About Holiday Lists at The Grandma
Chronicles
There
are lots of holiday toy guides this time of year but mine is unique. This is a guide from a grandmother’s
perspective. It is my HONEST opinion -
no corporate PR.
I go to toys shows throughout the year and literally I see
thousands of toys. Usually I see them out of the box and I may see
demonstrations of how they work. The items on this list are the toys that I
think the kids will enjoy and you may not hear about them elsewhere. And… there
are some that you will enjoy playing with the grandkids. This is how items make it on my lists.
Most of these pictures were taken by me at toy shows -
not stock photos. They may be less than
perfect with other stuff in the background, but they show the real deal.
My first list is for infants and toddlers. Bonus – None
of the items on this list are budget busters!
Pillow Pets Paw Patrol Marshall
Sleeptime Lites by Nickelodeon
This
item can be enjoyed by a toddler and older children. It actually has three completely different
roles. During the day it is a soft plush
of every toddler’s favorite character – Paw Patrol’s Marshall. Undo the belt at night and it opens up to a
pillow. But best of all, once the
bedroom is darkened, turn on the light and the ceiling will fill with
stars. I have spent some very pleasant
quiet time with my grandson looking up at the stars on the ceiling then moving
the lite to shine on the nearby wall. He
will run to touch the stars on the wall.
Great for sleepy time bedtime stories and cuddling.
Little Blue Truck and Plush by Yottoy
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
The
Little Blue Truck is a favorite board book series that infants and toddlers
enjoy. There
are seasonal theme books in this series which I love and if you get the gift
set with the plush, your grandchild will enjoy cuddling with the plush with
multiple books.
The
Little Blue Truck Christmas book is a favorite book for my grandchildren and I
love reading it with them. The Little Blue Truck delivers Christmas trees to
his animal friends and at the end the lights on the tree light up. This is the type of book that becomes a
Christmas favorite to be read every year even after it seems the kids should
have grown out of it.
Mondoudou
Miss Happy Panda Doll by Corolle
Mondoudou Elf Happy Panda
Doesn’t
every grandmother want to give her granddaughter her first doll? Well this is the one you want give her. Corolle is a French company that makes high
quality, beautiful dolls and this one is perfect for a baby. Miss Happy Panda is only 9.5 inches tall and
a perfect size for a baby and toddler. She is made of ultra-soft fabric and her
pretty, realistic face is delicately scented with vanilla - a Corolle
signature. I gave one of these to my granddaughter when she was a baby and at
two years old it is still a favorite.
Another option is the Elf Happy Panda. The elf has a little bell inside which provides a soft jingle. You can't go wrong with any item in this collection. The Mondoudou collection is designed and sized for infants and toddlers. Everything in this collection is machine washable.
Welcome Little One - A Keepsake Baby
Book by National Geographic
This
is an excellent holiday gift for the expectant family or parents of newborns. The
pictures are exquisite. It is unlike the
bland baby keepsake books that are most common.
It is unique, modern....captivating as it features striking pictures of
baby animals throughout the book. See my
full review earlier this year here.
My Soft World – City by Edushape
These
soft foam wood-like blocks are excellent first blocks. Parents and educators give them rave reviews
and toddlers love to play with them. They are washable, durable and quiet. One of my favorite accolades is that they can
be thrown and not cause any damage. The
city set features, people, trees, cars, trucks and building pieces. These
blocks good for encouraging creativity and building fine motor skills.
Beatrix Potter Classic Plush Collection: Peter Rabbit, Flopsy Bunny, Benjamin Bunny and Jemima Puddle Duck by GUND
If your little ones enjoyed the new Peter Rabbit movie this year, or loves the Beatrix Potter books, this collection of 6.5 - 7.5 inch plush animals will provide lots of opportunity for imaginative play. The plush are small enough to be easily handled by toddlers. As always, they are a quality product if made by GUND.
Pull Along Duck by BRIO
This classic wood pull along toy is sure to be a favorite with toddlers. The head moves and the wings flap when you pull it along. BRIO is known for high quality products and this may be one saved and handed down for generations.
All
of these items are available on Amazon and can be ordered by clicking on the
icons below. Also look for them in your
local specialty toy and gift store.
