2024 Gifts for Babies
It’s my favorite week of the year! I’ve got the Christmas music playing, I’m sipping my gingerbread latte, and I’m bringing you my holiday gift guides! this marks the 10th year (can you believe it?!) of these guides from Preschool Ponderings and I’ve got an excellent line up for you this year. My goal has always been to highlight products that are recommended by early childhood professionals to support development, while also being gifts that children will love and parents won’t hate you for giving. Let’s start with all of the babies on your shopping list.
It can be so hard to shop for little ones who are truly only months old, what do they actually need??? The answer is probably nothing, but we all still want to give them something and celebrate their first holiday season in a special way. There are definitely some items that will get used over and over, and that parents will be happy to have. Here are my picks (all links are affiliates).
B.Toys Colorful and Sensory Station – B.Toys has been a staple on my list since the beginning, you really can’t go wrong with any of their offerings. This little table is an excellent price point and will keep children engaged for sure. If this is a gift for a child who cannot yet stand on their own then the legs can always be left off and the top can be placed on the floor.
Hape Stay Put Rattle Set – Whoever decided to put suction cups on the bottom of infant toys is the true genius! These are the perfect toy for a little one to play with while sitting in their high chair – when Mom just really needs them to stay put for a minute. They can’t be chucked on the floor, each rattle makes a different sound, and they’ll wobble when pulled on (just enough to cause some excellent baby laughs).
B. Toys Owl Be Back – Another winner from B. Toys! This owl bops back up when pushed away, which is great for practicing cause and effect. It’s the perfect size for small, uncoordinated hands, and it offers some excellent sensory input. The balls in it’s belly will roll around and make noise, the wings are crinkly and fun to touch and the little ear feathers are perfect for chewing on.
Lambs & Ivy Interactive Camper – I’m a sucker for these “stuff and dump” sets, and Lambs & Ivy has the cutest options by far. These are so versatile – very young infants can grab the animals, older infants can practice putting them in the camper and taking them out, and toddlers can make up stories to act out with the animals.
Minky Satin Blanket – A blanket is always a good option for any baby on your list. This one is my pick because the minky fleece and satin are booth textures that little ones LOVE. This is sure to become a favorite lovey for sure.
HABA Discovery Ball – The little taggies featured on this ball are always a hit, as are the different textures on the surface of the ball. The real genius is that this can be used for so many different games as children grow. Hide a small toy inside the middle of the ball that children have to pull out, roll or toss the ball back and forth, or see if children can touch both hands together in the middle of the ball. A toy that can be used in a variety of ways is the best kind of toy.
Lambs & Ivy Stuffed Giraffe – We’re suckers for a good stuffed animal at my house, and all are definitely not created equal. Lambs & Ivy has some adorable options that are super soft and really well made. These will hold up to all of the love!
Hape Penguin Musical Wobbler – A little wooden penguin that can be enjoyed by even the smallest babies. It wobbles and spins while the bells inside jingle and chime. It’s the perfect noisemaking toy that isn’t completely annoying. The little wings also make it easier for small hands to grab.
Munchkin Love-a-Bowls – Munchkin is truly the best when it comes to infant feeding. The bowls in the set are the perfect size, and they come with lids, which means they can be used for prepping or traveling with baby food, or for storing snacks on the go. The spoons are the perfect size for stashing in a diaper bag, and easy for independent little ones to use themselves.
Richard Scarry’s Busy Boxed Set – Some things truly are timeless, and Richard Scarry’s books definitely fall into that category. The illustrations are so fun that children can look at them for extended periods of time, or find something new each time. Parents love the nostalgia, and these books feel like a true keepsake that will also be well-loved.
Frida Baby Not Too Cold Teething Toys – The team behind Frida Baby’s product development just generally kill it every single time. These teethers have changed the game. Most chilled teething toys are kept in the freezer, and can end up being too cold for little hands to actually hold onto. This set of two teethers fit into a separate room-temperature holder. Each frozen teether is also double-ended, so they can be flipped, and little ones will get the exact relief that the need. Just wow. If you buy one baby gift this year, please let it be this one!
If you’re still looking for the perfect gift idea, be sure to check out all of my infant gift guides from previous years. Each of these gifts would be absolutely loved!
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