Babies might not look like they’re doing much besides eating and sleeping, but the first year of life is full of seismic shifts in development. And even before they can hold a toy, babies are ready to play.
The best gifts engage them, focusing on the contrast they are able to see or the sounds and movements they can make themselves.
“Infants are really learning about their place in the world, so the best toys give them some sense of feedback,” says Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive.” She cites the classic baby rattle as a good example.
Babies also explore with their mouth, so look for toys that aren’t choking hazards (obviously) and might be interesting to a tiny tongue. Most importantly, keep it simple.
“We tend to shy away from toys that are technological or lighting up and flashing, just because of the overstimulation that they provide,” says Marie Conti, head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and a board member of the American Montessori Society.
Read ahead to discover the best gifts for babies.
Best rattles and sensory toys for babies
Good for babies three months and older, this toy is easy-to-grasp for small hands. Plus, the “rainstick” rattle shape filled with beads is sure to keep them engaged with unique sounds as they bounce it around.
Perfect for tummy time, this cute lil’ wobbler is musical and shakes and waddles when babies swipe at it. This toy promotes hand-eye coordination, as baby grasps and paws at it. The sound is a slight “tinkling” sound, meant to soothe babies as they play.
A classic stacking toy like this tropical find from Melissa & Doug gets a friendly and tropical new look, with different textures to explore and sounds that react to their touch as they grab, shake and stack.
Perfect for budding little foodies, Gund’s food truck-themed playset introduces sensory stimulation through recognizable takeout staples like a burger, taco and boba tea. Each item offers a different experience: the taco is a crinkle toy, the boba tea makes bubble sounds and the burger is a squeaker toy.
Best teething toys for babies
Made out of baby-safe easy-to-grip materials, their growing teeth and achy gums will feel relieved thanks to the multiple teething surfaces on this toy. Stick it in the freezer to provide some extended relief for their nibbling.
While the rest of this teether may be frozen solid after hours in the freezer, the silicone handle remains at room temp so baby can grasp it comfortably while gnawing on it.
This set of three comes with two double-sided inserts that feature two different textures to provide stimulation for both the front and back gums.
Babies put just about everything in their mouth, but you won’t mind when they chew on this. The teething toy is made from sustainable, natural rubber without BPA, according to the brand. Plus, its unique shape makes it easy for babies to grasp and hold on to.
This global gift is just as adorable as it is cozy. “I bought this gift for my friend who is an avid traveler for her baby shower,” says former Shop TODAY associate editor Allie Wise. “She was so excited and loved that it was something unique and educational.”
Best activity toys for infants
Give baby their own boom box with this little bestselling musical toy that can travel with them. 10 different tunes play alongside color-changing lights in this bestselling product that reviewers love to keep children busy during long car rides.
Tummy time might just be your baby’s favorite time, so ensure they enjoy it that much more with this interactive mat filled with all their favorite ocean animals.
As baby starts to crawl and then walk, a pull toy encourages mobility and interaction. The hollow center allows little fingers to easily grasp it. The brand recommends it for little ones 12 months and older.
Babies can make all the sounds of a symphony by hitting just a few buttons on this toy. It makes five instrument sounds — harp, flute, French horn, piano and violin — that combine to bring eight Mozart compositions to life in front of their eyes!
Get your little one their own custom name puzzle that they can enjoy for years to come. Not only can it help with logic, fine motor skills and letter recognition, according to the brand, but it can also serve as a cute piece of decor for their playroom or bedroom.
These “frustration-free” stacking orbs from Fat Brain Toys work whether they are in the “right” order or not. Thanks to their easy-to-grasp material, your infant will have fun building and re-building “towers,” only to watch them topple over.
Unique baby gifts for boys and girls
Accidents happen, so it’s always a good rule of thumb to keep any ice or heating packs around. These five adorable “boo boo packs” will have your kiddo smiling through the pain.
This handheld sound machine is great for travel days or even time spent in the stroller. With a dozen soothing sounds including ocean waves, white noise and even a heartbeat, this can help quiet even the fussiest kiddo.
Mealtime can be high-key messy when it comes to babies, but these BPA-free, heavy-duty silicone bibs are sure to catch all kinds of food, spills and drool. Plus, Shop TODAY executive editor Adrianna Brach personally recommends them!
“This one has been such a hit in our house. My 10-month-old son and my 2-year-old both love playing with it, which honestly says a lot since they’re at such different stages,” says Delman. “Each little bee makes its own sound — some squeak, some jingle-like a rattle — so they’re constantly pulling them out of the hive. It’s simple enough for my baby to grab and explore on his own, but engaging enough that my toddler still wants to sit down and play too. It’s become one of those toys that keeps both of them entertained at the same time, which feels like a small miracle some days.”
NBC News vice president of commerce Jen Birkhofer says this towel adorned with the baby’s name is her go to newborn gift. Designed with a soft and absorptive material, this fun accessory makes bath time something to look forward to.
Help them feel more confident in themselves with the help of these little climbing stones. They can stack them, step on them and build with them.
Gift sets for babies
Allow the baby to stay clean with this bathing set tailored to their sensitive skin, which includes a bottle of body wash, shampoo and lotion.
“I cannot tell you how many swaddles I went through with each of my kids. You need them, truly, because babies spit up, leak through diapers and get fussy without that snug wrapped feeling to help them sleep,” says Delman. “Having three on hand meant I was never caught without a clean one mid laundry cycle. The lightweight gauze breathes well so baby doesn’t overheat, but it still gives that cozy, secure feeling they crave. This is the kind of practical gift I would have used every single day, and that leaf print is just the sweetest little detail.”
The subscription box comes with five board books for baby and a personalized note. The brand says the book selection is “curated by literary experts” and they will “endure the nibbles and last for years to come.”
“When I had my babies, I remember wanting everything around them to feel soft and simple, nothing harsh, nothing overly processed,” says Delman. “This set would have been such a comfort to receive. The undyed cotton means it’s gentle on that brand new skin right from the start, and honestly, there’s something so calming about wrapping your baby in something that simple and pure. It’s the kind of gift I would have treasured, not just for my baby, but for that whole tender newborn stage.”
Never underestimate how frequently babies need to be changed. This curated set from Hanna Andersson comes with sensitive-skin friendly sleepwear and a few other items that baby won’t want to let go of, including a hand-knit lovie and a soft-to-the-touch blanket.
Best books for babies
Give them an early introduction to their ABCs with this classic board book. Perfect for story time, it features tons of fun rhymes that many parents will remember from their own childhood.
Babies love looking at faces, and the material of these books allows them to withstand chewing, ripping and whatever other havoc only a baby could create.
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender loves to gift this nostalgic book to any new parents. She’s a big fan of starting off my friends’ kids’ home libraries and there is no better place to start than with this classic.
“So simple yet so powerful,” said one Amazon reviewer about Climo’s funny yet heartfelt read. “I bought this book for a friend who just had a baby, and from now on I’ll be ordering it for every new parent I know. [The story] definitely pulls on those heart strings. I wish this book existed when my son was born because it’s so touching.”
“Babies love looking at faces of other babies,” says Nina Lindsay, president of the Association for Library Service to Children, adding that it’s particularly important to look for diverse faces because kids learn bias from a very young age. “It’s really important for all children to see children like themselves and different from themselves in books on a regular basis.”
This accordion-style book is designed especially for tummy time, according to the brand, with high contrast black-and-white images that engage a developing brain.
This board book includes empowering messages for young girls every step of the way — even if they haven’t yet taken their first legitimate steps.
Another favorite that Bender loves to gift is this classic tale (about friends with tails!) about the importance of friendship and how far generosity will get you.
A series of affirmations help make sure those early days of self discovery are full of positivity and love. This is the second book in a three-book series with other titles “I Will!” and “I Feel!” helping children navigate their emotions and the importance of remaining loyal to friends.
The bedtime story that has lulled generations to sleep gets a new slipcase hardcover edition, featuring a keepsake art print and an afterword by Clement Hurd’s son.
“If you have a little one who loves Ms. Rachel, this book is such a sweet gift,” says Delman. “Kids can press the speech bubble button to hear Ms. Rachel ask questions right from the page, which keeps them engaged while quietly building early language skills. It covers letters, numbers and colors through familiar songs and nursery rhymes, and comes with a bonus learning card, too. Parents say it’s interactive without being overstimulating, which feels rare these days.”
Luxury baby gifts
This activity table was just named as one of The Toy Insider’s 20 hot toys of 2025. This table is designed to grow with them and their interests in art. It also has storage for all their tools.
Help them drift off soundly to sleep with this gadget, which features sounds like white noise, wind, rain and lullabies and doubles as a night light. It’s Wi-Fi-enabled so parents can control it from anywhere.
This smart baby monitor helps you track a baby’s pulse rate, oxygen levels and sleeping habits all from an app in your phone.
This tiny table functions as a kid’s table for dinner events, an art station, a puzzle table and so much more. Brown says it’s great for babies and, even though it’s a splurge gift, “This table and chairs set...will be used for years and is a place for your little one to spend lots of time. They’ll start by attempting to (safely) climb up on their own, and eventually take a seat in it themselves for snacks and play time.”
How we chose the best baby gifts
The Shop TODAY editors and writers searched the internet to find the best gifts for babies. We used our own personal experiences with gifting products and brands to make shopping easier for our readers, including bestselling items that customers and reviewers loved and are sure to be a hit with any little ones.
Meet the experts
- Marie Conti is Director of Regional Community Relations for American Montessori Society. She was the former head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.
- Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D., is Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development in New York, as well as the author of “How Toddlers Thrive.” She focuses on young children’s social and emotional development, as well as parents’ experiences raising them.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for every kid on your list including 1-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 7-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds.
