1st Birthday Present
Other
So it's our sons first birthday soon! We aren't having a party for him, just a nice family meal out. I know he is only one so won't remember his birthday but I would like to get him a present. He already has loads of toys and I suspect friends and family will buy him presents too. What could I get him instead of a new toy?
Back in the day as a young adult until all the kids in the family were grown, I would buy things they could keep for posterity and remember me by. As you say small children get loads of toys so I wanted to be different.
I would buy them at birth, at 1 year old and every year if appropriate. Things like: The annual year book from the post office which contains all the issues of stamps of the year they were born, presented in book form with the stories behind the stamps. Or, all that year's mint coins presented in a folder, again from post office. Or, Corgi cars and models, with a display cabinet to make sure that was the intended use, cheaper ones can be played with!
I know you have a boy but for a girl I would probably get Disney ornaments like the ones they sell in jewellers, a different one each year to build a collection.
I remember having Peter rabbit and winnie the pooh ornaments when I was younger which were bought by grandparents, aunties etc. I like the idea of something we can add to each year. Will definitely look into the ornaments, brilliant suggestion.
MrsCraig I doubt the coins will go up in value much as the same coins will be in use, but the year book of stamps has risen dramatically since I gave to my granddaughter who is now 25. She was my first grandchild and when she was born I got a newspaper on the same day, a couple of magazines of the same week, the stamps and coins, some mementos from my navy days, a printed plate and stand from my wedding to her grandfather etc. I kept them all stashed away and gave her them all in a big box when she became 18. She loved going through them all.
Lynibis aww that's lovely. I know my mum is putting together a box for him for christmas and I've got his stuff from the hospital like his cot bed name tag, his splint, the hat and socks from the NICU, photos from the hospital nursery, all of the cards we got and I'm going to collect things from important dates as he gets older and make a memory box for him. My mum made one for me, which I have added to over the years. I think its nice to have those things to look back on. I'm saving up items of his clothes to make him a memory blanket. I've also saved the first cardigan his great granny knitted for him to go into his memory box so he will always have something from her, she absolutely dotes on him.
I am a sentimental person and love having things you can keep that mean something, hence why I don't just want to buy a toy.
Lynibis this is such an amazing idea, I'd love it if someone had given me something like this.
Thanks ClaireF1978. I would love to have something passed down from my grandparents, never knew any of them. I get a kick out of knowing my granddaughter can show her grandchildren something she has from their great, great grandma.
Get everyone who is important to you and him to write a postcard or letter for him to open on h I s 18th birthday. Put all of them in a special box with the days newspaper etc and just wait.... he will love it when he is old enough to appreciate it.
I would buy him (or make) something personal that will last forever, like this:
Over the years the details of the exact time of your birth and your weight at birth can disappear.
Do you know your own?
I've no idea what mine are. He has a teddy bear from his auntie that has his birth time, weight etc on it, otherwise that would be a brilliant present.
He absolutely loves his books! I've got a shelf in the living room just for his books! I know you can get some lovely personalised ones, I could maybe look into that. Didn't think about a book as he has so many.
KirstyWaddell its just so difficult! A friend suggested a photo shoot but they are so expensive!
KirstyWaddell I saw one that was £100 for half and hour. I've been looking out for deals but none near me.
My friend's little boy recently celebrated his 1st birthday, she didn't want anything big being his first but wanted to mark tje occasion. She got family, and a few friends and their children and we went to the soft play, and took a cake they really enjoyed it. Does he have any likes or interests?
The problem is that our family lives in northern ireland and the highlands so they don't live close by, so a big journey for them to make.
He loves his books and playing with his toys and is curious about everything. Soft play isn't allowed yet due to infection risk after his surgery.
I‘ve been getting keepsake boxes and albums, mainly as it’s something to look back on, and even something for the kid to look at when they grow up. It definitely feels like a waste to get toys as the collection always grows to the point you have to get rid of them to make space
I've been looking into keepsakes etc. My husband reminded me that his friend from work is a photographer so I'm hoping he might be willing to do a family photo shoot for us (if I can persuade my husband to get his photo taken) or just some nice ones of our son and will maybe be kind enough to do it for mates rates! Then it can be added to his memory box for when he is older.
Whatever gifts he is given I can guarantee that he’ll have endless hours of fun - playing with the boxes the gifts came in! Lol
I have no doubt of this! He loves a box and paper of any kind So I persuaded my husband to do the photoshoot! He asked what he could get it return, I said what did he want, he asked for another Jack Russell and I said yes. That told him how much I wanted them done, so he said yes. We aren't getting another dog, he just wanted to see how much I really wanted the photos done. And a friend suggested a memory blanket so getting one of those which he will be able to keep.
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