The Simple 4 Gift Method + Care's Gift Guide For 3 Budgets & 3 Ages - With Love Me Do Baby
The holidays can feel overwhelming, with the need to buy buy buy and spend spend spend. It can be hard to know where to start, and more importantly, where to stop! I like to use a simple method for gift giving with a goal of buying less, buying right, and giving thoughtfully. With just 4 simple categories (+1 extra our family added), you can check your kids off your list quickly, and on any budget!
The holidays can feel overwhelming, with the need to buy buy buy and spend spend spend. It can be hard to know where to start, and more importantly, where to stop! I like to use a simple method for gift giving with a goal of buying less, buying right, and giving thoughtfully. With just 4 simple categories (+1 extra our family added), you can check your kids off your list quickly, and on any budget!
To make gifting easy stick to the little rhyme: "Something You Want, Something You Need, Something To Wear, Something To Read.”
These 4 gifts are more than enough (plus one from the big guy in red). Our kids get lots of gifts from other relatives, and really don’t need much. Our family added a 5th gift “Something To Give” to ensure we’re each finding ways to support our community, and give back during the holiday season, and throughout the year. See below for some of my favourite charity’s to support.
I’ve partnered with Love Me Do Baby & Maternity, one of my favourite local shops, to bring you examples of how you can shop for 3 different age ranges, and 3 budgets using this simple method. Scroll down to check it out. Simply click the images to shop any of the products you love. You can always mix and match at the price points that works for you.
As a little something special, make sure you use code: WithCare online or in-store for 250 bonus Love Me Do Loyalty Points (points = future purchases!) when you spend $50 this holiday season.
Infant Gifting $50 Budget
Toddler Gifting $50 Budget
Little Kid Gifting $50 Budget
Infant Gifting $150 Budget
Toddler Gifting $150 Budget
Little Kid Gifting $150 Budget
Infant Gifting $250 Budget
Toddler Gifting $250 Budget
Little Kid Gifting $250 Budget
Something To Give - Any Budget!
If you’re looking for a local charity to support this holiday season check out 3 of my favourites that focus on helping vulnerable populations in our community.
I hope this simple 4 gift method helps you with your holiday gifting, no matter what your budget is! Please leave any questions or comments below, and make sure to check out my 7 Stocking Stuffer Essentials, my Guide To The Best Teacher’s Gifts Under $30, and my 6 Last Minute DIY Holiday Gifts for more ideas. Happy Holidays!
- Care
Holiday Gift Guide For Expectant & New Moms
Today I’m wrapping up my Holiday Gift Guide with a few gift ideas for Expectant and New Moms. In case you ladies need some ideas for yourself, or want to leave this post open on the desktop in the hopes your partner will see it Don’t forget that many local stores now offer registry services...
Today I’m wrapping up my Holiday Gift Guide with a few gift ideas for Expectant and New Moms. In case you ladies need some ideas for yourself, or want to leave this post open on the desktop in the hopes your partner will see it. Don’t forget that many local stores now offer registry services, so you can make a little wish list and let your partner or family choose what they would like to surprise you with.
There are so many great products and services available for moms, so I’m just sharing a few that I genuinely love and hope you will too.
Something You Want:
Relaxation! The aches, pains and stress associated with being pregnant and caring for a newborn can be intense, so a gift card for a wellness appointment (massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, physio), or a wellness class (eg. yoga, meditation) is a great gift for an expectant or new mom. A little time alone to allow your body to recover and recuperate will allow you to feel better and enable you to give more of yourself to your little one. West End Mamas in Bloor West offers a full line of treatment options, classes and workshops for pregnant & postpartum moms, plus they have childcare available for parents during their services (*limited hours please inquire) *Mention With Care for 20% off your 1st Wellness Service at West End Mamas.
For moms with an older baby, toddler or preschooler, a day trip to Ste. Anne’s Spa, or a more local option like The Old Mill or Body Blitz, is also a perfect gift.
Another great gift to help promote relaxation at home are therapeutic grade essential oils. I have fallen in love essential oils in the last few months and now use my oils almost daily to support our physical and mental health. Some of my favourites include: Lavender, an especially calming oil for those panicked feeling days; Peppermint, ideal for respiratory support for the whole family & Lemon, a great awakening oil. As I explore and try more oils I find so many great uses for them in our daily lives.
Something You Need:
Sleepbelt is one of those amazing products that you don’t realize you need until you try one. Then you’re hooked! This hands free skin-to-skin support system allows you and rest and recover during the 4th trimester when your newborn wants to be cuddled non-stop. This is one of my all time favourite presents for expectant and new parents. Best of all it was designed and created by a local Toronto Mom and is Canadian made. Purchase online at Sleepbelt and receive free shipping when you mention With Care.
Something To Wear:
If you’re pregnant or babywearing over the course of a Canadian winter a Bridge the Bump insert is a must have and a perfect holiday gift. Bridge the bump allows you to adapt your own coat to suit your growing pregnant belly or while babywearing. Check out my Bridge The Bump review from last winter. I can’t wait to use mine again this winter while pregnant with baby #3. Bridge the bump is available for purchase online, save 10% using code WITHCARE10
If you’re a nursing mom a fresh new nursing bra is a great item to put on your wish list. The newest addition to the Bravado family The Body Silk Yoga Bra is the perfect gift for any active mama. I tested mine out recently while doing yoga and absolutely love the cross back option for additional support. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez (more selection available in store) *Save 10% at Diaper-eez with Promo Code: Withcare
Something To Read:
I don’t know many new parents that have a ton of time to read, so a magazine on a topic of interest is a great gift that has a chance of actually being enjoyed. For the magazine lover a subscription to Texture by Next Issue is also a great way to access a huge selection of magazines online.
A spa menu is also great reading material in my opinion. *See “Something You Want” and check off 2 categories with 1 gift!
Something To Give:
Two charities near and dear to my heart that help improve the lives of mothers and families here locally and worldwide are The New Mom Project & The Mama Collective.(*Edited Dec 2017 to note that The Mama Collective is no longer running. Please feel free to donate to The New Mom Project)
The New Mom Project provides marginalized families with basic baby necessities to get them off to a great and loving start. They collect new and gently used items for infants 0-12 months old to provide to families in need around our city. Please check out The New Mom Project to Donate to their Sweet Dreams Campaign and stay tuned for our next donation drop off in January.
The Mama Collective aims to raise awareness about maternal health globally, advocate for expectant women worldwide & raise $10,000 to build a Gift of Hope Clinic with Plan Canada to serve women & families in Nigeria. Check out The Mama Collective to donate. *Edited Dec 2017 to note that The Mama Collective is no longer running. Please feel free to donate to The New Mom Project)
I hope you found some great ideas for yourself or the expectant or new mother in your life. Happy Holidays!
– Care
Holiday Gift Guide for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers
When the holiday sales start to roll out it can be tempting to buy everything you see, but do you really need it? We try very hard to remind our children how fortunate we are, and focus on keeping gift giving small and on things that we truly need.
When the holiday sales start to roll out it can be tempting to buy everything you see, but do you really need it? We try very hard to remind our children how fortunate we are, and focus on keeping gift giving small and on things that we truly need.
I love to make DIY gifts for the kids and our friends and family, but also always pick a few special gifts to buy for our little ones. We stick to the rule of “Something you Want, Something you Need, Something to Wear & Something to Read”. This year we added a new category “Something to Give”, and are making sure that we think of little ways we can help our community locally or globally every day.
Here are a few of my favourite gifts to give for little ones. Most items included are locally made or sourced from small local stores so that we can reduce our impact this holiday season, and support our local community. Hope you enjoy!
*Use Promo Code: Withcare for 10% off purchases at Diaper-eez this holiday season
Something You Want:
There are so many amazing toys available around the holidays, but I love to focus on buying presents that will be enjoyed over the winter months. A Sled is a perfect gift for kiddos of any age. Canadian Tire and many local hardware stores have excellent selections of beautiful Canadian made wooden sleds. From basic to fancy, single to triple occupancy, you can choose what’s right for your family and your budget.
Something You Need:
With our frigid Canadian winters kid’s need quality winter gear. Here are a few ideas for necessary items that can double as Christmas gifts.
My absolute favourite snow suit for little ones are the Mountain Equipment Co-op Toaster Suit. Toasty warm as the name implies, these snow suits are made to last through a few kids and never disappoint. Purchase online or locally at Mountain Equipment Co-op.
For keeping those little hands warm my new favourite is locally made Mimitens. These brilliant mitts have fabric that extends up your little ones forearm to keep them warm and more importantly to keep them ON! If you have a constant mitt taker offer, you know how frustrating it is. Invest in a pair of these and ditch the daily fight. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez.
A warm toque is always needed and my favourite this year is the Je T’aime toque by Whistle & Flute. Made on the West Coast these adorable hats are available locally from Amelie & Max and come in kid and adult sizes. Perfect for twinning! Purchase online from Amelie & Max and choose shipping or local Toronto pickup.
Something To Wear:
Little ones need warm feet whether they are lounging at home, out in the car, in the stroller or while babywearing. Padraig Cottage are by far my favourite Canadian made booties. They are soft, cozy, warm and don’t fall off like most other booties. Great for little ones of all ages and the perfect gift. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez.
Something To Read:
Books are one of my all time favourite things to give as gifts. Reading and interacting with babies from a young age has been shown to be very beneficial for brain development.
For little ones who love to put stuff in their mouths and tear at paper, board books are ideal. One of my absolute favourites is “On the Night You Were Born” by Nancy Tillman. An instant tear jerker for most parents.
As your kiddos get older and want longer stories I love anything and everything by the super talented Oliver Jeffers.
For this category also consider thinking outside of the box. Baby Sign Language Flash Cards and board games can be a great way to practice language development.
Something To Give:
If you haven’t heard of Cuddle + Kind yet, you need to check them out. These beautiful dolls are part of an incredible campaign to help decrease child hunger worldwide, as each doll purchased provides 10 meals to children in need. It’s too late to order them to arrive in time for this holiday season. Sorry! You’re probably wondering why I included them if their holiday orders were done a few months ago. The truth is I wanted to share them because I think they’re a great gift year round and knew I would have your attention. So get ordering for your 2016 birthday gift list!
Some other great ways to give back include purchasing a food hamper for a family in need in your community, supporting The Stop Community Food Centre which does amazing work in our city, and supporting local Syrian refugee aid groups like the Lakeshore Syrian Connection.
Hope you got some great ideas for your little ones and stay tuned for Part 2 of our Holiday Gift Guide tomorrow with great gift ideas for Expectant & New Moms!
Don’t forget to use Promo Code: Withcare for 10% off purchases at Diaper-eez this holiday season
- Care