Little Local Gifts - My Holiday Wish List For Baby

The holidays are so much more exciting now that my house includes a little one. I wish I had filmed Elliott's reaction to seeing our Christmas tree fully decked-out for the first time (believe me, it was priceless). It's so heartwarming to be able to share all of our Christmas traditions with him, and that of course includes opening presents.

You folks know how passionate I am about supporting Canadian companies and local makers, especially around the holiday season. While it's certainly easy to hop into your local big box store and grab the latest trendy toy, there's something special about buying handmade. It's unique, it's often times more sustainable, and you're helping to support the talented folks in your community! Doesn't that just fill you with warm & fuzzy holiday spirit?!

Since most of my Christmas budget is dedicated to spoiling my kid rotten, I wanted to share what's on my wish list in case you happen to be shopping for a little one too! From nursery decor to snuggly toys and more! (if you're looking for Canadian-made baby clothes, hop on over to my shopping guide full of gender neutral options)


Woodwood Toys Montessori Counting Board - $79.99 CAD 

This counting board caught my eye for its gorgeous colour palette and versatility. Though it was hard to choose just one toy to feature from WoodWood Toys because I love EVERYTHING on their site!!

This Toronto-based company specializes in hand-crafted Montessori-style toys from rainbow stackers to play food. These are built to last, and are a much more sustainable option than mass-market plastic toys. They even have a selection of pre-loved and classic vintage toys that will give you all the nostalgic feels.

Update: The lovely folks at Wood Wood Toys have setup a special promo code for my readers! Use code DOLLANDDYE at checkout to receive 15% your order of $20.00 or more!

Nix & Vi Felt Banners  - Contact For Prices

Elliott's nursery is pretty minimalist; in that I haven't done too much in terms of decorating. But that's due to the fact that I'm both super picky & inherently lazy.

I stumbled upon Nix & Vi thanks to one of my Facebook mom groups, and I have been fawning over their designs ever since! Because all of the designs are custom made, the possibilities are endless. Though I'm dreaming of a bee-themed banner for my lil' honey's room, my personal faves have to be the Labyrinth themed mobile  and shark taxidermy head (complete with donut, of course)!

Drake General Store Arborist Kids Table Onesie - $34.95 CAD

My grandma always gifted my siblings and I new pajamas on Christmas eve. While she is sadly no longer with us, I am honoring her memory by keeping this tradition alive. This adorable onesie by Arborist is exclusive to Drake General Store (named for The Drake Hotel in Toronto, not the rapper), which stocks their shelves with classic Canadiana gifts for all ages.

If the cute food-print pattern doesn't fill you with warm fuzzy feelings, the incentive behind these onesies certainly will. What makes these PJs extra special is that a portion of the proceeds are donated to Sick Kids Hospital, and features designs hand-drawn by some of the patients. That little ham drawing just got ten times cuter!

Plus if you wanna get the whole fam matching on Christmas morning, this also comes in kids & adult sizes!


Baby Octopi Signature Crochet Octopus - $22 CAD for Mini size, $24 CAD for Regular size

Everybody needs a cuddle buddy, and Baby Octopi has created the ultimate comfort creature. Literally!  The tentacles on these adorable crocheted seacreatures are designed to mimic umbilical cords. And because there are no small parts, they're perfectly safe for even the youngest babies to snuggle.

While this ten-tentacled cutie is intended for newborns, I can't help but want one for Elliott's stuffed toy collection. Plus it'll be great to have on hand for any future little ones we welcome in the future (no, I'm not expecting again. Don't get too excited!).


Coco Village Caravan Playhouse - $379.99 CAD

If you're looking to add some more whimsy to your playroom, you've got to check out the playhouse selection over at Coco Village. I'm a sucker for all things kitschy and retro, so this mid century-style caravan is majorly tugging at my heartstrings! All the little details from the roll-up door, window awning and even the sweet bunting banner help transform an ordinary space to a imaginary weekend getaway. You can even add to the fun with their campfire playset, too! How's that for a staycation?

While this is the largest item on my wish list (both in size and price point), everything from Coco Village is shipped from Montreal, so you can avoid those sneaky customs & import fees.


Cozy Pocket Designs Toy Carrier- Starting at $24.95 CAD

There is nothing worse than fumbling & digging through a diaper bag for a specific toy when you've got a fussy baby on your hands. I swear, the things you need the most always find their way to the bottom of the bag in the most inconvenient times!

Thankfully this crafty Ottawa business has created a cute & compact solution! These toy carriers double as a playmat and are great for stashing toys while you're out & about. If you're one of the lucky few that are traveling to warmer destinations over the holidays, this is a great way to keep the kiddos entertained during those long flights.




Are you shopping for little ones this year? What's on your holiday wish list? Tell me in the comments!
Happy holidays!

-Tori