The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide: 2-4 Years

Are you ready for Round 3 of The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide?  This round we are giving suggestions for the 2-4 year range.  Although we haven’t completed this stage yet, it’s personally been my favorite.  We’ve loved several of these suggestions already, and have some ideas for the next year or two. If you missed Round 1 or 2, you can catch them over here.

I decided to “wrap up” some of our favorite gifts from each stage into a gift guide for you this Christmas.  I’ll be sharing some tried and true ideas from each stage that we have experienced, as well as some ideas for the upcoming year. Perhaps OUR experience with quadruplets can be an advantage to YOU as a shopper.  Before I begin let’s get the disclaimer out of the way:

Disclaimer: 1. None of these products were given as a promotional opportunity, nor did I receive any $ or compensation to write these suggested gift ideas.  2. These are purely my opinions.   3. These products link to Amazon.com, as an affiliate link.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff!

**A lot of the list prices are dropping daily, so the actual price may be lower than the price listed in parenthesis.**

1. Fisher-Price Doodle Pro ($14.99)

 

This is on our Christmas list this year!  Easy to take along, and the possibilities are endless with the wipe away “magic” screen.

2.Little Tikes Shopping Cart ($21.97)

Our plastic basic shopping cart (Not Little Tikes) is loosing it’s wheels from all of its wear. Who says shopping isn’t for boys?  Of course they stack it full of cars, trucks, balls, etc. but they love filling it nonetheless…Anything that pushes and has wheels (dump trucks, ride on toys, etc) is a great gift in my opinion

 3. Melissa & Doug Wooden Blocks ($39.00)

The oldies but goodies seem to be a winner every time.  There’s great imagination in store with this set of solid wood building set.

4.Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type ($11.55)

This book is a crowd favorite.  The boys know it by heart and act it out. There’s plenty of humor for young and old alike! 

5.Fisher-Price Rock, Roll 'N Ride Trike  ($57.38)

 

I really love the functionality and how this product grows with your child’s size and abilities. It should be a long-lasting long-loving toy for all of our boys to enjoy.  They can almost reach the pedals now!

6. LifeStyle Dream Kitchen by Step2  ($167.46)

 

Kitchens are fun for both girls and boys.  Although we don’t own one, it’s one of their favorite things to play with in the church nursery.  It’s so fun to watch them pretend to prepare and eat meals. It’s a great group gift for families with more than one child! 

7. Little Doctor Kit (Under $20)

Hopefully this toy will lessens fear of the doctor and spark great imaginative play!  It’s another suggestion on our Christmas list for the grandmas.

8.LeapFrog Toys (Prices Vary Depending on Product)

We are somewhat new to the world of LeapFrog, but their products have been highly recommended by family and friends.  From their Magnetic Fridge Sets, to their award-winning Tag Reading System, to their DVDs – they all look like fantastic educational toys!

9.Play-Doh Case of Colors ($9.75)

I’ll admit it I was scared to crack open a can of Play-Doh too, especially with the “creative potential” of quadruplets.  However, after laying down the ground rules, this provided a whole hour of entertainment! There’s something therapeutic and nostalgic about playing Play-Doh with your children.

10.Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards ($15.06)

I remember loving these pattern boards with the bright shapes and designs!  Bonus, it helps develop shape recognition, colors, and spatial relationships. 

What did I miss?  What additional suggestions do you have for this list?  What have you liked/disliked for this age group? 

The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide: 1-2 years

Are you ready for Round 2 of The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide?  This round we are giving suggestions for the 1-2 year range.  What a fun and exciting age of discovery and learning! If you missed Round 1 for Birth – 1 year, you can find it over here.

 

I decided to “wrap up” some of our favorite gifts from each stage into a gift guide for you this Christmas.  I’ll be sharing some tried and true ideas from each stage that we have experienced, as well as some ideas for the upcoming year. Perhaps OUR experience with quadruplets can be an advantage to YOU as a shopper.  Before I begin let’s get the disclaimer out of the way:

Disclaimer: 1. None of these products were given as a promotional opportunity, nor did I receive any $ or compensation to write these suggested gift ideas.  2. These are purely my opinions.  They are things that each of my 4 boys have enjoyed, which I think speaks highly of a product if is well-liked by all, and proves durable under the extra use/abuse of quadruplets. 3. These products link to Amazon.com, as an affiliate link.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff!

1. The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name($11.55) 

My all-time favorite read aloud!  Each story paints a picture of the Great Rescuer with vivid illustrations to go with the passage.  Obviously, it can be for ages much older than this stage, but it’s a great time to begin reading it aloud.  I wrote more about how much I love this treasure of a book in this post.

2. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe ($52.99)

Hands down THE MOST fought over toy we own.  It had them at first beep.  It’s a classic for a reason! 

3.Made For Mom Snack Trap, 3 Pack($13.22)

 

I would love to hug the mom behind this invention.  What a sanity saver!  The lid flaps allow little hands to reach in, but keeps snacks contained if they are dropped or turned upside down. We use them for breakfast on the go all the time!

4. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Mix 'n Match Peg Puzzle Bundle, Pack of Three($19.99)

I honestly haven’t found a Melissa and Doug product that I haven’t liked.  Their quality is top-notch and they promote learning naturally through imagination and creativity. 

5. Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm ($24.97)

The interactive version of the original Fisher-Price Barn (we have an older version) is sure to be a hot-seller this season.  Our boys love to play farm and act out each of the animals as they put them in and out of the doors and rooms in the barn.

6. Crayola 3ct. Washable All-In--One Paint ($6.49)

 

I love how these are easy for toddler hands to hold and allow a great introduction to painting without the mess.  Smart and washable – a great combination!

7. Growth Chart(under $20)

Now that your little one is upright, it’s a fun time to start charting their unbelievable growth over the next few years. There’s lots of choices to coordinate with your nursery theme, and it’s a great keepsake.

8. Baby Einstein - Baby MacDonald "A Day on the Farm" ($19.99)

 

DVDs weren’t appealing to my boys during this stage with the exception of this one.  This is the best of the Baby Einstein collection. It’s visually engaging, and it’s also enjoyable to watch as a parent.

9. Little Tikes Climb & Slide Castle ($159.99)

 

It was love at first slide for our boys and the Little Tykes Climb and Slide Castle. Great for indoor or outdoor play and for burning off lots of energy! 

10. KidCo PeaPod Plus Travel Bed($84.95)

If you are planning on doing any travelling with your toddler (even if it’s just to grandmas), I would highly recommend not wasting your money, space, and effort on a Pack and Play and instead go with the KidCo PeaPod Plus.  We are so thankful for a triplet mom who told us about these awesome travel beds.  They collapse down to the size of a deflated beach ball, and take up very little space unfolded.  We’ve slept all four of our boys in very small spaces.  However, they have room to spread out inside the tent, and an air mattress to provide extra comfort.  We cover the mattress with their own crib sheets, so it seems more familiar at night.  Make sure you get the PeaPod Plus, so that you’ll get the most use out of this product.  We should be using these tents comfortably until the boys are around 6 years old! 

I’d love to hear your suggestions for this age group.  What are some things that your kids have really enjoyed at this stage?  What’s on your wish list this season? Stay tuned for Round 3 of The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide, highlighting suggestions for ages 2 – 4 years.

 

The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide: Birth – 12 months

I decided to “wrap up” some of our favorite gifts from each stage into a gift guide for you this Christmas.  I’ll be sharing some tried and true ideas from each stage that we have experienced, as well as some ideas for the upcoming year. Perhaps OUR experience with quadruplets can be an advantage to YOU as a shopper.  Before I begin let’s get the disclaimer out of the way:

Disclaimer: 1. None of these products were given as a promotional opportunity, nor did I receive any $ to write these suggested gift ideas.  2. These are purely my opinions.  They are things that each of my 4 boys have enjoyed, which I think speaks highly of a product if is well-liked by all, and proves durable under the extra use/abuse of quadruplets. 3. These products link to Amazon.com, as an affiliate link.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff!

1.Hasbro Playskool Step Start Walk 'n Ride ($22.49)

Even after our boys were running they still LOVED this toy.  It really helped them to gain stability and confidence when they were learning to take steps.  It was the first toy out to play with in the morning, and the last one to put away!

2.VTech Slide 'n Learn Storybook ($19.55) 

We inherited this gem of a toy from the McNulty Quads. It was great for car trips and a distraction devise for doctor’s office visits.  The pages have sweet little songs (read: not loud and obnoxious), and movable features to keep little hands busy.

3. Fisher-Price Precious Planet All Around Musical Playtime Gym ($44.00)

Our boys LOVED their gym time.  It was time for them to discover themselves in the mirror, work on rolling over, check out their brothers beside them, and work on hand-eye coordination by batting at the toys…it was an all-around GREAT piece of equipment! 

4. Munchkin Bath Super Scooper Turtle ($24.95)

Once you graduate to the big tub, this is a great way to store the miscellaneous bath toys. You can scoop up the toys and hang to drain.

5.I Love You Through And Through ($8.95)

This was an almost daily read for my babies.  They loved when I acted out the emotions of the pages, and they still enjoy hearing it!

6.Pacific Play Tents See Me 6' Tunnel($26.49)

Playing peek-a-boo, chasing each other, and finding toys through the tunnel passageway was a constant source of entertainment.  Again, it’s another toy that is fun for stages to come.  It’s also space-saving, because it collapses to store!

7.Evenflo ExerSaucer SmartSteps - ABC($85.00)

 

Although the price tag may seem a little steep, I still feel indebted to Evenflo for this product. We used to call it “Disney World in a Chair”, because that’s just how entertaining it was day after day.

8. Halo Innovations SleepSack Wearable Blankets Cotton($22.40)

You might be tired of me singing the praises of Halo SleepSacks, but I can’t say enough about these wonderful wearable blankets!  The zip from top to bottom, so you are guaranteed that they will stay warm through the night.

8.Diapers(Prices Vary by Size and Brand)

It might sound like the most boring gift of the century, but do you know how much the parents of the little “stinker” will LOVE you for this?  Trust me, it’s a winner every time!

9. BABYBJÖRN Soft Bib 2 Pack($17.95)

Would you believe that we are STILL using these bibs for messy meals?  Hundreds of meals later they are unstained and holding strong.  Best part – No laundry!  Just rinse them off in the sink!

10. A High Quality Digital Camera(Prices Vary)

Alright, so it may not be the typical “Baby Christmas Gift”, but they’ll thank you for it later.  Even if you aren’t ready for a DSLR, there are plenty of great point-and-shoot digital cameras that will give you really great quality prints.  Capturing the first year is priceless. My only regret is not having one sooner! 

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I hope this gives you some great ideas for the baby on your list this Christmas season.  There’s something very magical about that 1st Christmas. Even though they won’t remember it, you’re sure to remember it for a lifetime!

What are some things YOU would add to my list?  Keep the ideas flowing in the comment section and stay tuned for The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide: 1–2 Years!