I seriously look forward to shopping for holiday gifts for our little one, and often find myself buying her toys that I myself loved as a child. Ever on the strict budget, I try to make sure we get her toys that will grow with her, and not the type that will offer her temporary gratification (plus, our apartment is small, so storage space is always an issue).

This will be my daughter Jo Jo’s third Christmas, and each year shopping for her gets more and more fun. For the past two years, she was somewhat out of the loop regarding presents. She didn’t know what she wanted, and my husband and I were somewhat reluctant to go all out for her since she didn’t really know what was going on. This year, shopping for her has been so much more fun because she is really loving toys and I have a really good idea of what she’s into.

If you have a little one to shop for this year and haven’t yet hit the stores, or if you just need some good ideas of gifts for different age groups, read on.

Ages 0+

My theory is that you really can’t go wrong with this Baby Whoozit by Manhattan Toy. We had two of them when Jo Jo was a baby, and she LOVED them. The Whoozit has been extremely popular over the past few years (pretty much since it was featured in an episode of Sex and the City), and what’s not to love? It is soft, colorful, funny looking and features a variety of textured appendages for a baby to play with. The nose also has a squeaky in it and lifts to reveal a mirror beneath it. Another great thing about this toy is that it has a velcro loop, making it possible to attach it to a crib rail, bouncy seat, stroller or baby carrier.

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Since leaving my 9-5 job two years ago in favor of taking care of my daughter, my offline shopping time has dwindled to almost nothing. When I was working out of the home, I would often take a lunchtime or after-work sojourn to wander local stores, collect my thoughts and search for the best birthday present, new kitchen gadget, or perfect pair of shoes to add to my wardrobe. Now I wear clogs and sneakers almost exclusively, mostly for practicality; my new job doesn’t require a fashionable wardrobe, and more importantly, shopping with a toddler in tow is not exactly relaxing retail therapy. On a recent shopping trip, I spent about 20 minutes in a Macy’s dressing room trying to coerce my daughter into trying on a holiday dress, only for the trip to end in tears (hers and mine!)

If she weren’t so darn cute, there’s no way that I would have put myself through that ordeal. Shopping for a baby/toddler can be so much fun if you don’t have to involve them in the process. First of all, clothing is so adorable in miniature sizes. Secondly, toys are cool. And thirdly, decorating for a baby or toddler is so much more fun than remodeling a bathroom (a project from which I am currently procrastinating by re-doing my daughter’s baby room with new funky toddler style).

I spend way more time looking at toys/clothes/accessories and kiddie decor than I’d like to admit—I think partially because I’m a little indecisive, but also because we’re on a one-income budget and I like to get the best bang for my buck. IKEA = definitely, Pottery Barn Kids = notsomuch unless I hit my lotto number. I look forward to joining the fray, sharing my finds, and hearing from you about your great finds too!