Holiday Gift Guide: 30 Best Gifts For Babies
Shopping for a baby seems like a pretty easy task, right? I mean… they’re babies. How hard could it be?
Well, that’s where you would be wrong, my friend. You see, babies are constantly growing and changing. Buy them something too advanced and they won’t be interested, buy them something that’s below their current cognitive abilities and they’ll be totally offended. There’s a sweet spot when it comes to finding that perfect baby gift and I’m here to help guide you through it.
Some of these items are toys we own, some are ones we’ve played with at friends’ houses and ones that are on Fern’s holiday wish list, and some aren’t even toys at all. I tried to compile a list that would cover all bases. All these items are gender-neutral, budget-friendly (OK, so there are a few splurges…) and fairly design-conscious. I chose items that will appeal to babies without being totally offensive to parental design aesthetic. That said — babies like bright things that make music, so there’s definitely some of that happening, but quality was kept in mind. No cheap, plastic junk here!
Check out the “30 Best Gifts For Babies” after the jump!
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Kitten Plush Doll
These snuggly kittens are a perfect stuffed animal that can grow with your baby. Perfect for cuddling and oh-so-cute!
Purchase from Mamma 190 on Etsy for €27.00 -
Educo GrabHappy Rattle
Give baby this durable wooden toy that will help promote fine motor skills while making fun clacking noises.
Purchase from Black Wagon for $10.00 -
Fisher Price Chatter Telephone
Odds are your baby probably never seen an "old-school" telephone, so introduce them to one with this adorable pull-along vintage remake.
Purchase from Target for $14.99 -
B. Toys Zany Zoo Wooden Activity Cube
This would provide endless enjoyment for a little one — especially a sitter or a babe just learning to stand. Being able to pull themselves up on this cube and play with the pieces right at their level is a wonderful option.
Purchase from Target for $49.99 -
Plan Toys Assorted Fruit Set
Babies don't yet have the fine motor skills to hold the play knife and "cut" apart these toy fruits, but they can pull them apart (they're attached by Velcro) and can also be used to introduce vocabulary words. They're a toy your baby can grow into.
Purchase from Diapers.com for $19.99 -
Night Night Baby Sleeper Pajamas
Every year for Christmas we always got a new pair of pajamas, so why not start this tradition for the little one in your life? These cozy PJ's are made of organic cotton and come in bright colorful patterns, but best of all they fit amazingly and are the perfect weight to keep Baby at just the right temperature.
Purchase from Hannah Anderson for $32 -
Color Discovery Boxes
This toy is fun and interactive for your little one and is a great way to start teaching her about colors while promoting vocabulary development. Plus, a toy like this allows baby to explore various textures and shapes.
Purchase from Lakeshore Learning for $49.95 -
KidKraft Deluxe Activity Walker
My baby just started standing in the past month and yesterday while we were at a friend's house she tried out one of these activity walkers and to my surprise made it halfway across the room! Aside from the walking assistance, this has fun activities on the front that even younger babies will enjoy as well.
Purchase from Target for $46.99 -
Petit Collage Animal ABC Nesting Blocks
Babies love to stack and sort and these nesting blocks are great for that!
Purchase from Black Wagon for $28.00 -
Fred M. Matryoshka Measuring Cups
So, these aren't exactly "baby toys." They're measuring cups in the form of little nesting dolls, but my baby and all of my friend's kids LOVE them! They make an easy, multipurpose and design-friendly holiday gift.
Purchase from Amazon for $10.25 -
Hape Little Drummer
Bring out the inner percussionist in your baby with this fun little wooden drum set.
Purchase from Black Wagon for $24.00 -
Woodours Baby Activity Bear
This adorable baby bear has four fun-filled pockets — each with an interactive toy that will make noise and teach baby about sorting.
Purchase from Black Wagon for $45.00 -
I Love My Octopus Bath Book
Most babies love bath time, but once they become a little more mobile it can be difficult to keep them engaged. A fun bath book will keep them safe and entertained in the bath — a great gift that benefits both baby and parents.
Purchase from Diapers.com for $8.99 -
Plan Toys Clatter
Exactly as the name implies, this little wooden toy will provide your baby with exciting "clatter" noises — great baby fun!
Purchase from Diapers.com for $18.99 -
Oilo Triple Play Blanket
A pretty way to turn a questionable area of flooring or carpet into a clean, stylish play space for your baby. This would make a perfect gift.
Purchase from Fawn & Forest for $64.00 -
Hape Away We Go Puzzle
The large knobs on this wooden puzzle make it a great first puzzle for babies. Even if it's still a little tricky to figure out how to put the pieces back in place at this point, it will still be fun for your baby to pull the pieces out.
Purchase from Diapers.com for $8.99 -
Oeuf Plus Alpaca Soccer Balls
Plus fun for whatever your baby is into — chewing, throwing, rolling — these are perfect for all of the above.
Purchase from Diapers.com for $48.40 -
LEKA Baby Gym
I love this little gym. It's perfect for babies still on their backs, but also the perfect height for sitters. The simple modern shape and the sturdy wood make it appealing to parents as well (and the price can't be beat!).
Purchase from IKEA for $29.99 -
Earnest Efforts Baby Rattle
A perfect gift for the baby who likes to grab and chew on everything — babies love to chew on wooden things!
Purchase from Fawn & Forest for $16.00 -
Melissa & Doug Semi Truck Car Carrier
Once your baby is a little bit older he or she will enjoy stacking the cars on this carrier, but until then, pushing them around will still provide for plenty of fun.
Purchase from Target for $15.49 -
Schoenhut My First Piano
Babies love cause-and-effect and tapping on the keys of this little piano and hearing the sounds that come out as a result will keep them entertained and engaged.
Purchase from Diapers.com for $82.99 -
Dwellstudio Knit Blocks
Adorable little blocks that can be stacked or even cozied up with in their cozy knit fabric.
Purchase from Fawn & Forest for $40.00 -
Dwellstudio Zoo Shape Sorter
A simple, lovely and modern shape sorter to promote coordination for your little learner.
Purchase from Fawn & Forest for $32.00 -
MULA Abacus
This technically isn't for babies, but my baby loves it! Sliding the little beads and hearing them click and clack is one of her favorite things. As she gets older we can work on counting and math skills using this as well — multipurpose!
Purchase from IKEA for $9.99 -
Kina Lamb Booties
Nothing says "the holidays" quite like a cozy pair of slippers and even a baby needs those!
Purchase from Fawn & Forest for $41.00 -
Uncle Goose ABC Blocks
Foster a love of languages in your little one with these ABC blocks that come in a variety of languages — everything from Danish to Braille!
Purchase from Black Wagon for $40.00 -
LEKA CIRKUS Musical Soft Toy Rabbit
Play a musical game of peekaboo with Baby using this fun soft toy!
Purchase from IKEA for $7.99 -
Busy Ball Drop
Even if you're baby doesn't have the hand-eye coordination to drop the balls in this little contraption just yet, odd are they'll love watching you drop the balls just as much until they're ready to do it themselves!
Purchase from Lakeshore Learning for $9.99 -
LANDET Farmhouse With Animals
This foldable barn is great for babies and older children alike. A great gift that parents can take along easily while traveling to keep their little one entertained.
Purchase from IKEA for $19.99 -
Fisher Price Classic Record Player
If your little one loves listening to music like mine does, then this Fisher Price throwback will provide good entertainment while your baby watches it spin and play.
Purchase from Target for $29.99
If you’re looking for more gift ideas, make sure you check out these 20 Gifts To Commemorate Baby’s First Christmas!
What items are on your baby’s holiday wishlist?
Lauren Hartmann is the founder of The Little Things We Do, a blog about life and adventures in Portland Oregon. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram or catch up on all of her posts here on Babble.
More from Lauren:
Great list! It is taking all of my willpower not to buy some of the ridiculously expensive, but ridiculously beautiful stacking toys from Land of Nod.