Infants may not appear to be they’re doing a lot moreover consuming and sleeping, however the first yr of life is filled with seismic shifts in growth. And even earlier than they’ll maintain a toy, infants are able to play.
The perfect presents have interaction them, specializing in the distinction they can see or the sounds and actions they’ll make themselves.
“Infants are actually studying about their place on this planet, so the very best toys give them some sense of suggestions,” says Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard Faculty Middle for Toddler Growth and creator of “How Toddlers Thrive.” She cites the basic child rattle as a very good instance.
Infants additionally discover with their mouth, so search for toys that aren’t choking hazards (clearly) and is perhaps attention-grabbing to a tiny tongue. Most significantly, preserve it easy.
“We are inclined to shrink back from toys which are technological or lighting up and flashing, simply due to the overstimulation that they supply,” says Marie Conti, head of The Wetherill Faculty in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and a board member of the American Montessori Society.
Learn forward to find the very best presents for infants.
Bestseller
This rainstick rattle has as much as 30 finger holes so the child can simply seize it.
Colours: 9
Good for infants three months and older, this toy is easy-to-grasp for small palms. Plus, the “rainstick” rattle form crammed with beads is bound to maintain them engaged with distinctive sounds as they bounce it round.
Bestseller
For those who prefer to work out at residence, this dumbbell rattle is ideal for the child who desires to hitch in on the enjoyable in a protected approach.
Different shapes: Kettlebell
Child can hit the gymnasium (type of) with this cute rattle. This “dumbbell” is constructed from BPA- and phthalate-free supplies and solely weighs about two ounces.
Bestseller
This toy waddles, spins, rocks and rolls.
Age: 6 months and up
Good for tummy time play, this cute lil’ wobbler is musical and shakes and waddles when infants swipe at it. This toy promotes hand-eye coordination, as child grasps and paws at it. The sound is a slight “tinkling” sound, meant to appease infants as they play.
They will have a blast discovering textures and sounds (and fruits!) with this stackable pineapple.
Items: 5 | Ages: 6-12 months
A basic stacking toy like this tropical discover from Melissa & Doug will get a pleasant and tropical new look, with totally different textures to discover and sounds that react to their contact as they seize, shake and stack.
In accordance with the model, these textured rubber balls assist develop sensory, high-quality motor and gross motor expertise.
Contains: 4 rubber balls
These sensory balls are straightforward to seize and are available in vivid colours and spiky shapes that really feel nice on the palms or tongue. Edushape’s declare to fame was the unique model of this sensory ball, which the corporate launched in 1997. They’ve since launched 20 totally different variations of the toy to boost the usage of child’s senses, motor expertise and extra.
This set comes with three food-themed plushies and a luxurious meals truck that every little thing will be saved inside.
Colours: 11 | Items: 5 | Ages: 0+
Good for budding little foodies, Gund’s meals truck-themed playset introduces sensory stimulation by way of recognizable takeout staples like a burger, taco and boba tea. Every merchandise affords a unique expertise: the taco is a crinkle toy, the boba tea makes bubble sounds and the burger is a squeaker toy.
This toy activates robotically when tapped or shaken.
Ages: 0-12 months
This joyful little rattle responds to a child’s actions by lighting up in three totally different colours, together with blue, pink and inexperienced. The altering lights and rattle sound hopes to maintain child’s consideration, whereas the easy-to-grip deal with goals to construct upon their high-quality motor expertise from an early age.
Infants will love this not only for the soothing aid it offers their teething gums, but in addition for the brilliant colours they’re going to be excited by!
Colours: 2 | Ages: 2+ motnhs
Made out of baby-safe easy-to-grip supplies, their rising tooth and achy gums will really feel relieved because of the a number of teething surfaces on this toy. Stick it within the freezer to supply some prolonged aid for his or her nibbling.
These revolutionary teethers have textures on both aspect to achieve and soothe every level of their rising tooth.
Items: 3 | Teething types: 4 | Ages: 0-18 months
Whereas the remainder of this teether could also be frozen stable after hours within the freezer, the silicone deal with stays at room temp so child can grasp it comfortably whereas gnawing on it.
This set of three comes with two double-sided inserts that characteristic two totally different textures to supply stimulation for each the back and front gums.
This teether is BPA-free and made with 100% pure rubber.
Colours: 1 | Made with: All pure rubber teether | Ages: 0+
Infants put nearly every little thing of their mouth, however you will not thoughts after they chew on this. The teething toy is constructed from sustainable, pure rubber with out BPA, based on the model. Plus, its distinctive form makes it straightforward for infants to understand and maintain on to.
This toy can be utilized to show them in regards to the world or present a snug hug for a child.
Contains: Cotton globe, atlas | Atlas pages: 33 | Atlas illustrations: 99 | Ages: 3-6
This world reward is simply as lovable as it’s cozy. “I purchased this reward for my good friend who’s an avid traveler for her child bathe,” says Store TODAY affiliate editor Allie Sensible. “She was so excited and cherished that it was one thing distinctive and academic.”
Every button controls music tunes from Mozart and Chopin.
Colours: 5 | Songs: 10 | Contains: 2 AA batteries | Ages: 3+ months
Give child their very own increase field with this little bestselling musical toy that may journey with them. 10 totally different tunes play alongside color-changing lights on this bestselling product that reviewers like to preserve kids busy throughout lengthy automobile rides.
Bestseller
Make tummy time instructional with this water mat that has animals on it to show your baby the wonders of the ocean.
Colours: 3 | Age advice : 3+ months
Tummy time would possibly simply be your child’s favourite time, so guarantee they get pleasure from it that rather more with this interactive mat crammed with all their favourite ocean animals.
This toy is supposed to be pushed or pulled together with them.
Ages: 1+
As child begins to crawl after which stroll, a pull toy encourages mobility and interplay. The hole heart permits little fingers to simply grasp it. The model recommends it for little ones 12 months and older.
Bestseller
Contains harp, flute, French horn, piano and violin instrument sounds.
Songs: 8 | Sounds: 5 | Requires: 3 AA batteries | Ages: 0-5
Infants could make all of the sounds of a symphony by hitting only a few buttons on this toy. It makes 5 instrument sounds — harp, flute, French horn, piano and violin — that mix to deliver eight Mozart compositions to life in entrance of their eyes!
Create a customized puzzle with their identify on it for them to unravel.
Most letters: 9 | Ages: 1-3+
Get your infant their very own customized identify puzzle that they’ll get pleasure from for years to return. Not solely can it assist with logic, high-quality motor expertise and letter recognition, based on the model, however it might additionally function a cute piece of decor for his or her playroom or bed room.
This toy encourages motor expertise and develops coordination for youths.
Items: 7 | Ages: 6+ months
These “frustration-free” stacking orbs from Fats Mind Toys work whether or not they’re within the “proper” order or not. Because of their easy-to-grasp materials, your toddler could have enjoyable constructing and re-building “towers,” solely to look at them topple over.
Editor’s decide
Develop their motor expertise and provides them some outdoors playtime with this balancing bike.
Colours: 3 | Ages: 9-36 months | Particular options: Self-balancing, self-centering steering
This bike is ideal for littles who’re able to journey and discover. Former offers editor Rebecca Brown says, “that is so nice for lively little ones that need to be challenged. This steadiness bike stands up by itself and may truly be used with children as younger as 9 months outdated.”
Ice is a good device to appease teething ache.
Pack dimension: 5 | Temperature settings : Ice or warmth pack
Accidents occur, so it’s at all times a very good rule of thumb to maintain any ice or heating packs round. These 5 lovable “boo boo packs” could have your kiddo smiling by way of the ache.
This sound machine helps your baby fall asleep and soothe them in occasions of want.
Colours: 5 | Variety of sounds: 12
This handheld sound machine is nice for journey days and even time spent within the stroller. With a dozen soothing sounds together with ocean waves, white noise and even a heartbeat, this may also help quiet even the fussiest kiddo.
Features a set of two bibs.
Colours: 6 | Pack dimension: 2 | Materials: Non-toxic, food-grade silicone | Ages: 4+ months
Mealtime will be high-key messy on the subject of infants, however these BPA-free, heavy-duty silicone bibs are positive to catch all types of meals, spills and drool. Plus, Store TODAY editorial director Adrianna Brach personally recommends them!
You possibly can customise this 100% natural long-staple cotton hooded tub towel.
Kinds: 14 | Customizable?: Sure
NBC Information vp of commerce Jen Birkhofer says this towel adorned with the child’s identify is her go to new child reward. Designed with a tender and absorptive materials, this enjoyable accent makes tub time one thing to look ahead to.
Bestseller
This sleep accent is designed for infants 3-6 months outdated.
Colours: 7 | Sizes: SM, L | Cloth: Cotton | Ages: 3-6 months
Hundreds of verified Amazon reviewers can attest how “actually magical” this one-piece is. Made with a patented non-weighted materials, the sleepwear is made with three cozy layers and a double zipper design for impromptu diaper swaps and customarily straightforward altering.
Simply take it from one transformed fan who lately snatched this up for his or her toddler: “He’s escaped nearly each swaddle we’ve tried and has at all times appeared annoyed with the truth that swaddling is a actuality once you’re a new child. Enter this sleep swimsuit — he cherished it from the primary put on!”
This plush will grow to be your infant’s new greatest good friend.
Dimension: 20 in | Materials: Cotton | Ages: 0+
Each baby wants a good friend to snuggle, and the lovable hand-knit Cuddle + Form dolls additionally give again by offering 10 meals to kids in want with each buy. It’s accessible in two totally different sizes, a 13-inch petite model, or a bigger 20-inch model.
This constructing set is waterproof and simple to scrub.
Items: 7
Assist them really feel extra assured in themselves with the assistance of those little climbing stones. They will stack them, step on them and construct with them.
This tender physique wash is soap-free and lets you clear your child and go away no irritation on their pores and skin.
Contains: Shampoo, physique wash and lotion | Bottle sizes: 8 oz
Enable the child to remain clear with this bathing set tailor-made to their delicate pores and skin, which features a bottle of physique wash, shampoo and lotion.
This field contains 5 books curated by literary specialists.
Ages: 0-3
The subscription field comes with 5 board books for child and a personalised be aware. The model says the ebook choice is “curated by literary specialists” and they’re going to “endure the nibbles and final for years to return.”
This package contains 9 sensory and developmental toys.
Items: 9 | Ages: 0-12 weeks
Lovevery ships new toy kits as your kiddo grows and develops, beginning with the “looker” package that gives high-contrast pictures that infants can see, a cellular to hold overhead, and black-and-white sensory mittens to create physique consciousness.
This child reward set contains sleeper, beanie, a three-pack of socks, booties and a high and pants set.
Colours: 4 | Items: 8 | Sizes: NB – 6-12 months
By no means underestimate how continuously infants must be modified. This curated new child set from Hanna Andersson comes with eight items of delicate skin-friendly sleepwear, socks, booties and extra.
The ebook helps them be taught the alphabet.
Pages: 36
Give them an early introduction to their ABCs with this basic board ebook. Good for story time, it options tons of enjoyable rhymes that many dad and mom will bear in mind from their very own childhood.
These books had been designed to resist teething infants, dribbles of drool and extra.
Pages: 17
Infants love faces, and the fabric of those books permits them to resist chewing, ripping and no matter different havoc solely a child may create.
This basic kids’s ebook follows a caterpillar who could be very hungry and studying to be on their very own.
Pages: 26
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender likes to reward this nostalgic ebook to any new dad and mom. She’s an enormous fan of beginning off my pals’ children’ residence libraries and there’s no higher place to begin than with this basic.
Offers infants a glimpse into new cultures and areas.
Pages: 16
“Infants love faces of different infants,” says Nina Lindsay, president of the Affiliation for Library Service to Kids, including that it’s significantly essential to search for various faces as a result of children be taught bias from a really younger age. “It’s actually essential for all kids to see kids like themselves and totally different from themselves in books frequently.”
This black-and-white ebook is crammed with 20 totally different outer house pictures.
Pages: 18
This accordion-style ebook is designed particularly for tummy time, based on the model, with excessive distinction black-and-white pictures that have interaction a creating mind.
A lyrical ebook that teaches confidence in younger ladies.
Pages: 34
This board ebook contains empowering messages for younger ladies each step of the way in which — even when they have not but taken their first respectable steps.
A ebook in regards to the joys of rising up.
Pages: 40
“So easy but so highly effective,” mentioned one Amazon reviewer about Climo’s humorous but heartfelt learn. “I purchased this ebook for a good friend who simply had a child, and any further I’ll be ordering it for each new mum or dad I do know. (The story) undoubtedly pulls on these coronary heart strings. I want this ebook existed when my son was born as a result of it’s so touching.”
This ebook helps to show shallowness, emotional literacy and self-worth.
Pages: 40
A collection of affirmations assist be certain these early days of self discovery are stuffed with positivity and love. That is the second ebook in a three-book collection with different titles “I Will!” and “I Really feel!” serving to kids navigate their feelings and the significance of remaining loyal to pals.
Introduce the following era to this iconic story.
Pages: 32
One other favourite that Bender likes to reward is that this basic story (about pals with tails!) in regards to the significance of friendship and the way far generosity will get you.
Rejoice 75 years of the childhood basic bedtime story with this particular slipcase version.
Pages: 36
The bedtime story that has lulled generations to sleep will get a brand new slipcase hardcover version, that includes a memento artwork print and an afterword by Clement Hurd’s son.
This four-in-one exercise desk options over 135 songs, sounds, phrases and a lot extra.
Ages: 6 months to three years
This exercise desk was simply named as certainly one of The Toy Insider’s 20 sizzling toys of 2025. This desk is designed to develop with them and their pursuits in artwork. It additionally has storage for all their instruments.
This multi-functional alarm will allow you to put your child to sleep, so you will get some relaxation, too.
Remedy type: Gentle, sound | Sounds: 10 | Options: WiFi prepared, quantity management, nightlight, clock
Assist them drift off soundly to sleep with this gadget, which options feels like white noise, wind, rain and lullabies and doubles as an evening mild. It is Wi-Fi-enabled so dad and mom can management it from anyplace.
Your child can sleep anyplace with this transportable bassinet.
Dimensions: 36.5″L x 21.5″W x 34.5″H | Colours: 2
This bassinet has a drop-down aspect, six adjustable peak settings and a slight incline to assist stop reflux in infants.
Observe your child’s oxygen and heartrate with this tech-filled sock.
Colours: 4 | Age restrict: 1-18 months | Weight restrictions: 6-30 lbs
This sensible child monitor helps you monitor a child’s pulse charge, oxygen ranges and sleeping habits all from an app in your telephone.
These play chairs and desk can be utilized in a collection of method to preserve your child’s life thrilling.
Colours: 7 | Items: 3 | Desk dimension: 23.6 x 23.6 x 19.13 in | Chair sizes: 16 x 16 x 23 in | Ages: 1+
This tiny desk capabilities as a child’s desk for dinner occasions, an artwork station, a puzzle desk and a lot extra. Brown says it is nice for infants and, despite the fact that it is a splurge reward, “This desk and chairs set…shall be used for years and is a spot to your infant to spend numerous time. They’ll begin by trying to (safely) climb up on their very own, and ultimately sit down in it themselves for snacks and play time.”
This convertible crib will transition with them by way of a number of levels.
Colours: 4
A welcoming and protected sleep house is crucial for little ones and, although this 8-in-1 crib from Babyletto is an funding, you’ll use it for thus a few years. “That is as a lot a present to the dad and mom as it’s to child,” says Brown. “It is a fashionable tackle conventional cribs in that it transforms into makes use of that really feel seemingly limitless for child. It begins off with wheels so child will be proper at your aspect always — even when napping — ultimately turning right into a toddler mattress for cuddling, play and sleep.”
The Store TODAY editors and writers searched the web to seek out the very best presents for infants. We used our personal private experiences with gifting merchandise and types to make procuring simpler for our readers, together with bestselling objects that clients and reviewers cherished and are positive to be a success with any little ones.
Marie Conti is Director of Regional Neighborhood Relations for American Montessori Society. She was the previous head of The Wetherill Faculty in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D., is Director of the Barnard Faculty Middle for Toddler Growth in New York, in addition to the creator of “How Toddlers Thrive.” She focuses on younger kids’s social and emotional growth, in addition to dad and mom’ experiences elevating them.
Don’t overlook to take a look at Store TODAY’s different reward guides to seek out the excellent current for each child in your record together with 1-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 7-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds.
