Southern Made Simple

Keeping things simple with a smidge of Southern charm

holiday shopping

Why Amazon Prime is My BFF {+ FREE 30 Day Trial}

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There are certain things in this world that help make life so much easier. I love those things. Those things are FANtastic. Easy is always welcome in my home. We can be best friends forever, because I need easy in my life. I’ve found this to be especially true as a new mother. I’ve also found this to be even more true as a new mother who lives way out in the sticks. Sometimes driving 20+ minutes to get to a decent store with a 7 month in tow is less than ideal or desirable. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “Can’t someone just ship all the junk I need to me without me paying an arm and a leg for shipping, cuz that would be AWESOME!”.

Actually, I have that thought roughly 3 times a week to be honest. But you know what?Thanks to Amazon Prime, l DO have junk that I need shipped to me, and it arrives in just 2 days without me worrying about extra shipping costs. I never have to load my baby into her car seat and waste my gas driving into town to go pick up the 2 things I needed, and IT. IS. GLORIOUS!

Why Amazon Prime Rocks my World! + a FREE 30 Day Trial for New Users!

Now when I need to purchase something, I usually ask myself, “Can I wait two days to get this item?” If the answer is yes, I just Prime it! Seriously. I’ve “Primed” almost everything, y’all. Laundry detergent and undergarments are not exempt from that list. I should probably bake my UPS lady something sweet, because she stops at my house almost every single day. Bless her heart.

So if you’ve never heard of Amazon Prime until now, let me fill you in here. Amazon.com offers a special membership program that offers ROCK STAR benefits to paying customers. For $99 a year (SO SO SO SO SO worth it), you will have access to the following things:

  • UNLIMITED free two-day shipping on eligible orders with no minimum order size. (Hallelujah!)
  • Access to Prime Instant Video, where you can instantly watch over 40,000 movies and TV episodes
  • Access to Prime Music, which offers unlimited and ad-free access to hundreds of Prime Playlists and more than a million songs
  • Free unlimited book borrows for Kindle users
  • Free access to Amazon Mom (hello, 20% off diapers!)
  • Plus several other amazing benefits that you can learn more about here.

Isn’t that AWESOME? I’ve been using Amazon Prime for over 3 years, and I don’t ever want to go back to life without it. For as many times as I have things shipped to my door, that $99 has saved me so much money in shipping fees, but more importantly it allows my life to be easier in so many ways. Amazon Prime is especially great during the holidays. My Christmas shopping is basically done!

What’s even better than me bragging about how my life has been easier than it used to be and I don’t pay a ton for shipping? Why, I’m glad you asked.

YOU can have it, too! If you want to try out Amazon Prime for a month before committing to paying $99 for a year, you can start out with a free trial. No hidden fees or anything! This would definitely come in handy to help you get your last minute shopping done. I’d love to share prime with you through my affiliate link. You can start your free trial by clicking here ( Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial) or by clicking the banner below.

I hope this helps you out a little bit with your holiday shopping. Who knows, maybe you’ll love it as much as I do and become a member! There’s so many great benefits, and I just can’t help but to sing praises about Amazon Prime. If you’re not already a member and decide to try it out, let me know how you like it!

Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Babies Age 6-9 Months

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Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Holiday shopping can be a ton of fun, especially when you’ve got little ones to shop for! However, sometimes babies can actually be kind of difficult to shop for. Picking out the bigger toys that will go under the tree is typically a little bit easier, but it’s the stocking that can be a real head scratcher! Shopping for a babies aged 6-9 months can be even trickier. A lot of milestones tend to happen during these months. They’re no longer newborns, and they’re certainly not toddlers. You’ll want to look for things that match them developmentally and actually be useful and even fun for them.

Don’t worry, though! I’ve put together a list of 15 stocking stuffer ideas perfect for babies, specifically ages 6-9 months. I hope this will be helpful to you all as you start making your lists and checking them twice!
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Babies 6-9 months

I’ve found that Amazon Prime is definitely the way to go when doing holiday shopping, but ESPECIALLY last minute shopping. Most of the affiliate links below are through Amazon. If you’re like a FREE 30 day membership to try Prime out, you can view my post here and get these gifts to your door in just 2 days!

Click here for a FREE 30 Day Amazon Prime Membership!

  1. Bath Toys
    • At this age, babies are starting to learn how to kick their legs and splash in the water. I love the Munchkin Baby Bath Ball, because it is easy to grab (even when wet) and it makes noise. Babies love noise! Babies at this age aren’t exactly spending much play time in the bath, but little toys like this are great to keep them occupied while you’re busy washing them.
  2. Body Wash, Shampoo and Bubble Bath
    • This is one of those things that you really need to have in general. While you may already have some of these items on hand in your bathroom, perhaps now is the time to spring for the REALLY good stuff! Maybe pick out something nice that you can’t find in your typical big box store. I really love Little Twig All Natural Products. They smell great, last a long time, and are free of yucky chemicals that may be harmful for baby!
  3. Sleepers or Cute Onesies
    • This one is always fun. Pick out some cute little PJ’s that are straight from Santa himself! I’m really loving some of these adorable outfits from Mud Pie! You can also buy ahead and pick up some cute little onesies for the new year!
  4. Pacifiers and Pacifier Clips
    • If you have a baby who takes a paci, I really recommend getting a set of pacifiers that glow in the dark. We are very MAM loyal in this house, so our stocking will definitely include several of those this year. These are REALLY helpful when your baby may lose their paci in the middle of the night and need help finding it. A cute paci clip is also a great idea to go along with it!
  5. Shoes and Socks
    • While getting socks and shoes in your stocking may not be so exciting to a bigger kid, you can certainly get away with it with a 6-9 month old! They’ll soon be walking, so go ahead and get them a good pair of non-trip shoes. I personally love Pediped shoes. They have a leather soul as opposed to a rubber one. Rubber souls can be easier to trip on when you’re just learning how to walk. Pedipeds are perfect for early walkers and are really high quality! Don’t forget to get some new socks, too!
  6. Teethers
    • Teething is in FULL swing at this age. Put some cute little teething toys in the stocking this year! I wrote a full article about 4 fabulous teething toys that we are loving right now! You can read all about them here.
  7. Feeding Utensils
    • Babies begin eating solids by 6 months of age. Now is a great time to stock up on some great feeding gear for the little one! I recommend a few different things:
    • The Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder is great to put fresh fruits and other foods in without worrying about the baby choking.
    • The Munchkin Stay Put Suction Bowl helps make meal time a little less messy. The bowl suctions to the table or high chair lid, making it much harder for baby to grab and throw!
    • Squeeze Pouches like the Little Green Reusable Food Pouch are awesome! If your baby loves those puree pouches you can find in store, consider this product! You can save LOTS of money by making the purees yourself and using reusable pouches.
  8. Training cups
    • They may not be ready for them just yet, but I recommend going ahead and getting a good training cup with handles for baby to practice with. These Soft Spout Training Cups by Dr. Brown’s are a great choice to help baby become a little more independent and transition from bottle to sippy cup.
  9. SippiGrip
    • The SippiGrip is a game changer! If there’s one things babies love to do, it’s THROW ALL THE THINGS! For some reason, babies just think it’s hilarious to watch you pick up their toys/bottles/cups etc over and over again. But no more! You can attach their cups and toys to the SippiGrip and then attach the lanyard to their highchair or stroller to prevent them from throwing stuff all over the place. It may be going in the baby’s stocking, but it’s really for you, parents! 😉
  10. Splat Mat
    • For the sake of your sanity, you need this item. For real. Remember me saying how much babies love to throw things? The same is totally true for their food, too. The splat mat goes up under your high chair and protects your floor from flying baby food. HOORAY! When a mess is made, you just wipe clean with a paper towel! SO much better than getting out the spot shot!
  11.  Snacks/puffs
    • Assuming the baby has already gotten used to solids, they probably LOVE little snack puffs. I’ve never seen a baby NOT like them, actually. Spring for the good stuff on this one, too. I recommend trying an organic option if you don’t already! Happy Baby Organic Puffs are a great choice!
  12. Cute diapers or diaper covers
    • Have you considered giving cloth diapering a try? If you’re unsure about modern cloth, I have two reviews that just may help you out. You can find them here and here. My FAVORITE online boutique to purchase all things cloth related is Sweet Bottoms Baby Boutique – specifically..the Buttons diapers! (Plus, they have FREE shipping!)
  13. Flash cards/board books
    • Babies at this age are getting more and more curious by the day. Now is a great time to introduce them to flash cards! While they won’t read for a while, it’s never too early to start getting them familiar with words and pictures. Board books are also great for babies this age. They may not be able to hold their attention to the story for very long, but at least you don’t have to worry about the pages ripping when they grab it! And trust me, grab it they will! 🙂
  14. Personalized Sticker Labels
    • These are a great way to keep up with little things that may frequently get lost if your baby attends a daycare or if they are frequently around other kids. It helps others know what item belongs to who. This is especially great for bottles and sippy cups and can help prevent the spread of germs by letting others know which cup should be going in a babies mouth.
  15. Learning Toys
    • Babies typically love things that make sound. My little one loves trying to figure out where noise comes from, and she loves to make noise herself! I would say anything that is easy to grab, makes noise, and doesn’t require batteries would be a good fit for this category. This little 4 Piece Baby Band Set by Hohner would be a great choice! It encourages babies to learn while making music, and it’ll fit in the stocking. It’s a win/win!

What are some other items that you’re getting for a little one in your life? Do you have any other great ideas for stocking stuffers for babies? I’d certainly love to hear about them! Leave a comment below!