25 Fun Gifts for Babies (and Toddlers!)

As seen in our guide to the Best Couches, the Nugget is one of those gifts that earns its keep. It’s equal parts play couch, climbing gym, and reading nook. And little did I know that once we got one, I’d spend way too much screen time looking at different configuration ideas. With an almost-toddler and a corgi that sheds like nobody’s business, I’m pretty picky about fabrics. The Nugget’s microsuede is not only incredibly soft, but it’s easy to vacuum and spot clean. My daughter already climbs on it, uses it as a table, slides down it with my help, or just lounges. I can’t wait to see how she grows with it, and how my husband—a self-proclaimed professional fort builder—makes the most of it. —Nicole Kinning

I skipped sippy cups altogether and went straight to straw training with this Amazon dupe of the Honey Bear cup. It’s simple but effective: Give the bottle a little squeeze to help your baby learn how to use the silicone straw. It fits neatly in a diaper bag’s bottle pocket, and it made the transition to straw cups pretty seamless. It’s also easy to take apart and clean—no fussing with tiny pieces—and it’s sturdy enough to survive the occasional roughhousing or chewing. —Nicole Kinning

I love “disposable” gifts for little ones. Bubbles, markers, paint, play dough—anything that won’t add clutter but still feels special. The Skincare Essentials Set from lauded diaper company Coterie fits perfectly in that category.

The set includes three products: a soap, a lotion, and a coconut oil-based diaper cream (adorably called Bun Balm). The diaper cream is rich and silky with just enough slip to spread without being greasy. The soap lathers beautifully, and a few pumps in running water turn the bath bubbly without overdoing it. And as for the lotion—let’s just say I often catch myself stealing a dollop for my own hands and face. A gift that both baby and parent will appreciate!

This sensory set is genius: It’s a wooden board with magnets and a variety of attachable tiles, each with its own sensory activity (think squeakers, flip switchers, roller balls, and dials). The tiles don’t even have to attach to the board, making them perfect for on-the-go play. I often toss one of the tabs in my little one’s wagon or diaper bag for quick entertainment when we’re out.

Since my daughter started playing with this set, I’ve already noticed her dexterity improving, and she can’t get enough of exploring all the different textures, movements, and sounds. The best part? Multiple tile packs are available, so adding a new set makes it feel like a whole new toy. —Nicole Kinning

This Goodnight Moon soft book is one of those things I picked up on a whim, thinking it wouldn’t make a difference in my day-to-day life as a mom. Boy, was I wrong! This crinkle book has kept my baby entertained on countless road trips, in restaurants, or any time I realize I forget to pack a little distraction for her in the diaper bag. It’s packed with textures, sounds, flaps, and even a teether on the corner, and it clips right onto a stroller or car seat. Selfishly, the condensed story is also nostalgic for me (I grew up with the classic), while my daughter just loves to grab, chew, and crinkle to her heart’s content. —Nicole Kinning

A baby bottle washer is worth every penny. I said it. In fact, I wrote a whole guide to them, and this was my top pick. This gift might be geared toward parents, rather than babies, but let’s be honest: The less time spent washing bottles, the more time you get with your baby. The Grownsy’s deep interior fits everything from 8-ounce bottles to pump parts, so you can load up a day’s worth of gear at once. With customizable wash modes, this machine quietly and efficiently handles all the work of cleaning grimy bottles without soaking, scrubbing, or chapped hands. —Nicole Kinning

This swaddle was the superhero gift of my baby shower. My son used it every day for his first two years. He was a summer baby, and receiving two of these from his aunt was an absolute necessity to have something to wrap him in without making him too sweaty. We were constantly using it as a layer between him and us so that we wouldn't just sweat all over each other when he wanted a contact nap. These swaddles were large enough to help cover his infant car seat from sunshine in the car or stroller, and now that he's a toddler it's still big enough to use as a summer blanket for bedtime. It's winter now, and we're still using these swaddles as one of his blankets at bedtime. I can't rave enough about them. If you're giving these as a gift, grab two so that Baby will have a backup when they spit up on the first one. There are a ton of pastel colors and cute prints to choose from. —Nena Farrell

My favorite thing to do when my son was really small was place him on different colorful blankets and play mats and watch him experience the kaleidoscope of entertainment 2 inches from his face. His favorite play mat was a hand-me-down from my own childhood, but I've been testing Tiny Love's massive, beautiful mats with my best friend's baby. The Super Mats are super for a reason: They're huge! We're talking over 3 feet on one side and just under 5 feet on the other. But that means plenty of room for Baby to wiggle and explore. The mat is nice and soft, too, which is great to gift to a friend with hardwood floors. There's tons of built-in entertainment, like a little mirror and chewable attachments, which Baby can learn to crawl to as they explore. —Nena Farrell

If your favorite baby is a pacifier lover, gift them this little sanitizer so Mom and Dad can keep those pacis clean on the go. It comes with a little strap to hook it onto a diaper bag and uses UV light to sanitize the pacifier in about a minute. It's a handy gadget to have on the go after the pacifier is dropped yet again. You'll still need a wipe handy to clean off any true dirt or grime, but I loved using this to feel like I at least tried to get rid of unseen germs. —Nena Farrell

Look, babies destroy books. I can't tell you how many books in my son's room no longer have covers, or have ripped-off flaps and straight-up eaten-away corners. But one of the sturdiest book series my son has loved is this colorful one by Rosie Greening. There are a handful of different ones, all with similar titles: Never Touch a Spider, Never Touch a Dragon, Never Touch a Polar Bear … the list goes on. It's all about never touching a certain animal or creature unless it's doing something silly that they'll only find in the pages of this book. These books are great for so many reasons: Nice and short! Fun and colorful! Lots of sensory parts to the pages! Hard to rip! My son got one as a gift, and now I'm just continually adding more to our collection. —Nena Farrell

I waited too long to get one of these for my kid. He was still into it at age 2 ½—it was his favorite spot to eat dinner, mix cupcakes, and even draw or use Play-Doh at our kitchen island. But I missed out on how we could've had all this kind of fun so much sooner. Especially since this Step-Up Tower from Guidecraft is the new junior version, and it's slimmer than the usual one. That slimmer size makes it easier to add to my kitchen, letting it fit in nicely size-wise without causing any obstructions, and the smaller size makes a smaller kiddo feel more secure. The tower is designed for 18 months and up, and if I have another kid, this tower will be ready and waiting on their half birthday. —Nena Farrell

Everyone has heard of Jellycat stuffed animals these days; even the teens want their own. They make a great gift for newborns and toddlers, first as just a little buddy they can look at, and eventually a snuggly friend for bedtime and couch cuddles. Don't be afraid to get a fun Jellycat just because it's for a baby, either: My son has half a dozen of these, but his number one favorite is Grizzo Gremlin. —Nena Farrell