Where would we be without ashley g? We adore her work and no gift list would be complete without adding one of her prints to it, particularly for those future art collectors out there. “Hopes and Dreams” just barely makes our list at $20, but we had to include it because it’s so adorable. We like the colors of this sweet little print and it will look great with the other ashley g prints currently residing in our kiddos’ rooms. This is a print of an original illustration in ink then digitally colored and printed on archival velvet fine art stock using archival pigment ink. Each print is signed and sealed in a protective sleeve in a bend-proof fiberboard mailer. Measures 7 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ including a .625″ white border perfect for framing. $20 at ashley g and drews’ etsy shop.

We love Harper. She’s one versatile little hippo. A rattle and safe teether in one made by the loving hands at Little Alouette. Harper tops our list of gifts under $20 because she’s a great looking, extremely durable, super smooth to the touch and an eco-friend. This wooden toy is constructed from Ohio maple and is finished with certified flax seed oil making Harper the healthiest rattle we’ve seen. Hole handle is perfect for little hands learning to rattle and a chunky mouthful, too, during teething times. Measures 5 1/2″  x 2 1/2″. Great gift and a toy that can be passed on and on. Price is perfecto.$16.00, here.

Our kiddos were born swimmers and bath time lovers, so we thought. Lately, we can’t get them to stay in the bathtub for even a quick scrub-a-dub without major coaxing and new bath toys. These floating ducks by kid-o were a big hit and allowed us a little time to clean behind the ears. Hooray. We think this mama and duckling pair would be a sweet and universal gift for just about any wee one. They double as a stacking toy and store efficiently, too. When not in the water this pair gently rocks on a hard surface, so sweet. Perfect for rookie bathers, but not sure about plastic, so no chewing please. $12.00, here.

We’ve come to the conclusion that we need more bubbles in the world and because so, we think they make a great stocking stuffer and gift under $20. In fact, as far as value goes, bubbles are the best bang for your buck. We first learned about Pustefix bubbles during Book Babies at the library. We watched in awe as the children’s librarian transformed the room. In mere seconds little bodies (and grown ups, too) began to squirm in delight and coo as beautiful long-lasting rainbow bubbles danced around the room. Ever since we’ve been hooked on the instantaneous smiles and wonder these perfect orbs produce, especially during the fussiest of times. You just can’t go wrong with bubbles. Non-toxic, made in Germany. Consider purchasing the inexpensive 2.3 ounce travel size and 8.3 ounce refillable container. Yep, we bought a few. One for our diaper bag and long holiday waits at the airport and one for home.$2.20, here.

The papa in this cleeo & bea family has a thing for horse shoes and thought this was a pretty nifty starter set for our young tot. Schylling’s rubber horse shoes are perfect for wee hands learning to “pitch”. It’s completely kid safe  for the 3 + crowd and if you’re family is anything like ours this game will encourage a little friendly family competition. Simple set up, great for indoor and outdoor play. Set includes 2 sets of horse shoes and 2 pins. Tops our list of great gifts under $20 for kitsch and old school factors, plus price is so right. Good stuff. $9.95, here.

Pugs are pretty cute, we have to admit. They kind of remind us of older gentlemen who enjoy afternoon cocktails and the New Yorker. This pug, however, is a bit of a rascal. He’s a skilled juggler, but also has a few very pesky habits. He gets drunk on soda, burps a lot and has a thing for pooping on the carpet. We can’t tell you what else happens in this story, you’ll just have to find out for yourselves, but we will tell you that our toddler thinks “The Juggling Pug” is hilarious and so doo we (wink). The words written by Sean Bryan are ridiculously funny and the drawings by Tom Murphy are perfect. This is a great gift for any family. Fun read that, believe it or not, does have a message. $15.99, here.

We’ve been drooling over Jayme McGowan of Roadside Project’s work for a while now. And this one, though it would be super cute in our kiddo’s room, might just be on this cleeo & bea mama’s personal wish list. McGowan’s paper cuts drive us crazy (in the best way possible) for so many reasons. Each 3D piece allows us to peer into a world filled with whimsy, flowers, birds and people performing interesting acts. The people remind us of paper dolls, but not the kind of paper dolls we grew up with. These are very intricately constructed with layers of  beautifully printed paper and the details are fantastic. This is a print of original artwork by Jayme McGowan. One of our favorites, “Carried by Birds” is printed on Epson professional grade photo paper with Epson ink, moisture and scratch resistant archival paper and has a luster finish (soft gloss) for vivid color that gives the 2D printed image as much life as the original 3D illustration. Prints can be found at the Roadside Projects etsy shop for $15.00, but another nifty option we found has been mounted for us on plywerk for $50.00 which is to die for, at fawn & forest. Looks modern and feels vintage, love it.

Recently, we went to a montessori teacher’s house and she brought out this Melissa & Doug lock & latch puzzle for our toddler to play with. Our kiddo loved it so much, we had to buy one, and quickly. Since then, we’ve realized this puzzle is a serious kid magnet. Every kiddo who’s come to our house to play goes straight for it. There are a few styles, but we like this one for its numbers and colors. It adds an extra educational step for our tots and is a load of fun. Before toddler opens up a door, we ask her to identify the house’s color, the number on the outside and then once the latch is opened, we count the animals on the inside, like 6 orange fish. It’s great! Completely kid safe, but probably best for toddlers and up. Perfect for travel, too, since doors are hinged to the board, so no chance of losing puzzle pieces. Super. If you can’t find it locally, $24.99 new, here.

Calling all big brothers and sisters. This beco mini carrier is a lifesaver and is on our list of holiday picks, because we’ve heard from other mamas with newborns and toddlers that a carrier of ones own really helped with the transition to older sibling. Especially, for those eager little helpers who need to care for and carry something, too. A mini carrier is also perfect for any animal or baby obsessed kiddo and eliminates having to bring the dolly stroller on walks. beco’s mini carrier is just as lovely as the butterfly carrier for adults, but as expected, not as detailed. It can be worn on kiddo’s front or back and can carry any dolly or stuffed buddy. Older kids may be tempted to carry a small dog or cat, but it’s likely not recommended. Darn. Fun prints to choose from, just like the larger carrier. Easy to put on. Good looking and durable. Love it. $29 at beco.