Baby's first Christmas: 10 ideas to reduce toys under the tree
A baby's first Christmas is a magical event for family and loved ones. However, baby does not need to receive a toy store at the foot of the tree to be happy! Watch out for grandparents and Tata Gagas, we see you coming with your “two little toys” that take the place of a semi-trailer... So what can you do to guide your loved ones and ensure that your baby does not drown in gifts. Charlie has put his greatest experts on the job and answers you!
Here are our 10 rules for limiting the number of gift packages under the tree:
1. Prepare: make a Christmas list
Rule number 1: guide your loved ones when choosing gifts for babies. Make a list for Santa Claus to share with your loved ones. You will avoid gifts that are useless or not to your liking.
2. Sort before receiving
Before welcoming Christmas novelties, do a big sorting in your child's room. Bye bye old toys, not adapted to his age, those that he does not like or that bring you zero joy.
3. Set up rules: 1 gift per person
Restrict your loved ones if you want to. Yes, it's hard! Mamie Jacqueline is going to have a hard time containing herself, but that's the way it is. No more than one gift per person...
4. Contribute: the collective gift
The principle? Fewer gifts, but better! If a big gift is on your list, then invite your loved ones to create a fundraiser or participate in order to offer the piece of your dreams (like this LEVO deckchair by Charlie Crane that has been eyeing you since the beginning of your pregnancy!)
5. Take advantage of his young age
Keep in mind that babies under one year old don't understand the concept of Christmas and how to open gifts. Moreover, he is not old enough to make his own list to Santa Claus with his thousand and one toys... You still have a few years before the mountain of toys to unpack.
6. Recycle: long live the second hand
You don't have to give something new to make your baby happy. Opt for second-hand sites, toys in very good condition from a cousin... Recycle, it's good for you and the planet!
7. The rule of 4 gifts
This rule would come to us from Great Britain. Once upon a time, exhausted parents (we invented this part, but it's entirely possible!) who decided to follow 4 unique rules to choose what gift to give to their toddlers:
- A present requested by the child
- A present that the child needs
- A book
- A piece of clothing
At Charlie Crane, we would be in favor of replacing clothing with the idea below...
8. Intangible gifts
Trade the object for a moment to spend together! A voucher for a babysitting session offered by your loved ones, a moment in a pushchair, an amusement park, a massage workshop, parent-baby yoga workshop, creative workshop or even a show, a magazine subscription, a voucher for your favorite story factory... In short, it is possible to find ideas for intangible gifts to give, even for toddlers.
9. Group: a gift for the family
A bit in the same vein as the contributory gift, this time, it's a global gift that we give to the family. Think big and beautiful, like our KIMI baby bed, of course!
10. Rules for young children
Is Junior old enough to do the list himself? Whether he believes in Santa Claus or not, teach him early to limit his desires. Basically, decide on the maximum number of gifts on her wish list. Also perfect for preparing for possible disappointments and frustrations when the toy of your dreams is not under the tree...
One last tip for the road to Christmas: a baby does not yet feel the material need. He needs laughter and love! Consider filming and taking lots of photos of this magical moment to show him when he's older. And here's a new gift idea for next year (long live photo albums). But above all, remember to take advantage of this moment.
Happy Christmas preparations to all,
The Charlie Crane Team
You might also like:
- Christmas stories and legends
- Christmas list for young parents
- MILO 1, 2, 3... toys
