Children's Gift Ideas: Babies, Toddlers, and Beyond

No sight inspires more "oohs", "aahs" and similar expressions of adoration than a new baby. First time mothers may be surprised by the number of baby gifts they receive while pregnant and even after baby arrives. It is not uncommon for even strangers to bestow baby gifts upon an expectant mother.
The shower of baby gifts often doesn't end after baby is born. Traditionally, until junior is able to fend for himself, you may find yourself swamped with an incredible selection of baby gifts that serve to entertain, pamper and humor your little ones.
At some point you'll find yourself on the buying end of the totem poll. When your time comes to shower a new mom or family with baby gifts, keep in mind that not all gifts are created equally. Baby gifts can be broken down into several categories, including those for infants, toddlers and beyond.
There are several well intentioned items that end up in a corner or drawer never to be looked at again when received. To make the most of your best intention, keep in mind that infants seldom need elaborate toys and educational accessories to crowd their nursery. Some well appreciated and useful gifts for infants include the following:
Diapers - lots and lots of diapers. The typical infant goes through 5-8 diapers per day that translates into as many as 56 diapers a week or more than 200 per month. Baby may not express their enthusiasm at the offering, but a parent certainly will
Diaper service - this is a wonderful and thoughtful gift for someone considering using cloth instead of disposable diapers.
Wipes
Diaper Disposal System
Onesies of varying sizes and colors
Baby Bath Items
Socks to keep an infant's feet warm
Caps
Teething rings
Hampers
Crib sheets, Changing Table Sheets
Burp Cloths
Sleepers
Baby Bouncer Chair
Playpens
Crib Mobiles
Coming into the Toddler stage of course, everything changes! Here is where the gifts start becoming fun. Toddlers may make much better use of educational toys than infants. Among the offerings certain to be appreciated in this category include the following:
More teething toys
Anything colorful
Balls
Books
Baby Einstein or Disney Videos
Junior Bikes
Stuffed Animals
Musical Toys
Building Blocks
Toy Cars or other Vehicles
Discovery Centers
Once a toddler moves into an older stage, be sure to consult with parents regarding gifts. Find out what types of hobbies their child or children are into. In some instances some of the gifts that apply for toddlers apply to older children as well. These include bicycles, books, and animals (stuffed or otherwise).
Many well intentioned friends consider buying an older child a pet as a gift. Many well meaning parents do the same for their children, thinking having an animal will help teach responsibility. Keep in mind though that young children are still barely grasping how to take care of themselves, and while having a pet can be entertaining and enlightening, a majority of the care giving will likely still rest on the shoulders of the parents instead of the child.