Today Wishpot Mom Expert Dana of Babyluxe Daily and The Winning Pitch looks back at the Top Gift Items for 2008.
As 2008 comes to an end; I wanted to share my top favorite items I’ve purchased, reviewed, or received as gifts this year! These products all come from fabulous companies and owners so I’m sure they will be just as great in 2009, if not better!
Baby shower or hospital visit gifts:
The Baby Bunch was a new find for me this year; what an awesome concept! Flower bouquets made of infant clothing, beautiful yet practical, perfect for any new mommy!
BabyTime Bags is another recent find for me and I am in love with them! What could be better for a gift: a gorgeous carryall bag {to be used as a diaper bag of course} packed full with everything mommy will need at the hospital; this creative product will be a must have on every expectant mom’s wish list next year!
Stroller:
My all time favorite stroller for 2008 is the EasyWalker Sky Duo! I needed a double this year and the side by side Sky Duo did it for me! Lightweight, versatile, easy to use, maneuver, and comfortable for the kiddos; oh, and comes in bright, stylish colors…I’m predicting this will be my favorite for years to come!
Diaper Bag:
Zosephine has 4 of the best looking diaper bags I have ever seen. They do NOT look like regular old diaper bags and I think that’s what I like the most about them, yet they have all the features you need in a bag, whether it’s used as a carry all or a diaper bag. Mine goes with me everyday and I receive more complaints on my bag than anything else I own!
Baby Clothing:
Being in this business, you have to be a sucker for unique things. Potato Playground has that unique clothing line making it a perfect stop for a special one-of-a-kind gift for the new baby. Potato stamped clothing; every potato is different so every stamp, every piece of clothing is unique. Clever! I love it!
Parenting Book:
If you are an expectant parent or need a gift that will make the new mommy and daddy laugh til they pee, check out The Parent Trip by Jenna McCarthy! It’s honestly funny; guiding you into parenthood with humor, honesty, some clever little tips, did I say humor; who doesn’t need a laugh when you are so uncomfortable at 9 months+ pregnant?!
Baby Carrier:
At almost 7 months old, Aidan is still being worn in our Belle Baby Carrier. And he’s a chunkier little monkey yet mommy doesn’t have any back pain! I love how simple this carrier is to use, and it’s easily folded up and thrown in the diaper bag. With so many baby wearing contraptions out there, it’s nice to find one you love and stick with it!
Happy Shopping in 2009! I can not wait to see what great finds there will be next year!
Today’s guest post is brought to you by Kim at Olive Kids.
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Olive Kids was created by a mom and dad that believe kids bedding, room décor and personalized gifts should spark imagination in kids, while being affordable for parents.
We are going showcase some of Olive Kids colorful, fun kids personalized gifts to help you find the right gift for the special kids on your list!
Canvas Art – the perfect way to add a personalized touch to a kids bedroom or playroom.
I am going to buy the pirates and mermaid canvas art for our friends who share their summer home with us each year. They have a girl’s room and a boy’s room for all their kids and visiting kids to sleep in! I know the kids will love it and so will the parents!
Olive Kids canvas art are masterpieces, each canvas reproduction is a true work of art, personalized just for your kid.
The Canvas wall art is custom made, measure 18″ x 24″. They come ready to hang. No framing necessary!
Canvas Growth Chart – a great decoration for your kid’s room and it becomes a keepsake for you.
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still have both of my son’s growth charts in the attic; one of them has been around for 28 years. When my son who is 13 years younger than his older brother was going through growth spurts I would take out his brother’s chart and see how they compared to each other. Now that my oldest son is having a baby, I’ll be able to buy her an Olive Kids Canvas Growth Chart and see how she compares to her daddy.
Each Canvas Growth Chart is 12″ x 43″ and can measure up to five feet, the are printed on high-quality canvas in vibrant, saturated colors and comes with a coordinating grosgrain ribbon, tacks, and simple instructions for hanging.
Soft and Cuddly Personalize Floor Pillows the best-personalized gift you can give a child for under $50!
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live Kids Personalized Floor Pillows have become a huge success with kids and their parents! You may have seen them on Jon & Kate plus 8; we know our customer’s have! I have given them to all my nieces, nephews and friends kids, every time they see me they tell me how much they love their Olive Kids floor Pillow, the adults tell me how glad they are that they can throw the outer shell in the wash!
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ersonalized Framed Art with over 25 designs to choice from Olive Kids has one for each child on your list!
What I love is you get to pick the design, then the color of the wood frame, add that special child’s name and you have a wonderful gift.
Your kids will love seeing their names on their very own-framed art print made just for them. My two favorites are Out of This World and Tea Party but like I said we have lots to choice from so start shopping!
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ersonalized Clocks it’s silent so there is no sound to keep them awake!
Have you been looking for just the right clock for your kids bedroom or playroom, well look no further! Olive kid has one that is just right for their room! I even had one made for over my desk it’s makes looking at what time it is a lot more fun!
It’s on sale till December 31st
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ersonalized Placemats, Bookmarks and Nametags
This is a great combined gift for just over $25!
Separately the bookmarks & nametags make perfect stocking stuffer and the personalized placemats will make every kid on your list smile and you’ll smile too because they are all priced under $10. I know the kids in my life love them!
With so many personalized gifts that Olive Kids can make just for you; how will you decide? I know just get one of each or you can add Olive Kids products to your wishpot list and everyone will know exactly what your kids want from Olive Kids (or maybe what you want them to have).
Happy Shopping! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to one and all!
Mom Expert Andrea Diuguid is a SAHM, web designer, crafter, preschool teacher and casual photographer. She features her work on her blog Take It Smiling and contributes to www.picturemycamera.com.
I have three children. My eldest is a 7 year old boy, my middle a 4 ½ year old girl and my youngest child, a boy, is 13 months old. Of course, three children means we have three times the norm of many, many things: food, laundry, doctor’s visits, TOYS.
So, as we approached my youngest child’s first birthday, I thought long and hard about what to give him. Friends asked, “What does he need? What doesn’t he have?” Do you know I couldn’t answer? Sure, our doctor kit is now approximately five years old and missing a few pieces, but do we NEED a new one? No. Sure, my son already enjoys pushing around cars and trucks but since he’s got so many left from my eldest, does he NEED new ones? No. How about clothes? Nope, have them left over from my eldest as well as many friends. Hmmm…
Then, it hit me. Can you ever have too many books? No way. I don’t know about you, but I read 2 – 3 books per night, per child so that’s a lot of reading. Translation: that’s a lot of repetition. We’ve been reading the same bookcase-worth of books for SEVEN years now. Ouch. (It actually is painful sometimes.) With this is mind, I decided to have a book-themed party where everyone could give the birthday boy a copy of their favorite book. This worked beautifully for our guest list as the vast majority of kids invited were the friends of my other two. They’d been read to all their lives so I figured they had to have favorites. I was so right and, as I gazed at the very manageable stack of new books after the party, I was at peace. Gone was the usual post-party angst regarding where we’d put all the new STUFF. Where would all those tiny pieces go so they didn’t get lost? How long would it take my fingers to heal after untwisting all those wires to free all this STUFF? Instead, it was “Ahhhhh. Look at that lovely pile of books for us to read.”
But I’m not the only one with a lack-luster library. Why not consider rejuvenating your friends’ libraries this year too? They will thank you for not giving their child another THING to collect dust once the thrill wears off (ever notice how the thrill doesn’t wear off of books for kids?). To get you started, here are my absolute favorites, appropriate for children birth through third grade (at least):
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n The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
This gorgeous tale describes the wondrous happenings across the planet as your child was born. I’ve made sure each of my children have their own copy so that they will always know how very connected they are to our environment as well as joyful we were upon their arrival.
I Hate Everyone by Mij Kelly
Selfish Queen Bee learns to be polite in this clever story. The typography lends to the excitement; as the Queen yells louder, so do the words on the page. The richly colored images are sure to entrance your child as they learn that being nice is the best way to be.
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he Napping House by Audrey Wood
Can you spot the little flea in each picture? Did you notice each animal moves just a bit on each page? Your child will enjoy predicting what’s next by looking at the pictures in this fun book. The day may start sleepy but it sure ends up bright!
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ear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson
If you’ve never read any of the Bear books, you are in for a treat! In this episode, beautifully illustrated rhythmic poetry tells of Bear’s friends caring for him when he is sick. Each animal does something special for Bear and, in the end, Bear cares for them when they become sick. It’s a sweet tale of friends caring for one another.
Also look for Bear Wants More (featuring American Sign Language for “more,” Bear Snores On, Bear’s New Friend and Bear Stay’s Up (a Christmas story) and Bear Feels Scared.
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ow Do I Love You? By P.K. Hallinan
This fun rhyme describes all the lovable things about your child (“I love it when you’re happy and I’m sorry when you’re sad. And even though it may not show, I love you when you’re bad.”). It’s a wonderful way to reaffirm a parent’s love for their child, no matter what their behavior. The drawings are vividly colored and lots of fun!
This author/illustrator has an entire series of love-affirming books worth checking out.
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y Very Own Name
Animals gather round as a new baby joins the wood. To decide the baby’s name, each animal offers a letter. “D” might come from a donkey or a deer, for example. Based on the information you provide upon ordering, the animals spell out your special child’s name. The birthdate of this woodland baby matches that of your child as well. I’ve purchased this book for all of my children. When they were younger, they loved hearing their names as part of the story. As they grew, they began identifying the letters presented my each animal. The illustrations are gorgeous as well.
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ittle Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry & the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood
This quick board book is such fun to read. Your child will love how they, as the reader, speak directly to the mouse about his juicy, red, ripe strawberry and the very big hungry bear who loves to eat them!
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o Track a Yak! By Tony Johnston
Go on a silly journey to save the little baby who won’t eat. Thanks to outstanding typography, you’ll find yourself in character as a dim-witted dad and cranky witch. My children have enjoyed the story on many levels over the years; different parts make them laugh as they get older.
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ixteen Cows by Lisa Wheeler
Join Cowboy Gene and Cowgirl Sue as they each call their eight cows in for the night. But, when a storm blows down the fence, the herds mix and mayhem ensues. Through witty rhymes, we find Cowboy Gene and Cowgirl Sue in love and the herd size doubled!
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he Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
Do you deal with any picky eaters? Can you image SEVEN of them? This rhyming tale will entertain you and your picky eater as you watch one mother become exhausted by her seven silly eaters… and then watch their favorite foods magically combine to make one delicious birthday cake for Mom!
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ld Turtle by Douglas Wood
This fable describes how all things are connected here on Planet Earth. Beautiful watercolors vividly depict the land and creatures of our world. This is a MUST read for children to help them understand the importance of preserving Earth’s ecology.
For even more book ideas, check out my list “Children’s Books – MUST HAVES” on Wishpot.com.
Andrea Diuguid is a SAHM, web designer, crafter, preschool teacher and casual photographer. She features her work on her blog Take It Smiling and contributes to www.picturemycamera.com.
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