To make homemade gifts for Christmas this year?

[elm26]

First Christmas with DD, we are also moving house in January and need to buy a bigger car.

We have told all of the adults in the family to not buy us anything, if they would like to buy something for our little one that would be really kind but also don't feel they have to, she'll be 7 months and won't understand it anyway! I've made it clear I don't want lots of toys etc she's too young and we just don't have the room for it right now.

I would like to gift something to our parents/DD's grandparents and aunts and uncles so I was thinking of doing homemade Christmas tree shaped shortbread in a nice tin for each couple plus something made by DD, have seen the little canvas's people do with their footprints being reindeer antlers then paint the face and I'll write "DD's first Christmas" on it or something similar to this? Is this really naff or would you appreciate these?

@bettynutkins.Without wanting to sound mean (and I really don’t want to sound mean), did they love them or do they feel they have to have them on the tree or you’d be offended/upset?
my friend got me a personalised something for Christmas once. I don’t like it. It’s not my taste or style but I put it up every year or she’d ask.
these things are ok for grandparents but no one else wants them.

I'd love homemade biscuits/jam/chutney! Far better than a scented bath set or book (no one knows my taste) or picture frame.
But agree with everyone above - something 'made' by your child or commemorates that child - no. Your parents might like a framed photo of them and the baby (or you, partner and baby) if they display pictures but to be honest if my sister gave my the kind of hand print type thing it would be a waste of her time and money.

This! My in law's and parents used to love getting personalised things.

Oh not for auntie and uncles. Just grandparents.

I think do the handprint/foot print thing as a card not a gift, then they can pop in a frame if they want to keep but there is no pressure to keep if they don't want to. I love handmade food gifts, chutneys, chilli sauce etc particularly.

Being honest, I hate cutesy child gifts. They’re not my children. We might be related, but that doesn’t mean I want to display their footprints etc in my home!

Homemade gifts are only good where the giver has an actual talent. Something edible made by someone I know well who I know can bake would be well-received.

If you don’t know how to knit or paint though, now is not the time to learn! Stick to the biscuits.

Just a cute photo of the baby, in a pretty card with a heartfelt greeting written by hand, and the date, would be plenty for me.

Instead of a canvas you could do a wood slice tree ornament with a print on like this

https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/1061885126/actual-babys-footprint-keepsake-engraved

A BiL makes gorgeous fudge, which I’d be happy to receive any time. A niece has made peppermint creams, also v nice.

The only homemade thing I’ve given was a tin of my very very cheesy cheese straws, but only because I knew the recipient really liked them, and they’d be opened/eaten up within a few days.

I once also made bottles of rum punch, with a ‘lethal’ warning label on the side!

I made hampers (well actually boxes) to go to each group of the family over covid which were well received. I put in homemade chutney/plum jam, Candied almonds, one shortbread chocolate sandwich thing (two biscuits with choc in the middle), hot chocolate truffles that could be melted into hot milk.

I made a small amount per person but lots of variety so everything will get eaten by someone and its exciting to open and see whats inside.

Food gifts that dont need to be eaten immediately - fine. Other food may go in the bin. Kids hand/footprints are only for very doting grandparents, not for all of them and definitely not other relatives unless they have shown they are mad about the baby by e.g. regular babysitting for nothing. A small picture of the baby is acceptable, I still have some pictures of relatives babies.

Thank you everyone for your opinions and ideas!

I'm going to make sloe gin, some flavoured vodka, some jam and some shortbread. I've ordered some little bottles and jam jars from Amazon and it'll give me something fun to do whilst baby sleeps! Going to just put some Christmas ribbon around them and hopefully everyone will enjoy.

Regarding present from DD, going to make homemade Christmas cards instead like a few suggestions here, then nobody feels they have to have them on display all year.

I think the Grand Parents will love the hand print gift from your DC. I've kept the ones my DGC did for me and I cherish them. Shortbread in a tin sounds lovely too.

This horrible MN lore that children are only of genuine interest to their parents is so untrue and nasty. I have cards of my nephews footprints that I loved receiving and have kept it for years. Ignore the miserable posts, OP. You know your family.

I would do the handprint as a Christmas card instead. That way, there is no expectation to keep or display it after Christmas.

I see you're organised @elm26 so just fyi, I've ordered from this shop previously, their items are so personal and very good quality too.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ByBeautifulgiftshop?section_id=38360075

Yes to the shortbread, huge no to the footprints. ( And that's as a grandparent). It'd be straight in the bin.

The short bread is a lovely idea. I think foot or hand prints for grand parents is ok but no one else would probably appreciate it much. My parents and in-laws love our kids to pieces and would treasure a bunch of fallen out hair as a gift if it came from their precious grand kids but I do think they would appreciate more something slightly more tangible like a photo of their grand child. For aunts and uncles I wouldn't do anything from the baby. When she's older she can make stuff for them and they will probably like that but I can't imagine me or my siblings appreciating prints much or even any other token sentimental gift on behalf of the baby

The hand prints on xmas card is a great idea as they obviously dont have to keep them, however I have certain xmas cards that I keep in with the decorations and they come out every year. Thats a really nice reminder of times gone by. (Particularly kids as they grow!!)

I think your ideas are lovely and, as a proud Nana, would love the hand and foot print gift too.

This seems quite upsetting to me, I can't imagine any of my family putting anything to do with DD in the bin let alone her grandparents, she only has to giggle at them and they get all teary. Each to their own though!

You're in AIBU, OP. Plenty of posters come here to be undermining and upsetting. Posting in Christmas might be a happier experience.

Footprint Christmas cards are a lovely idea: easy to store, no pressure to have on display if people are short on space / precious about decor etc. I still have lots that friends and relations have sent over the years and I'm not even a doting grandparent!
Love the edible ideas too. One further suggestions: we got given a big jar of tiny round cheese nibbles one year, which were great with drinks. Might be an idea, instead of / as well as sweet things?

I think things like hand and foot prints depend on grandparents' preferences but also on how many grandchildren they have. Between them, my father and stepmother had 20 grandchildren and his wife had 7. They loved having photos of their grandchildren on display but tended to replace them as new ones arrived.

Personally I like homemade food gifts. I have made people lemon curd and/or mint jelly in recent Christmases because they are so much better than the bought versions.

Honestly we get sent home so much homemade crap from nursery - you can’t keep it all! My mother hates tat with a passion, but she absolutely adores her grandchild. Always cries with joy at some point, and the tears of sadness when we leave. Keeping material homemade stuff has no bearing on love!