Calling All Parents Whose Kids Have January Birthdays!

If your little one has a January birthday, it can feel tricky.

With Christmas only having just happened, doing birthday gifts a few weeks later can feel like overdoing it. But birthdays are special. And with a bit of mindful planning, you can still make them feel magical, without falling into the trap of last-minute fallout from the Christmas chaos.

That’s why I love the idea of a post-Christmas gift guide, and this one is geared specifically towards toddlers turning three, as that’s the stage we’re in! 

It offers a chance to choose gifts that are useful, meaningful, and age-appropriate, rather than grabbing cheap toys because you have to.

Here are some of my top ideas, from practical to experiential, simple to sustainable.

Subscription Over Splurge: Introducing Bike Club

One of the smartest options for this age is to treat your toddler to a bike – but not in the usual “buy once” sense. Instead, consider a subscription-style bike with Bike Club.

With Bike Club you pay a monthly fee instead of a big upfront sum — which can be a real relief for family budgets stretched around Christmas. As your child grows, you can simply exchange the bike for the next size up, meaning you always have the right fit. No oversized bike lying redundant in the shed. 

Their balance bikes to first-pedal to pedal bikes progression matches toddler development beautifully.  

It’s also a more sustainable, eco-conscious option. Returned bikes are refurbished for reuse, reducing waste and avoiding the common issue of kids’ bikes ending up unused or in landfill.

And for busy parents, Bike Club offers door-to-door delivery and collection, making it super convenient. 

If you’re considering a Bike Club subscription, they have a handy ‘bike finder’ tool on their website that you can just put your child’s measurements into to find a bike that fits. 

Practical Doesn’t Mean Boring

I honestly believe that just because something is a necessity, it doesn’t mean it can’t be a gift. If your little one is anything like mine, you know the struggle of feeling like you need to buy socks, vests, winter coats, pyjamas, swim gear every 2 minutes!

And while yes, these are necessities, wrapping them up in nice paper transforms them into a birthday treat. Half the excitement for them at this age is opening the thing, not what’s inside.

Consider things like:

• Socks or vests with prints of their favourite characters, or bright colours
• A cosy winter coat or waterproofs
• Soft PJs or fun hats/gloves — things they’ll use daily
• A pool float for an upcoming holiday

These are all absolutely valid gifts – just because they serve another purpose, doesn’t mean they can’t be gifted. Sometimes, the most used items end up being the most treasured.

As a parent juggling corporate life, motherhood, and running a travel business, I’ve come to believe that experiences often beat physical toys, no matter the age.

Gifting an experience helps build memories and family connection rather than clutter. 

Things like a day out to a toddler-friendly attraction, a nature trip, a visit to the zoo or aquarium, or a messy-play session (mud kitchen, art afternoon, forest walk) can spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence. 

Even for younger ones, pairing a small tangible token (such as a soft toy, a hat, or a “welcome to the adventure” card) with the promise of the experience makes the gift feel real – something to look forward to, something to retrace through memories. 

Here are some ideas: a trip to Cbeebies Land, a zoo or aquarium visit, toddler-friendly theatre or farm day, a nature “explorers” outing with binoculars or a magnifying-glass, a child-size gardening or planting kit with a promise to prep the garden together, or a cosy indoor “arts afternoon” with paints, paper and snacks.

You can literally turn any experience into a gift. It just takes a little imagination.

It’s easy around birthdays to feel “I must get something big.” But for toddlers, that can lead to toy clutter, quick out-growing, and needless waste. Instead, mindful gifting means:

• Choosing quality over quantity. One or two well-thought-out gifts rather than a pile of “filler.”

• Prioritising functionality, development or experience over “just for the sake of a toy.”

Think about longevity and sustainability. Items that will last, or experiences that build memories rather than landfill.

Gift Type	Why It Works / What It Offers
Subscription balance bike (via Bike Club)	Grow-as-you-go, budget-friendly, encourages outdoor play & confidence
Warm socks, vests, cosy PJs, winter coat or waterproofs	Practical, daily-use essentials that feel special when wrapped and presented like a gift
A “birthday experience” voucher: day out to a zoo, farm, forest walk, soft-play or toddler-friendly park	Creates memories, encourages exploration and family bonding — no clutter
Simple wooden toys or open-ended play sets (blocks, puzzles, Montessori-style toys)	Durable, sustainable, encourages creativity and fine motor skills rather than screen time or plastic overload
Craft or art kit — finger paints, crayons, play dough, stickers, water painting set	Encourages creativity, concentration, imaginative play (and doubles as a rainy-day activity at home)
One-on-one “date”: a cosy trip to the park, local woodland, library story time, or a baking session just with parent and toddler	A low-cost, high-connection gift that says: “I want time with you”

Christmas comes with its fair share of pressure to spoil our children. But a birthday just weeks later can – if we let it – become a chance to reset: to choose gifts that align with our values, and to show children that gifts don’t always mean more “stuff.”

Whether you choose a subscription bike or a practical cosy jumper, what matters is the thought behind it. 

For a nearly-3-year-old, gifts shaped around comfort, growth, play and togetherness matter far more than flashy toys destined for the toybox graveyard.

I hope you’ve found this useful – good luck to all those with kids with birthdays close to Christmas!

Take care,

Laura x