Christmas is coming?

Yes, Christmas is coming.. And we are starting to think about gifts.
(Not that gifts would be all that Christmas is about. :D No, we take Christmas very seriously.)

But it's so hard to figure out, what to get for Adelaide! She is so little.. Doesn't anyway understand the concept of gifts yet. And also, she doesn't need anything much yet.

Same time, soon.. once she starts sitting and can actually play a bit more with toys, as oppose to just chewing on something, she might need some good quality, useful, essential stuff. And even though I have observed some great parenting examples, as well as read a number of blogs about this, now, if I actually have to make a decision, what a 6-month old might need.. It's difficult.

So if you have any suggestions, comments are welcome!

Here's what I'm thinking..

In the blog How we Montessori, it seems to say, that the first essential things around 5-6 months are:

• A weaning table and chair (which means a small table and chair, that a baby can use him or herself as soon as he or she learns to sit, even before walking. A baby can eat and drink at it, and later do all kinds of kitchen, cooking activities, so called "practical life")

I really do want to get this kind of a set. Maybe not for eating at first, because we are not planning to do a traditional "Montessori weaning", but this BLW, where a baby sits in a highchair at the table together with all the family during mealtime (eating together as a family is important to me). I'm planning to involve her in all kinds of cooking activities though, as soon as possible, and then this will be very necessary. But this will not be cheap, have to search for the best offers.

• A soft Montessori ball is another thing I see everywhere.. Actually I have heard it's not hard to sew it yourself, so maybe I will do that. And also, one of the main things in the toy shelf could be a basket, full of all kinds of balls. (OBall, this ball, and others..)

• Melissa and Doug have so nice toys.. Could have them all. (So if you need a gift idea, Melissa and Doug is a good way to go, I think.) Some of the most popular items for babies are these:

This flower for babies, people seem to like it

All kinds of cylinders seem popular for babies, who learn to crawl

•  Some of the must-haves, but is it too early for those?

A pyramid would need. I would want to have the most basic at first - with some 4 parts. Then, later, a bigger one.
Or maybe a Montessori pyramid-tower straight away?

Same with this, would like some very basic one at first. Later can have a more complicated one.

• A popular item, it seems, that children love, and it's great for stacking things into each other - a matryoshka! Have to go to the Old Town and get some..

•  Or wooden eggs with a holder? I might just give some boiled eggs to play before eating..

•  A permanence box we are already getting..

•  The Blog The Kavanaugh Report has some great ideas for toys..

Stacking cups?

First building blocks?

• Maybe some baby books? We would need ones in Latvian, and in Estonian as well..

• One thing I was thinking about, was the walking wagon.. Now, we don't make babies walk earlier than they are ready and able to do it themselves. But this wagon, meaning - something that baby can hold on to and push, helps them to learn to walk, when they are ready. It's totally up to the baby to use it. But they seem to like it. Some are very expensive, but some, like from Ikea, are cheap.. However, it's a little while still, until she starts walking, so maybe no rush with this. Maybe for the spring or summer.

Is there more? So.. What to choose?! 

* It seems I have gone more Montessori with this.. And must agree, Montessori way is more difficult and more expensive. To buy all of this stuff..
Waldorf, that would be so much easier.. Get her some pine cones, some silks, wooden blocks..