Older sibling gifts - Page 2

[JuniperMama]

My DS is 5 (well on the 21st he will be.) He's really not into dolls even though we've introduced many over time. We were thinking a special stuffed animal might be a better fit. Going to "build a bear" might be a good idea for this...

Wondering what other ideas you guys have for much older boy sibs?

Thanks!

[wombatclay]

So we had a quick change of plans as the girls have developed a new and all consuming passion... Cirque du Soleil!

Instead of the third season of the Muppet Show we're going to get two CdS dvds (probably Alegria and Varekai) as well as Fire Within (the tv series that covered the making of Varekai since dd1 is totally obsessed with "how they practice" and has watched the 20 minutes making of Dralion on our netflix copy back to back for 1-2 HOURS at a time). This seems like a more or less perfect gift to occupy the girls while I'm breastfeeding or resting with the babe.

So it'll be the CdS dvds, the cloth dipes and slings I made for their baby dolls, and a few pieces of dried fruit and jerkey (both "treat" items).

I'd like to make them bracelets (dd1 is all about unicorns right now, and dd2 is gung ho ballet) but I think their breastfeeding basket/gift from baby basket is pretty nice right now so if I can't find beads I wont be too upset.

[wanderinggypsy]

ETA- I really like the Waldorf dolls but DD1 and DD2 are totally uninterested. They both have lovingly hand crafted waldorf style baby dolls that they will play with/care for every now and then but they adore and love to death two plastic headed off the shelf baby dolls from Target. (they nurse them sling them, carry them all over, sleep with them, etc) So my only advice on the subject of dolls is to involve your little one as much as possible in the selection process. The "surprise" aspect of the gift wears off a heck of a lot faster than the time involved in crafting the doll.

LOL... I have purchased two stunningly beautiful waldorf dolls for my daughter, both from Joy's Waldorf Dolls, each worth well over a hundred bucks. Jane likes them ok, but they are never her first pick to play with when she wants to play with a doll... she usually goes for the MIC cheapo plastic fisher price one that some relative gave her for Christmas.

Kids!!!

[thepoet]

When my second son was born, the morning after he presented his big brother with the Melissa and Doug sushi set.

This time, the new edition will be presenting his/her big brothers with capes from Winged Kids.

Since you know, big brothers ARE super heroes!

[Michigan Mama]

I posted on this thread early on that I needed ideas, and then I totally forgot about it!!!

I love the nursing basket idea, and I think my ds would also like to build-a-bear, but i have to find where there is one in Michigan. None close by, so we'd have to make a day trip of it, I think.

I was thinking about making him a waldorf style doll, but now I'm thinking how much work it would be (with all the other stuff I still need to do)...and like so many have said, it would be my luck that he likes his cheapo store bought doll better anyway. So maybe we'll go that route. How hard is it to find boy dolls?

[lthw]

My 4.5 yr old daughter is happily anticipating her gift from the baby, as well as a party for her in honor of becoming a big sister. Nothing grand, just a picnic in the park, but she's excited to join the big sibling club so many of her friends are in. For the gift(s) so far I got her some new dress up clothes that I ebayed, a set of dolls + horse, butterly window clings, & a butterfly activity kit. I may get some more... am thinking of allowing her to open one per day. And I love the build-a-bear idea!!! Thanks!
L.

[Navy_Mommy]

My dd (2) loves to take care of her baby dolls. She feeds, baths, puts them to bed, etc. So, I am referbishing my old doll cradle, and since we got a moses basket for her baby brother, I got her one that is for her dolls. That way, she can take care of her babies just like mommy is taking care of the baby brother.

[wombatclay]

How hard is it to find boy dolls?

Under the Nile makes a boy doll that is "toddler friendly" (I saw one yesterday... soft fabric, gentle blue color way, but I think the hat is attached to the head and the clothing doesn't come off) and I've seen a few "boy dolls" in the Groovy Girl collection at the local toy store (though this was a while ago... when we were there last week the dolls were all "girls").

There are also those fabric "anatomically correct" dolls but I don't know... some of those dolls are a bit creepy looking to me, and none of the fabric ones are exactly the sort of toy I'd expect to stand up to serious outdoor play.

ETA- though I've seen some anatomically correct infant boy dolls that are pretty spiffy. But they're not "toddler/young boy dolls" and I don't know if you're looking for a baby or a slightly older companion style doll.

[JuniperMama]

Just a quick update on what we ended up doing for our 5 year old boy...

I thought it would be really sweet to make him his own Build-A-Bear that he could hold and cuddle while I fed his sister, etc. Since the baby came 2 weeks early, we hadn't gotten this done before she arrived. Once I was home from the hospital, we told him that his baby sister wanted to get him a bear at Build-A-Bear and he said "ok" with about as much enthusiasm as if I'd said he was going to learn how to do our taxes. So, we asked him what he would like his big sister to get him instead and he said... wait for it...

Transformers and Dragons

Duh mom!!

Spoken like a true 5-year-old boy!

So the whole family made a very unusual trek to Toys R Us and he got 2 Transformers from the baby. Hey, whatever works I guess.

[redpajama]

Our little girl was born 10 days ago, and we *have* gifts for the older two, but I've held off on giving them to them, because my husband was home for the first week and they spent a night at their grandparents' house, and I decided to "save" the gifts for a "rainy day," so to speak--now that my husband is back to work and the kids have to sometimes be patient while I care for their little sister.

Anyway, for my 4.5-year-old son, we ended up getting a set of Fiddlesticks--like Tinker Toys, but made of wood.

And for our 2.5-year-old daughter, we got a doll and a set of face-painting crayons.