Milestones In Our Children's Lives

The first year in your baby’s life is filled with a lot of firsts. Watching your child roll over for the first time is probably the first of those, making it even more special for many parents.

Generally, by about four months old, your baby will develop the upper body strength to move their arms and propel themselves up and over from their bellies onto their backs. It can happen as early as three months, but most infants will have mastered the movement by the time they are six months old. Developing those muscles is one of the reasons “Tummy Time” is so important.

Because it’s hard to anticipate exactly when this might occur, this one is usually a surprise for parents. It can be a surprise for your child as well! They may startle themselves with the action. Don’t worry, it won’t be long before they start sitting up on their own as well!

An expected but not always easy to anticipate milestone, crawling usually starts somewhere around the age of nine months, though an infant can start as early as seven months! As babies gain more motor control, they begin to test their newfound strength and explore their surroundings with zeal (and without an understanding of their limits or safety, which can bring some parental anxiety in the beginning, even amid the pride and joy.

One of the most fun things for parents to discover in this process is how exactly your baby most enjoys crawling. Do they prefer the commando-style belly crawl by pulling themselves along with their arms? Or maybe the bottom scoot where they sit upright on their bottom and use their legs to scoot along the floor? There are many types of crawling for them to begin to explore!

Perhaps the biggest early milestones for any child, your baby’s first steps are more than just a fleeting moment you don’t want to miss. They are the first real moments of independence your child experiences. From the moment they stand up for the first time, you know it’s coming.

That initial cruising around by holding onto the furniture is just the beginning. Because once those steps start, it’s only a matter time before they’re toddling around and then they’re off to walking and, eventually, running. Catching those first steps is an incredible experience for your child – and for yourself – that marks the beginning of childhood in many ways.

When it comes to gift-giving opportunities, you may consider getting those first part of baby shoes bronzed for the occasion. While your toddler won’t appreciate them at that moment (or likely for a long time afterward), it makes for a great keepsake for your home and is one that can be passed down to future generations of your family.

Waiting for your child’s first words brings excited anticipation to new levels! It’s the most awaited milestone for many parents because it signifies growth in your baby’s cognitive development. It’s also around the same time when their personalities begin to shine through.

Most babies begin to transfer from simple “baby talk” into their first few easy words (like “mama” or “dada”) by the time they reach 12 months. However, it isn’t until they are 18 months that their vocabulary expands enough to include more basic language that is easily recognizable to others.

Teething is a difficult time for everyone in your household. However, the emergence of a baby’s first tooth is still a cause to celebrate! Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months old, though it can happen as early as 3 months or as late as a year.

We might recommend a few new teething rings would be the most appropriate gift for this milestone. As chewing is the best way to help alleviate teething symptoms, it will make everyone’s life a little easier to have a few more appropriate things on hand for the time being.

We aren’t sure if this milestone is more nerve-wracking for the parents or the children (though we have a hunch that it’s probably the parents in this case). The first day of school is a huge day for your child, as it’s very likely their first experience with a large group of kids their own age for such a long time. It may also be the first time they spend that much time away from their family.

One of the best gifts for your kids is one that will jumpstart their excitement for the experience. The first day of kindergarten is absolutely a milestone worth celebrating. We love these adorable Pico Backpacks featuring animal designs on the back. They are sure to delight your little one on their big day!

This isn’t a milestone we ever considered in our youth but today, a child’s first cell phone is a huge and exciting milestone for them. Most contemporary research suggests the prime age where a child needs a cellphone is around 12-13. That might seem early for some of us who didn’t reach the digital era until a bit later but in today’s world, your child may need that phone more than you think.

Ultimately, you’re already giving your kids a great gift with this one. If you’d like to go a little above and beyond, you might consider picking up a few accessories to go with them.

Picking up a durable phone case is the first step to making sure the device will last while something as simple as a Pop Socket phone grip may help them personalize their device.

Most of us can remember the day we first got behind the wheel of a car. It’s exhilarating and also a little scary. Learning to drive is a milestone that offers any teenager the gift of further independence and prepares them for adulthood.

Even if a vehicle isn’t in your kid’s immediate future, there are plenty of other options for great gifts for this milestone, especially after they pass their driving test!

When it comes to the quintessential American teenager experience, there is nothing quite like the prom. Teens often consider it one of the biggest nights of their high school years and it’s always one to be remembered.

Giving your teenager a gift for this night isn’t always expected but it can be an opportunity to give them a nice present just for being them. You could help pay for the tickets or the corsages and bouquets, for example! For your teenage son or daughter, it might be a good choice to rent them a limo or other vehicle to take them to and from prom. Not only does it give them the chance to travel in style, but it also lets you know they’ll be safe on the road for their big night!

There’s nothing quite like young love, is there? Whether your child is experiencing that early puppy love of middle school or they reach their teenage years before they meet someone to spend more time with, the time will come when they begin dating.

If this relationship lasts longer than a few months and the holidays draw close, you may begin to consider getting a gift for that significant other. While this might be stressful if you don’t know that person a lot, there are several thoughtful gifts you could consider for the occasion.

You can always consider a pair of movie tickets as a gift for the couple, or even a gift card to a place you know they like to visit.

High school graduation is, most likely, the last teenage milestone for most. It is one of the biggest events of their life and one that bridges their teen years into the rest of their adult lives.

To be frank, the most common graduation gift for your kids is money. As they take those first few steps into true adulthood, one of the biggest things that can help them on their journey is extra cash. However, it’s perfectly fine if you don’t feel like that is the right option for your family, or you may want to add something else for the occasion. The options for grad gifts are endless and may depend on your child’s personality.

Going off to college is a bittersweet milestone for many parents, as it means your children are leaving the house and moving into their own lives. While the prospect might be daunting to everyone involved – parents and kids alike – it’s incredibly exciting, too. It’s a bit like the first day of school all over again, isn’t it?

Practical gifts are the status quo for this milestone. Something versatile and portable (especially if they are moving away to attend school) is key. Maybe you’d consider getting them an upgraded bag to take them from the classroom to the office, a drink tumbler with the school’s logo, or maybe a highly customizable planner to take with them wherever life takes them next.

Weddings are always an exciting affair. That is doubly so when it’s your family involved in the occasion. While marriage isn’t the culmination of life’s goals today than it once was, it still is an important milestone for everyone involved. Marriage is still a turning point in the couple’s lives!

Traditionally, expected gifts for the occasion would include items for the new couple’s home or life together. As many couples often live together before the wedding these days (and have fully furnished homes already), many opt for more personal gifts instead.

Your children have worked hard to get where they are and when they begin to experience that first rush of success, you’re no doubt going to very proud of them! Why not acknowledge all their hard work and dedication to their career by getting them a gift that just says “I’m Proud of You”? For this occasion, you may want to look at professional gifts that resonate with their chosen field!

Someone in the medical field will love a new pair of scrubs or a great pen to take all the notes they’ll be taking at work. For someone who works with their hands and has a more physical job, you might consider investing in a good pair of work boots for them. They’ll need something durable and comfortable for their job – check out this list of great brands to choose from!

Just imagine! Your child is having a child of their own. Welcoming a new life into the family is an amazing milestone. While you’re going to be just as excited for each grandchild that comes along and likely eager for the next, first time you become a grandparent is a very special occasion. After all, it takes a village to raise a child, doesn’t it?

This is a time when most gifts new parents received are oriented to the new baby. After all, there are so many unexpected needs new parents experience in those first frantic weeks; diapers, clothing, bedding, toys, and furniture are only the most obvious of many. They’ll likely have a registry for their most needed items you can choose from.

Congratulations! You’ve done it! Your child had passed the first year and is now quickly approaching toddlerhood. This is a big day for most parents, though our kids don’t necessarily understand all the fanfare.

While cake and maybe (we stress that this is an option and to be handled with extreme care) a candle for the baby, there are some great ideas for party gifts that are fun and functional at the same time! Educational toys are great options for first birthday gifts. They are both fun while helping your child’s developmental progress. What’s more, this is the time they grow out of the baby toys.

This is it. It’s finally the day your child becomes an adult. Are you looking forward to it, dreading it, or maybe just a little bit of both? This is one of the biggest milestones for your kids, as it’s the moment the world opens up to them with endless possibilities. Of course, you’ll want to celebrate in style!

At this age, experiences may be the best gifts for your child. They probably have a lot of physical belongings and, if they are adventurous in any way, they’re likely to enjoy something out of the box. You could plan a trip to an amusement park, a whitewater rafting trip, or even guitar or music lessons of their choice!

In the Christian church, baptism is a rite of admission and adoption, signifying that a person is joining the faith. These are usually performed when an infant is very young – usually just a few months old – and are performed by sprinkling or pouring water over the person’s head. For adults, the rite may involve dunking the person entirely underwater, though much depends on the denomination of faith.

Traditional gifts for baptism include picture frames or other keepsakes that can be used to hold photos or items from the rite. One particularly popular gift is that of a silver spoon. We recommend an inspirational or religious-themed item for the occasion.

Another Christian rite, communion – also called the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper – is either a sacrament or an ordinance in many churches. In the Catholic church especially, a child’s first communion is considered a day for celebration. It usually occurs between the ages of 7-8 and children are dressed in white (for girls) or suits (for boys) and are walked through the ceremony for the first time.

It is traditional to give gifts of a religious nature, like children’s bibles or study devotionals, prayer books, or rosary beads. Monetary gifts are also common for the occasion, though secular gifts may be given as well.

Meaning “Son of the Commandment,” the Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish tradition that signifies the coming of age for a male child. The correct use of the term is “becoming a bar mitzvah,” though today it’s most generally used as the title of the ceremony itself. The traditional coming of age ceremony happens at the age of 13 and is a religious rite generally followed with a large gathering to celebrate the child’s journey into manhood.

It’s also traditional for gifts to be given for the occasion. As with communion gifts, many of these are religious. Gifting a Star of David, prayer books, Tallit, or Kiddish Cup are considered the traditional items associated with the event. For good secular gifts, consider items like a cell phone (as it would be the appropriate age!) or maybe video games for the young man in question.

In many churches, young people are expected to leave home shortly after graduating high school or college to perform mission work among other communities. They engage in evangelism or humanitarian efforts like working construction or hospitals in underprivileged areas. Leaving for Christian missionary work is a huge milestone for many communities and should be commemorated!

While they may not have much space in their new homes, mission workers would most likely appreciate a small keepsake that reminds them of home and their families there. If you have a close family, you may think about gifting something that incorporates all family members without taking up a lot of space.

A simple pendant with the name and birthdate of the godchild – perhaps including a birthstone – is a good choice for this token. This Single Ring Personalized Birthstone Necklace features a simple design that is timeless and stylish.

It’s a lovely unisex option that can be worn or displayed in a home as a remembrance of this milestone, and the life, they have been such a large part of.

One of our favorite designs, the Tranquility Gold Tree of Life Necklace, can incorporate 1-6 names and accompanying birthstones into the design, making it perfect for a large family.

It’s highly customizable, leading you the opportunity to immortalize the names that mean the most. This makes a perfect Mother’s Day gift for grandma, blending the elegant design with a perfectly thoughtful touch.