SingaporeMotherhood | Parenting
December 2014
Editor’s Picks: 12 Gifts of Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we’ve been scouting around to find good stuff in stores and out there this Christmas for mums, dads, babies, kids, and all who have love in their hearts. Perhaps you’ll find something to put under the tree – for yourself – too!
[banner][/banner]
For the Littliest Ones
Even tiny humans can be superheroes. What better way to start than with the right outfit? We love Bonds Wondersuits for babies. This classic Australian icon has evolved over time with a unique blend of organic cotton rich fabrics and viscose bamboo to keep new arrivals snug. They’re light enough to keep Baby cool and comfy in our climate as well. Practical features like the cozy cuff-feet and the new zip design allow for easy dressing and quick nappy changes, something every parent will appreciate, we’re sure!
From $29.90 for newborns up to children 2 years old, available at Robinsons (The Heeren, Raffles City and Jem).
For Mums (and babes) on the Move
A hipseat that makes carrying your baby or toddler feel as light as air? Korean parents have been enjoying this for years and now, parents in Singapore can too. The Todbi Air Motion Hipseat Carrier ($299) is specially designed for mothers who experience lower abdomen pain from long hours of carrying their babies or for those who are healing from the wounds caused by a caesarean birth. Air implants located at the bottom half of the hipseat carrier effectively distribute the baby’s weight around the mother’s hips, increasing comfort so parents can carry and bond with their babies for a longer time. We’re also pretty awed by the 3D Style Plus ($299) which was designed with the Asian mum’s smaller pelvis in mind, as well as the Fly-B ($239 – what a stylish name!) which, at 670g, is the lightest hipseat carrier in the market. Just what a travelling mum would need, yes?
Available at Mothercare in various colours. More product details here.
For Animal-Loving Fashion Mavens
Cool clothes for boys are not as easy to find as the same for girls. Agree, mums? That’s why we’re in love with Le Petit Society’s collections, which take into consideration those who are made of “snips and snails and puppy-dogs’ tails”. The Whimsical Safari capsule collection, launched earlier this year, exudes a zany and playful vibe, with bespectacled animals taking centrestage in the designs. Parents and kids can do the ‘matchy-matchy’ too, as some items in this collection come in adult sizes – specially to let daddy or mummy embrace their, ahem, animal instincts. We also love that this brand of chic and affordable luxury clothing is founded by a Singaporean husband-and-wife team. Local brands rock!
Enjoy 40% off past seasons + an additional 10% discount on both new and past seasons with the code LEPETITSOCIETY. Details here.
For the Hostess with the Mostest
What do you give to the woman who already has everything? Why, more of everything, of course! In this case we’re talking everything to do with celebration and festivity and the spreading of joy to others. We love the designer-styled photo-ready party ware at Celebrate Heaven. And to make things even easier, they’ve put these in hamper baskets together with a selection of gastronomic treats, taking the hassle out of Christmas shopping. It’s the perfect present to cart to a party, we say!
From $79.90 for the Knitted Noel (bottom right of picture), at Celebrate Heaven.
For Stylish Families
It’s 42 years old and still a stunner, selling its 9 millionth this year. Design and function come together like kaya and butter in the ever-popular Stokke Tripp Trapp®, the chair that grows with the child. This year’s addition to the Tripp Trapp® palette is Storm Grey, a cool, sleek, elegant neutral that complements all interiors. Everything else about this classic remains: it’s made from quality European beech wood and the seat and footplate can be easily adjusted for a growing child, offering a comfortable seat that can be used (with additional accessories) from birth well into adulthood. Now that’s what we call a good investment!
$399 (RRP, available at Mothercare, Motherswork and Mums & Babes (compete store list)
For Playtime Believers
Experts say that children need play. Play is important because it helps children to make sense of their environment and the people around them. Some experts also say that play makes babies smarter. So here you go: the perfect reasons to splurge on toys for all the kids! There’s no need to squeeze with the hordes in shopping centres though. We’re surfing in the comfort of home thanks to online toy store My Little Shoppers, which has a wide range of learning toys for age groups, newborns to nine-year-olds. We like how we can browse by age or by category. Check out their Christmas Specials too, and opt for the Christmas gift wrapping service to make gifting even more convenient!
Visit My Little Shoppers here.
For Colourful Builders
You can never go wrong with LEGO. But how about taking your LEGO gifting one step further by offering the hands-on child the opportunity to choose his or her own bricks? The one and only LEGO Certified Store in Singapore has just opened at Suntec City. It’s also the only store in Singapore to have the popular Pick-A-Brick Wall. This is a custom-built fixture with round canisters, each filled with LEGO bricks and elements, where shoppers can hand-pick and select LEGO pieces in different shapes and colours. Gift a $19.90 cup which can hold an estimated 125 to 175 pieces, or the bigger $34.90 cup which can hold up to 375 pieces. How to pick? Here’s an excellent article on teaching children the values of patience and preparation by using the LEGO Pick-A-Brick wall experience. And that’s an added gift on top of the actual gift, isn’t it?
Singapore’s first-ever LEGO Certified Store is at #03-364/365 Tower 3, Suntec City Mall.
For Culinary Feast Creators
Mekhala Living’s Basil Garlic Paste is our new kitchen weapon. Packed with fresh organic Thai basil, garlic and spices, this paste will flavour meat, vegetables and even noodles, pasta or rice. We tried the Basil Garlic Chicken Wings recipe at home and it was a hit with the kids! They loved the taste, I loved the fact that this convenient gourmet-in-a-jar concoction is gluten-free, vegan, uses organic ingredients, and has absolutely no artificial preservatives, colours or flavors. We’ll be attempting the Basil Garlic Gyoza next, and checking out the rest of Mekhala’s culinary catalogue. After-school meals for next year? Sorted. Love it!
$7.80 (200g) at Mekhala Living’s online store or #02-k57, Pasarbella@The Grandstand.
For Memory Keepers
The Girlfriend’s pregnant for the first time. Another one has just given birth to her first. Your other mum friend is always so busy taking care of her children, she has no time to think about making a record of their days together, let alone meet up for a cuppa. Why not gift them with a photography package to preserve these precious moments? One Little Owl’s Studio Classic Xmas Promo ($180) is an hour-long studio shoot for a family of four to five people, with one S8R print and three pieces of 5R prints. We also like the pregnancy, baby, and family photography styles at Memoire & Co., and the fashion mag ones at Attitude Photography. There’s a style for every kind of mum and family. How about doing one for your own as well?
For Clueless Toy Gifters
Hey I’m one of them too. That’s why I’m thankful for Hasbro Christmas Toyland, Hasbro Singapore’s e-Catalogue that helps you to pick out toys according to the recipient’s profile and sorts out presents according to gender, age, price and brands using a customised search tool. Who’d have thought that toy buying could be so easy?
Try the Hasbro Christmas Toyland e-Catalogue here.
For the (Grand)Parents
Apart from you, they’re probably the ones who love your child the most. In fact, they’d do anything for their grandchildren. So do think about gifting them richly this Christmas by sending them away – to be luxuriously pampered mind, body, and soul. Air travel can be turbulent, especially for seniors, so why not pamper your folk with a luxury train experience on the Eastern & Oriental Express? The seven day, six night Fables of The Peninsula (from S$10,070 per person) journey offers tranquillity and nature, culture and a city experience, including a first night at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, an overnight stay at Cameron Highlands Resort in Cameron Highlands, the highest point in peninsular Malaysia, a Penang tour, a Cultural visit to the rural community of Baan Huay Yang, sunbathing at the island of Koh Chaan, and a boat ride to coastal Nishaville for a beach BBQ. The two-night Ancient Kingdom of Lanna (from S$3,310 per person) trip includes a Lampang tour on its trademark horse-drawn carriages, Thai cookery demonstrations, arts and crafts showcases on Chiang Mai’s Lanna heritage.
The inaugural ‘Fables of The Peninsula’ journey from Singapore to Bangkok departs on 29 March 2015. The ‘Ancient Temples of Lanna’ journey departs on its inaugural journey on 15 October 2015 from Bangkok to Chiang-Mai.
For Anyone & Everyone Else
What we love about Crabtree & Evelyn? You can’t go wrong. There’s something here for everyone – the domestic goddess, the gourmand, the groomed, and (especially) the unkempt (haha). This year’s Christmas catalogue is a Seasonal Spectacular that brings together a botanical bounty from all four corners of the world. There are candles and fragrance diffusers to warm and spice the air, the brand’s signature toiletry gift sets, as well as a selection of festive foods packaged in beautiful limited edition gift tins, boxes, and hampers. Want to gift something beautiful? You’ll find it here.
The Crabtree & Evelyn 2014 Christmas Collection is available at all 12 stores island wide. See more here.
All images courtesy of their respective organisations. Do not reproduce without permission.
All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeMotherhood.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for the latest article and promotion updates.
