These little guys want to move around and make noise, so give them all the tunnels, building blocks, and musical instruments
Get moving and grooving with these presents for one-year-olds (and under!) that they’ll enjoy long after celebrating their first birthdays. From a musical cube and bath boats to magnetic blocks and easy-to-grip teethers, these holiday gifts and toys for 6-month-olds to a year will make life more fun… and just a little bit louder.
Melissa & Doug Baby's First Sensory Toys Gift Bundle
There are so many things for baby to explore in this food-themed sensory set, from the six-piece PB&J take-along toy to a box full of gifts that baby can wrap, and the soft-stacking pineapple. Yum!
Find a nice spot in your home for this 6-in-1 toy because it's going to be around for a while as your little one transitions from tummy time to tunnel time. We love that you can pop off the zebra's keyboard for take-along tunes.
Baby's will love so many things about this wobbly bear! They can bat it around to see where it lands, drop it and watch it bounce, or give it a big snuggle when they need to take five.
We're smitten with that happy little crinkle stuffie bean! If you're tired of baby pulling out all your tissues, give them their own garden-themed tissue box to explore. Bonus: a book that teaches them how plants grow.
You won't believe how soft and cozy these blankies are, and Angel Dear clearly knows parents by offering not two, but three bunnies in the set to account for any lost-lovey disasters that may come up in the future.
Bath time just got a whole lot more fun with these floating boats in bright, beautiful colors. Tots can stack them or watch water rain out of their drain holes. Now all you have to worry about is keeping the water inside the tub.
From The Diary of Anne Frank to To Kill a Mockingbird, there are plenty of amazing lessons to learn from books that have no place being banned—and you're never too young to start learning.
Designed to give teething littles the best possible grip, this teether fits right onto their chubby little hands so they can gnaw to their heart's content.
The softest bamboo-infused viscose and the prettiest patterns make this a no-brainer for holiday gifting—and when the weather outside is less frightful, parents can plop their newly sitting kids down on the blanket just about anywhere.
Whether you're looking to entertain baby while you get a few things done or lull them to sleep at bedtime, this ocean-themed crib toy is completely mesmerizing. The drift-off feature gradually tones down the entertainment and a handy remote lets you turn it on or off from up to 12 feet away.
Your little bunny will learn about object permanence and practice their fine motor skills when they put the little stuffed bunnies in and out of the cute cottage, which comes with a handle so they can tote their friends around once they're officially walkers.
Calling all budding composers! Each side of this cube features a different instrument to delight baby's senses—think harp, flute, French horn, piano, and violin—with lights flashing to the tempo. They can layer individual sounds or play the full symphony, Mozart style.
Tots love water; parents love when said water can't spill all over the house. Consider this a win-win. The cuddly koala's tummy has a water bottle that's fun to squish during tummy time. And when spit-up happens (it will), simply pull out the water bottle and throw the koala in the wash.
When the handle is on, little ones can practice lifting this rattly toy kettlebell just like their parents. Without the handle, they can remove and stack the colorful rings that make up the ball and feature a different Spanish number on each.
Sitters have a new take on the world, and that means new toys to explore. Push-and-spin toys are great for building core strength and balance, and your babe will love the cause and effect of pushing the sun down to see the corn spin and pop.
All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors. If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication. All images courtesy of retailers.—
Baby toy subscription boxes take the guesswork out of toy shopping
Looking for activities your littles will love delivered right to your home? Of course you are. Even if you didn’t know it, we’re betting there’s a good chance the idea sounds awfully appealing. There’s no shortage of baby and toddler toys out there, but finding ones that are curated and expert-approved? That can be tricky. Nurture your child’s brain development with a baby toy subscription box of educational (and fun!) toys that build physical, social, and cognitive skills. Here are five toy subscription boxes that make it easy for you by delivering age-appropriate developmental gear straight to your door.
KiwiCo Panda Crate
KiwiCo
Age group: Birth to 24 months
What you get: Each shipment includes brain-building toys and activities as well as a guide for parents that explains what skills your child is developing at their age and how you can best support them. You’ll also receive activity cards that explain ways to use the items in your crate as well as cards that give you simple, new ways to play and bond with your little one.
What we love: The crates' contents are tailored to kids' ages and stages, with developmentally appropriate activities you'll enjoy doing together. It's all backed by in-house experts and partners who specialize in child health behavior and development.
What you get: With this Montessori-inspired subscription box, you receive a box every 2-3 months (depending on your little one's age). Designed by child development experts, the goodies inside are created to build brain development and nurture and encourage your child at every age and stage. Toys include books, card sets, first puzzles, bath-friendly playthings and, much more. Useful products like a drinking cup also arrive right when your kiddo is ready to try them.
What we love: Lovevery takes a science-based approach to choosing the right items to spark neural pathways, hone motor skills, and encourage interaction. The baby-safe toys and materials are made with sustainably sourced wood and 100% organic cotton, and the shipping is carbon neutral. If your child has special needs, contact Lovevery for recommendations on which kits would work best.
What you get: Each playkit is packed with Montessori toys that are age-based and specifically created to stimulate learning (on top of having fun, of course).
What we love: Every toy in the Babysteps Playkits are pediatrician-approved, so you know the research has been done for you. Plus, each toy is designed to last, so hang onto them for your next kiddo.
Make sure to capture all those playful moments—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.
Beginning eaters can be a picky bunch, but you and your child will love these new and nutritious foods and drinks designed specifically for babies and toddlers. Packed with healthy ingredients (hello, pea protein, grass-fed bison and bok choy) and available in delicious flavor combinations and kid-friendly packaging (puffs! pouches! smoothie melts! teething wafers!), they’re a win-win. Read on for your baby’s new favorites!
We love Cerebelly for their nutrient-rich, organic kid snacks, and the new bone broth pouches have our mouths watering. Available in three flavors (butternut squash chicken broth with thyme; carrot beef bone broth with rosemary; sweet potato pinto bean with cumin), they're packed with kid-friendly flavors and brain-supporting nutrients including lutein, DHA and protein. Created for kids 11 months and up.
This Australian-owned snack brand makes nutritious, wholesome organic foods for babies and toddlers with no artificial flavors, colors or additives. The line is broken down into two ranges: The Baby Bellies range features snacks for kids 7+ months and 10+ months in kid-friendly flavors and age-appropriate shapes. The Little Bellies range is for kids 12+ months and features animal crackers and tomato sticks. The snacks dissolve so they're easy for littles to eat, and the shapes and sizes are developmentally appropriate so kids can grip them and feed themselves.
Looking for a nutritious, delicious and easy way to prepare breakfast foods for your babe? Try the apple, carrot and cinnamon muffin mix from Happy Family Organics, or the pancake & waffle mix. You'll whip these up in five minutes flat, so they're perfect for busy mornings or days you want to focus on family time rather than cooking. Both organic, non-GMO mixes are made with 100% whole grains, iron and no added sugar. You only need to add water to prepare the pancake & waffle mix; add water and your child's favorite puree to the muffin mix.
You may know Holle from the brand's baby formula, but this Swiss company has recently launched nutritious fruit and veggie pouches in six flavors, including Veggie Bunny, made with carrot, sweet potatoes and peas. They're not only made with organic ingredients, the products carry the Demeter seal, which means the products meet the highest international standards for holistic, ecological and ethical practices in organic farming.
Available at holleusa.com, $19.99 for a box of six pouches.
Happy Baby Savory Blends from Happy Family Organics
Get your baby's veggies in with these new pouches from Happy Family Organics. Each flavor contains 1.5 servings of organic vegetables in each pouch, more than other leading brands. The veggies are blended with healthy fats, herbs and spices for delicious combinations that expand your child's palate. Each flavor sounds like it came straight off a restaurant menu: Squash, Chickpeas & Spinach with Avocado Oil + Sage; Broccoli & Carrots with Olive Oil + Garlic; Sweet Potatoes with Olive Oil + Rosemary; Purple Carrot & Cauliflower with Avocado Oil + Oregano.
When a snack attack hits, you'll feel good about giving your child these nutrient-rich puffs. They have a slight crunch and chewy texture that kids like, and you'll like that they contain healthy veggies, as well as bone broth for protein and organic olive oil for healthy fats. The three savory flavors are: Broccoli & Spinach Grain free Puffs with Bone Broth, Carrot & Beet Grain Free Puffs with Olive Oil, and Tomato & Mushroom Grain Free Puffs with Bone Broth. These puffs are non-GMO, USDA Organic certified and Certified Gluten-Free.
Available at myserenitykids.com, $32.95 for a six-pack of 1.5-ounce containers.
Smoothie-Inspired Veggie & Fruit Pouches from Cerebelly
What could be more enticing than a smoothie-inspired puree with Peppa and George Pig on the label? How about the fact that these veggie & fruit pouches are packed with brain-supporting nutrients such as iron, Vitamin B6 and selenium. Available in three mouthwatering flavors (purple carrot blueberry, sweet potato peach, and celery apple kiwi), the Cerebelly x Peppa Pig pouches are sure to be a hit at snack time. The company donates a portion of each product to Baby2Baby to support children in need.
With just four healthy ingredients, these melty puffs from Littlemore Organics are the perfect snack to pop in your diaper bag or serve at home. Available in two savory flavors, sunflower butter and tomato, they contain no added sugar or salt; no corn, rice or gluten; and no peanuts or tree nuts. The line was created by two Boston-based mom friends, one a pediatrician, who set out to develop a packaged snack that was tasty, nutritious and convenient to bring with you. For babies 6 months and up who have started on solids.
Yogurt smoothie melts with no added sugar? Yes, please! These toddler favorites get their sweetness from organic fruits and veggies, contain no preservatives, and come in a shape that makes it easy for kids to grasp and chew. Available in plant-based yogurt (made with coconut milk) and cow's milk yogurt varieties, these melt-in-your-mouth snacks come in three yummy flavors: Beets 'n' Berries, Carrot Raspberry and Mango Carrots. The resealable bag means you can pop them in your bag for outings. They're recommended for kids 8 months to 4 years.
Treat your Gerber baby to delicious, nutritious organic foods delivered right to your door with these subscription box meals created by registered dieticians. The box contents change each month to add variety to your child's diet and respond to their nutritional needs and developmental milestones. Each box is filled with USDA Certified Organic cereals, purees, pouches or snacks.
Available at gerber.com, starting at $69.99 per box/month (under $2 per serving).
Want to feed your baby healthy foods that broaden their palate? Try these bone-broth toddler purees from Serenity Kids. Packed with nutrients that help strengthen bones and support digestion and immunity, these toddler puree pouches come in flavorful varieties with no added sugars or preservatives: Turkey Bolognese, Beef Pot Roast and Turmeric Chicken. All are made with pasture-raised meat from small American regenerative family farms, organic bone broth and Certified USDA Organic vegetables and herbs. They're also free of ingredients that contain antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs or major allergens.
Available at serenitykids.com, $29.95/6 pouches of each flavor; $32.95/6-pouch variety pack. Save 20% with a subscription.
These heat-and-serve toddler meals (designed for kids 1+) come in flavors kids love and are packed full of nutrients. The macaroni & cheese has 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, along with 1/4 cup of veggies (pureed butternut squash, sweet potato and cauliflower). The pasta & tomato sauce has 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, along with 1/4 of veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, red pepper). Both are low in sodium and contain no added sugar, additives or preservatives.
Available at target.com and in the produce section of Target stores, $4.99.
With 3 grams of protein, no added sugar and 10 brain-supporting nutrients, Cerebelly's Smart Bars are the snack you'll feel good about feeding your toddler. Think your child might need convincing to try something new? Two of the new flavors feature kid favorites Peppa Pig and George Pig on the package. Cerebelly was created by a neurosurgeon and mom of three to deliver age-optimized nutrition to children's growing brains. The bars in the Peppa Pig collaboration are carrot raisin and blueberry banana sweet potato. The bars also come in apple kale and strawberry beet. Read more about the Cerebelly X Peppa Pig Smart Bars.
Available at cerebelly.com, from $3.74 for a five-pack.
Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers from Else Nutrition
This nutritional drink is free of dairy, soy, gluten, corn syrup and GMOs. What it's full of is minimally processed plant-based ingredients, whole foods and 20 vitamins and minerals your child needs to support their growth and development after they turn one. The main ingredients are organic almond butter, organic buckwheat flour and organic tapioca maltodextrin.
BabyPops are a puffed corn and oat snack that's sized just right for tiny hands. This quick-dissolving organic snack contains no added sweetener or salt, and the ingredients are non-GMO. It launched with three yummy varieties: peanut, banana raspberry and tomato. All varieties contain peanut; the peanut version includes organic peanut flour, and the other two are flavored with fruits and veggies.
Nutty Blends from Happy Family Organics combine a fruit with a nut in a tasty pouch, for a healthy, filling snack and an easy way to introduce peanuts and tree nuts to your baby. The line, which was developed with the help of pediatric allergists, comes in four flavors you'll be tempted to try yourself: bananas & almond butter, apples & walnut butter, pears & cashew butter, and bananas & peanut butter.
Learn more and find your nearest store carrying this product at happyfamilyorganics.com, $1.99 per pouch.
Organic Plant-Based Meals from Amara Organic Foods
Add breast milk, formula or water to these shelf-stable, organic, single-serve meal packets for a delicious baby puree, packed with nutrients. Great for kids transitioning to solid foods and quick and easy to prepare on the go, these handy packets come in a variety of flavors, from kale potato veggie mash and peas, corn & carrots to tropical mango and pumpkin & pear.
Available at amaraorganicfoods.com and at grocery stores including Whole Foods and Sprouts.
Organic Banana Mango Puree in a Recyclable Pouch from Gerber
Gerber has launched a recyclable baby-food pouch, so you can feel better about buying the pouches your kids love to eat. The first flavor available in this innovative pouch is organic banana mango puree, a sweet treat packed with potassium and vitamin C. The pouch is completely recyclable through Gerber's national recycling program with TerraCycle.
The nutrient-packed pouches from Serenity Kids sound like fancy restaurant meals. The two newest: pasture-raised turkey with organic pumpkin, sweet potato and beets, and grass-fed bison with organic kabocha squash and spinach. These low-sugar, high-fat pouches for babies six months and up are filled with organic vegetables from small family farms and ethically sourced meats from ranches utilizing regenerative agricultural techniques. Choose from meat and veggie combos, or organic veggies only. The company only uses ingredients that don't contain antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs or major allergens.
Here's a smart snack for toddlers: These nutritious pouches support the immune system and digestive health. In addition to fruits and veggies, the pouches contain 35 mg of beta-glucan and 2g of prebiotic fiber for digestive health. They're available at major retailers nationwide and come in three flavors: bananas, spinach & blueberries; bananas, carrots & strawberries; and pears, beets & blackberries.
Why should we care about regenerative farming? It promotes biodiversity and can help to reverse climate change by building healthy soil that captures carbon from the atmosphere. Healthier soil, healthier food. The Happy Baby Regenerative & Organic line of food pouches debuted with three flavor combinations: apples, kale and oats; pears, squash and oats; and apples and carrots.
Available exclusively at Whole Foods, $8.49 for a four-pack. Learn more at happyfamilyorganics.com.
Babies love pouches, and you'll love that these organic, cold-pressed blends are sustainably grown, certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and full of healthy, organic fruits and veggies. The flavors are grouped by ages and stages, so you can easily find the ones right for your child. Purchase individual flavors as 12-packs, try a variety pack, or sign up for a money-saving subscription.
Horizon Organic has introduced Growing Years organic whole milk, developed in partnership with pediatricians to deliver key nutrients for kids age 1-5. The milk contains DHA Omega-3 for brain and eye health, choline to transport DHA throughout the body, prebiotics that feed good bacteria to the gut, and vitamin D, protein and calcium for growing bones. It's certified organic and produced by pasture-raised cows who are fed an organic, non-GMO diet and are never treated with antibiotics or added hormones.
Available nationwide at select stores for $5.99; use the store locator at horizon.com to find your nearest location.
The veggie-packed baby food pouches from Cerebelly are carefully tailored to nourish baby's growing brain and body. Created by a neurosurgeon mom and a team of medical experts, the purees contain tasty ingredient combinations (such as carrot & chickpea; sweet potato & mango) that deliver protein, omega-3 DHA and the specific nutrients your baby needs for their age and developmental stage. Pick up a three-flavor variety pack at Whole Foods or sign up on the Cerebelly website for shipments every two weeks. On the site, you'll enter information about your baby's age and current developmental milestones, and Cerebelly will recommend flavors that can benefit your babe most. You choose what you like and whether you want 1-4 pouches per day.
Available at Whole Foods and cerebelly.com ($2.31-$2.89 per pouch).
Biodynamic, Organic Pouches & Applesauce from White Leaf Provisions
Environmentally conscious parents will love these new fruit and veggie pouches and applesauce flavors (apple + pear, apple + cinnamon) from White Leaf Provisions. The offerings from this family-run business are both biodynamic and organic. You'll feel good about the delicious snacks you're feeding your kids, as well as the recyclable packaging and earth-friendly farming methods.
Available at whiteleafprovisions.com, $17.94 for a six-pack of pouches and $7.59 for a four-pack of applesauce.
Yummy new flavors of baby food and hearty toddler bowls! Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Jars ($1.25), which feature organic ingredients and the name of the farms where ingredients are grown on each jar, now come in six new flavors: carrots; green beans; carrots & peas; pears & prunes; pears, pineapple & avocado; apples, mangos & beets. The company's Happy Tot Bowls ($2.99) are full of nutritious ingredients and contain no added sugar. The new flavors are: turkey bolognese with lentil pasta, mac & cheese with organic lentil pasta & veggie sauce, and cheesy lentils & quinoa with organic cauliflower & parmesan sauce.
Sprout Foods, known for creating nutritious and delicious food that helps kids get their veggies and other nutrients, is debuting new pouches and snacks for both babies and toddlers. The exciting new offerings include organic waffles, quick-dissolving teething wafers, purees made with organic bone broth protein, four toddler smoothies (made with either yogurt or coconut milk) and two pouches of plant-based protein.
This freeze-dried baby food is packed full of nutrients and other magic: It doesn't expire and is super compact and convenient for travel (even in a carry-on!). To serve, mix the powder with water, breastmilk, formula, milk or broth. Or, for older kids, add the powder to prepared meals to up their health factor. Choose from delicious and nutritious options with clever names, including: Smashing Pumpkins (Japanese pumpkins and carrots), Goldilocks Chicken Congee (millet, barley, koshihikari rice, chicken stock, celery, carrot, bok choy and Japanese pumpkin) and Under the Sardinian Sea (wild sole, Italian white beans, tomato, oregon, basil and avocado oil.
New in January 2019 are Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Veggie Yogurt cups in purple carrot and sweet potato flavors, as well as Kids Whole Milk pouches in new flavors apple cinnamon, sweet potato, and blueberry apple carrot. The baby yogurt cups include no added sweeteners and, like all of their products, are certified organic and free from artificial hormones, toxic pesticides and GMOs. Find the new lines at Target, Publix, Hannafords and many more retailers (find a store near you). Looking for something non-dairy? Try the brand's three new non-dairy fruit and veggie smoothie pouches, made with rich coconut cream as well as half a serving of fruit per pouch. The pouches are available at Whole Foods and come in tropical twist, strawbana smash and berry cherry blast flavors.
Bowls & Bites from Yummy Spoonfuls
Yummy Spoonfuls
Calling all toddlers! Even picky eaters will love the flavor combinations in these bowls (veggie beef, sweet potato & chicken, pinto bean & turkey) and bites (turkey & spinach, chicken & sweet potato, chicken & broccoli). And parents will love that they're nutritious, organic and packed with protein, grains and veggies. And, best of all, they're specifically designed for toddlers' developmental and nutritional needs and don't contain added sugars, artificial preservatives, additives or artificial flavors. Launched in November 2018, the line also features bigger bowls designed for kids age 2 and up.
Traditional baby and toddler toys boost brain-building, hands-on exploration and are durable so younger siblings can play with them, too. Our favorite non-electronic baby and toddler toys come without batteries and ear-splitting beeps. Little ones learn through play, so a few carefully chosen toys in the toy bin will give your baby a chance to have fun as a tiny scientist, artist, and motor-skill champ. Here are a few of our favorite non-electronic toys for babies and toddlers.
1. Rattles A good rattle is sized just right for babies working on tricky hand-eye coordination and learning how to pick things up. This classic toy doesn't look like much, but as babies grasp, shake and even slobber on it, they're learning about the world. Rattles reward curious little ones learning about cause and effect with a satisfying sound as it shakes. Choose a rattle you can easily clean, and make sure it's designed for babies to safely put it in their mouths—because it's sure to end up there!
2. Stacking Cups Stack them in a tower, tip them over, put them inside one another, and then turn them into a home for a plastic cow. Stacking cups offer lots of interactive opportunities for fun and play. Most sets of stacking cups come in bright colors, giving little ones a chance to learn about colors. Balancing cups in a tower shape builds problem-solving skills, self-control and persistence. Another colorful stacking option is Grimms Rainbow, an all-wooden toy that's so beautiful you won't mind having it out on a shelf.
3. Sensory Bins Toddlers learn about the world through hands-on activities and observation. Sensory bins or tables are a great way to give little ones a chance to explore. You can easily replicate this key preschool tool by filling a plastic bin with dry oats or water and adding measuring cups and scoops. If you're worried about the mess that scooping up water or dry oats can make, put a towel underneath your kiddo and the bin. If the weather is nice, put the bin outside to minimize clean-up, or purchase a water table or sandbox for more sensory fun. If you'd like to take your sensory-bin game to the next level, hide plastic animals or cars for kids to find, or dye rice or dry pasta for rainbow-colored play. Bonus: Sensory bins give curious kids a chance to learn about volume (how much water fits in a scoop?) and boosts imaginative play and language development.
4. Push-Pull Toys From Fisher Price's classic, affordable plastic corn popper to a wooden animal on a string, push-and-pull toys are beloved by budding walkers everywhere. These toys encourage balance and gross motor skill development, and they make perfect buddies for toddlers as they stumble and zoom through your home. We love this Little Dutch Walker & Block Trolley from Scandiborn ($59.95, pictured above), as it combines two beloved non-electronic toys in one.
5. Classic Blocks Your kiddo will play with a set of durable wooden blocks for years and years. With blocks, little ones get a chance to work on problem solving as they figure out how to stack blocks on top of one another or organize them in a row. Eventually, blocks become a blank canvas for imaginative play, as kids turn their creations into castles, houses and zoos. Talking about block creations builds language and conversation skills, and, with a big set of blocks at the ready, older toddlers can work together and learn about cooperation.
6. Dolls & Stuffed Animals Whether you're looking for a lovey for comfort or a toy your child can practice caring for and rocking to sleep, soft dolls and stuffed animals are a great addition to any baby's toy collection. Playing with dolls helps little ones learn about empathy and feelings. Pro tip: Choose those without plastic eyes that can be a choking hazard!
7. Music Makers One of the benefits of non-electronic toys for parents: fewer ear-splitting sounds. But sometimes a baby has just got to make music. Whether you break out your pots and pans and a wooden spoon or give your child a toy drum and a few egg shakers, toys that let kids make their own music are always a hit. Sturdy music-making options without batteries are more likely to last from kid to kid, and they give children the chance to be more creative. We like wooden xylophones like this one from Melissa & Doug because of their bright colors and the variety of sounds they make.
8. Balls Roll it, throw it, catch it! Balls are awesome for boosting motor skills and hand-eye coordination. But they're also a great way to introduce little ones to the back-and-forth interaction and taking turns, which is one of the building blocks of conversation. Rolling a ball gives grown-ups the chance to connect and make eye contact with babies and toddlers, and it boosts language development. From soft balls with jingly bells inside to bumpy plastic balls just the right size for chubby little hands, toy stores are full of options perfect for babies and toddlers.
9. Bubbles Bubbles mesmerize babies and toddlers (and many parents) as they float through the sky. Whether you make bubbles at home (we like this DIY option) and blow them outside to delight your kiddo, or pick up a bubble-making lawn mower, bubbles are a surefire hit with little ones. We like to keep a few jars of bubbles at the ready to distract cranky little ones.
10. Ride-On Toys A good ride-on toy gives toddlers hours of indoor gross-motor fun. These toys develop balance and give little legs a workout. One of the best first-birthday gifts, our fave ride-on toys come with a basket or bin that little ones can use to give their favorite toy or stuffed animal a ride around the house, promoting imaginative play, too! We love the sturdy Little Red Rider Wooden Kid's Ride-on Bike from Hape.
Babies are naturally curious and creative, and they love spending time with you. But if you’re not sure how to fill your days together, here’s your answer: The best way to help babies learn and grow is to give them activities you can share that are designed for their age and the developmental stage they’re going through.
The Panda Crate from KiwiCo makes that easy, with a subscription service that delivers a fun-filled crate of developmentally appropriate activities and helpful information for parents and other caregivers.
You may already be familiar with KiwiCo’s awesome activity crates for kids of all ages. With the company’s new Panda Crate, they’ve created valuable tools for babies, from newborns up to age 2, to develop cognitive skills in a fun way for each developmental stage they go through.
With a focus on hands-on learning and play, the activities in the Panda Crate will keep babies engaged and give them an opportunity to try out the new skills they’re naturally developing. As their partner, you’ll get to share meaningful learning experiences with them and watch them master these new skills.
Each shipment includes brain-building toys and activities as well as a guide, Wonder magazine, that explains what skills your child is developing at their age and how you can best support them. You’ll also receive activity cards that explain ways to use the items in your crate as well as cards that give you simple, new ways to play and bond with your little one.
When you sign up for Panda Crate, you’ll enter the child’s name and age, so they’ll receive crates that are tailored to their age and current developmental stage. Each crate includes two months’ worth of activities.
Curious about the kinds of items you’ll receive? The Panda Crate is divided into five age bands: 0-2 months: Bond with Me – This crate focuses on tools to help you connect with your child using items such as a tummy time mirror. 3-6 months: Sense with Me – As baby learns about their senses (and starts to put everything in their mouth), you’ll receive toys and activity suggestions about how to engage the senses, such as soft blocks that rattle. 7-12 months: Explore with Me – At this stage, baby is usually learning to sit, crawl and grab things. As they learn spatial awareness skills, crates may include toys like a bead maze. 13-18 months: Count with Me – Sorting, stacking and learning about shapes, sizes and volume are the focus of these crates. Items may include colorful, numbered stacking cups. 19-24 months: Discover with Me – These crates focus on cause and effect and imaginative play to help your child discover how the world around them works. Items may include an animal puzzle.
KiwiCo is so devoted to helping kids learn they donate a portion of every Panda Crate purchase toward child development research.
The activities and information you’ll find in each crate are designed by KiwiCo’s in-house team of educators and child-development professionals in partnership with experts from Seattle Children’s Hospital who specialize in children’s health, behavior and development.
The crate’s contents are grounded in the science of early childhood development and use research-backed techniques to support your child’s growth.
How to Get It
Sign up for a subscription on the KiwiCo website. You can choose to receive 1 crate every 2 months, 3 crates for 6 months, 6 crates for 12 months or 12 crates for 24 months. Prices vary depending on subscription length.
KiwiCo recently announced a brand-new line—and it’s all for babies and toddlers!
The collection of early education options, called Panda Crate, is backed by research, developmentally appropriate and perfect for hours of hands-on learning fun. So what can you expect from this brain-building line?
Created in collaboration with researchers from the Seattle Children’s Hospital, Panda Crate is divided into five age bands: Birth through 2-months, 3 through 6-months, 7 through 12-months, 13 through 18-months and 19 through 24-months.
Panda Crate subscriptions start at $15.50 per month for 24 months (12 Crates). The service is also available in one, three and six crate options. And bonus, a portion of your purchase will help fund child development research! Check out Panda Crate here for more ordering information.
It may be dark outside, but your house is all lit up because your early bird is ready to get out of bed at 5 a.m. Sigh. We feel your bleary-eyed pain. If only you could toss a blanket over the crib, like a birdcage, and get that kid to snooze a little longer. But since that trick won’t work and your kiddo isn’t ready for screen time before sunrise, we’ve got a few tips that will help you survive these early mornings.
1. Hit the mall. Lots of malls open up a few hours before the stores are ready for shoppers. Bring your stroller or baby carrier and walk along in the warm, cozy space. You can squeeze in a little window shopping and get to know the over-70 mall walking crowd.
2. Get appy. When you’re running on fumes, it can be hard to think beyond singing yet another nursery rhyme. Download a couple of apps – like this free anytime, anywhere music class or the brain-building tips from Vroom – that will spark new ideas to entertain your little one, like ways to turn the daily job of getting dressed into a game.
3. Hit the playground. If the weather’s warm enough, get outside. You will have your pick of baby swings at 7 am and can show up early enough to welcome all of the pugs to the dog park.
4. Go on a coffee date. If it has been said once, it has been said a thousand times, because it’s true: nap when you can. And if you can’t, there’s always coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Hop in the car and hit the closest drive-thru coffee spot.
5. Splash around. Flip bath time from pre-bed to an early morning splash fest. Break out your best bath toys, put on some beach music and have a swimming party.
6. Be first in line. Be thankful you can be first to the zoo or the children’s museum. Bonus: you’ll get the best parking spot, and you never, ever have to set an alarm to make sure you get out of the house on time.
7. Take turns. Alternate rise-and-shine days with your partner, if you can. That way, you each get a little more shut eye one day and get a little extra one-on-one time with your kiddo the other day.
8. Explore something new. Fill up a big tub with dry oatmeal to scoop and dump, or try one of these ten ideas here that use stuff you’ve already got, like rice and yogurt, for easy-peasy sensory play that will fill up those early morning hours.
9. Snuggle up with a good book. Babies love looking at faces, so pick out a few with photographs of other kiddos, or try a touch-and-feel book that gives your little one new textures to explore.
10. Play in the dark. When your baby’s up and at ‘em and it’s dark outside, you can make the most of the darkness. Now’s the time to make shadow puppets or cuddle by the fire – all those cozy evening activities can be trotted out for pre-dawn fun.
Tell us: what do you do to entertain your early riser?