Please help! LO 6 months at Christmas and I'm bound to get asked by family what gifts to get him!

[cherrylola]

Just that really! We don't have much spare cash (does anyone!?) so wont be splashing out ourselves for bubs 1st Xmas (just a couple of special thing probably) so must be practical when we are asked by our family what they should get for our little boy. What was invaluable for you and your baby between 6 and 12 months old?
I'm thinking some kind of bumbo type seat and maybe a doorway bouncer thingy, but please tell me if they are a waste of time!
TIA

Tomy Eggs
Best.Toy. Ever!

If you want to be practical, I would say clothes, because then you know for sure they will get used, and also it's one of the easiest things for people to buy. If you already have a lot of clothes for 6 months then ask for 9 or 12 months. You'll go through a lot of clothes at that age because of weaning.

We had a doorway bouncer and DS absolutely hated it so wouldn't recommend that!

Or maybe music? I played music constantly for DS at that age.

Btw Christmas with a 6 month old is scrumptious, enjoy

Our ds3 will be 6 months and I'm going to say clothes I think as we have stacks if toys etc.

DPs parents bought DS who was 2 months at the time, a v tech push along walker. He didn't really use it till he was about 7 months old.
He's almost 2 and he still uses it.

www.amazon.co.uk/VTech-First-Steps-Baby-Walker/dp/B0002MG6ZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378907264&sr=8-1&keywords=vtech+walker

A jumperoo is a godsend, they are safe, they have toys to play with on it and the can bounce and exercise their legs. You can put it anywhere, garden, kitchen, living room. You will never spend a better £70 or so. Or get one off ebay, I bought mine for £40.

Also one of those rings to support baby sitting up is good, otherwise they fall over a lot and you pick up a lot.

Alternatively what about money towards swimming lessons?

I mean for people to give you vouchers towards these things btw, not suggesting your family are all minted!

No question ...a walker
and
the brilliant Vtech activity walker for walking (plus the activity unit is detachable, for floor play before they are up on their feet

Grandson has adored both, and they have had real longevity (for the age group)

Oh yes, actually we had the vtech walker -- DS didn't use the walker all that much but he played with the detachable unit until he was nearly 2.

Not a bumbo dd2 is nearly out of hers at 6 months so might not be worth it. Other things could be vouchers maybe mothercare or Clarks (or local shoe shop) for first shoes.

Maybe a highchair or booster seat for the table?

Lots of good ideas here already. Cheaper ideas stacking cups, soft bricks for stacking, teething rings, textured books like the 'That's not my...' series, bibs, clothing, vouchers for supermarket.

Suggest clothes, nice books or amazon vouchers to put towards a jumperoo or something.

My DS was 5 months last Christmas, we got him a Jumperoo second hand, he was in it every day and I sold it for the same amount I paid.
Also books, my sister got him the full Roald Dahl collection and I found a Dr Seuss collection he really likes.
My dad got him a toy box for his room and we also got a piece of artwork for his bedroom. Most of those things will be with him for years.
DS loved the door bouncer, if you get the chance to try one at a friends house you can work out if it would be worthwhile for your DS. I wouldn't buy a new bumbo, they are only useful for such a short period of time. They sell for around £10 second hand.

Or what about a highchair/money towards one, that what dad wanted to get DS but we had already bought one, so suggested the toy box instead.

Second a jumperoo, or the similar thing that we have - Learn and Groove activity station. Something like this keeps them safe in one place and entertained if you need to leave the room once they start crawling and getting into mischief! Perfect present from family as they're not cheap.

Oh yes a toy box. Both dd's will have had a toybox from sil for their first christmas', she got personalised ones so a bit nicer than just a toy box iygwim. Great present.

If you have room for it I second a Jumperoo. Got mine on gumtree for £40 and just sold it for the same amount. The vetech walker was also a good purchase, lots of use from that.

My DD2 will be 6 months exactly on Christmas Day... She's getting a jumperoo and a few Lamaze toys. Asking for swimming lessons or something is a good idea.

Tomy eggs. You need nothing else in my opinion.

What do the Tomy Egg lovers manage to do with them?
GS got some at Easter and they sit ignored totally.
Would love to know the trick for getting a LO engaged with them (please!), because they have been a waste of money here

Tomy eggs - first off they just bash them and the eggs make bouncy squeaky noises. Taking lids on and off. Throwing them around in general.

Eventually you can get into matching colours (faces to eggs), matching the shapes on the bottom when they go back into the egg box.

When DD was 4 she still enjoyed them and liked blowing through the holes in the bottom to make whistling noises.

They are a great toy to take out with you (when visiting for example) - LO's I've known get hours of fun from them!

Clothes that fit a 12 month+ old.

I was going to say a doorway bouncer - DS1 was about 6mo on his first Christmas, and he got one and loved it. Although maybe not if you go for a Jumperoo instead. Maybe one or two nice (melamine not china) crockery sets? You may not use them at the very beginning of weaning, but DS1 is now 3yo and still likes using his.