This November, we’ve seen some amazing holiday gift ideas here at Pregnancy & Baby. If you missed some of these best holiday gift picks, now is time to catch up…
Best holiday gifts for baby & family!
Cool book for new dads, mama bling, and baby bibs
One stop organic gift shopping for new mamas
Sibling ornaments
Diaper bag for dad
Best holiday toys:Â
Infantino toys
Clipo Table
Sock monkey in the box
Eco-friendly puzzlesWheels for your toddler
Stylish holiday baby clothing and baby accessories:Â
Baby angel sweater
Stylish, organic burp cloths
Wooden baby silverware
Later on this season we’ll have a much larger round-up with all my gift picks included.
We talk a lot here about fun things you can do with your baby. Fun and games are relaxing for both of you, educational for your baby, and help to round out your baby’s day.
Here are some of the best baby fun ideas we’ve looked at in the past…
Homemade and inexpensive baby fun:Â
The fun of in and out for babies
Homemade baby fun
6 ways to have fun with your baby
Improve your baby’s memory with a game
Five free and fun baby toys
Fun with toys:
Baby bowling fun
The best baby blocks ever
Baby & toddler water fun table
Special art fun:
Art activities for babies
Make your own baby foot print card
Awesome art product for wee ones
Now, get out there and have some fun today!
I LOVE the idea of giving a nice wooden spoon set to new parents or a new baby for the holidays. This is a unique and useful gift, and there’s no way this gift is being returned.
I found two very cute sets of wooden silverware at Tiny Birds Organics - Wood Baby Spoon and Fork Sets with stars and the fun Wood Baby Toast-Puzzle! Both sets made with baby safe wood (no splinters). They come unfinished, but you can choose to also purchase some safe beeswax polish if you want a glossy look.
Either set would make a beautiful and special gift!
Wooden baby silverware
+ Tiny Birds Organics
When it comes to choosing the right infant carrier, there’s a lot to consider. Do you go with a sling, a backpack carrier, a front carrier, or a combo sort of carrier? Here are some handy tips to help you pick the best baby carrier for you and for your baby.
- Safety first: No matter which infant carrier you choose, safety is the most important aspect. Your aunt may make a wonderful looking baby sling, but how safe is it? It’s best to purchase an infant carrier from a reputable seller that has the added security of a recall system and rigorous testing.
- Safety points to look at: You’ll need to make sure you get the right size carrier for your baby. Some carriers are not meant for infants who can’t hold their heads up yet, while others have weight limits. Read the fine print before you buy; nothing is worse than spending money on a baby product that you can’t use. Once you get your baby carrier, you’ll need to adjust the carrier to suit your baby. Most are not one-size-fits-all. Most have straps and positioning options that will not only need to be adjusted to fit your baby and you, but readjusted to fit your baby as he grows. Also, if you don’t want to readjust for both parents, you might want to consider purchasing two carriers - no two partners are the same size.
- Comfort: Is the sling comfortable and made with fabric that won’t irritate you or your baby’s delicate skin? It’s best to try out a carrier at the store before buying. For example, although I advocate slings, they’re not comfortable for me. I always liked front packs best. However, plenty of my mama friends loved their slings, while many dads I know opt for backpack carriers.
- Ease of use: Many parents love the comfort and convenience of a front pack baby carrier, but they can be difficult to learn how to put on. They’re also not as handy if you want to take a sleeping baby out - you can do it, there’s just a steep learning curve.
- Design: Lastly, there is a wide variety of carrier designs to choose from.. If you pick on that’s red or has a bold pattern, you better be darn sure that you won’t be sick of it in a few weeks. Another option is to customize a plain carrier. I had a plain old blue baby front pack, and I sewed cool patches on it. If you customize, make sure you don’t change any of the carrier’s safety features.
Carrier options:
One nice option is the Easy-on Infant Carrier. Not only is it comfy (there’s back support for you!), but it’s easy to take your baby in and out of this carrier. It has a nice basic design and it gets extra bonus points for the budget-friendly price. This carrier works great for newborns, as well as infants weighing up to 25 lbs.
  
Other infant carrier options:
Special thanks to Fisher Price for their contributions to this post.
