Best gifts for babies
Babies require a lot of attention, entertainment and stuff: bottles, books, rattles, clothes, toys, and more. You name it, they need it. A gift is a wonderful way to shower this new baby and their parents with something that can entertain, delight or clothe them. Choosing a gift for a baby can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be.
The VTech Peek and Play Baby Book Toy is a top choice for its bright colors, textures and sound functions. This toy practices hand-eye coordination and utilizes fine motor skills. There are many different choices when it comes to choosing a baby gift, so knowing your options will help you decide what fits best for your needs.
Types of baby gifts
Bathrobes and swaddles
New parents will appreciate soft bathrobes or bath towel sets for their babies. You can never have enough towels, washcloths or swaddles, especially in cute colors and patterns.
Water mats
Babies love to play in the water, but it can get messy fast. A water mat is a great solution for all the fun without the slips and spills. Water mats have floating fish and aquatic animals inside a plastic ring, and all an adult will need to do to prepare the toy for the baby is fill the outer plastic ring with air and the inner plastic ring with water.
Bath toys
Babies love baths. Rubber ducks, boats and other floating toys are easy for babies to grab and hold, and the toys will add joy to their bath time routine.
Teething toys
A teething toy is a thoughtful gift that both baby and parent will love to have on hand for whenever the first teeth pop up. Some teething toys go in the fridge or freezer so that they can cool a baby’s sore mouth, while the little nubs massage and stimulate the baby’s gums. Teething mittens are also an excellent option for a teething gift.
Nightlights and white noise
Sleep soothing machines are fantastic aids to help babies fall asleep. The white noise drowns out any background noise, allowing the baby to sleep peacefully. Some sleep machines come with night lights or projectors. Other sleep soothers in the shape of a pillow or stuffed animal can be placed directly in the crib or bassinet.
Books
Soft books are awesome for hand-eye coordination and the crinkle paper inside is a great sensory tool. Babies can turn the pages, chew the corners or toss the book across the room without ruining it. Some books have mirrors or textures your baby will enjoy playing with, and some books come with clips to attach to a stroller or car seat for fun on the go.
Outfits
Fun gifts like a burrito swaddle blanket or bibs with clever sayings are always great gift ideas. Trendy outfits or dress-up clothing can be cute for newborn photoshoots and special occasions.
Baby gifts cost
Baby gifts can be quite budget-friendly. You can find a rattle or small noise-making toy for under $10. An outfit or a robe could cost between $7-$20. An electronic toy or something more complex with sound and noise could be between $15-30 depending on the brand and activity level. Larger baby gift sets with multiple items may cost $50-$100.
Baby gifts FAQ
Will the baby be able to play with a toy gift?
A. Certainly newborns won’t be able to grip a toy, but at about 3 months or so the baby will be able to hold on. Even if the baby can’t benefit from all of the capabilities the toy has to offer, many times they can benefit from some or most of the features and continue to enjoy the toy’s extra functions as they get older.
What should I avoid when shopping for a baby?
A. Anything with small pieces could be a choking hazard for a baby. Anything fragile, noisy, or messy might also be more trouble than it’s worth for either the new baby or the parents who have to monitor it. Keep in mind that babies grow quickly and their interests change as they develop new skills. Parents will end up storing or not using products that are not appropriate for the age, size or skills of their baby. If you are buying clothes or seasonal gifts, consider the time of year the baby is likely to use that item. It won’t hurt to ask the baby’s parents (or a mutual friend or relative) if there is anything specific that the family likes or needs, or anything they particularly do not want, like items branded with pop culture characters or slogans.
Should I buy the gift for mom or baby?
A. Babies tend to get showered with gifts, but mom’s not so much. It might be a nice idea to give mom something like a self-care gift set, or a set of bath bombs and a coffee mug to let her know she’s just as important as the new baby.
Which baby gift should I get?
Best of the best
VTech Peek & Play Baby Book Toy: available at Amazon
Our take: This book has a range of activities that will entertain babies for a long time.
What we like: It features 6 soft, interactive pages that provide tactile stimulation and over 50 songs, melodies, sounds and phrases, while also teaching your baby colors and animals in a way that enhances their fine motor skills. It even includes a car seat connector. It also has automatic shut-off and volume control features.
What we dislike: This is such a popular gift, you may want to double-check that no one else is also giving it.
Best bang for your buck
BLIGE Toy Wrist Rattles and Foot Finders: available at Amazon
Our take: These toy and wrist rattles are so much fun for little ones because they can play with them without interference. The set is priced incredibly low, too.
What we like: The black and white colors of the socks stand out to babies. The different rattle sounds will have your baby playing with these for hours. This toy helps babies work on hand-eye coordination.
What we dislike: The bands run a little small so they are better for younger babies.
Honorable mention
Smartnoggin NogginStik Developmental Light-up Rattle: available at Amazon
Our take: This multi-award-winning light-up rattle was designed by early childhood experts and promotes visual stimulation and visual tracking skills.
What we like: The rattle’s sound is soft and not too jarring for a baby. Babies will be interested in the toy because it is designed with vibrant changing colors, fun textures and with a mirror at the bottom that promotes additional skills like imitation.
What we dislike: The toy uses batteries, so consider adding a pack to your gift.
Stefanie Hammond is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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