Gift for newborn son?
April 3, 2007 2:21 PM Subscribe
Need a special gift idea for my newborn son...
I'm very excited to be having a baby boy in about a month. When my daughter was born 7 years ago, we bought a gold charm for her as a birthday gift and have gotten her a charm at each special occasion in her life. Now she has a rather nice bracelet and something that we will continue to add to as she grows. I was online, looking for a "big sister" charm for her when it hit me. "What can I do for my son?" I would like something similar but geared for a son. I thought about doing a bracelet for him too that he could gift to his future spouse but I think I need to do something 'for him'. Also, my daughter really enjoys adding to her bracelet so I'd like to do something that he could also take part in. Any hive ideas?
I'm very excited to be having a baby boy in about a month. When my daughter was born 7 years ago, we bought a gold charm for her as a birthday gift and have gotten her a charm at each special occasion in her life. Now she has a rather nice bracelet and something that we will continue to add to as she grows. I was online, looking for a "big sister" charm for her when it hit me. "What can I do for my son?" I would like something similar but geared for a son. I thought about doing a bracelet for him too that he could gift to his future spouse but I think I need to do something 'for him'. Also, my daughter really enjoys adding to her bracelet so I'd like to do something that he could also take part in. Any hive ideas?
My father has made a Christmas ornament with a picture of his children every year since I (the oldest) was born. Often times, the pictures incorporate a theme from that year, like a beach picture the year we moved to FL, a picture with a cardboard cutout of George Bush, Sr. when we were in DC, etc. Soon, we're going to need a bigger tree!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:51 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:51 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
An enamel pin collection? Though I'm not sure how many themes are available...
posted by defreckled at 2:58 PM on April 3, 2007
posted by defreckled at 2:58 PM on April 3, 2007
What about a collection of nice writing instruments, like fountain pens? You could start out with less expensive ones, and finally give him a really nice model for high school or college graduation.
posted by aebaxter at 3:01 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by aebaxter at 3:01 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
Plant a tree.
Then another.
Then another.
Green benefits, aethetic benefits, karmic benefits.
posted by Dizzy at 3:06 PM on April 3, 2007 [2 favorites]
Then another.
Then another.
Green benefits, aethetic benefits, karmic benefits.
posted by Dizzy at 3:06 PM on April 3, 2007 [2 favorites]
In my family my bother and I each get a Christmas ornament each year. (Yes, even now that we're 32 and 27.) :) Other things that my brother liked collecting when we were younger included enamel pins and patches. When he was about 8 his favorite possession in the world was a jacket with patches for all the places we had been. I don't know how well that would grow with him, unless you were committed to moving the patches to a new jacket as he grew.
posted by MsMolly at 3:07 PM on April 3, 2007
posted by MsMolly at 3:07 PM on April 3, 2007
It's a little different, but a OneShare might be a lovely gift -- the gift is one share of a company you pick, framed with an optional inscription. It's a nice "forward-thinking" kind of gift, and may be a great way to teach your son about finance as he grows older. Shares vary in price but it's roughly $70-$100.
As an added bonus, buying one share in many companies will qualify you to buy additional shares without any broker fees (it's called a Dividend Reinvestment Plan).
I bought one for my boyfriend and it was very nice quality - it's quite a well-done service.
posted by ukdanae at 3:09 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
As an added bonus, buying one share in many companies will qualify you to buy additional shares without any broker fees (it's called a Dividend Reinvestment Plan).
I bought one for my boyfriend and it was very nice quality - it's quite a well-done service.
posted by ukdanae at 3:09 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
I got an HO train car for my birthday from the time I was about 3 until I was a preteen. It was awesome. I wish my parents managed to keep it up. (I am a girl, but I'm assuming boys see trains as cool as well.)
(If he's got his own room, you could run a little track on a shelf around the ceiling around the perimeter of the room where he could see it from the crib, but couldn't reach it before he's old enough. (A family I nannied for had this in the play room and it was tres cool.))
posted by Gucky at 3:18 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
(If he's got his own room, you could run a little track on a shelf around the ceiling around the perimeter of the room where he could see it from the crib, but couldn't reach it before he's old enough. (A family I nannied for had this in the play room and it was tres cool.))
posted by Gucky at 3:18 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
Brio Trains. My brother-in-law is 21 and he still looks forward to getting a new piece every Christmas.
posted by alms at 3:26 PM on April 3, 2007
posted by alms at 3:26 PM on April 3, 2007
A good equivalent might be gold coins, such as the US buffalo piece. Other pocket wildlife: roos, pandas, and kiwis.
posted by rob511 at 3:59 PM on April 3, 2007
posted by rob511 at 3:59 PM on April 3, 2007
Second the tree. I planted a tree for my marriage and the birth of my daughter and will be planting one for my son.
posted by plinth at 5:44 PM on April 3, 2007
posted by plinth at 5:44 PM on April 3, 2007
My boyfriend's family did the toolbox for a a while and the ornament. The toolbox seems more in line with the charm idea for your daughter. Tietacks or cufflinks are also good.
It doesn't fit into the every year motiff, but I've also heard of buying a bottle of scotch that will be perfect to drink in 21 years and then open it with him on his 21st bday.
Congrats and good luck!
posted by nadawi at 7:04 PM on April 3, 2007
It doesn't fit into the every year motiff, but I've also heard of buying a bottle of scotch that will be perfect to drink in 21 years and then open it with him on his 21st bday.
Congrats and good luck!
posted by nadawi at 7:04 PM on April 3, 2007
There's something about the (ornamental) charms-for-her, (useful) tools-for-him scenario that seems a touch unfortunate, and not really suitably parallel. The enamel pins, on the other hand, seem like a great idea to me, very much in the same vein as the charm bracelet, and he can wear them individually or as a set on a winter coat.
posted by redfoxtail at 7:16 PM on April 3, 2007
posted by redfoxtail at 7:16 PM on April 3, 2007
I've used OneShare and would second it. It is a non-cluttery way to gift as well as incorporate lessons about the value of planning for the future. The trees are a good reason for the same reason.
posted by geekyguy at 12:21 AM on April 4, 2007
posted by geekyguy at 12:21 AM on April 4, 2007
I had a friend who got vintage port put aside each year, and was presented with 21 bottles in ascending age at his coming of age. Nice when he was a grown up, but probably no fun for a kid.
I got annual collections of stamps when I was a kid, they were OK.
I like the idea of a train carriage mentioned by Gucky.
posted by bystander at 12:29 AM on April 4, 2007
I got annual collections of stamps when I was a kid, they were OK.
I like the idea of a train carriage mentioned by Gucky.
posted by bystander at 12:29 AM on April 4, 2007
Along the lines of a stock for financial lessons, how about E-series bond each year? I had many of them given as gifts over the years that my parents kept for me...later used some for engagement ring purchase and house down payment.
For more sartorial reasons, how about each birthday he gets a very nice outfit (or just a well-made or tailored shirt). By the time he's older and in high school, he's ready to impress. (And Mom and Dad can keep the infant/toddler clothes for memories' sake.)
posted by fijiwriter at 6:46 AM on April 4, 2007
For more sartorial reasons, how about each birthday he gets a very nice outfit (or just a well-made or tailored shirt). By the time he's older and in high school, he's ready to impress. (And Mom and Dad can keep the infant/toddler clothes for memories' sake.)
posted by fijiwriter at 6:46 AM on April 4, 2007
When our baby was born I gave my wife a nice bracelet (that matched a necklace I got her for Xmas a few weeks before). I figured she'd been through a lot and deserved something nice. Scored some points in the process.
posted by trbrts at 9:14 AM on April 4, 2007
posted by trbrts at 9:14 AM on April 4, 2007
(For people who do this, it's a lovely tradition - but please don't be offended if your kid grows out of it. It can be a drag to KNOW you're getting a gift you don't really want every year and your parents are terribly excited about it.)
posted by agregoli at 9:23 AM on April 4, 2007
posted by agregoli at 9:23 AM on April 4, 2007
Stocks, cufflinks, clothes, alcohol all seem great to adults, (how many sets of cufflinks could a 6 year old possibly need?) but I can't imagine a child looking forward to adding to that collection! The model train idea, however, sounds wonderful. I know some of my husband's favorite memories were working with his dad on his model train set.
posted by platinum at 4:28 PM on April 5, 2007
posted by platinum at 4:28 PM on April 5, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:35 PM on April 3, 2007