Holiday shopping 2021
Given the… unusualness… of this year (you know, like last year…), you might want to start your holiday shopping early. After all, I don’t imagine going out into the crowds of Black Friday right now, and shipping delays everywhere might make you want to get gifts earlier rather than later.
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Play couches
My absolute favorite item for my kids? A well-made, non-toxic play couch.
Your kids won’t just play with this the morning they open gifts and then ignore it forever after – this is a daily super fun toy for building, climbing, and bouncing (perfect to get all that energy out when you’ve been cooped up during the winter.
I have a whole review on the Brentwood Home play couch because it’s the only one that’s certified completely non-toxic from top to bottom – read it here.
Ready to grab your kids play couch? Click here to pick your favorite color. And unlike other popular brands, they’re ready to ship whenever – no stressful backorders!
The easiest way to get everything else for the holidays
Prime offers a lot of advantages, including free 2 day shipping (and sometimes next day shipping) for tons of items, discounted subscriptions on diapers and other baby products, and more.
Here’s my suggestion: If you’re not ready to commit to Prime, I get it. You can sign up for a 30 day free membership and then make sure to cancel before the 30 days are up. You’ll get to shop all the deals for free.
Toys
Melissa & Doug Party cake – Velcro patches make this cake stick together until you slice and serve.
Baby Alive Mix my Medicine – Let your little one take care of their own baby doll when they’re feeling under the weather.
Retro My Little Pony – look at this blast from the past! Love it.
Hasbro board games are on sale today – From Chutes and Ladders to Mouse Trap, there’s classic games for every age group.
Mega Bloks – The perfect beginner blocks for toddlers are 40% off for Cyber Monday.
This medical kit from Fisher Price is perfect for pretend play.
Little Tikes Bouncer (includes blower!) – Under $250 is a good deal
Hape Scott toddler scooter – currently 20% off
Wooden Blocks – The perfect toy 20% off.
Kid’s pretend work bench – Usually well over $100
Schleich figurines – My older kids (5 and 7) LOVE these. Look for horses, unicorns, puppies, and more on sale
Baby Stella baby doll – my favorite doll for toddlers and preschoolers
Melissa & Doug weaving loom – Unique arts and crafts
Need more gift ideas? Check out these articles.
Open ended toys that encourage imaginative play
The best battery-free gifts for toddlers
Battery-free toy gift guide for preschoolers
Best battery-free toys ages 6-10
Home and Kitchen
Instant Pots are on sale! Check out the varieties that even include an air fryer function.
The Ninjas are also on sale.
The Cuisinart double waffle maker (yes, you can make 2 waffles at once!) is over half off
Baby
Graco Snuglock 35 infant car seat
Melissa & Doug Classic Bead Maze
If you want more ideas on baby products, check out my minimalist baby registry.
Holiday food
Looking for some easy Christmas cookies to make with your kids? Check these out.
11 Easy no-bake Christmas cookies you can make with your kids
Looking for kid-sized kitchen tools? Check out my post about everything your kid needs for cooking and baking.
RELATED: Best kitchen tools for kids
And if you’re worried about baking with your kids being super stressful, I totally get it. You’ll need a few tips (and maybe some expectation adjustments) to have baking with kids go smoothly.
RELATED: Stress-free baking and cooking with kids
Need a base stock for stuffing, gravies, or mashed potatoes? Or want to get good use out of your turkey leftovers? Here’s a great guide to making bone broth and veggie stock, with or without an Instant Pot.