Holiday Gift Guide 2020 - All about ROUTINES!
Let me start by saying that this holiday season looks different than any we’ve seen before, am I right? Instead of bombarding you with another gift guide full of toy ideas for your child (who needs an even more cluttered house when we’re spending so much time at home these days!), I wanted to gather some of my favorite items that help YOU, as a parent, focus on building more structured routines into your child’s day, especially during a global pandemic. As we all know, routines provide a sense of security, safety, and calm for your child, as well as make YOUR life easier as a parent because you don’t have to constantly think so much about what’s coming next.
The following lists some of my favorite products, items, and services to incorporate at home or when on-the-go to help build solid, age-appropriate routines into your child’s day.
(*Some of these links are my personal affiliate links, where I do earn a small commission from any purchase - thank you SO much in advance!)
For Routines at HOME
Let’s face it… we’re all going to be home more this winter than we’d like to be (thanks, COVID19). SO, let’s make the best of it! One of the best things you can do as a parent is continue to provide consistent structure and routines for your child at home - and it can be simpler than you think! Here are my top picks for helping you create that structure at home without having to reinvent the wheel.
Time Timer - If you’ve never heard of a visual timer, let me explain. Visual timers are tools that visually represent time - aka they help your child understand the passing of time! Time is a really hard concept for young children to understand, so pairing it with some sort of visual learning tool can really help. Time Timer makes the cutest products that SHOW your child the time passing by as the color on the clock disappears. I love using these timers when you want your child to complete an activity for a certain amount of time (sitting at the table for 5 minutes during lunch, for example) OR to count down to transition to a new activity (“5 more minutes until we leave the park!”). My favorite is the the Original 3” Timer because it’s small enough to move from room to room or throw in your purse. Or, check out their NEW Time Timer Wash - a hands-free visual timer that helps you wash your hands for the recommended amount of time… very COVID-friendly!
Simple Sand Timers - If you want to get super old-school, these basic sand timers are a great way to introduce the concept of a tangible timer without spending much at all. Use them to let your child know how much time is left until dinner is ready or when it’s time to transition to bath time. Let your child turn it over for an added bonus!
Hatch Rest Sound Machine and OK-To-Wake Light - If you’re looking for a great white noise machine and subtle night light for your baby, OR a way to keep your toddler in their crib/bed until a humane hour in the morning (no more 5AM wake-ups, please!), this is your best bet. I love that this is versatile and can be used from the newborn stage through the preschool years. I personally use the Hatch Rest as a sound machine with my 3-month old (always choose red light for middle of the night feeds or diaper changes - it’s the best color for our eyes/brain to keep us sleepy!), but if you have a toddler this is a great way to teach them the concept of time in the morning. You can control the light from the app and teach them that they stay in their bed until the light turns green, for instance. A win-win for any stage!
For Routines ON-THE-GO
Even though you may be limiting travels this year, there are still errands to do and places to be. These items are perfect to help you keep your routines consistent when you’re on-the-go.
Snooze Shade - We all know that babies and toddlers (and adults!) sleep better when it’s dark, and this is the best travel hack known to man to keep a consistently dark sleeping environment when staying overnight somewhere other than home. They make covers that fit over pack-n-plays, car seats, strollers, and more. I was 100% planning to use this when we had plans to travel for Thanksgiving, but unfortunately those were canceled. However, any time you’re out and about or sleeping over at someone else’s house, these will come in handy!
Poppy Potty - If you are in the midst of potty training, this is your savior! It’s a portable potty that you can easily store in your car for quick access to potty needs when you’re out and about. It’s SO hard to stay on track with potty training when you leave the house, even if it’s for a quick errand, and the Poppy Potty makes it so easy to keep your potty training habits consistent. It is also a nice option for kids who are scared or anxious to go in public places - with this, they don’t have to! If you don’t have an on-the-go option, I know it can be so tempting to put your child in a pull-up, which isn’t inherently bad, but it can limit potty progress. Definitely grab one of these if you’re in that potty training stage.
A to Z Adventure Mat - FINALLY, a travel play mat that is actually super portable! I don’t know about you, but whenever I spend time outside or at someone’s house who doesn’t have a baby, I’m constantly wishing I had a safe, fun place to put the baby down. Enter this play mat. It is packable, portable, and compact - and we all know when traveling with a baby these things are key. Perfect for getting in that tummy time and keeping baby safely entertained when on the go. Use code “RR15” for 15% off your first order!
Yoga Sleep Travel Sound Machine - Okay, back to the topic of sleep… particularly NAPS. This is my favorite sound machine to travel with because its light, small, and portable. I stick it in the carseat or stroller when we’re out and about during Jack’s nap times, and it definitely helps him stay asleep longer - especially because he’s so interested in looking around everywhere we go now! We also used it in the newborn stage when he would nap in the living room but we wanted to drown out some excess noise.
For Routine-Based SERVICES
Okay, trust me when I say that investing in professional support is 100% WORTH IT when it comes to your child. And no, it doesn’t make you a bad or incapable parent. Even though I am in the child development industry, I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING. I am not afraid to ask for help or advice when it comes to my child… in fact, I think it makes you a better parent when you do. Here are some of my favorite people that offer services to help you in various areas of child development - and yes, I have used some of these myself! These would be perfect to gift to a friend or family member with a baby or toddler, or gift to YOURSELF this holiday season. Nothing like some self-care, am I right?
Full Feedings Online Sleep Program - If I could shout this from the rooftops, I would. You guys, this is more than just sleep. The Full Feedings method is a gentle way to guide your baby or toddler into an age-appropriate daily routine which then promotes optimal and consistent nighttime sleep at every stage, and I can vouch that it WORKS. Ann offers a very affordable online program that comes with downloadable guides and unlimited email support (I am guilty of emailing her daily, whoops!) and she will help you HELP your baby to get better sleep. There is no crying or “training” involved, and her program just makes sense. Jack started sleeping through the night around 10 weeks… just saying!
Sleeper Teachers Sleep Teaching - If you’re looking for more individualized sleep support, Sleeper Teachers is your jam! Trust me when I say that Brittney and all of the sleeper teachers know. their. stuff. They offer various programs and customized support so you can pick which works best for you and your family. All I know is that I feel miserable and incapable of getting through my days when I am sleep-deprived, so gifting yourself the magic of sleep is probably one of the best choices you can make this holiday season.
My Potty Training Bootcamp Course - Shameless plug here :) If you or your friend are looking to potty train your child within the next few months, this online course teaches you exactly how to do it using a routines-based, developmentally-friendly potty training method.
For PLAY Routines
Printable Learn and Play Activities from Teach Talk Inspire - The cutest, downloadable monthly activities for your toddler, hands down. If you’re not an “activity mom” like me, Jayme from Teach Talk Inspire is the type of activity mom I wish I could be =) She is a former teacher sharing simple, fun, and developmentally-friendly activities that you can easily set up in your home. Her December Learn and Play activities for toddlers are the perfect affordable gift for yourself, a family member, or a friend this holiday season.
Love Every Play Kits - You guys know I am kind of obsessed with these play kits. They were developed by child development experts and are seriously the ONLY toys you will need for your child within the first year. I personally have the 0-12 week play kit and Jack is loving every single one of the items, particularly the high contrast cars and rattle. They offer subscription-based play kits delivered to your door for each monthly stage. None of the toys are flashy, loud, or bright, but rather actually look nice when they’re scattered across your living room floor. Truly a great investment for you or a loved one!
Hope this was helpful! Feel free to forward this list on to grandma or whoever else you want to buy you NECESSARY gifts this holiday season… cheers!