Budget Baby Gifts

When it comes time to complete your holiday shopping, the smallest recipients on your gift list are often the most fun to buy for. Shopping for a child allows us to relive the wonder and joy of our own youth, and it's easy to get carried away. In times of economic recession, our wallets may not be able to keep pace with our shopping impulses; this doesn't mean, however, that we can't still have fun picking out things that will entertain and delight the babies on our list. Here, you'll find several ideas for thoughtful and appreciated gifts for under $25.

Get Creative
Your gift budget will stretch a lot further if you'd got a little creative energy and some time to work on a personalized gift for your favorite tot. You'll also get the bonus of knowing that they won't be receiving three of the same thing from other people who shopped at the same store! With just a little thought, a handmade gift can be one that is remembered years later. For instance, find out the theme of the child's nursery and make letter wall hangings to spell out their name. The letter hangings pictured in this article, for example, cost me less than $20 to make. Another way to personalize your gift is to design a few unique onesies. Buy a pack of plain white onesies and your choice of iron-on transfers, ribbon, fabric paint, or other embellishments, and go to town making garments which reflect the personalities of the family or perhaps make reference to their favorite hobbies. The parents will enjoy dressing their child in something unique and meaningful, and the baby will get a kick out of looking at pictures of their unique outfit years down the road.

Be Practical
Let's be honest: your beloved 3 month old nephew is not going to know or care what you bought him for his first Christmas. When you're shopping for a very young baby, the gift is as much for the parents as it is for the child. If your budget is tight, why not buy something that you know the new parents need? A package of diapers, a can of formula, or a big bag of wipes all come in at under $25, and you needn't worry that they've already got too much of any of these items! This type of gift may seem 'boring,' but you can be sure that it will be appreciated (I say this with authority as a new mom who hopes her daughter receives lots of 'practical' gifts this Christmas!).

"Splurge" on a small extravagance
Even if you've only got a little to spend, you can still afford a little luxury. Make the most of your budget by choosing something small but luxe that the cash-strapped new parents might not be able to justify buying with their own money. For example, $25 will buy you a set of ridiculously cute designer baby socks, or a one-of-a-kind designer onesie. With all the expenses that come with a new baby, most parents can't afford to splash out $25 on a single item of clothing, but they will enjoy parading their child around in it if you do the buying for them!

Focus on Education
During the first year of life, a child's brain grows and develops at an incredible rate. There are many products on the market for under $25 that are designed to facilitate learning and development, and these make great (and responsible!) gifts. Baby Einstein DVDs generally run around $15, and these use color, pictures, sounds, and puppets to teach a variety of words and concepts to young children. Very young babies will benefit from toys which have high contrast patterns and different textures to explore.

Build Their Library
A baby is never too young to be read to, but many young parents don't think to start buying books for their child until they get closer to the age where they are speaking. For $25 or less, you can buy several children's books to begin or add to the child's library. Choose classics that you remember fondly from your own childhood; or enjoy exploring the colorful new books that have come out for children since then. A book doesn't need to have lots of words or a complicated story line to entertain a baby: chubby, laminated books with bright colors and a limited vocabulary are fascinating for babies who've mastered their hands, and they are great tools for teaching.