The holiday season is a time for children and it’s especially exciting for families who are celebrating baby’s first Christmas. There are traditional and not so traditional presents available for the youngest member of the household. Many of these baby Christmas gift items will be treasured for years to come. Of course, babies have been known to be more fascinated by the wrapping paper!

Simple toys are always appreciated, such as ring games, building blocks, bath toys or rattles. Sqeezy balls or anything that whistles, rings a bell or otherwise makes a noise will keep baby entertained while Mom and Dad cook the Christmas dinner.  After an exciting day, it may take baby a while to settle down and go to sleep. A mobile above the crib might do the trick, especially one that plays a soothing lullaby. A music box is another musical idea.  Some items can be personalized with a message or the baby’s name. There are my first Christmas baby blankets available in addition to teddy bears wearing t-shirts with Father Christmas. Some teddy bears sing a song or play a tune. A Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is another themed baby Christmas gift.

My first Christmas keepsake boxes are great for storing cards and other family mementos. There are also boxes to keep baby’s first hair curl or tooth. Baby can have his or her own stocking with their name on it. Pewter mugs and breakfast and dinner crockery sets are popular too. Sterling silver keepsake spoons or photograph albums or photograph frames are another baby Christmas gift idea. Relatives or friends may want to buy baby a bible or scripture book.

Some more unconventional presents are gaining in popularity. These are not ones that baby can unwrap but they do last a lifetime. For a memorable baby Christmas gift, there are companies that sell an acre of land on the moon or Venus. The gift contains a deed certificate and a property map showing the location of the land and detailing the mineral rights. In similar fashion, it is possible to name a star in honor of the new arrival. This comes with a presentation box, containing a certificate with the star’s name, a sky chart and a star plotter. For a more down to earth present, there is a dedicate a tree gift pack and baby helps conservation by having a tree planted in his or her name.

So what is a baby’s first Christmas stocking really all about? Is it the wonder of seeing Christmas through a newborn’s eyes… or something more?

The day my son was born was truly the best day of my life. All I could think about was the great responsibility I would have of raising him and how I wanted to make every day a happy one for him. Like most new parents, I was determined to document all of his “firsts” - smiles, words, teeth, steps, etc. - by taking plenty of photographs and home videos, and by keeping a diary of these major events. When the holidays came around, I wanted to make them extra special by inviting all of my friends and family over, exchanging lots of presents, and of course personalizing my baby’s first Christmas stocking.

I’m all about details, so I would never forget something as important as my baby’s first Christmas stocking. That’s because (when done right) a baby’s first Christmas stocking should serve as a treasured childhood memento that can be used year after year. So I definitely wanted to take the time to find the absolute perfect one for my son, or to have one custom-made, which is what I actually ended up doing.

Most of my recollections of my baby’s first Christmas stocking are still clear as day.

There are plenty of stores that offer parents the opportunity to personally design their baby’s first Christmas stocking. Since many of these stores are Internet-based, they operate year-round and process orders any time. In fact, this was one of my main considerations when choosing a store. I didn’t want to have to wait for the holiday rush to place my order and run the risk of my baby’s first Christmas stocking not arriving on time. Other things that I checked out before ordering my baby’s first Christmas stocking from a particular website included the quality of materials used, the length of time the store had been operating, detailed pictures of previously made stockings, and testimonials from satisfied customers. Although price was also on my radar, it wasn’t as important a consideration as these other factors. I wanted my baby’s first Christmas stocking to be special, and I was willing to pay nearly any price to get just that!

After a lot of painstaking research, I found a company that looked like it would do a fantastic job on my baby’s first Christmas stocking. I talked to the owner on the telephone, and she assured me that her staff would do everything in their power to make sure my baby’s first Christmas stocking exceeded all expectations. So I told her exactly what I had in mind for my baby’s first Christmas stocking and waited anxiously for her to complete the order.

When the finished product arrived, it took my breath away! My baby’s first Christmas stocking was truly beautiful would certainly bring my son years and years of joy. I can’t wait for the holidays to get here so we can hang that same Christmas stocking, once again, up by our fireplace.