A Minimal(ish) PT's Holiday Gift Guide

It's that time of year! Planning gifts, hosting, packing for travel, decorating to bring all of the cheer and make the magic happen for your family....it's so lovely and oh so overwhelming! I'm really glad you found your way here. If you're a parent who likes to keep things minimal"ish", loves sustainability, shopping small businesses, DIYing gifts, or is on a mission to choose big corporations less often, you're in the right spot! You see, I also have these same goals. And don't get me wrong, convenience is awesome and sometimes totally necessary for our sanity (yes, there's even the occasional "big corp" link here if I couldn't source the item otherwise)....but my goal is to make it a little bit easier to make small steps towards a big impact. If you prefer, many of these items or similar can be found at popular links such as Amazon, Target, or Walmart too. But what you will find here are mostly links directly to the businesses themselves or links to smaller businesses.

One tip for reducing shipping costs is to check out the other products at a particular link and source several gifts from that shop in order to reach any free shipping (if it's not already free). For instance, Lakeshore Learning and Learning Resources have many great options for all ages! In addition, you can find companies like Melissa and Doug on Rakuten, where you can earn cashback for your purchases.

I recommend checking out your local toy stores, children's apparel shops, consignment ships, FB marketplace, and even eBay (the founder is very philanthropic - whoop whoop!).

We don't have to be perfect, but even one purchase to a direct source, small business purchase or a second-hand buy is a great stride towards supporting small business owners and our planet.

Items You'll Use For a Long Time:

1. Figgy Play Couch Use code BRITTANYZIS for $15 off. affiliate link

2. Outree Sensory Swing Use code MBWC for 20% off. affiliate link

3. Guardian Bikes affiliate link

4. Play Kitchen This is the one we have, but there are endless options out there (FB marketplace is a great place to look too!).

5. Foam Climbers You can also check out your local FB marketplace, as these pop up there sometimes.

6. Kitchen HelperThis is another item you can sometimes find second hand.

7. Mirror tummy time to elementary use!

8. Sensory Bubbles A non-toxic win. Use code DRZIS15 for 15% off. affiliate link

9. Yoto Mini

The Newest Addition:

1. Innobaby Teethers: Use code DRZIS15 for 15% off. affiliate link

2. Sassy Baby Wonder Wheel

3. Manhattan Toy Atom

4. Manhattan Toy Classic Baby Beads

5. Sassy Baby Mirror: Unfortunately it's hard to source this other than Target, Amazon, or Walmart. But it's a great mirror and pairs well with suction spinners for fun!

6. Manhattan Toy Winkel

7. Hape Suction Rattles

8. High Contrast Cards

Sitters and Crawlers:

1. Skillmatics First 100 Animals

2. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl

3. Sassy Baby Wheel

4. SmartMax Magnetic Builders: I have also found these at our local Learning Express.

5. Uncle Goose Blocks So many beautiful options!

6. Fat Brain Toys Sensory Rollers

7. Hape Pound and Tap Bench

8. Green Toys Stacking Cups

Home Sweet Home: (many of these pair well with a play kitchen)

1. Melissa and Doug Squirt, Spray and Squeegee

2. Melissa and Doug Dust! Sweep! Mop!

3. Tovla Jr. Knives

4. Urban Infant Apron

5. Green Toys Tea Party Set

6. Melissa and Doug Smoothie

7. Learning Resources Farmer's Market Color Sorting

8. Green Toys Watering Can

The Artist:

1. Hape Art Easel

2. Urban Infant Crayon Wallet

3. Skillmatics Snip Snip

4. Urban Infant Chalk

5. Melissa and Doug Stamps

6. Buddha Board

7. Klee Naturals Makeup

8. Honeysticks

Rain or Shine:

1. Green Toys Dump Truck

2. Baseball Tee

3. Hape Outdoor Kitchen

4. Primary Puffer

5. Ten Little Shoes affiliate link

6. Cuddle Club Rain Suit

7. Water Table

8. Stepping Stones use code MBWC for 20% off affiliate link

9. Lone Cone Rain Boots

Science and Sensory Tools:

1. Learning Resources Silly Science Sorting

2. Toob Animals

3. Talking Microscope

4. Magnifying Glass

5. Learning Resources Helping Hands Tools

6. Learning Resources Lab Set

7. Lakeshore Learning Dough Tool Set

Calm Corner:

1. Play Silks

2. Slumberkins

3. Warmies 15% off affiliate link

4. Play Teepee

5. Sensory Fidget Tubes

6. In My Heart

7. One Day So Many Ways