12 Baby Gifts To Make Their First Holiday Season Bright
Ideas for babies under a year old here!
If you think shopping for mom and dad is difficult around the holiday season, finding the perfect baby gift for their first holiday is just as much of a stumper.
Not everyone factors their newborn into their gift-giving traditions, and I totally get why you’d sit the first holiday out from buying presents. Unless your baby is closer to the one-year mark come December 25th, and on high alert, most babes are too little to a) get it and b) care. However, if you’re a parent or grandparent or aunt/uncle with a new baby on your list that you’d like to spoil this holiday season, I also understand! I’m right there with you!
It’s fun to shop for baby gifts, but babies under one can be tricky to buy for because they are in an awkward stage. They’re sort of into toys, but their fine motor skills aren’t fine-tuned yet. They’re sort of into books, but they don’t actually know what the story is saying. So, what are your options? Keep reading…
Let me know in the comments below which of these 12 gifts for babies you loved most, and if there are any additional presents for babies the Beyond My Byline community should know about for holiday 2024! And, if you don’t see an item on this list that would match your personality or taste, shoot me an email. I’ll offer some personalized recs based on your specifications.
(**Please note, prices are subject to change as sales start!**)
A Friendly Disclaimer: Beyond My Byline is reader-supported! When you buy through Amazon links in this post, I may earn an affiliate commission.
Slumberkins Yeti to Shine
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$43.99, amazon.com
Slumberkins reached out to me when I announced that I was pregnant with my daughter, and I’m so glad they did! It’s a women-founded, emotional learning brand on a mission to “bring effective early emotional learning tools into as many homes and schools as possible.”
The brand’s Kin Sets pair a sensory-friendly plush with the character’s children’s story. Each character encourages a different emotional skill and offers little ones an affirmation to help them build and strengthen their inner voice. I believe it’s never too early to instill these messages in your little ones, and the beautifully written and illustrated story will catch their attention. Plus, the plushes are so cute and incredibly soft - little ones will love snuggling them!
Lovevery Play Kits
Photo courtesy of Lovevery.
from $80, lovevery.com
My daughter will be days-shy of four months old on Christmas. She’s very alert, noticing more and more of the world around her, and I want to cultivate and feed that curiosity as much as I can. To do so, I’ve been looking into the Lovevery Play Kits. The boxes are organized by age group and stocked with stage-based play essentials that encourage and enrich their development. You can also add a book bundle to the subscription so that the sweet babe on your list also receives stage-based stories that explore the real-life experiences of children at every age.
KIDS PREFERRED Sesame Street Elmo Activity Toy
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$19.99, amazon.com
One of my very best friends (hi, Megs!) gifted Lauren this Elmo Activity Toy when she was born, and it has become one of her favorite toys. Elmo’s red fur is so vibrant that babies will lock onto it for minutes at a time. Plus, the stuffed character is peppered with toys like textured teething rings, crinkled flaps, and a balloon that squeaks, to keep little ones occupied even longer.
Boho Floral Baby Name Blanket
Photo courtesy of Etsy.
$39.99, etsy.com
If you want to get something personalized to the little darling on your list, a name blanket would make an incredibly sweet baby gift this holiday season. Etsy has a ton of handmade options from its sellers, but this is the shop I used for Lauren’s announcement hat. I’ll be purchasing a name blanket myself, so she will have it for years and years to come!
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Board Book by Bill Martin & Bill Archambault
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$4.78, amazon.com
Lauren and I love to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and do so almost every day! The story is sing-songy, and the illustrations by Lois Ehlert are so vibrant and bold. Lauren can’t take her eyes off the page, and she really enjoys the rhythm of the tale, following the letters of the alphabet as they make their way up the coconut tree. I highly recommend it for a baby gift!
*AND if the little one on your list already has the original story, the alphabet gets a festive twist in Chicka Chicka Ho Ho, which you can purchase here.
Dr. Brown's Ridgees Giraffe, Massaging Baby Teether
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$4.99, amazon.com
If you’re shopping for a sweet babe between the ages of three months and 12 months, the little darling might be teething. Lauren has already started that process and is constantly putting everything in her mouth to soothe her gums. Because she’s still so small, a bunch of teethers don’t work for her, but she’s grown fond of this massaging teether from Dr. Brown’s.
Ingenuity Calm Springs Plush Activity Gym - Chic Boutique
Photo courtesy of Target.
$79.99, target.com
This baby gift is as much for mom and dad as it is for baby! We use this play gym a lot in the Guerra house. Lauren loves staring at all of the activity toys; she stares at herself in the mirrors, pulls on the rainbow’s ring, and loves to kick the swinging rabbit. I also love the colors of the play gym and just how soft the plush mat is underneath her. It’s comfortable and doubles as a great area for tummy time.
WubbaNub Infant Pacifier
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$15.95, amazon.com
There are so many different types of pacifiers on the market, and not every child is going to vibe with all of them. That said, most kids that I know love their WubbaNub buddy. WubbaNubs come in so many characters, but I’m spotlighting this yellow duck option because it’s my daughter’s favorite (thanks, Grammy!). Her little hands can grab hold of the stuffed animal and maneuver the binky back in her mouth if it falls out. It helps little ones become a smidge more independent, but the biggest thing for me is the comfort factor; the character gives them something to hold onto.
GUND Disney Official Winnie the Pooh Plush
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$20, amazon.com
I love Winnie the Pooh. The book, the show, the memorabilia. Sign me up for it all. I’ve rubbed off on my daughter; she also loves this silly ol’ bear, and if the baby on your list is also a fan, GUND’s Winnie the Pooh character plushies would make an adorable gift. Even if your little one isn’t actively playing with stuffed animals yet, the colors on these characters are so bright, they’ll stay busy just staring (and babbling!) at them.
CozyChic® Stroller Blanket
Photo courtesy of Barefoot Dreams.
$70, barefootdreams.com
Something I overlooked when registering for Lauren was baby blankets, but my goodness, I am glad other people thought of them! We’re constantly wrapping up our little bundle of joy in baby blankets - from naptime to walks to the quickest car rides. I also always grab blankets to put down on the floor so she can stretch out and play. As it gets colder, I’m looking for heavier, warmer options, and what better brand to look to than Barefoot Dreams to check these boxes? Is it pricey? Sure, but it’s also worth it.
2-piece Cashmere Beanie and Mitten Set
Photo courtesy of H&M.
$49.99, hm.com
Did you know H&M has a kid’s label? It’s called Adorables, and it’s aptly named. I love all of their outfits, but figured I’d choose something a) unisex and b) less specific to highlight on this list, as choosing baby clothes is specific to that child’s (re: parent’s) style! Hence, this cashmere beanie and mitten set. It’s a neutral color, so it will go with everything, and it’s 100% cashmere, so it will keep them warm.
World of Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activity Toy
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
$21.99, amazon.com
I am a sucker for pretty much anything Eric Carle and this Very Hungry Caterpillar Activity Toy is no exception. I love the colorfully chaotic patterns along the insect’s body and the fact that one toy embodies a jingle bell rattle, crinkle, and texture teethers. Gift it with the board book if it isn’t already in their library, and you have an A+ baby gift, as far as I’m concerned.