Sure, they'll end up playing with the wrapping paper and the boxes, but we still want to give babies something special for their first holiday. Here are some personalized shopping suggestions, with links, from Meredith Barnett of eBay. What are your best baby gift finds? Share in the comments.
By Meredith Barnett, Editorial Director, The Inside Source, eBay’s Online Trends Publication
As a new mom, I want to make my baby's first holiday a memorable one by giving him timeless yet useful presents he'll treasure forever—and even pass on to his own children someday. At The Inside Source, we love the idea of personalized gifts. Not only are they wonderful keepsakes, but they also prove that you put some thought into your shopping instead of just running over to the mall to grab the latest piece of plastic.
These personalized gifts aren’t as hard to find as you would think; lots of local shops do monogramming and it’s amazing what you can find online. A good online marketplace is likely to have cool, classics and vintage pieces at great prices. Sometimes you can even find items previously monogrammed with just the right initials for your baby – if you know where to look. Here are a few of my favorites. Santa, listen up!
Personalized Fleece Blankets
A cozy fleece blanket is durable (you can throw it in the wash) and warm, but still so pretty. My son has one and I love to take photos of him lying on top of it, right next to his name. But, I'd love to have another—especially this one with the cow jumping over the moon. It would look so nice layered over the stroller on cold days!
Baby Blankets from Admiral Road ($59 each)
Personalized Stools
I could use this bench now to reach the items stored high in my son's closet, but I can see him using it down the road to sit on, play with (it's a great way to learn about colors and letters) and even stand at the sink to brush his teeth! You can engrave the underside of the stool with a personal message or birth information.
Name Puzzle Stools from Damhorst Toys in Small ($53) Large ($69) and Specialty (approx. $100)
Classic Silver and Silver Plate
Classic silver keepsakes display beautifully, but you can use them, too. My son's silver rattle is his favorite toy—it's shiny and cool to the touch. While silver is always beautiful, you can find lots of options in silver plate. Try searching eBay for new or antique silver baby gifts. You can have them engraved, or you might even serendipitously come across the monogram you are looking for.
Silver and Silver Plate Baby Gifts from Michael C. Fina and eBay
Personalized Children's Books
My son can be the main character in his own story with these custom books. (All you have to do is provide your child's name.) This is a great way to get kids excited about reading right from the start, and the company offers options for holiday and any time of year.
Personalized Children's Books from I See Me ($29.95-$36.95 each)
Teddy Bears with Monogram Sweaters
These adorable bears are wearing a real monogram sweater that your child can wear, too! So cute! I love that sweater lives on even after the child has outgrown it.
Teddy Bears ($45) with Monogram Sweaters ($75) from the Monogram Shop
Monogram Duffel Bags
These bags come in unusual fabrications like denim and camouflage—cute for now, and stylish for later, too. They're perfect for carrying on a holiday trip, whether it's a weekend at Grandma's or a week long getaway.
Denim and Camouflage Duffel Bags from Purple Pumpkin Gifts ($15-$52)