2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Babies

By Published On: December 15th, 2023

Gear up for joy with the scoop on the best baby products available just in time for baby’s first holiday season!

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When you shop for baby items, you invest in safety, quality, and unforgettable moments. With the many toys and gear available for the tiniest consumers during the holiday season, finding the perfect present for your little one may feel a bit overwhelming. Are you in the market for an innovative toy that will help aid in their development? Or a teether to help soothe their sore gums? What baby doesn’t need a cozy bath towel for snuggling after bathtime? Or perhaps you want to spoil them with a vibrant, musical toy just to play and have fun with? We’re here to help narrow it down to the best gifts for babies we’ve come across this holiday season.

Soothing Teether

The chewy Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether teether is made specifically to mimic your baby’s little fingers. It’s easy for them to hold and comforting for their gums that will soon be budding teeth. It’s also safe–made of food-grade silicone—and with nearly a 5-star rating and more than 10,000 reviews, it’s also a parent favorite. Ages 0+

Smart Baby Sound Machine

The RAPTbaby Smarter Sleep Sound Machine was developed by neuroscientists to give your baby the best chance of falling asleep peacefully. It comes equipped with eight soundtracks specifically created to induce snoozing.  Plus, parents can program the timer for continuous play or automatic shutoff at 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Ages 0-5 years

Bathtime Bundle

The warm, comforting scents of tart cranberry and sweet mandarin come together to make baby’s bathtime ritual cozy, relaxing, and luxurious (OK–that’s more for you than for your mini) with the wash and lotion bundle from Tubby Todd’s Cranberry Mandarin Collection. The adorably festive design adorning the bottles of hair and body wash and body lotion makes this bundle the perfect shower or holiday gift for a new baby. Be sure to order by Monday, December 18, for guaranteed delivery before Christmas. Ages 0+

Foam Activity Floor Mat

Hape’s 2-Sided Reversible Baby Activity Foam Foldable Play Mat is a perfect, safe playtime surface for tummy time, diaper changes, and much more. The lightweight, waterproof, reversible mat features a lively city scene on one side and a vibrant jungle theme on the other, offering endless interactive, imaginative play. When it’s not in use, easily fold it up and stow it away using the included portable carrying case. Ages 3M+

Baby Flash Cards

Watch your baby’s world open up, and their eyes sparkle as they begin to see shapes and colors with the help of these high-contrast Large Flash Cards for Babies and Infants by Skillmatics. Designed by experts for your baby’s developing vision, the set includes 60 images ranging from simple shapes to more complex images to support your baby’s developmental journey. Use the wooden stands inside the pack to prop them up absolutely anywhere, anytime – for tummy time, the feeding table, or even while you put them down for a nap! Ages 0-12M

Plush Shape Sorter

Inspired by the beloved classic story, your babe will love exploring the World of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Play Set and Shape Sorter. This plush apple-shaped sensory sorter includes five pieces of fruit and, of course, a caterpillar and features bright colors, new textures, and silly sounds. The apple sorter has a clear front panel so babies can watch as they drop the fruit and caterpillar in and scoop them back out. Add the classic board book (sold separately) for a themed gift that brings the characters to life! Ages 0+

Tummy Time Toy

The Crawligator Tummy Time Toy offers babies a unique and fun spot to play and strengthen their muscles. Available in five fun colors, this toy is shaped to look like an alligator and has wheels on the bottom so your little one can scoot around while they work on their gross motor skills (it only rolls on hard floors, not carpets). It’s also equipped with safety features, like a stationary front wheel and brake pads, and is ergonomically designed with a soft pad on top to keep baby comfortable while playing. Ages 4-12M

Shark-Themed Bath Set

You can have your very own—very cute—baby shark at bathtime with the Let the Fin Begin Four-Piece Gift Set from Baby Aspen. The set includes a velour cotton hooded towel (with shark teeth and all!), a soft shark bath mitt, and a pair of cozy spa slippers. All of the pieces are machine washable and come packaged in a faux driftwood bucket complete with a nautical rope handle. Ages 0+

Gift your baby a keepsake that will last for years to come with this Personalized Wooden Musical Carousel from the Etsy shop, AncerlStudio. Available in three styles (“Ballet Girl,” “Carousel,” or “Animals”), the handmade memento can be engraved with your child’s name or a unique message. And, as beautiful as it is, this carousel isn’t just for decoration, it also plays soothing music that your little one is sure to love. Ages 0+

Convertible Play Gym

The Lovevery The Play Gym is an award-winning floor mat that grows with your child from the newborn days through the toddler years and sets them up for developmental advancement. The gym includes four detachable activity toys and cards, as well as an expert-backed guide fostering exploration and growth. Ages 0+

Plush Baking Set

Your baby may be too young to bake cookies with you this holiday season, but you can still foster a love of baking with GUND’s My First Baking Set. The five-piece plush set comes with an oven, a timer that makes sounds, a cookie sheet that crinkles, a rolling pin that rattles, and a cookie that’s also a squeeze toy. Also, all the pieces are soft and machine washable. Ages 0+

Baby’s First Pop-It

These popular pop-it toys don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right? The Paint Palette Press Toy by Mushie looks like an artist’s tool, but each paint splatter is a bubble your baby can pop back and forth. The silicone toy is great for strengthening your little one’s fine motor skills, but since it’s made from BPA-free silicone, it’s also safe for babies to chew on when they have sore gums. Ages 10M+

Farm-Themed Toy DJ Set

The Skip Hop Let The Beet Drop DJ Set is the cutest way to expose your baby to the world of music composition. The light-up DJ bunny plays five songs, lights up in different colors, and is soft to the touch. That’s only the beginning, too. The carrot and beet seesaw play 10 different sound effects, the tomato buttons have four different sounds, the turntable makes three record scratch sounds and five other sound effects, and the blueberry slider makes a “click clack” sound. Ages 6M+

Pig Lovey

The cute, super soft, snuggly bamboo Farm Friends Pig Lovey from Emerson and Friends features a “Farm Friends” print with chickens, pigs, pumpkins, apples, tractors, and more. And there’s a velcro loop on top of the little piggy’s head to attach to a stroller or infant car seat, so it’s always within reach. Ages 0+

Sensory Toy Bundle

For an all-in-one present, consider the Baby’s First Sensory Toys Gift Bundle from Melissa & Doug. The toys include a multi-textured Pineapple Soft Stacker, a six-piece clip-on PB&J Take-Along Toy, and a five-piece Wooden Surprise Gift Box that consists of a wooden box, a plush toy bear, a fuzzy ball, crinkle cloth, and a cloth book. Each toy is made from high-quality materials that are sure to withstand wear and tear from your little one and features some sort of sensory stimulation. Ages 6-12M