Need help for ideas to fill DD's stocking. It was handmade by my SIL and I know it will be gorgeous!!

So far I have:
2 egg shakers from Kindermusik
New bibs (her's are so grungy)
Snack pack of goldfish crackers
Small, colorful flashlight.

Planning to get:
new CD of children's music

She doesn't eat candy. Doesn't use pacifiers. She has tons of stuffed animals. I detest small, plastic toys. Doesn't watch tv so no DVDs.
Won't keep the adorable hair clips in her hair.
(oh wow, I just had a total deja vu writing that last sentence.)

Suggestions?
(Here she is ready to go on a bike ride with Mama!!)

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

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How about those plastic books for toddlers that can be wiped clean? Crayola has toddler friendly products that only show on special paper and they have ones you can put in your mouth with no toxics.
Paper dolls? Or cardboard animals?
A "ticket" to do something she loves but does not normally get to do complete with photo and small token to represent the day would be groovy.
Does she use a purse? I did at that age my Mom tells me I always had a purse.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

She is adorable! I found some small soft scrunchies at the dollar store for g-baby, who turned two in Sept. She doesn't have a lot of hair either, but these work ok and don't have that metal part that gets caught in hair. They also had 'princess crowns' and dress up skirts and purses all for $1 each! I have seen similar things at Target for $10-20!

G-baby also loves post it notes---no idea why, but she can stick them around without harm. I am also getting small bottles of baby shampoo, tubby toys--hers are grungy, socks (where do they disappear too??) and some big girl panties!

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"It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity."

Lovin' the purse idea (!) and the books and post it notes, will try to find some hair scrunchies for cheap since I don't know if they will stay in. Socks! Good idea. Will look for some funky ones.

Any other ideas?

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

Tessa, I cannot believe how big your DD got! She is so darn cute! Is her hair still red? As you know, I'm prejudice to red heads.

You've got some great advice about ideas here. The other thing I was thinking of was a learning type of coloring book (or just a regular one) and those large crayons. I know my 2 year old niece is into anything beads that my sister helps her make. (I have like 10 bracelets and 5 necklaces!). They have little kits for her age group at JoAnns.

Sniff, I know. I have been talking to her about this growing up nonsense and ordering her to stop. But she is stubborn and not listening. Sigh. And yes, her hair is red, red, red. I love it and I am sure she will not.

Coloring book, great idea! That will roll up great for the stocking.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

What a beautiful little girl!!!! You are very blessed!!!

I suggest chubby little board books!! They are sturdy, and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. If she has a favorite character like Dora or Maisy (for example) you can probably get it in a toddler board book. Another idea is to buy a board book that has different things to feel in it such as a furry cat --- and the book will have fur for the child to stroke. That sort of thing. Children love the textures.

I do the storytimes at the library. One story that I am doing next week is a small board book called " Wrapping Paper Romp" . It's about a little baby that has more fun with the tissue paper that her present came in than the present itself. As I read the book, I will do whatever the toddler is doing in the book to myself with a sheet of tissue paper. Then I will hand out colorful sheets of tissue paper and read it again so the children can do the actions. Then we are going to tear up the paper and "make it snow" by throwing the paper scraps in the air. I know they will love to help pick up the pieces too. They might not like to clean up at home, but they are always great about it at the library!

One of my favorite regular books for young children right now is "Peek a Boo Bedtime" by Rachel Isadora. It will not fit in a stocking but I do think there might be a shorten board book version of it. I like the regular storybook. Little kids LOVE it!!

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Donna

A couple of more thoughts:

At the Dollar Tree, they have Tub Tints for a dollar. :-) You can color the bath water red, blue, green, etc. to make bath time fun. I remember that you don't like plastic things but any kind of tub toy where kids can pour water back and forth is fun. A small funnel and a child size pitcher and a cup.... fun, fun fun!! Add green water and even more fun. They are gently learning their colors and doing simple measurements.

Another small board book idea: Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown Wonderful to read before bedtime, and it has a simplicity to it that kids will start to read with you. It was the first book my son "read" to us.

My last idea: jingle bells!! They will go with your shaker eggs. Buy good ones like from Kindermusik that are on sturdy plastic or a stick. You have to watch the swallowing factor! So much of the music this time of the year has bells in it. You can teach her the song "Jingle Bells" and she can shake away. Also, cheap bright colored see thru scarves from the dollar store are fun to dance with to music. Ok. I've got a little book and music theme going on here!!

Hugs,

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Donna

I don't know about that! Like I've said before, our oldest is a red head and he's always making comments about "how the girls love it" or when his brother messes with him about it he'll say, "well at least I'm not boring like you". It definitely doesn't bother him and he's 16.

My kids always like the really cute character toothbrushes and the character pump toothpastes. And of course they enjoy the special Kids' shampoos/conditioners, etc. Perhaps these are already staples in your house, but for our kids, these were always a treat.

For a fun time with you child lay a piece of masking tape on the floor or rug about 5 to 6 feet long and walk on it like a balance beam a few times and then walk away and your child will try to walk just like mommy did. This will keep you and the child busy.

Starting at around 2 and for several years thereafter, both my DDs received a box or two of band-aids in their stockings. It seemed that Santa knew that a little girl was forever needing band-aids to fix themselves, their baby dolls AND their stuffed animals -- Whew! It was always a huge treat to have their own box to use...

Make certain that you don't get too much stuffing to go in the stocking. One year when my kids were little, I tried to put too much in the stockings and the stocking hanger that sat on the mantle wasn't heavy enough to hold the stocking.

board books, Crayola Color Wonder (only marks on the special CW paper), hair bows, mittens

Just wanted to say you have a beautiful little girl, love the red hair!

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

Oh, thank you so much!!!

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!