15 best Christmas gift ideas for babies 2023

Christmas gift ideas for babies

by Rosie Floyd |
Updated on

Thinking of Christmas gift ideas for babies or a present for your toddler at Christmas, whether they're your own or someone else's bubba, can be tricky. Luckily, we're here to help you out with the best Christmas gift ideas for babies.

Unlike older children, babies can't ask you for something or tell you what they want, but that doesn't mean you can't find them the perfect present for Christmas. Afterall, there are so many adorable gift ideas for newborns. You could pick a toy that will make them laugh and smile, clothes that you're sure they will look cute as a button in, or essentials that will come in handy for baby (or the parents!) later on in the year.

The best Christmas gift ideas for babies at a glance

Best sleep toy gift: Ewan The Dream Sheep – Buy now at Amazon

Best activity table gift: Skip Hop Explore and More Let's Roll Activity Table – Buy now at John Lewis

Best interactive plush toy: Fisher-Price Smart Stages Puppy – Buy now at Amazon

When you've got a baba at Christmas, even unwrapping the paper can be a fun experience for them. Opt for bright, shiny, crunch-when-you-crinkle-it wrapping paper and it'll provide them with the ultimate sensory experience.

Whether the baby in your life is experiencing their first Christmas or their second one, we've hand-selected all the best Christmas gift ideas for babies to make this year a special one. Even if the little one doesn't remember it in years to come, you're sure to cherish those early Christmasses forever.

The best Christmas gift ideas for babies

Best baby toy for developing fine motor skills

Toomies eggs
Price: $31.98

Description

This popular learning toy comes with six different eggs with funny facial expressions that have different coloured chicks inside. They'll aid with teaching your little one colour recognition and encourage shape sorting too.

Review: "Perfect for our granddaughter. She loves playing with these. Would definitely recommend to help with little ones motor skills."

Pros

  • Perfect size for tiny hands
  • Helps develop fine motor skills

Cons

  • Easy for eggs to get lost if they're not put back in the carton

Best clip-on toy gift

LAMAZE Freddie The Firefly
Price: $17.75

Description

With lots to see, hear and touch, your baby will never get bored of this sensory toy. Designed to clip onto a pushchair, car seat, co and so much more, the high contrast patterns, discover mirror, crinkle wings, click-clack rings and squeaker will stimulate your little one's senses and keep them entertained.

Review: "I bought Freddie the firefly for both my kids and also for my nieces and nephews - it makes such a lovely baby toy! The teether, crinkly sound, tiny mirror, textures, high contrast black and white side - all the other features in the pictures are exactly how it is in person as well. I love that it clips onto anything really- pram, bag, highchair etc. I have had Freddie for 4 years now and washed it at 40 degrees 2x a month and NONE of the parts have broken or ripped off!! 10/10 for durability and use!"

Pros

  • Can be used as a teething toy
  • Can be attached to many different objects

Cons

  • Not the most hardwearing toy

Best baby walker gift

Description

Encourage your baba to take their first steps while strengthening their balance with this 2-in-1 walker and activity centre from VTech. It's got textured wheels and an easy grip handle to give your baby some stability as they toddle along. The fun-filled activity panel includes light-up buttons, a shaper sorter, a role-play phone and more to ensure your baby learns loads while having fun.

Review: "We bought one of these some 27 years ago when our daughter was a baby and she loved it. It helped her walk so much that she was walking unaided at just 8 months old. My son used it as well and he was walking at 10 months. Therefore it was a simple and natural choice to get another one when Baby Grandson was born. Obviously, it had to be VTech. Grandson loves the noises, colours and music as well as using it to walk around at just 6 months old. He is getting more and more confident every time he uses it and it should not be too long before he starts walking properly."

Pros

  • Educational toy
  • Aids development

Cons

  • Not suitable for younger babies

Best projector gift

Description

Bring the magic of the deep sea to your baby's nursery with this fun whale projector. It will fill the room with animated waves and fish as well as other light effects, which have three levels of intensity so you can choose how bright it is. It also plays a soft lullaby or white noise to help your little one drift off.

Review: "Brilliant present for our 12 week old! She is instantly transfixed by the waves, and the soothing music really calms her - particularly during those night time witching hours!!"

Pros

  • Cordless
  • Auto-shut off after 25 minutes

Cons

  • Some parents found the lights were faulty

Best sleep toy gift

Description

This cuddly toy replicates the comfort of the womb by producing actual recordings of a mother's womb and heartbeat, helping lull your little one to sleep. The combination of these magical sounds and Eqan's soft pink glow will help to comfort and soothe your bubba.

Review: "Bought this for my newborn grandson and it was really useful in helping him go to sleep. Love the red light on it and the sounds. Reallly nice product, good value for money."

Pros

  • Plays four soothing sounds
  • Light and sounds can be set to an automatic shut-off after 20 minutes

Cons

  • Batteries not included

Best weaning set gift

Description

Suitable for use from six months old, this set has got everything your little one will need during their weaning journey. It's got a plate, bowl and dish that will encourage independent eating, two spoons designed for tiny hands and a bib to catch spills and make cleaning up messes easy.

One parent reviewer said: "Spoons are a bit big so we won’t be using these soon, but everything else is absolutely perfect!"

Pros

  • Food grade silicone
  • BPA and Phthalate free

Cons

  • Not every item is dishwasher and microwave safe

Best first words book gift

100 First Words Book
Price: $21.88

Description

It's never too early to introduce your little one to language and words and this bright and colourful book is a great way to do it. It includes everyday items, animals and vehicles with flaps on every page that babies will love discovering what's hiding underneath.

Pros:
Bright and colourful
Introduces them to words
Cons:
Babies may not be able to fully appreciate it until they're a little older

Review: "My son got a copy of this when he was 13 months old. A year later it's still his favourite book. At first he liked me pointing at the pictures and naming them, and now that he's learning to talk he does it himself and even makes up little stories about them. I especially like how the last page is all about bedtime because it makes it easy to convince him to brush his teeth and get his blanket and teddy ready, just like in the book. We like this book so much that we just bought a copy for his cousin's first birthday!"

Pros

  • Great for learning
  • Bright and colourful

Cons

  • Not ideal for young babies

Best hooded towel gift

Description

Featuring a sweet fox face and ears, you won't be able to resist this adorable hooded towel. The soft cotton fabric will ensure your little one stays warm and will help them dry off quicker.

Review: "Bought this as a gift for friends who have just had their first little one - arrived super quick, nicely packaged and it's so soft. Not to mention how completely adorable any baby would look bundled up in this!"

Pros

  • Super soft fabric
  • Suitable from birth

Cons

  • Can fade after many washes

Best activity table gift

Best activity table gift

Description

With two stages of play, this activity table is designed to grow with your baby as it can be played with at floor level as well as being used as a table. It encourages sensory development, motor skills, hand-eye coordination, cause and effect and simple counting with as it's got 20 developmental activities, eight colourful balls, a light-up mini-piano and so much more to be enjoyed.

Review: "I bought this for my 9 month old son who is working on standing. He is now letting go while playing with the balls that come with this. It's not only great physically but it's also educational for him too! He has been problem solving when trying to figure out where he can put the balls and how they work in each area! Once again Skip Hop has exceeded my expectations! My favorite brand!"

Pros

  • Aids development
  • Great for sensory play

Cons

  • Batteries are not included

Best sensory box toy

Description

Babies will be delighted by this wonder box as they can hide and pull out an assortment of sensory delights. It comes complete with eight silky squares and two fluffy, crinkle blankies to introduce them to different textures, sounds and colours.

Pros:
The main hole is designed to fit your baby's delicate hands
Enhancing motor, cognitive and sensory skills
Cons:
Box is made from cardboard

Review: "I wasn't too sure about this but a friend recommended it and I've been really surprised by how much my daughter loves pulling the tissues out over and over and over again! Great idea, saves the real tissue boxes and wipes from her little fingers and makes her giggle loads which is just priceless!"

Pros

  • Enhances motor, cognitive and sensory skills
  • Can help ease the teething process

Cons

  • The tissues can sometimes get lost in the box

Best spinning sensory toy

Description

Capture your little one's attention with this interactive, seaside-inspired toy. The light up base displays an array of different colours while the crab, angel fish and starfish spin around inside, it also plays three sing-along songs and 10 melodies.

Review: "My 8 month old son loves this toy. The flashing colours and songs keep him interested and he loves watching the fish swim around the bowl whenever he pushes the plunger. Great value for money and feels well made. 10/10."

Pros

  • Stimulates visual awareness
  • Aids cognitive development and auditory and language skills

Cons

  • Not as suited to younger babies

Best interactive plush toy

Description

Not just a cuddly toy, the Fisher-Price Smart Stages Puppy will help teach your little one over 100 first words. The puppy's hands, feet, ear and heart respond to your baby's touch and are programmed with over 75 songs, sounds and phrases to introduce parts of the body, shapes, numbers, the alphabet and more when they're pressed.

Review: "I bought this for my goddaughter’s baby, who is four months old and he absolutely loved it. It does so many different things, has so many interactive buttons and it was well made and age appropriate. I thought it was good value for money and I would definitely, definitely recommend it. seeing his little face light up as the puppy started singing and talking. Just an amazing toy that made our baby smile and laugh. What more could you want?"

Pros

  • Great for learning
  • Responds to baby's touch

Cons

  • Isn't machine washable

Best teething gift

Best teething gift

Description

You get two teether balls for the price with this pack from Jojo Maman Bébé. They massage and soothe sore gums while the bright colours and varied textures stimulate your little one's senses.

Review: "My twin babies love these! They get excited as soon as I hand them to them. They really help for babies who are teething and are easy to hold, perfect for hand eye coordination development too."

Pros

  • Easy to clean in the dishwasher
  • Comes in a two-pack

Cons

  • Not suitable for newborns

Best Christmas day outfit gift

Description

Can we take a moment to appreciate how cute this Santa outfit from M&S is? Gift this to a little one for Christmas and they can wear it on the big day itself. The set is made with a soft, velour fabric and the top features popper fastenings for easy changing.

Pros:
Comes in a range of sizes from 0-3 months all the way to two-three years
Your baby will look adorable throughout the day and in your photos
Cons:
The leggings could also have poppers on them
Some babies may not like wearing the hat

Review: "Texture amazing, especially for babies. I love everything about this outfit."

Pros

  • Available from newborn to 2 years
  • A range of different designs and colours available

Cons

  • Doesn't cover baby's feet

Best baby swing and rocker gift

Description

With five classical lullabies, five nature sounds and a soft-glow night light, this seat will be sure to soothe your baby. It's got a two speed vibration and six swing speeds so you can change it to your baby's preference. It also comes with a pivoting toy bar with two toys attached to capture your little one's attention.

Review: "Extremely well engineered product. Baby has been very content in the swing across different uses. Feels really good and safe all round. We were initially looking for a cheap automated rocker to save our arms, the one we wanted was out of stock and were recommended this far more expensive one by staff at Kingston store. We believe it's really worth it. Size is good, very sturdy and weighted, it won't get knocked over. The low to the floor rockers feel like they can be a trip hazard and easily knocked. The seat on this one is raised, which gives it much more presence and also makes it more usable: baby is happy in swing and can see us from dining area when we're cooking and be up and close when we're eating at the dining table. The motor that swings the seat will stop at any resistance, our 3yr old stopped it with one finger. When let go, it will then smoothly work the rocking back up. The covers and straps come off nicely and are easily washed. Buckle is nice to use. Lift off seat is very useful. Changeable to swing in different directions, our baby would only accept the side to side motion not back and forth. Everyone is happy with the melodies and chirping bird sound. Baby is nearing 5 months now and is outgrowing the seat."

Pros

  • Has three reclining positions
  • Swings front to back or side to side

Cons

  • Partial assembly required

Best soft toy

baby ball gift
Price: $25.49

Description

My first early learning ball is a great way to entertain your little one. Made with 100% textile, this toy will help introduce your little one to colour, different fabrics, and sound. Think you might have a little and upcoming musician? Well, the bell inside of the toy will help create some sort of music, while being shaken. 

Review: The ball is of great quality. There is a rattle inside. Thanks to the different surfaces and loops, it will certainly be very interesting for our baby.

Pros

  • Great for movement, eyes and sound.
  • Bright colours

Cons

  • Toy inside. Adult supervision recommended

Best baby's first Christmas bib

Description

This cute baby bib will have you and your baby in the Christmas spirit! Perfect for any outfit, this sophisticated item, will have baby standing out. Designed with a sleigh, reindeer, Santa Claus with charming colours and elegance, this will attract your babys attention.  

Review: Great baby bib! I have just ordered for my niece and i hope she loves it! it is going to be her first Christmas with the entire family and it has been such a blessing having an extra addition to our family.

Pros

  • Made of polyester material, comfortable and soft, safe and clean for your baby to use.
  • Suitable for you to use in daily life.

Cons

  • Hand wash only.

Best funny socks with quotes for baby

Description

These adorable socks, will make everybody giggle! With funny quotes like 50% mom 50% dad - 100% perfect, I may be small - But I'm the boss, I'm not crying - I'm ordering dinner and If I don't sleep - Nobody sleeps, these socks that come in white, blue, grey and yellow, will go with any outfit. 

Review: These socks are amazing! They're really unusual and a great prezzie for a baby. Lovely gift box too.

Pros

  • Made of premium combed cotton, nylon, and spandex.
  • funny quotes to make everybody laugh.

Cons

  • Machine wash only.

Best baby waterproof boots

Description

Taking baby out for a walk, but worried their feet will get wet, especially if they love jumping in the puddles? These creative yellow boots will keep them comfortable and protected. With a cute and 3D duck design, these waterproof wellies will attract your little one, and help introduce them to different animals and colour.

Review: Bought these for my baby, they’re super cute.

Pros

  • Durable handmade.
  • Available in different colours.

Cons

  • Sizes started from 2 anda half years old to 24 months.

Best baby hand puppet book

Description

Put on a free show for your little bubba, with this spontaneous duck character hand puppet cloth book. A gift any child will fall in love with, and bring so much happiness, this premium-quality toy will also help encourage interaction and engagement.

Pros

  • Duck puppet them.
  • Stimulating sensory toy.

Cons

  • Only suitable for 6 months - 3 years

What type of toy should I choose for a baby at Christmas?

When choosing a present for a baby at Christmas, you'll want to choose toys that encourage movement to motivate them to start crawling, standing or even walking. Opting for toys that will aid their cognitive development and fine motor skills are a great choice too. Look for ones with interactive elements, like light-up and musical features, ones that will help them to recognise colours and shapes, and teach them things like numbers and the alphabet.

Does a baby need a Christmas present?

Some people may argue that because a baby is too young to understand Christmas they may not need a gift. We still think it's nice to get them involved in the big day, but you don't have to go overboard unless you want to, of course! Many parents opt to follow the five-gift rule. Alternatively, you may prefer to buy a Christmas gift for the entire family so there's something for everyone.

If you're not sure what that is, the idea is that you get gifts to fit into five categories. These are something they want (or they don't know they want in the case of babies), something they need, something to wear, something to read, and a special gift. This is a great way of ensuring your baby still has something to open while not buying too much and helping you stick to a budget.

If you've got to get gifts for a toddler too, don't worry about struggling through the shops with your buggy. We've found all the presents you could ever need online so you can finish your Christmas shopping without having to leave the house!

Rosie Floyd is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, working across a number of brands including Yours, Mother&Baby and What’s The Best.

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