There is nothing more fun than gifting children at Christmas. There is always a large number of fab gifts on offer and the process of finding the perfect one will always get you feeling nostalgic and Christmassy. It is also guaranteed to bring out your inner child! As the choice this year is pretty overwhelming, I've put together a few of the best presents I've found for girls and boys, that suit a wide range of ages.
My first gift suggestion is a beautiful selection of products that will go down very well with a little one's mum. It is pretty much anything from Little Wolves - a lovely baby brand that designs gorgeous baby accessories. The British brand prides itself on creating products that are practical, yet stylish; fabrics that are durable, yet soft; and prints that look good... even when your child is "having the mother of all meltdowns"! There are lots of products to choose from, including muslin clothes, bibs, changing backpacks, baby shoes, and baby blankets. The blankets (£27.99 little-wolves.co.uk) are my personal favourite. They are made using 100% bamboo viscose which makes them super soft and perfect for little ones to snuggle up in. They come in a variety of designs, including safari, space, stripes, rainbows, and dinosaurs, so there is something for everyone!
For the stylish infant in your life, you can't go wrong with a Baby Boosa bib from the brand's Signature Edits collection (£13.50 babyboosa.com). Signature Edits is inspired by fashion and features unique prints and textures. My personal favourite is Charcoal Leopard - it is perfect accessory for a cool little baby boy or girl. Baby Boosa bibs are made using food grade silicone and are all non-toxic BPA free and hypoallergenic. Products are also packaged in special re-usable storage bags to avoid single use plastic packaging. I find these re-usable storage bags come in really handy for storing everyday baby bits.
Looking for a gift that would benefit both baby and mum?! Then I recommend the Aveeno Mum & Baby Gift Set (£20 Boots). This three piece skincare set contains everything needed to nourish and hydrate both mum and baby’s delicate skin...
- Daily Care Baby Body Wash (300ml) - a gentle soap-free hair and body wash that leaves delicate skin feeling nourished and hair feeling soft, shiny, and easy to comb.
- Baby Daily Care Moisturising Body Lotion (150ml) - a hydrating formula that nourishes and protects baby’s delicate skin.
- Daily Care Moisturising Lotion (300ml) - a lightweight moisturising cream that caters specifically for dry and sensitive skin.
Oh, and it also comes with a cute teddy bear, so little ones are guaranteed to love it!
My next gift is a toy that has real longevity and likeability. It is the Fisher-Price Rollin’ Rovee - an activity toy-come-interactive-friend that keeps up with a baby's development. Yes, I'm talking about a toy that entertains an infant up until preschool age! It features four interactive play modes that are filled with music and fun activities to encourage little bodies to get moving. This baby BFF has a multi-coloured light-up face and soft arms that move. Rollin' Rovee can clap, play peek-a-boo, roll over for crawl and chase play, and even throw a ball! And, if that isn't enough, Rollin’ Rovee (£58.99 smythstoys.com) also teaches little ones about the alphabet, numbers, opposites, and much more.
For Ricky Zoom fans, I recommend Ricky Zoom Launch & Go. It is a launcher that rockets Ricky Zoom and his bike buddies into super speeds! You just prime the launcher by sliding the cradle back, resting the bike’s rear wheel between the ridges and starting your countdown! A press of the button is all it takes. Talk about kid-powered!! Each Launch & Go (£9.99 The Entertainer) features an exclusive Ricky Zoom character with mud-splattered details (there are three to collect). With their expertly designed tires, Ricky Zoom and his bike buddies have no problem standing steady when stopped, and their front wheels feature articulated movements that let them steer left and right where you point them. Fun guaranteed!
If the little one you're gifting gets more excited about Pixar Cars than Ricky Zoom, then check out Pixar Cars Colour Change Stunt & Splash Red (£35 Argos)! It is an oversized fire truck (the character goes by the name Red) that combines with Lightning McQueen to provide four ways to play. You can spray and dunk Lightning McQueen and have him do a number of cool stunts. For example, Lightning McQueen can zoom down Red's ladder, fly through a ring of fire, and land in a water tank (which will instantly change his colour, like magic!). Using flame targets and Red's water-filled hose, you can also practice putting out fires! Warm water changes Lightning McQueen's colours, while cold water gets the originals back.
Know any future space explorers? If so, I recommend gifting them the Brainstorm Astronaut Light (£9.99 amazon.co.uk). This light up astronaut is a cool bedroom accessory that can be hanged onto a wall or door or placed on a bedside table. It features a 30-minute auto shut-off which is the perfect amount of time for helping budding-astronauts get off to sleep whilst also preserving battery life. And when the light goes off, the astronaut glows in the dark!
For the mini art lover in your life (or the mum or dad that wants a cool nursery), you should look no further than inkanddrop.com. Ink & Drop is a small family-owned British brand that creates unique and trendy art prints that are surprisingly affordable. Ink & Drop's huge selection of poster prints means you will finds something to suit every tiny human's taste. There is everything from silly animal prints and space photography, to pop art and fun typography. There is also a selection of name prints that can be personalised! Prints start at £13 and are available from inkanddrop.com.
Now if you're looking for a fun and silly gift that'll keep little ones entertained for hours, you can't go wrong with the Graham & Green Flying Bee (£18.95 grahamandgreen.co.uk). This adorable insect uses induction technology to respond to the movement of your hand and magically fly up into the air. Although it's a gift aimed at little ones, the Flying Bee will entertain people of all ages... including you!
Next up is the Prezzybox Personalised Panda Backpack (£19.99 prezzybox.com). It is the perfect gift for toddlers and babies who are constantly on the move - whether to grandmas house, nursery, or the park! It has one large zip-up compartment, a front pocket, and padded straps and a padded back for comfort. The backpack is patterned with cute Panda faces and can be personalised with a name or word across the front!
For little book worms, I recommend Wreck This Picture Book by Keri Smith (£12.99 Waterstones). Keri Smith, the creator of the mega-bestselling Wreck This Journal, brings her imagination and inspiration to children with this picture book that explores the very active experience of reading. What makes this book special is that it changes every time it is read. According to Keri, we are all part of the books we read because it is our individual reactions, ideas, and emotions that make the book whole, and these things are changing all the time.
Wild Symphony (£12.99 Waterstones) is another amazing book to gift this year. It was plucked from the mind of none other than Dan Brown. Yes, The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown! Illustrated by Susan Batori, it is a mindful, humorous, and musical book that has its reader travel through the trees and across the seas with Maestro Mouse and his musical friends! Young readers will meet a big blue whale and speedy cheetahs, tiny beetles and graceful swans. Each has a special secret to share. Children and adults can enjoy this timeless picture book as a traditional read along, or can choose to listen to original musical compositions as they read using a free interactive smartphone app.