2021 Holiday Gift Guide: Great Gifts for Babies
My babies are all grown, but I have my beautiful, strong warrior of a granddaughter to love on and, with her in mind, I bring you gift ideas for babies!
Great Gifts for Babies
Babies can’t exactly appreciate your thoughtfulness, or even open a gift without assistance, but low expectations take the pressure off and make shopping for wee ones fun and easy!
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There are a lot of practical gifts that babies need and parents want.
Find unique gift ideas below too!
Here are our recommendations for the best gifts for babies:
Push and Play Toys
Ride on vehicles are tons of fun for any age! As babies start to grow, they’ll learn to explore with push and play toys that double as ride-on vehicles! One of this year’s hottest ride-on toys, and a genuine classic, is the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car.
Other favorites include:
- Radio Flyer Classic Push & Play Walker
- Step2 Whisper Ride II
- Fisher-Price Walk Bounce & Ride Pony
- VTech Sit-To-Stand Learning Walker
- Little Tikes Princess Horse & Carriage (this one is too cute to not share)
Teethers
Cutting teeth can be quote the experience for everyone involved! Help baby cut those teeth through and find a bit of relief with soothing teether toys. The Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys are an all-time favorite.
Other favorites include:
- Infantino Lil’ Nibble Teethers Carrot
- Mombella Mimi The Mushroom Super Soft Silicone Baby Soothing Teether Toy
- Not-Too-Cold-to-Hold BPA-Free Silicone Teether for Babies by Frida Baby
- Haakaa Silicone Baby Teethers
Sorting & Stacking Toys
If there’s one toy that kids never seem to get bored of, it’s a few good sets of building toys. The mushie Stacking Cups have been our granddaughter’s favorite for a while now.
Other favorites include:
- Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack and Baby’s First Blocks Bundle
- Soft Stacking Blocks
- Mini Tudou 6 Pcs Stacking & Nesting Circle Toy
- Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag
- Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube
- Baby Soft Nesting Sorting Stacking Toys
Indoor Climbers and Play Mats
As babies become mobile, it’s nice to give them a safe, soft surface to explore as they reach developmental milestones. The Little Tikes Learn & Play 2-in-1 Activity Tunnel is hot toy this season! As is the MEOWBABY Foam Ball Pit!
Other favorites include:
- SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set
- Tummy time Water Play mat
- Inflatable Tummy Time Baby Water Play Mat
FUN PLAYHOUSE FOR BABIES
The Little Tikes Activity Garden Playhouse has so may fun activities to explore (inside or out)!
Musical Toys
I recently read that babies listen to a singing voice more than talking. Maybe that’s one reason they love musical toys! A popular one this year is the iPlay Musical Turtle Toy.
Other favorites include:
- VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone
- Baby Einstein Baby’s First Music Teacher Developmental Toys Kit
- STEAM Life Plush Elephant Baby Toys
- Baby Einstein Notes & Keys Magic Touch Wooden Electronic Keyboard
- Fisher-Price Classic Xylophone
- Baby Einstein and Hape Magic Touch Piano
- CoComelon Official Musical Checkup Case
- LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table
- Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station
Rattles & Rings
Put a toy that fits perfectly in your baby’s hands and you can watch them move it over and around continuously. My granddaughter’s favorite rattles are the Fisher-Price Rattle ‘n Rock Maracas, Blue/Orange.
Other favorites include:
- Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center
- SmartNoggin NogginStik Developmental Light-Up Rattle
- Bright Starts Oball Shaker Rattle Toy
- Soft Baby Wrist and Ankle Rattle Socks
- Taggies Embroidered Soft Ring Rattle
- Taggies Sensory Stuffed Animal Soft Rattle with Teether Ring
Hammering & Pounding Toys
Help your baby develop hand-eye coordination and experience object permanence with these great developmental toys. It may get loud, but the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench Wooden Toy With Mallet is another great classic!
Other favorites include:
- Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pound and Roll Wooden Tower Toy With Hammer
- Montessori Object Permanence Box Wooden Toy Tray and Ball Drop
- Pound a Ball Toy Super Durable Hit ‘N’ Roll Hammer Toy
Bath Toys
Bath time can certainly be for more than getting baby clean! Especially once they are able to sit and splash. Start with the Munchkin Baby’s First Bath Set, complete with a rubber Ducky, and then let the splashing begin!
Other favorites include:
- Munchkin Squirtin’ Barn Buddies Bath Toy
- The First Years Disney Mickey Mouse Baby Bath Squirt Toys
- Munchkin 36 Bath Letters and Numbers
- Ubbi Baby Bath Time Essential Gift Set with Drying Bin
- Comfylife Baby Bath Toy Organizer (includes Numbers & Letters & Squirty Toys)
- Nuby Floating Purple Octopus with 3 Hoopla Rings Interactive Bath Toy
- Munchkin Bath Bobbers Toy
- Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy Set
Activity Centers
Most of these activity centers, jumpers, and discover tables feature bright colors and lights, a variety of sounds, and different textures to help stimulate your baby’s developing senses. They also provide a mix of physical and sensory experiences to promote movement and cognitive skills.
Popular activity centers this holiday season include:
- Baby Einstein Around We Grow 4-in-1 Walk Around Discovery Activity Center Table
- Skip Hop Baby Activity Center with 3-Stage Grow-with-Me Functionality
- Fisher-Price Animal Activity Jumperoo
- Bright Starts Bounce Bounce Baby
- Skip Hop Fold-Away Baby Jumper
- Summer Learn-to-Sit Stages 3-Position Floor Seat
SOMETHING DIFFERENT!
Grab the Bright Starts 5-In-1 Your Way Ball Play Activity Gym & Ball Pit for a different way to encourage stationary play.
Education and Learning Toys
The best way for children to learn sometimes is through play. Having a tangible item to engage with or repetitive teaching to memorize are great for developing babies. Try the LeapFrog Choppin’ Fun Learning Pot; it is on the hottest toy list this year!
Other favorites include:
- Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game & Learn Controller
- VTech Pull and Sing Puppy
- LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
- Classic Wooden Educational Counting Toy
- Wooden Kids Baby Activity Cube
- Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy
- Baby Einstein Flip For Art High Contrast Floor Activity Mirror with Take Along Cards
Sensory Toys
Dimpl Pops are sure to be a hit this holiday season for all ages! My TEENS are fighting their toddler niece for access to hers!
Other favorites include:
- Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy
- Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog
- Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball
- Manhattan Toy Skwish Color Burst Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy
- Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Baby Activity and Multi-Sensory Rattle
- Infantino Stretch & Spiral Textured Activity Toy
- RaZbaby RaZberry Silicone Baby Teether Toy (ideal for oral sensory seekers)
Books
As an avid reader, I always think books make great gifts for kids. They don’t take up space, are educational and there are so many fun titles to enjoy. Activity books are also great for this age.
Here are some our our favorites books for toddlers & preschoolers:
Let’s Count Soft Book – World of Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar || LAMAZE Peek-A-Boo Forest || I Love You to the Moon and Back || My First Library : Boxset of 10 Board Books for Kids || Where’s Spot? || Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? || Dear Zoo Lift the Flaps || Goodnight Moon || Corduroy || Guess How Much I Love You
HOLIDAY BOOKS
For holiday specific book recommendations for kids, click here.
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