40 Great Gifts for Babies & Toddlers
Whether you're tackling your holiday shopping list, searching for a baby shower gift or stumped for a good first birthday present, here's a huge list of some of my favorite gifts for little ones!
Many of these toys are staples in therapy clinics and therapists' toy bags for good reason - they capture the interest of kiddos AND promote developmental skills. I've included toys for each age group that target fine motor, gross motor, sensory and cognitive development. You won't find hi-tech toys on this list - instead you'll find open-ended toys that encourage creative play and discovery. Happy Playing!
All links on this page are affiliate links. I only link to products I use or love. See my disclosure page for more information. General types of toys are listed as well as specific brand recommendations. Links may not work for readers outside the US - simply search your country's Amazon site for the specific brand name included in parentheses.
Toys for Infants
Chewable Rattle (iPlay Dream Window Organic Chime Rattle)
Sensory Tubes (Learning Resources Primary Science Sensory Tubes)
Black & White picture cards (Wee Gallery Art Cards for Baby)
Oball (Oball 4-inch Infant Rattle)
Feeding Supplies (EcoBamboo Ware Kids Dinnerware Set)
Clip-On Accordion Book (Taf Toys Clip On Pram Book)
Play Scarves (Hoerev Pack of 6 Juggling Scarves)
Stacking & Nesting Bowls (Grimm's Set of 5 Small Wooden Stacking & Nesting Rainbow Bowls)
Stacking Rings (Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Rock-a-Stack)
Wrist and Foot Rattles (Playgro Jungle Friends Gift Pack)
Toys for Bigger Babies
Animal Puppets (Melissa & Doug Farm Friends Hand Puppets)
Wooden Activity Cube (EverEarth Garden Activity Cube)
Musical Instruments (Melissa & Doug Band in a Box)
Play Tunnel (6-feet Kids Play Tunnel)
Pop Tubes (Pop Toob Set of 6)
Ball Ramp (EarlyYears Roll 'n Swirl Ball Ramp)
Swing (Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug 'n Secure Swing)
Blocks (B. One Two Squeeze Blocks)
Texture Balls (Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set)
Simple Shape Sorter (Play Toy Shape and Sort It Out)
Toys for Young Toddlers
Velcro Cutting Foods (Melissa & Doug Cutting Food)
Magnetic Fishing Puzzles (Melissa & Doug Fishing and Bug Catching Magnetic Game Bundle)
Basketball Goal (Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set)
Art Smock and Finger Paints (Bumkins Waterproof Sleeved Bib) and (Crayola Fingerpaints)
Jack in the Box (Schylling Jack in the Box)
Push Toy (Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon)
Duplos (Lego Duplo My First Number Train Building Set)
Magnadoodle (Fisher-Price Slim Doodle Pro)
Play Kitchen (Hape Playfully Delicious Play Kitchen)
Older Toddlers
Tweezer Toys (Plan Toys Preschool Bee Hive)
Design & Drill Set (Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center)
Mr. Potato Head (Playskool Mr. Potato Head)
Water Pipes Bath Toy (Boon Water Pipes Bath Toy)
Magnatiles (Magna-Tiles Clear Colors)
Play-Doh Fun Factory (Play-Doh Classic Fun Factory Playset)
Wheelbarrow (Radio Flyer Kids' Wheelbarrow)
Latches Puzzle (Melissa & Doug Deluxe Latches Board)
Shape Stacker and Sorter (Melissa & Doug Stack and Sort Board)
Sit 'n Spin (Playskool Play Favorites Sit 'n Spin Toy)
And my favorite collection of developmentally-appropriate toys for baby - The Play Kits from Lovevery. Every box is chock-full of developmental toys for your baby’s age and stage. It’s pretty much everything you’d need or want to promote learning and fun for baby’s first year!
photo used with permission of lovevery
You might notice that I don't closely follow the recommended ages on toys. What that means is that close supervision is required for some of these toys that may have smaller parts. It means knowing your child and taking precautions accordingly. For example, perhaps you share a Magnadoodle with your little one but remove the stamps and tie the string to make it shorter until your young toddler gets a bit older. Or maybe you let your kiddo play with a Potato Head toy only when you are available to play, too. Use your discretion and if you're not comfortable with a particular toy for your child - trust your gut.