hear from you, Smarties, so share your ideas and and “must-haves” for the little ones aged 0-2. Be sure to tune in next week for: Smarty Gift Guide 2-4 years, Smarty Gift Guide 5-9 years and Smarty Gift Guide Tweens & Teens. Happy gifting!