A Right Royal Christmas (Baby)

Hope on board the bandwagon vintage lovers! So, Kate and Wils are expecting and fingers crossed it's a little girl so we can see in the new succession law in style. I'm sure that they'll have the very best for their little one, but what are you buying your little ones this Christmas? Any vintage babies out there? I've found some things to inspire a gift with a difference for the retro couple and their kitsch kid. 

First of all, I love all of these old adverts from the turn of the century through to the 1950s as a source of inspiration!

Starting with the last advert from 1910 for teddy bears, you can do worse than look to Steiff  for a classic teddy bear for a little person. They're an investment though, the one below is a sweet £129.99. 

If you're after something a little more purse friendly, look no further than the high streets' firm favourite for gifts, Past Times. Full of trinkets, traditional wooden toys and games, beautiful vintage style packaging for kids young and old. These classic toys would make great stocking fillers or tree presents. These are my favourites, but there are so many affordable and interesting toys and gifts to look through, plus you get 10% off your first order!

Jacob's Ladder £6.00 Past Times

Traditional Drum £17.50 Past Times

Hobby Horse £18.00

Retro Robot £10.00  Past Times

Keeping with toys, I searched high and low for one of those classic dogs on wheels that you could push around. The only one for sale that I could find online was at an auction, the one below. Buying vintage whether it's clothes or toys requires a little extra rummaging and hard work! You can find the auction here.

This original advert for Slinky from 1957 is so pretty. I didn't realise the toy had been around for so long! A very vintage toy that every child should have at some point, yes? Start with a classic silver slinky, I always found those plastic rainbow ones tangled easier. It'll keep them entertained for at least an hour right?

Hamleys toy store £10.00

Now we need somewhere to put all of toys don't we? Keeping things clean and tidy doesn't happen by magic but keeping them in something a little bit shabby chic might just make it a bit better. This white bedroom set from Children's Toys and Gifts is rather sweet as it comes with matching chairs and tables for little girls to play with tea sets. 

Thinking of the very stylish classy elegant mothers out there, you can't have a new born without a Silver Cross Heritage Prams. They are certainly fit for a royal baby and I have no doubt in my mind that K-Mid will be rocking one of these. They aren't cheap, rolling in at a handsome £1050. Put your eyes back in their sockets.

One of our lovely traders, The Apple Bobber have a gorgeous collection of childrens' vintage clothing, accessories and furniture. These are some of the more recent additions to their collection, I particularly love the 70s dress with cuffed sleeves, make me one in my size please! They aim to bring treasures back from "once upon a time" and try to keep them in their original condition for as long as possible. How charming. Find their shop online at Etsy here.

If Mum or Dad are handy with a needle and thread or (more likely) a sewing machine then get searching through charity shops, antique and retro centres, eBay and dedicated sewing pattern shops for unique kids sewing patterns. These from So Vintage Patterns are very sweet, I love the boys suit! Vintage children's clothes are hard to find in wearable condition, so making your own is an ideal solution. 

No little girl is quite dressed without her little lace socks and black shiny school shoes. These from Debenhams are exactly right for school or parties.  So very cute.

Keeping your child perfectly accessorised in the very coolest of retro style, I am delighted to have found a pair of childs' tortoiseshell wayfarers from eBay! Amazing! And only £5.99.

Now vintage books are a big business, with first editions and signed copies and collectibles all over the place. If you are shopping for someone with very specific taste then see yourself over at ABE Books where some books reach thousands and thousands of pounds! Look at that Beatrix Potter one! Yikes!

 

But if you're buying for a little one, you can't go wrong with a classic tale, my pick would be The Tale of Peter Rabbit as you can't go wrong. This anniversary edition is very sleek too, but you can find so many designs and versions of this book online, buy the one below here for £7.99.

So then. I hope I've given you some ideas for all the kids this chrismtas. Oh yes they'll be wanting all the gadgets too but I reckon you could charm them into loving a traditional toy too. I wonder what the Royals will buy the new mouth to feed next year? 

Gina x