Top Gifts for Baby's First Year
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It can be challenging to find fun and fabulous gifts for babies — after all, at such a young age, it's difficult to know what your little one will find interesting.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
We will help you find the perfect toy to provide them with hours of fun while encouraging them to learn and improve their motor skills.
We have great gift guides for babies and for newborns. In this article, we are rounding-up some of the best products to help you celebrate all of baby’s first celebrations and holidays.
Baby's First Toys
Baby’s first toys are always their most cherished. Usually small and cuddly, they allow babies to hold them, strengthening the bond.
Plush toys are always a hit, and Jellycat products are a staple in most nurseries, with their soothers and bunnies leading the pack. Head to our Learning Centre to learn about our top brands and how to keep your soft toys clean, cuddly, and soft.
A doll is another popular idea for newborns, and a gift such as the Rag Doll from ThreadBear Designs can be their best friend growing up.
With bathtime being a regular occurrence, you may want to invest in a few fun bath toys. The Hape Water Squirters are easy to hold and your baby will love shooting out water from these colourful sea creatures. Check out some more great bath time gift ideas, here.
Wooden toys are great gifts for little ones as they are usually safe for babies. Check out the selection of items from Uncle Goose, they make adorable toys that babies can enjoy for years. This round-up article also has some more ideas.
Get Baby Movin'
While babies are still a ways away from walking, they can still play with toys that encourage movement.
Vehicles such as the automobiles from Plan Toys help them get familiar with holding and pushing a toy at the same time. Additionally, each car contains colored water–red, blue, or yellow–on the inside that flows around as you play!
Beach babies will have a lot of fun in the sun with an outdoor toy such as this set of Beach & Bath Boats from Hape. These boats are easy to hold and fill with water (P.S. it’s also great for bathtime!).
Few toys are better at developing your baby’s hand-eye coordination quite like a push-pull toy. The Hevea Stacker & Pull Toy is a cute, rubber wood stacker duckie that your child can take with them wherever they go.
Children are never too young to learn an instrument, so a musical toy might be one of the best gifts you can give them. This Tiny Tambourine from Baby Einstein is a multi-dimensional instrument that little ones will love rattling around.
Imaginative Play
Sensory toys are designed for babies to discover their sense of touch, sight, and sound. The Skip Hop Bandana Buddy checks off all these boxes, as it features a rattle, crinkle, and teether.
An on-the-go toy is an excellent choice for busy families. Pick up something they can take with them, like the Play & Grow Toy or the Farmstand Avocado Stroller Toy, which keeps baby entertained with its plush, textured exterior and a beaded rattle “pit” in the centre.
Also, consider gifting an activity toy for baby’s first birthday or Christmas. An activity centre such as the Silver Lining Cloud Baby's View Activity Centre comes with a 360-degree rotating seat for babies to bounce in, while staying occupied with various features and toys. Discover some more fun product picks, here.
Learn and Grow
Helping your baby learn about their environment (and life in general) is what parenting is all about.
Educational toys are perfect for helping baby discover the world around them. The colourful Little Big Friends Discovery Balls are easy to grasp, have printed numbers and animals, and even a bell to awaken their senses. Discover more top choices, here.
Puzzles are another cool gift idea that babies that can help babies learn. The My First Puzzle from Viga Toys is a raised chunky puzzle with smooth corners that’s safe for baby and comes in a cute bear or butterfly.
Additionally, babies can learn from their very first book. The Kids Preferred Soft Book and Teether combo is a top choice! With 7 different topics to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding a suitable story for your little one — they can even put it in their mouth when finished!
Baby Gifts for Parents
While babies love toys, there's plenty of other gift ideas that are sure to be a hit (and put a smile on mom and dad's face).
Consider gifting the following items:
Memorable Firsts
Just because baby won't remember their first year of life, doesn’t mean their first few gifts aren’t important. There are plenty of toys that can last for years and provide babies with multiple benefits, such as igniting a love for learning and music. Plus, watching baby discover the world around them is one of the greatest joys a parent can experience.
We hope you find this gift guide helpful! For more gift ideas, check out our gifts for newborns and gifts for baby.