Special babies deserve special gifts. Read on for our top picks for great gifts that babies and toddlers (and their parents!) will love, from books and clothes to utensils and their own magazine.
S Is for Santa: A Christmas Alphabet
This beautiful board book uses retro imagery to help you share the magic of Christmas with babies and toddlers. C is for caroling, G is for gingerbread, and V is for volunteering. Build language skills, warm fuzzies and excitement as you look through each beautiful page. Perfect for stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. There's also D Is for Dreidel: A Hanukkah Alphabet (amazon.com, $9.99). Find more book suggestions in thess articles: Best Holiday Books for Babies & Toddlers & 19 Classic Books All Babies and Toddlers Should Have
Available at amazon.com, $9.99.
Tadpole Crate from KiwiCo
KiwiCo's fun-packed crates are delivered to your door with everything you need for engaging, educational, age-appropriate activities with your little one. First, the project: Depending on the month's theme, you might make stained-glass sea creatures and play a fishing game or create a mailbag and write and draw on letters to put in it. You'll also receive a magazine and links to online resources that share information about the developmental focus area in that month's crate and activities to build on the theme. Finally, each crate includes a board book with a reading tip or activity related to the book.
Available at kiwico.com, $19.95 for 1- and 3-month subscriptions, $18.50 for 6 months, and $16.95 for 12 months.
Build-a-Trike Infant Tricycle from Radio Flyer
You've seen Radio Flyer's signature red tricycles and wagons all around the park, but did you know you could custom-design an infant trike to make your baby's holiday? Choose a red or pink ride, a fabric basket or plastic bucket to hold belongings, and upgrades like air tires, a canopy, headrest & seatbelt, seatpad, tray & cup holder, footrest, bell and a parent pouch. Personalize your ride with a name plate and off you go.
Available at radioflyer.com, price depends on customization choices.
Buckle Me Car-Seat-Friendly Baby Coat
Getting a squirmy child in and out of a heavy coat can put a chill on cold-weather outings. The Buckle Me coat will get you and your child through windy, rainy and snowy days with ease, thanks to the coat's clever construction. Not only does it have snaps and Velcro for easy on and off, the coat features an ingenious off-center closure that allows it to be worn safely while in a car seat. Available in bold colors kids will love and sizes from 6/9 months on up.
Available at bucklemecoats.com, $99.
Sunset Wooden Rainbow Stacking Tunnel from Bella Luna Toys
This ten-piece wooden toy by Grimm's Spiel & Holz of Germany will entertain your baby for years to come. Crafted from a single lime wood tree trunk and colored with nontoxic, water-based stains, this open-ended toy can be played with in a variety of ways. Baby will love to examine the colorful wooden pieces, and as they get older, they'll stack and balance the pieces, using them to build all sorts of structures, from houses and cradles to tunnels and bridges. In addition to being a fun toy that encourages creativity, it makes a beautiful addition to a nursery shelf.
Available at bellalunatoys.com, $75.
Leather Baby Moccasins from Mia's Moccs
These leather moccs will knock your socks off with their fashionable color range, high quality and affordable price tag. Your child will love the soft, comfortable shoe and cute style, and you'll love the shoes' elastic opening, which keeps them securely on a wiggly child's feet and makes them easy to take on and off. Choose from moccasins with leather bottoms for crawlers or rubber soles for walkers.
Available at miasmoccs.com, $35.
Cuddle + Kind Inspirational Print
Cuddle + Kind makes inspirational prints and heirloom-quality hand-knit dolls that give beauty to your child's nursery and hope to hungry children. For each item sold, the company works with organizations that provide meals to children in need. Purchase an unframed 10" by 10" print and you'll provide five meals to children in the US or abroad. Each doll equals 10 meals.
Available at cuddleandkind.com, $20.
'Hello' Magazine from Highlights
Give the gift of reading. Highlights' Hello magazine uses colorful imagery, fun activity suggestions and stories and poems to engage young children (newborns to age 2) and encourage language development and a love of reading. Each issue follows a baby-friendly theme such as sounds or farm animals and is made from tear-resistant washable material that stands up to baby teeth and hands. It's small enough to fit in a purse or diaper bag and is shipped in an envelope to keep it germ-free in transit in case your little one wants to give it a taste. When you subscribe to Hello, it's easy to transition to High Five and then Highlights magazine when the child gets older.
Learn more at highlights.com; a one-year subscription is $29.64.
Turbans & Headbands for a Worthy Cause from Headbands of Hope
These soft turbans cover your cutie's head and fit babies from birth to age 2. They also come in mama's size! For every turban and headband sold, an item is donated to a child battling cancer. So you'll warm baby's head and your heart with this thoughtful, stylish purchase.
Available at headbandsofhope.com.
Hand-Knit Llama from Garnet Hill
Give your child a no drama llama this holiday season. These snuggly stuffed animals were hand-knit in Peru by a Fair Trade artisan group out of soft cotton yarn with acrylic fill. They have no removable parts for baby's safety, and the hand-embroidery of the eyes, nose and mouth gives each one a unique personality. Also comes in puppy, fox and bunny.
Available at garnethill.com, $48.
Holiday-Themed Baby Blankets from Tula
You know the brand Tula makes amazing carriers, but did you know the company also carries soft baby blankets made from 100% viscose from bamboo? Perfect for laying on, swaddling in and cuddling with on chilly days, the blankets come in a ton of rich colors and fun prints, including wintery holiday themes with reindeer, polar bears, poinsettias, pine trees and more. Buy a three-blanket set (which comes with one patterned and two solid-colored blankets with a subtle woven pattern) for savings and a festive gift.
Available at babytula.com, $25 for one blanket and $49 for a three-blanket set.
Grabease Self-Feeding Utensil
There are lots of cute baby spoons and forks on the market, but Grabease may take the cake in terms of giving your child a safe, fun, easy way to learn to use utensils. Available in a rainbow of fun colors, they are short enough for little hands to grip and have a built-in barrier to prevent choking.
Available at grabease.com, $14.50.
Handmade Wool Holiday Decorations from Craftspring
Start a child's collection of holiday decorations with Craftspring's felted wool ornaments, garlands, nativity scenes, stockings and tree toppers. The wool comes from Kyrgystan and is felted and formed by female artisans to produce handmade gifts that will be treasured forever. These whimsical angels, elves, snowmen and more will add magic to a child's holiday season.
Available at craftspring.com.
Clever Car Seat Tray from Travel Tray
Anyone who has heard a child wail from the back seat because they dropped a pacifier, want a snack or need a toy to play with will appreciate the ingenious Travel Tray. Designed to fit cup holders in car seats, strollers, camping chairs and more (there's an included cup adaptor if needed), the tray holds a child's bottle or cup and can be used for snacks, toys, small books, pacifiers and more. It's dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Available in several colors on traveltray.us, $15.
Cozy Elf Suit from Zutano
Dress your favorite little elf in this one-piece sherpa fleece elf suit, complete with handy snaps and an adorable pointed hood. It's great for stroller walks on chilly days and perfect for Instagram snaps. Available in nine colors (from hot pink and lime green to chocolate brown and cream) and sizes 3m, 6m and 12m.
Available at zutano.com, $43.
Crown Hat from Oeuf
Your little prince or princess will look the part in this knit crown hat, handmade in Bolivia by a Fair Trade women's collective. Made from baby alpaca wool, this soft, warm hat is hypoallergenic and eco-friendly. Also available in a rosy pink.
Available at oeufnyc.com, $52.
City-Themed Soft Blocks from Globe Totters
Paris is only one of 13 places represented on these soft, organic-cotton blocks. Each features famous landmarks and bright graphics and is made with non-toxic, water-based inks. There's also a jingly bell tucked inside for a little shake and rattle while you roll the block. Other places featured include Kansas City, Boston, Tokyo, NYC, London and Seattle.
Available at roseandrex.com, $25.
Littlefund Gifting Platform
Fund a special gift, like a vacation or other big-ticket item, with Littlefund, which gives loved ones a convenient way to contribute. Parents can set a specific objective (Disneyland!), or gifters can choose a goal they want their funds to go toward. Contributions can be made through credit cards, debit cards or ACH bank transfers.
Learn more at littlefund.co.
featured photo: iStock
—Eva Ingvarson Cerise
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