HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS! While there is way more to Christmas than just exchanging gifts, if you are anything like me it brings me so much joy picking something out for those special in my life and seeing their excitement when they open it. It also brings me so much joy to purchase from companies who are local small shops who put so much time and effort into their work and strive to make the highest quality and most unique products for their customers.
This is why I have decided to put together this gift guide to help all of you with your holiday shopping list and to give you an inside look at some amazing small shops that we genuinely love and support. After doing a poll on Instagram I found there were a few areas that people were struggling with most;
- shopping for the men in their life (brothers, spouse, parent) - shopping for the women in their life (moms, sisters, grandmothers) - shopping for their children
Those are the areas that I am going to focus on for this gift guide. For children I am going to focus on the following;
baby
toddler
school-age
I am sorry if you are looking for ideas for children outside of that age group but I feel this is what I know best. If you have children in other age groups and have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below so that everyone can learn from each other!
Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom where I will share all my discount codes as well!
Baby's
My biggest tip for shopping for baby's is to purchase either;
the essentials (i.e. diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, etc.)
toys that are for the next stage of their life
The reason I suggest the essentials is these are large expenses for families and any parent will greatly appreciate you purchasing these types of items for them. For Violet, we are stuffing her stocking with her favourite snacks and food from Baby Gourmet. She will be more than happy with that & then I have snacks on hand if she gets fussy while Mason & Lily are opening up their presents. If the baby that you are shopping for isn't able to eat solids yet, that is okay! It still makes for a great gift to get parents prepared. Give them a variety of different foods and parents can decide which they want to try first. Having these types of items on hand is always helpful because you never know when your baby might be ready for solids.
While you're at it gift the new mom a snack too to help with her breastfeeding needs from Booby Boons. I gifted these to my sister in law and she absolutely loves them! They help keep her nourished, are a great easy mess free snack while breastfeeding and/or pumping and help with milk supply. And if you don't want to head out to the store you can easily purchase Booby Boons from Amazon!
Feeding Items such as spoons, bowls, plates, bibs, cups etc. Again don't worry if the child isn't ready to use these items yet. It is likely that parents did not receive these types of things at a baby shower because they were more focused on getting items for the newborn stages. If you are looking to shop small, I suggest checking out Chew Chew Baby Roo. I love this small shop for a variety of reasons; the owner is phenomenal and strives to create high quality teething products and accessories for your family, you can also purchase teething accessories and aids alongside her feeding accessories making it a one stop shop for that cute baby on your list. And trust me parents will thank you for any gift that helps with teething! She also just released a new item "The Joey" which is a modular play couch with endless possibilities! If you are looking for a big ticket item for a baby and/or toddler on your list THIS IS IT! She just had her pre-orders but you could look at purchasing a gift card or printing off a photo of the couch and purchasing when it becomes available again.
Another great idea is a baby carrier. While there are lots of them out on the market. I highly recommend the Beluga Baby for a few reasons; it's Canadian, it has a 4 way stretch which makes it SUPER comfortable, easy to put on and secure for you and baby, and the fabric is beautiful and soft! Gifting a mom a baby carrier helps provide them with some freedom which any mom will appreciate. It gives them the opportunity to keep baby close while still having 2 free hands to get whatever tasks done they wish. Another great feature about the Beluga Baby is they sell matching wraps for kids! I loved this, because Lily always wants to be just like Mommy so she loves using her carrier and being able to match Violet & I! So you are able to cross off two people on your list if you are shopping for a toddler and baby in one family. They also sell swaddles which would make a great gift for a baby as well.
First Doll is a great gift for a baby. It might not be something they use right away depending on their age but something they will grow to love over time. We are gifting Violet her first doll from Little Wildflower. Little Wildflower dolls are handmade with so much love, care and talent you will not be disappointed. We chose Little Wildflower because they offer custom dolls and accessories and this is a doll that Violet can use now (8 months old) and will be able to grow an attachment with from a young age. If you are shopping for multiple children you could purchase a variety of dolls so they can play together and start building their set with a wooden box set. The wooden box set doubles as a bed for their doll and comes with a doll and accessories. This would make a beautiful gift for a baby or older child and guarantee to shock and surprise!
Another gift that is guaranteed to surprise parents. This is something you would be gifting that is slightly outside of a baby's age range but I can guarantee they will grow to love and have so much fun with! Playtime Pyjamas has created Imagination sets that come with soft adorable pyjamas as well as a plush toy for baby to enjoy and use their imagination and play with. We will be gifting Violet a pair of these for her advent calendar and Lily and Mason will are getting a set of the colouring pyjamas! Again if you have multiple children to purchase for you will be able to check them all of your list by shopping with this local shop. What I love about these pyjamas and set is they are no ordinary pyjamas they offer an activity component to them and encourage children to play and use their imagination.
Other suggestions for baby's are;
warm socks especially for the cold winter months. Pudus Canada makes the best kids slipper socks. Violet is 8 months and able to wear the toddler size (recommended for ages 1-3). They are slightly big but its perfect because I can pull them up her leg to keep her nice and warm and they don't fall off. You could shop for a whole family and get everyone a matching pair!
books - I recommend sensory books (touch and feel or anything that makes noises for this age group) or purchase beautiful story books that they will love as they grow. I always appreciate a good story book being gifted to my kids because it is something I usually enjoy reading too. If you want to support local I recommend checking out JR Storytellers and The Unicorn Princess.
toys - I highly suggest purchasing toys slightly above the child's current age. It is most likely they already have everything they need for toys so purchasing items outside of their developmental stage is helpful for parents to have on hand as they grow. They will also typically get more use out of it. I recommend items such as; musical instruments, puzzles, ball pit, ride on toys, sensory toys and walking aids. All of these can be purchased from our favourite store JR Toy Company (both in store and online). You can also shop by age and I recommend looking at the up to 12 months or the 1 year old category when shopping for a baby. Another shop that I love for toys for an infant is Two Bears Co, she makes the best crinkle paper hearts (See photo below!). It's been Violet's favourite toy from a very young age!
clothes - you cannot go wrong with clothes. However I recommend gifting clothes 1-2 sizes up from what the child is currently wearing and/or for the following season. Items such as t-shirts, leggings, track pants, sweaters can be worn year round when layered so even if it might not fit them in the right season typically children can get lots of wear out of it still. Some of my favourite small shops for baby clothing is; Eotton Offical, The Good Tee, Fynlees Fashion & Jaxed Jeans and Tay and Willow.
Toddlers
Playtime Pyjamas are a great gift for any toddler! Colouring the pyjamas will keep them busy for a while then they can use their imagination and play afterwards! And it may even get them excited to go to bed! These pyjamas will make a unique gift that is guaranteed to please all!
Conifer Toys offers high quality wooden play houses and accessories. What I love about these is they are wooden and high quality. My kids can climb on these things and there is no chance they are destroying it! They are easy to assemble and will last a lifetime. These play houses encourage children to explore and use their imagination like no other. We have the Southland Stable and my kids play with it everyday multiple times a day. These are products that you will want to invest it because they will be passed down through all of your children and is something they will continue to play with as they grow.
The School Yard box focuses on play based learning opportunities for children. It is a subscription box that is delivered to your door full of age appropriate learning activities that are based off of the Canadian math and literacy curriculum. What I love about the box we were gifted for Mason is it gives him an opportunity to feel like he is participating in Lily's online schooling with her while doing age appropriate activities. We have the Fundy Box for Mason and it's great because Lily can use it as well but the activities are easier for her so she feels like she is able to teach Mason something.
Other gift ideas that I recommend for toddlers include;
musical instruments
clothing in the next size up from what currently wearing
gift cards - children love to go to the stores and explore
experiences - I know this is hard with COVID right now but some programming is still running at certain places and you can always look at gifting items for the future such as a zoo membership as those often go on sale during the winter months and you can get a great deal
wooden toys - the reason being is that wooden toys often last longer through the destructive toddler years
items to prepare the child for potty training such as a potty, underwear and a step stool! I recommend the step stool from BBLUV because it is foldable and sturdy.
School - age
My Giant Games sells some of the BEST products that I have found for our kids and family! What I love about My Giant Games is that they offer high quality play activities for kids of all ages that encourage them to use their imagination, play and explore! They offer products that work both great indoors and outdoors so don't let the cooler temperatures discourage you from making a purchase. Some of our favourite products for kids are the Giant Dominos, Mud Kitchen & Giant Tower. All 3 of these activities are great for getting kids to use their imagination, initiating learning opportunities, work on sharing and cooperation through taking turns in the games, and having fun as a family!
Playtime Pyjamas as mentioned above is a great gift for school-age children. We could even implement colouring these pyjamas into Lily's schooling by talking about patterns, colouring, practicing staying inside of the lines, playing dress up afterwards etc. There are so many opportunities on how you can make Playtime Pyjamas fun!
Pegs and Polka Dots make the cutest hand painted peg dolls that are customized to your family! You send her photos of your family members that you would like made and then she brings them to life on Peg Dolls. These are great for School-age children because they can use them in their imaginative play. Lily plays with hers in her doll house all of the time and pretends she is each of us. These also make a great keepsake or decoration in your home. The reason I recommend these for school-age and older is that they are small so not safe for children who still put toys in their mouth.
Buddy Activity Book would make a great gift or stocking stuffer for any kid on your list! The Buddy Activity book is a great way to make learning fun and engaging for your child. We've been using this book to help encourage Lily to participate in her schooling. It has mazes, stickers, spot the differences and so much more!
The School Yard Box that we have for Lily is the Banff Box. This has been so helpful for us with Lily's online schooling. On day's where we are struggling to get her to engage in schooling I pull out the Banff box and she gets so excited about learning again. The reason being is because it seems like we are playing more than we are learning. I've been able to alter the activities that she is supposed to do for school to use items in the Banff Box and get her to participate.
Other gift suggestions for school-age children;
arts and crafts or anything activity based (i.e. Lite Brite). School age children like to be busy and independent. So gifting them activities that combine these two feature are guaranteed to please.
Board Games are great for family fun! A few of our favourite school-age games are; Baa Baa Bubbles, Soggy Dog, Trouble, Pete the Cat, Jenga, Hungry Hippos
musical instruments such as a guitar, piano or drum set
hair accessories our favourites are from Two Gems Design Co
puzzles are a great learning activity as well. JR Toy Company has the best puzzle selection I've ever seen!
Women
Shopping for women doesn't have to be tricky! For me I appreciate anything, a homemade gift from the kids, a new sweater, an ornament for the Christmas tree the fact that you have taken the time to shop and be thoughtful means more than people ever know.
Pudus Slippers is one of my favourite products we've been gifted. I wear slippers almost all year round and they can get banged up pretty quickly so a new pair of slippers is a great gift. Pudus offers slippers or slipper socks for the whole family. So you can check lots of people off your list and get a matching set for the perfect Christmas photo op!
The Birth Poster makes great keepsakes that will be sure to knock any women's socks off. There are so many ways that you can customize the poster to fit your decor and family. It's a great statement piece for any room and as a mom I know I appreciate having a daily reminder of how little my babes were when they were born. I love waking up to this poster every morning.
Paris Jewellers offers beautiful pieces to fit in everyone's budget. Whether it's a new pair of earrings or a customized necklace there are endless choices at great price points. When they are delivered they also come in giftable packaging so takes the worry about having to wrap them off your hands. Or if you are having it directly delivered to someone's home you can be assured that it will be beautiful when it arrives. This beautiful round pendant necklace is perfect because you can customize it for any woman. Whether you put mama, a special date or another meaningful word it will not disappoint.
Shop Kolera also makes beautiful and timeless jewelery. Her jewelery will make a statement without being too overwhelming and can be worn with pretty much any outfit! I haven't taken my rings off since I got mine because they are so comfortable to wear.
Clothing is another great choice for women we often don't treat ourselves so getting some new clothes is always nice! It can be tough though if you don't know what sizes or style someone would like. Rest assured almost everything can be returned if need be and another great option is you can purchase gift cards from a lot of small shops and then that woman in your life can pick exactly what she wants.
Some of my favourite small shop clothing stores are;
Nefarious Clothing makes beautiful ponchos, kimonos and scrunchies. Purchasing from this shop you would be able to purchase a few different items that can be used to various seasons throughout the year. I love my kimonos because I can add layers underneath to continue to wear them throughout the cooler months. They can be dressed up or down to make them a versatile piece in your wardrobe.
Sweet P's General Store is a Canadian shop with beautifully curated pieces to choose from. They offer clothing and accessories for anyone's style. The owner is so kind and is always happy to make suggestions and help however she can!
Copper Hill & Co offers high quality customized clothing, accessories and decor. Their sweatshirts are my favourite because they are so soft and cozy! What I love is that they offer a wide range of clothing so that you can shop for multiple people or get multiple gifts for one person on your list.
Cheeky bikini has the best bikinis I've ever tried on (and I have 3 kids and lost going on with my body!) They are slimming, smoothing and make you feel amazing which I know isn't always easy in a swimsuit. A bikini is a gift that you might not think to get someone in the winter months but its great to prepare them for summer and surprise them.
Lunchbag love notes would make a great gift for anyone who loves to write! I love surprising the kids with special notes or making lists of our daily tasks and these note pads are a fun way to complete these tasks. I love that they include holidays, special events and days that you children would be experiencing at school. Not to worry if they are doing homeschooling or distant learning you can still use them! Like I said above you can use them for to-do lists, sneek them in your kiddos backpack on on their computer for a surprise and little motivation. A small note can go a long way!
Men
My biggest tip for shopping for the men in your life is to make a list on your phone or somewhere convenient and hidden and write down whenever you hear them say something they need or want. Chances are they are not going to go buy it for themselves if they are anything like my husband and they don't even realize that they are dropping hints at gift ideas.
Salton offers a wide range of houseware products that I am sure any man in your life will love. Whether he loves to cook, treat himself to a delicious homemade beverage or you are just trying to get him to join you in the kitchen by enticing him with a new gadget Salton has it all! Our favourite is our Cordless Frother. I was so excited to get one of these however, I have to say it's my husband whose been using it more than me.
Third Mind Shoes has created the most comfortable and fashionable dress shoes! Some men are not a fan of dress shoes because they are uncomfortable to wear. I guarantee you will change their perspective by purchasing them a pair of Third Mind Shoes. They are comfortable yet stylish! Wear them with a suit, your jeans or even your joggers to the gym! They are that versatile.
Paris Jewellers offers a wide range of unique items for men. Whether its a watch, necklace or a pair of cuff links there are tons of choices at great prices. As mentioned above it all comes giftable so if you were to ship a present right to someone's door they wouldn't be disappointed on how it arrives.
Other gifts for men I recommend are;
outdoor appliances such a BBQ or a Fire Pit. Yes these items are off season however, will get lots of use and are guarantee to surprise them
Board games are a great gift especially if you are looking for date night activities. My Giant Games also have a great variety of outdoor games for adults. If the man in your life loves being outside and entertaining their outdoor games would make a great gift. One of our favourites is Kubb - Viking Chess.
tasty treats from a local bakery! One of our favourite local bakeries is Geenos Bakery in Burlington.
There are a few local shops to the Hamilton and Burlington Area that I would suggest checking out if you are really wanting to support local and other small shop businesses. The Artisanville in Burlington is a beautiful store that offers an intimate shopping experience where you can browse products form a wide variety of local businesses. They have something for everyone on your list which makes it great for one stop shopping! JR Toy Company is another favourite store of ours for 2 main reasons; it is well organized making the shopping experience easier and they offer a wide variety of activity and educational based toys and activities. If you'd like to see more about why we love JR Toy Company check out my recent blog post here and see what we were able to purchase when shopping on a budget of $100.
Discount Codes:
CAMARACREW10 for Chew Chew Baby Roo
CAMARACREW for Tay & Willow
CAMARACREW20 for My Giant Games
GIFT15 for 15% off first box from Schoolyard Box
Shop Kolera Cyber Monday (Nov 30) sale no code needed
Free shipping till the end of the year (no code needed) from Nefarious Clothing