Must Have December 2015 Finds For Babies and Kids
What Savvy Moms Are Buying This December
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We get it: as if you weren't buying enough stuff this month, we've got another list of must-have products to throw you off your budget! Still, it's not all about the holiday shopping list. This month, it's more than just about what you'll wrap up and place under the tree. For the savviest spenders, it's also about finding the newest toys that haven't even registered on those "best holiday gifts" lists and the sure-to-sell-out essentials families need to survive the coldest months to come. And it doesn't hurt to throw in a few items for Mom and Mom alone, right?
1 Skip Hop Stroll & Go Three-Season Footmuff
If you aren't excited about buying different stroller blankets for every change in weather, this versatile Skip Hop footmuff ($100) with shearling-lined hood offers the perfect level of warmth through Fall, Winter, and Spring, with a snap-on Winter layer for the drastically colder temps. What's more, when you head indoors, simply unsnap and roll away the outer layers for instant temperature control.
— Kate Schweitzer, moms editor
2 Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook
Home Alone is my absolute favorite Christmas movie, so I am super pumped about this 25th Anniversary illustrated storybook ($11, originally $19) featuring Kevin McCallister and the Wet Bandits in cartoon form. This is the perfect way to ease younger kiddos into the epic Christmas classic, or to relive the movie every night before bedtime during the holidays and beyond.
— Alessia Santoro, assistant moms editor
3 Bebe Au Lait Jersey Knit Nursing Scarf
A Bebe Au Lait nursing scarf ($25) is the gift that keeps on giving. Enjoy the soft cotton jersey fabric and surprising front-to-back coverage while you're nursing. But once you're done, use this chic infinity scarf to complete any outfit without giving it a second maternity thought.
— Lauren Levy, assistant moms editor
4 UNICEF Kid Power Bands
There are few toys or products this year that have me more excited than the UNICEF Kid Power Bands ($40). The bands work like most activity trackers but have the added benefit of a charity component too. For each UNICEF Kid Power Band purchased, Target will donate $10 to the US Fund for UNICEF. Families then download the Kid Power app and go on various "missions." Each mission teaches kids about different cultures around the world. As kids get moving, the band tracks their movements, earning them Kid Power Points. Points translate into funding by UNICEF's corporate sponsors, who purchase therapeutic food packets that are delivered to severely malnourished children around the world.
My kids have been wearing their bands for one week now (we were lucky enough to be early testers) and they love them. They compete to see how many steps they take each day and how many packs of food they're donating. The built-in watch means that teachers will allow them to wear the bands in school too — meaning they can continue to earn power points throughout the day. The combination of getting kids active and having them do some good makes this a bonafide must have (and go-to gift) in my book.
— Rebecca Gruber, moms director
5 Star Wars Chewbacca Pajamas
With the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens fast-approaching, get your little ones in the Star Wars spirit with silly Chewbacca one-piece pajamas ($30). Heck, you might as well let them wear it to the theater so you can put them right to bed after the final credits roll.
— KS
6 DIY Smartphone Projector
A gift for the entire family, this DIY smartphone projector ($32) can be put together with some help from older kiddos, and the whole gang can snuggle up in their cozy jammies to watch something together. All you need is a white sheet or wall (or a projector screen if you're super fancy) and you can watch anything on your phone anywhere you want.
— AS
7 June & January Knotted Headband
If you're in the market for a baby headband to keep your little one's hair out of her eyes, but you really can't stomach the stiff, scratchy "girly" ones at every baby store, look no further than the line of June & January knotted headbands ($5, originally $11). They're made from a cotton spandex blend that puts comfort first. And because they can be knotted to fit each baby's head shape, they are truly one-size-fits-all . . . and seriously cute.
— KS
8 Macy's Wish Writer
While the Macy's Wish Writer ($15) won't necessarily deliver your child the puppy they've secretly been wishing for, it is an undeniably sweet way to usher in the holiday season and help kids write their letters to Santa. The stylus works with a free app that is full of holiday-related games, but the best part is that it allows kids to digitally write letters to Santa and for each letter they send, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation — part of the company's $1 million campaign goal. Now that's a way to keep the magic alive throughout the season!
— RG
9 PhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer
'Tis the season for runny noses and considering how much your kids love playing on your phone, do your family a favor and invest in a PhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer ($20). While you hope to have quality family time over the holidays, the last thing you want is for everyone to be together sick in bed!
— LL
10 Bazzle Baby Banda Bib
The Bazzle Baby Banda Bib ($8) (say that five times fast) is a fashionable and functional solution for drooly babies. Whether your little is teething or just can't seem to keep the dribbles under control, this bib will keep moisture away from their skin (preventing irritation), dry quickly to keep them comfortable, and ultimately allow them to live their lives and drool in style.
— AS
11 4-in-1 smarTrike
The smarTrike ($99) starts as a push seat and grows with your little babe into a full-on tricycle to speed around town in. It makes taking walks around the neighborhood (with an alternative to your chunky stroller) a bit more fun and has one-touch steering so you can hold your favorite coffee mug in the other hand.
— AS
12 Kids' Holiday Ugly Sweater Pajama Set
What happens when you combine your kids' love for festive pajamas and your weakness for ugly holiday sweaters? The cutest holiday pajama set ($15) your kids will ever own — just think of the photo ops!
— LL
13 Fisher Price Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo
Even if Mom and Dad don't have rhythm, their little one can still learn some cool dance moves thanks to Fisher Price's Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo ($33). Just push one of the buttons on BeatBo's belly or feet to trigger a medley of toe-tapping songs. You can even record short phrases for BeatBo to remix into a catchy dance tune.
— KS
14 Onepiece Folklore Jumpsuit
Take Christmas jammies to the next level with one of these onepiece jumpsuits ($69 for baby, $109 for kids, $119+ for adults). They'll keep the whole family warm all winter, and honestly, the matching would make for a seriously cute holiday card photo (just sayin').
— AS
15 Shopkins Kinstructions Deluxe Supermarket Set — Town Center
Shopkins are the biggest thing to hit the elementary school set since, well, maybe the Rainbow Loom. Rather than just trade the characters now, the company is introducing construction sets — called Shopkins Kinstructions — just in time for the holidays. The Shopkins Kinstructions Deluxe Supermarket Set ($35) is like most brick-building construction sets with different sized pieces and detailed instructions to help them create scenes for their play — plus, they come with new figures too! The sets launch on Dec. 1.
— RG
16 Lemon 'Floral Blizzard' Slipper Socks
Never underestimate the power of a cozy pair of socks ($40), especially if they have skid-proof soles and will keep your entire legs warm. From chasing kids around on a cold morning to cuddling up during a cozy family movie night, these slipper socks will quickly become your footwear of choice.
— LL
17 Signorelli Coffee First Tee
Whether you opt to make this coffee first tee ($39) your coveted pajama shirt or rock it while running errands, this graphic top speaks volumes without you having to say a word. Who knows, the kids might take a hint and bring you a cup in bed before their morning barrage of questions!
— LL
18 Skylanders Missile-Tow Dive Clops
If your kid is into Skylanders, the Skylanders Missile-Tow Dive Clops ($13) must be on your radar. The holiday exclusive character slows down his enemies with with candy-coated missiles — how fun is that? He'll be available starting Dec. 2 — only at GameStop and EB Games!
— RG
