This Christmas is my son's first Christmas and I'm trying to figure out how to ask his grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. NOT to send him big presents (we have a small house), presents that require batteries and things that make a lot of noise. I'm know they will all want to get him something but I don't want to sound like I'm being demanding. From past experience gifts have been really OVER THE TOP and there have been way too many of them.
What can I say and not sound rude?

Create a WEB site for your son (Yahoo groups is great for this). You can regularly post pictures for family to share and you can restrict access to only family. Then, you can create a gift registry for holiday or birthday. Give the family a list of things that you think are appropriate or needed.

They should get the idea.

Two words:

Yard sale

(haha) nah, that was just a joke.. seriously, if your family are reasonable people, then just tell them what you posted here, they should understand. I think your reqeust is very reasonable. I too live in a small house and know what that's like.