buying gifts for little ones

[Vanfurgstan]

hi everyone, i wanted to buy some gifts for my friends kids and wanted to get some ideas from here, as i dnt knw any little people.
the ages are a newborn girl, a 1 yr old girl and a 3 yr old girl.
also one for a 3 yr old boy
my budget is 30£ for each.
any ideas??
thanks

Lamaze toys are good for babies - we were given their firefly and octopus toys when my 8 month old DS was born, and he loves them. They're suitable for both boys and girls.

Love the Lamaze toys for a baby. My ds loved them.

One year old - anything fisher price is a good bet. Little people?

No idea about 3 yo girl

3yo boy - Cars? Tool bench? Garage? Big fire engine?

For the newborn, how about http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophie-Giraffe-Grande-21cm-Gift/dp/B001RIYLN6/ref=sr_1_2?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1335046976&sr=1-2 Sophie le Giraffe or a http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Curve-LC27024-Freddie-Firefly/dp/B000I2Q0F4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335047201&sr=8-1 Lamaze firefly? My dd loved both of those when she was little. Or something useful like clothes or toiletries? The Little Me range is nice.

For the 1 year old, how about some http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mega-Bloks-Building-Blocks-Bag/dp/B0002CYRHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335047486&sr=8-1 Mega Bloks or an http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomy-Aquadoodle-Classic-Drawing-Toy/dp/B001F7AF4I/ref=sr_1_3?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1335047821&sr=1-3 Aquadoodle? Both are popular with my dd now. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gallop-Scanimation-Picture-Book-Books/dp/0761147632/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335048165&sr=8-1 This book is also fabulous. Or maybe some musical instruments like http://www.amazon.co.uk/Halilit-Babys-Birthday-Musical-Instrument/dp/B000F8I5AO/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335048385&sr=8-2-spell these.

I don't have a 3 year old so my advice maybe less good. There are some great books around, maybe http://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Smartypants-Babette-Cole/dp/0140555269/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335048601&sr=1-1 this or http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Really-Want-Eat-Child/dp/0340970499/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335048693&sr=1-1 this? Or how about some playmobil like this?

Good luck!

Aargh, messed up my links! Hang on while I fix them.

For the newborn, how about Sophie le Giraffe or a Lamaze firefly? My dd loved both of those when she was little. Or something useful like clothes or toiletries? The Little Me range is nice.

For the 1 year old, how about some Mega Bloks or an Aquadoodle? Both are popular with my dd now. This book is also fabulous. Or maybe some musical instruments like these.

I don't have a 3 year old so my advice maybe less good. There are some great books around, maybe this or this? Or how about some playmobil like this?

Good luck!

Thanks a lot every1, I have checked the links attheendoftheday thanks for the effort.

They r awesome ideas

Sophie the giraffe is so sweet. My phone keeps posting my incomplete messages, sorry about that

My little pony, fancy dress (like Fairy dress with wand) or My Little Petshop stuff for the 3yo girl. (Shameless indulgence of stereotyping).

Something that would work for all of them except newborn (until later) is a Brio Trainset, are they in the same family? It's a good long term investment, doesn't have to be Brio, could be Tesco equivalents for instance. They will all enjoy it.

hi ragged, no not same family. the 3 yr olds are best friends and cousins though.
if its a good quality i dnt mind buying something a bit more expensive if its good quality as i am sure there will be younger siblings on the way so they can re use them

Is your budget £30 per DC? Is the newborn a first child or a younger sibling of the other DC? If a first born (and the budget is £30 per DC), how about some pretty melamine crockery for when she's being weaned? Emma Bridgwater does some nice stuff. Or a Noah's Ark is a nice toy - DD still loves lining up all of the animals & used to use it as a shapesorter.

For the 1yo girl, I'd suggest some Happyland or Fisher Price Little People stuff. You could get the doll's house or a farm in either range for £30.

My DD is less than 3yo so no suggestions for those.

I'd avoid particularly bulky presents unless you know the parents have plenty of storage space.

hi murtette, yes the new born is a first baby. i want to avoid bulky presents myself esp for the 3 yr olds, as they live in a different country and i need to post it to them. thanks for all the ideas as i really dnt have a clue about what would b useful for children. and yes the budget is 30 £ per child.

If they live overseas, you may be better off buying through Amazon and letting Amazon deliver, as the postage costs could be quite high.

I would 100% recommend ELC's Happyland things though. DS has loved them, and he still plays with them now and he's 4 and a bit. Mothercare is doing 50% off a lot of it and 20% off some of it too. That would be fantastic for the 1 year old. Or some megablocks. Or an aquadoodle. Or some 2 piece jogsaws (something to grow into over the next year).

For the 3 yo boy, I would recommend a Bosch toolbox, doctor's kit, very basic camera (not a digital one, just a play one), Fisher Price Imaginext range of toys (the helicopter and submarine are both really nice), torch, play shopping things like a till and baskets and play food and play money, anything at all dinosaur or train related, magnetic board with magnetic numbers and letters ...

For the newborn baby, I would recommend a whoozit spiral toy, or a highcahir toy (basically a toy which has suctions at the bottom so that it stays put on the highchair tray) a grobag/sleeping bag.

For toys, I don't think you can go far wrong if you buy from the Melissa & Doug range, as the quality is fantastic and they have some brilliant ideas.