10 Gift Ideas for the Baby in Your Life

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November 25, 2019

By: Rina Rapuano

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Photo By: fotostorm

Brand New and Tried-and-True Presents

Baby gear is big business, which means the possibilities are seemingly endless when it comes to choosing a gift for the newest little nugget in your life. New toys, products and gadgets are released regularly, designed to sharpen motor skills and encourage creativity. These can be tempting—but because infants can’t make wish-lists, it’s a good idea to take parents into consideration when buying the latest in baby must-haves. Here are 10 gifts that range from brand new to tried-and-true.

BUNNIES BY THE BAY LOVEY

Babies will instantly gravitate toward this silky, snuggly and miniature security blanket. It’s machine washable and monogram-able if you order through the Bunnies By the Bay website, but it can also be found at other stores that carry baby accessories.

BUY IT: Bed Bath & Beyond, $30

YOEE BABY TOY

This award-winning toy was designed to engage even the tiniest babies in play, which helps them learn to form connections. Parents, siblings and others can stimulate baby’s senses by caressing and tickling them with the comforting, feather-like tail of the toy, which comes in different animal-kingdom characters like a fox, monkey, lion or cat. The toy also features a rattle, silicone teether, crinkle paper, high-contrast colors and ultra-soft fabrics.

BUY IT: Amazon, $25

OLI AND CAROL TEETHERS

Babies are pretty notorious for putting everything in their mouths, so why not give them something that’s cute, useful and completely safe? These munchable, biodegradable toys made from 100 percent natural rubber come in various shapes, colors and sizes, including fruits and veggies, animals, sea creatures and origami boats. Great for the bath, some even come as bracelets, so they are always on hand.

BUY IT: Nordstrom, $18

HARRY POTTER SWADDLES

Most parents are familiar with aden + anais, the classic line of swaddling blankets, sleeping bags and bibs that are so soft, breathable and versatile that they become a diaper-bag and stroller must-have. But the heirloom-quality baby brand just kicked up the magical vibe of its muslin fabrics with limited-edition Harry Potter-inspired patterns featuring flying snitches, gold-foil thunderbolts and Hedwig delivering a letter.

BUY IT: aiden + anias, $60

SOUNDBUB SPEAKER

This white noise machine and Bluetooth-enabled portable speaker has a padded fabric cover that is chew-safe and the entire thing can be attached to a crib, car seat or stroller. It can even be programmed for continuous play or to turn off after 30, 60 or 90 minutes. It not only shares songs from your carefully curated playlist but can also play messages and bedtime stories from a loved one that’s recorded through a free app.

BUY IT: Amazon, $35

INDESTRUCTIBLES BOOKS

Headlines have been predicting the downfall of the written word since the Internet was born, but anyone who sees a baby with a book knows reading will never really go out of style. These are perfect for the tiniest readers since they are “chew-proof, rip-proof, nontoxic and 100 percent washable.” Plus, they feature modern twists on classics, such as an Old MacDonald’s Farm story set in Bolivia, which introducing babies to chinchillas and llamas in addition to cows and horses, all while likely introducing them to another culture.

BUY IT: Fat Brain Toys, $6

YOOKIDOO MUSICAL DUCK RACE

If you’re the kind of aunt or uncle who loves bells and whistles, this popular bath toy will definitely make a memorable splash. Suction cups hold it to the bottom of the bathtub while baby experiments with placing four different ducks in the middle to create different types of spray actions—helping to teach cause and effect plus motor skills. There’s a button that turns the jaunty music on and off, which parents will really love.

BUY IT: BuyBuy Baby, $38

BABY BEADS CLUTCHING TOY

Parents and babies will love this simple toy that incorporates tactile, colorful wooden spheres that are all connected by an elastic. Clutching the beads and moving them around improves hand-eye coordination and motor skills while creating a satisfying “clickty-clop” sound that introduces cause and effect.

BUY IT: Albee Baby, $12

FISHER-PRICE SOOTHE & GLOW SEAHORSE

A press of the tummy makes this seahorse glow and play eight soothing melodies and ocean sounds that are perfect for helping to establish a sleep routine. The music becomes so familiar that they even start to feel drowsy as soon as it plays.

BUY IT: Kohl’s, $14

BAMBOO BABY BOWL SET

For eco-minded parents, this colorful and earth-friendly feeding set includes a bowl, a sectioned plate and five spoons to help families cut down on plastics. The plate and bowl feature silicone suction cups to keep baby from tossing it to the ground every time you turn your back, and silicone-tipped spoons keep teething tykes from chewing the bamboo into an oblivion. It’s a great gift because it’s attractive, something that would be used frequently, and the kind of a splurge item that parents might covet but not buy for themselves. The only downside is that they’re not dishwasher safe.

BUY IT: BuyBuy Baby, $60