Baby gifts: 11 ideas for the first year
In those early months, a gift can be something as simple as a soft book to look at together. I鈥檇 start with high-contrast pictures for a newborn, then think about what they鈥檙e beginning to enjoy: grabbing, listening, rolling or putting things in and out. These 11 ideas go from birth to 10 months, so you can choose for the baby鈥檚 age now.
1. Taf Toys Koala tummy-time book
For a newborn, I鈥檇 put a book like this near the top of the list. The high-contrast pictures give you something simple to look at together, and later there are textures and a mirror to explore. You can hold it beside your baby or open it out nearby during a little tummy time, always awake and with you watching.
What they can practise: Looking at contrasting patterns, following your voice and reaching towards the soft pages as they become interested.
Koala tummy-time book 路 Model 12395 路 From birth
View on Amazon.nl
2. Little Dutch Little Farm soft activity cube
Liam loved this one. There鈥檚 something to find on each side of the Little Farm cube, from different fabrics to little shapes and a mirror. It鈥檚 lovely for sitting together and seeing which bit catches your baby鈥檚 attention. Look for the soft fabric version; Little Dutch also makes a wooden activity cube with the same collection name.
What they can practise: Feeling different fabrics, grasping soft shapes and using both hands to turn an object during shared play.
Little Farm soft activity cube 路 Model LD8809 路 From birth
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3. Oball Classic grasping ball
When little hands are still figuring out how to hold things, all those openings come in handy. Your baby can get their fingers around the ball without having to grip a solid surface. Later, you can roll it a little way between you on the floor. It鈥檚 a small toy that doesn鈥檛 need much space or setting up.
What they can practise: Reaching, grasping with either hand and following a ball as it rolls across a clear floor space.
Oball Classic 路 Easy-grasp ball 路 From birth
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4. Hape blue rainmaker
There鈥檚 something nice about a toy you can just turn over and listen to. The beads move through this rainmaker with a gentle rain-like sound, so you can show it to your baby slowly and watch together. You do the turning at first; when they鈥檙e ready to hold it, they can have a go themselves.
What they can practise: Watching moving beads, listening to changes in sound and exploring how turning an object changes what happens.
Beaded Raindrops Blue 路 Model E0328 路 From birth
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5. Lamaze Jacques the Peacock
A crinkly wing can be surprisingly interesting when you鈥檙e a baby. This peacock has soft fabrics, a mirror and feathers to grab, so you can explore a little bit at a time together. The clip is handy for taking it along on a pram outing, following the attachment instructions on the packaging.
What they can practise: Feeling crinkly fabric, reaching for the wings and finding the little mirror during play together.
Jacques the Peacock 路 Clip-on soft toy 路 From birth
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6. Hape Montessori spinning drum
This is one to put in front of your baby during floor play. You give the drum a small spin, and the colours and mirror move while the base stays put. As your baby starts reaching, they can try making it turn too. It鈥檚 a simple little exchange: you spin, they look, then perhaps a hand reaches out.
What they can practise: Following a turning object with their eyes, reaching towards it and noticing the movement made by a touch.
Spinning Drum with Mirror 路 Model E0139 路 3 months+
View on Amazon.nl
7. PlanToys pastel baby car
A first car doesn鈥檛 need a track or a big collection of vehicles. This little one can be held, squeezed and pushed along the floor, with a flexible wooden body to explore. You can roll it towards your baby and wait to see what they do with it. Just a little space between you is enough.
What they can practise: Grasping and squeezing, coordinating a push and watching a toy move away and come back during shared play.
Baby Car Pastel 路 Model 5254 路 6 months+
View on Amazon.nl
8. Hape Penguin musical wobbler
A little push is all it takes to set this penguin wobbling and tinkling. That makes it nice for a baby who has started reaching out to see what happens. Put it close enough to tap comfortably and let them try again. They don鈥檛 have to be crawling yet to have something to do with it.
What they can practise: Reaching and pushing, watching the penguin regain its balance and connecting their movement with a sound.
Penguin Musical Wobbler 路 Model E0331 路 6 months+
View on Amazon.nl
9. Fat Brain Toys sensory rollers
These are nice when your baby wants to pick everything up and have a good feel of it. Each ball has a different texture and a little chime when it moves. I鈥檇 start with just one on the floor between you. Feeling it, giving it a small push and watching it roll can be the whole game.
What they can practise: Tactile exploration, handling a rounded object and tracking a rolling ball while listening to the sound it makes.
Sensory Rollers 路 Three textured balls 路 6 months+
View on Amazon.nl
10. Lilliputiens Gaspard duck trumpet rattle
For a baby who is beginning to reach and hold things, this soft duck gives little hands a few different bits to explore. There are colourful ribbons to feel and a funny little toot to listen to. You can hold it nearby, make the sound once and wait to see which part interests your baby.
What they can practise: Reaching for a soft toy, exploring fabric and ribbons, and listening to the sound during play together.
Gaspard the Duck trumpet rattle 路 Model 83677 路 3 months+
View on ilovespeelgoed.nl
11. Mushie paint palette press toy
For a baby of 10 months or older who wants to press every button they see, this gives them some of their own. The soft bubbles make a small pop as they push through. There鈥檚 nothing to build or get right, just a little action to try again. Its flat shape also makes it easy to tuck into a bag.
What they can practise: Pressing with a finger, holding the frame and noticing the little pop their movement makes.
Paint Palette Press Toy 路 10 months+
View on Amazon.nlWhat are good gifts for a newborn?
A high-contrast soft book or a soft activity toy is a thoughtful place to start. Choose something labelled from birth and use it during play together. Ask the parents what they already have before buying a large toy. A single small gift can be enough. A newborn does not need to hold or use it independently to enjoy looking with you.
What should I buy a baby aged 6 to 9 months?
A rolling toy or textured balls can offer a few different ways to play. Think about what the baby enjoys now: reaching, feeling textures, making sounds or putting things into a container. Check that the particular model is suitable for their age. Save the paint palette press toy in this list for 10 months or older.
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