Christmas deals

There are so many choices and options for creative Christmas presents. We wanted to help with gift suggestions that won't break your budget!

First, I must advertise a budget-friendly blog that I LOVE: Cha-Ching on a Shoestring. I find so many ideas on how to save money, and she updates daily with great coupons and deals.

Here are some recent (time sensitive) deals that I found out about there:

*Free holiday labels at VistaPrint.com

1. Click on "holidays" on the left

2. Choose "labels"

3. Pick your favorite to-from stickers or return address labels (so many cute choices!)

4. Just pay shipping (I got 140 to-from stickers and 140 return address labels for less than $5!)

*$10 off Alphabet Learning Pal, and a lot of other GREAT Target coupons on toys HERE

*Buy Up! and Monsters, Inc on Blu Ray at Target for less than $11! I did it and it worked, find out how here.

Have any deals you are going to take advantage of this Christmas season, please COMMENT and share!

15 under $15

You don't have to be rich to have some fantastic baby items!

15 great baby items under $15 (ages 0-9 months):

Smart Shopping Mama says:

• Medela Tender Care Lanolin

This is a MUST in the early days of breastfeeding! I preferred the Medela to other brands because it is not as thick and thus, it is easier (read: less painful!) to apply. Use before and after nursing and showering. I kept one tube in my diaper bag and one in my bathroom for the first month.

• Eddie Bauer Quilted Playpen Sheet
  

These sheets are thick, soft, and durable. I have two sets! They are available in-store at Target.

• Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner Portable Placemat

This is a fabulous product for babies who are eating finger foods. We started using this around 7.5 months. You take it to a restaurant and it suctions to the table so that you don't have to place finger foods directly on the table. It wipes off easily and has a nifty catcher that snags most dropped pieces of food before they become high chair mush. My daughter also likes to chew on it. It rolls up and fits well in a diaper bag.

• Razberry
  

This is my daughter's favorite teething toy (next to Sophie the Giraffe, which is a little pricier at $19). You can find them for around $3 at HEB stores or you can order them online. They are easy for little hands to hold. You can also attach them to a chain of links so that they don't fall on the floor.

• Links

These are wonderful to use to attach toys to an activity mat, stroller, high chair, car seat, etc. You can save them from falling to the floor! My daughter likes to play with the links by themselves as well. This gift set looks great and includes links!

• Mirror

You can use any mirror to entertain your baby, but it is great to have a safe mirror for babies to look at during tummy time or while they are sitting. My daughter and I think it is hilarious to exchange smiles in the mirror! This Sassy mirror looks great and has lots of fun things for baby to play with.

• Stacking Cups

My daughter LOVES stacking cups and NEVER gets tired of playing with them. She is obsessed with knocking towers down. They are great for learning to pick up toys as well as reaching for toys while sitting and working to get toys that are out of reach. She also likes to carry the smallest cup around the house. Any set of cups will do the trick but these are my favorite.

Mamacita says:

• Summer nose suction bulb

She does not scream or cry when we use this one, it really does the trick, and also comes apart for easy cleaning. I have two.

• Mylicon

This really helped with gas when she was 0-3 months old. Buy the off-brand, like Target's, and save major $$.

• EZ wrap swaddler (available in-store at Target)

I consistently give this as a shower present because I could not have lived without it when my munchkin was 0-2 months. It really helped with swaddling during late-night delirium.

• Infantino Loopalooza toy

I call this the "stop the crying" toy because every-time I use it, my daughter gets distracted and engaged. It is a wonderful toy. (Also great to attach to a stroller for a fun time!) Smart Shopping Mama seconds this one! :)

• Baby Einstein music "phone"

Out of all baby toys that make music/noise, this is more than tolerable for parents, it's enjoyable, because of the real classical music.

• Munchkin carrier strap covers

These really keep the straps from cutting in and also don't add too much bulk, so there is no safety concern. I am really glad I have them. I found mine in-store at Walmart.

• Any Baby Einstein book

They almost all say "9+ months." Whatever! My daughter loved them from the moment she started tracking objects and staying focused on one thing for 5+ minutes. I love them because the rhyming is clever, the pictures are bright, and they are educational.

• "100 Essential Classics"

This is the perfect classical music mix, available on itunes for $11.99. If you are like me and want to expose your little one to classical music, but want it to be the "real deal," I LOVE this mix on itunes. I went through and picked the most soothing ones and made a napping mix, but you could also just play it all day long.


Smart Shopping Mama says... and here is #16...

• Leapfrog Fridge Farm Magnets

Okay, so I don't actually have these yet, but this will be my next baby purchase! My daughter loves to venture into the kitchen and I can see these magnets providing lots of entertainment. I will let you know how it goes!