Why do kids always want the toys we don't want them to have? Today I am keeping our infant daughter away from an icky squeaky dog chew toy. In a few years, I will be keeping her away from Twilight Saga dolls. (Drawn by Althea Peterson)
What NOT to get for kids this Christmas
Published: 11/26/2012 11:00 AM
Last Modified: 11/26/2012 3:38 PM
A few weeks ago I gave some baby (shower) gift ideas. Here's the opposite: Don't give these gifts.
All gifts will usually warrant a kind "thank you" from the recipient, and perhaps a thank you card or phone call. These gifts warrant a gift reciept so you can return them faster.
Duplicate gifts
Usually new parents have smaller homes to begin with since they are early in their careers and fresh off student loans. As such, there's no room for spare cribs, three strollers and identical stuffed animals.
How to remedy/avoid:
Ask for gift reciepts with every gift and include it with the gift when giving.
Use gift registries when shopping and requesting gifts. Make sure that would-be givers know about your registries!
Give gift cards instead of specific items.
Used safety equipment
Saving a buck on a kid's car seat or bike helmet by going with a used one is not a good or a safe idea.
As kidshealth.org notes, helmets don't work as well after a major crash. The same can be said for other child safety equipment after an incident, even if the safety device looks about the same as it did when it was new.
How to remedy/avoid:
Buy a new, but less expensive item that passed the same safety tests as the more expensive item.
A recalled item
Drop-down-side cribs, cartoon character glasses with cadmium, and an infant seat that babies can squirm out of without a safety strap: All have been recalled within the past few years.
How to remedy/avoid:
Know what toys have been recalled by visiting here.
Baby-specific items that have been recalled can be viewed here.
Items that are not age appropriate
As I look through all of Tulsa World's Black Friday ads, the first thing that comes to my mind when I see a lot of toys is how fast they would go in my 8-month-old's mouth if she got ahold of them, and if they're too small or would fall apart, would choke on them.
At the same time, I usually can't go onto an online server of a mature-rated video game without hearing 5-year-olds cursing during losing battles.
When I saw "Hellboy" about a decade ago, I remember a 3-year-old behind me saying "Mommy, I don't want to see this movie" as the opening sequence began. Seriously, a toddler in a movie called "Hellboy?!"
So, for safety and other reasons, try to give gifts that are appropriate for certain age groups.
How to remedy/avoid:
Check the labels on toys, board games and dolls for what ages they are appropriate
Check video games and movies for ESRB (E for Everyone, T for Teen, M for Mature) and CARA (G for General audiences, PG for parental guidance, R for restricted) ratings.
--Althea Peterson
PS: I will be disconintuing "trimesterly tribute" in a few weeks, as I'm running out of ideas for it... it was only 9 months long, after all, so I'll be testing new ideas for replacements in the coming weeks. Leave a comment with ideas!
They actually exist: Kids shoes that squeak: The inspiration for today's entry was the shoes my year-old cousin wore as she walked around the house. THEY SQUEAK WITH EVERY STEP. As our daughter's grandparents mused how cute our own little girl would sound with her own squeaky shoes, my husband and I dreaded the thought of endless squeaks... and how fast our dogs would turn those shoes into chew toys. Find out more about these baby squeak shoes here.
Trimesterly tribute: Doctor's appointments are a regular nuisance when you're pregnant, as is the fact that you get weighed every time you visit (initially every month, then every few weeks, then every week during the last month or so through birth). If you are looking to get in and other of the office, late afternoon are the best times, it seems. If you are hopeful that you can sneak into the office early in the morning and get it over with, you may be waiting a bit longer.
Mommy moment: For the first time since my first trimester, I went out jogging with the dogs for a mile. The rumors that pregnancy makes it easier to breathe? I think they're true! I wasn't as short on breath as I remember awhile back and we all made it the entire mile without stopping. But... muscle soreness is another story.
Baby bit: For Thanksgiving, my baby got to meet her cousin, my brother's (also first) daughter, who is five months older. The kids playing together and at the Thanksgiving dinner table provided entertainment for all. If you worry about awkward silences and coversations and family get-togethers, just have kids. They will take ALL of the attention of EVERYone.
Althea's previous entries:
Nov. 19: Sick or tired parents usually follow a sick kid
Nov. 12: Christmas wishlist: Gifts for parents that we've used every day
Nov. 5: What type of person our child will grow up to be?
Oct. 29: Things parents are NOT allowed to do
Oct. 22: Little parent-child time makes big difference
Oct. 15: Choosing a daycare center for your child
Oct. 8: Baby blood drawing, catheter, congestion, antibiotics...
Oct. 1: Beginnning to feed solid foods to a baby
Sept. 24: Baby's first long car trip
Sept. 17: Photos: A newborn baby in her new home
Sept. 10: Motherhood misconceptions and baby myths
Sept. 3: When a baby can't sleep and won't stop crying (possibly due to her first cold)
Aug. 27: Baby's appetite changes can make breastfeeding more difficult
Aug. 20: Mom's hospital stay after the baby arrives
Aug. 13: Returning to work after maternity leave
Aug. 6: Life as a single, working mother with a baby
July 30: Dealing with a baby's first sick time
July 23: Delivering a baby by Cesarean section
July 16: Introducing a new baby to your pet cat and dogs
July 9: Breastfeeding a baby is a challenging decision
July 2: Baby airport travel requires patience and time
June 28: Baby means there's never an awkward silence
Althea Peterson is the proud mother of a eight-month old girl. Althea returned to work at the Tulsa World in May after two months of maternity leave. Baby advice, baby questions or baby words of encouragement can be sent to althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com. Also, follow Althea on Twitter at twitter.com/a1a4ou.
Written by
Althea Peterson
Staff Writer
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