Gifts for Baby Brother?

My daughter was 8 months old for her first Christmas (my son was 3 at the time). We wrapped up clothes that she hadn't worn yet, diapers, wipes, snacks, and a few little toys. It was important to me that she was part of the tradition. Kids don't know the monetary value of gifts, so it won't matter what you wrap :)

So, give him a box. I know a kid whose favorite present one year was from his grandmother: she had gotten a new washing machine earlier in the year, and she gave him the box - put duct tape on the corners, cut a window in one side, and then painted the whole thing. It was his favorite toy, and because of the re-inforced corners, lasted a good 8 months.

My own daughter got a package of wooden spoons in her stocking once (3 for $1!). She could not only bang on things with them, but they went into her play food/kitchen box.

We have also raided the kids' existing snack stock and used that to fill stockings. Little lunchbox-type packages of goldfish crackers or small packages of gummies, and we let them eat the stuff right there under the tree.

As for toys, we have a policy of starting out with small, expandable play sets. Then, for subsequent Christmasses and birthdays, we go for expansions of what we've already got. For instance, the train set is for everyone to play with, so baby (she's 2 now), got her own engine and a little bit of expansion track, instead of a whole new starter set. We have a big blocks box, so baby got an expansion box. We have 2 Mr. Potato Head bodies, so the kids might get an accessory set. We don't need anymore "starter" sets, but we don't have any problem with embellishing the toys we already have.

You could buy him a few boy things. If he has his sisters toys, he would probably love some new balls and soft plastic cars and trucks. I didn't buy much for the little ones other than things they needed anyway. New pjs, new shoes, maybe a new kid cd. I dont think big sister will take her eyes off her own stuff long enough to realize baby brother didn't get a new bike.

We are in the same boat. I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. I just wrapped up some new socks and jammies. He sure doesn't need anything but we have to have something for him!

I totally agree with the others....keep it simple and use what you have...or plan to buy for him anyway.

Stocking stuffers: snacks, puffs (if he still eats them), special baggy of Cheerios, butt paste (if you need a new one soon).

Gifts: Pull a toy or two that has been forgotten about, new socks, an outfit or two she hasn't seen...even if it is a for a size he doesn't wear.

We have the same issue here. 4 year old and 19 month old, both girls. What I have learned though is that older sister has a bunch of Barbies or Little Ponies (mostly generic brands), we need to get little sister one or two, too. If anything, so that older sister realizes that they all don't belong to HER.

We also just cleaned out all the baby toys to donate. She understands (with lots of questions) that we use our toys and pass them along to others when we're done with them.

Little ones have no concept of the value of things - as Becky said. I agree that while they're little why bother buying them stuff for Christmas they really don't know what's going on. If you buy some inexpensive board books, or pull out some of the baby toys from your older child that had been stored you can wrap those. Of course, clothing, socks, anything that you need to get the little one. We got my 1 yr old son a dust-buster one year becuase he loved to use his grandma's and we needed a new one!!! He was thrilled with it and his older sister thought it was really cool too. you can buy inflatble beach ball type stuff that looks inpressive and will be fun for your older child to help unwrap.

Have fun - before you know it they're teens wanting computers for Christmas!

If he enjoys boxes, pots and pans, etc, you could always take a couple things he already has to wrap and put under the tree. He won't know the difference, and if you get big sister to help, she probably won't care that it's not new :)

How about a nice box (like mini hat box with lift-off lid) filled with pretty leaves big sis hunts for. An alternative to real leaves would be silk ones or just a half dozen small items with different textures/shapes/colors. She can even pick out a nice wired ribbon to tie it up with. It is important for her to give him a gift and one that is affordable but thoughtful. Baby brother could "help" pick out a board book for a gift to her and when she opens it tell her he'd love to have her "read" it to him (make sure it's a book with either all pictures or few enough words for her to memorize and re-tell).