When it comes to giving gifts for newborn babies, it can be tough to find the perfect present. After all, your littlest love can’t create their own wish list. Some of the best gifts for newborns, in fact, are actually gifts for parents of newborns—whether it’s a swoon-worthy sweater set they’d never have bought themselves or something to make life with a little one a smidge easier.
What are the best Christmas gifts for newborns? Well it depends.
Babies change so much over the first year. In the first few months, it seems as though they just eat, sleep, poop, repeat. But as they begin to gain their strength, tummy time is all the rage. Eye-catching toys, black-and-white cards and playmats make great gifts for babies under three months.
Related: Your guide to baby milestones
As they get a bit older and start to tune into the world around them, exploration and engagement is the name of the game. Look for musical toys and teethers with texture that delight all their senses. It’s also a fantastic time to start building their library of books you’ll read a eleventy billion times over the next few years. (So, um, choose wisely, ok?)
We’ve hand-selected some of our personal favorites along with tried-and-true gifts that babies have loved for ages. From the softest booties that are sure to become instant heirlooms to developmentally appropriate graphic flashcards they’ll play with for hours, these are the best holiday gifts for babies!
Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our holiday gift guides!
The best Christmas gifts for newborns
Little Giraffe
• $100
The celeb-loved Little Giraffe plush blankets are the coziest way to snuggle up your little ones. They’re made from super soft faux fur with a satin border that helps soothe and comfort at naptime or anytime. The timeless design features a modern block print in soft silver or dusty pink which both feel luxe and stylish and it washes like a dream! Consider it an heirloom-in-the-making. Get 10% off using code Motherly10
Timo & Violet
• $68
We’re absolutely smitten with the beautifully crafted shawl blankets from Timo & Violet. The organic cotton muslin design is incredibly soft and practical, with embroidered detail that lends a vintage vibe. Whether for baby snuggles, draped around mama’s neck or over her shoulder, they’re a gift that’s sure to get those ooh’s and ahh’s. (Especially if you personalize it!)
Red & Olive
• $35
Perfectly sized for tiny hands, Red & Olive’s hand-knit loveys make the sweetest gift. From the cute little protruding tongue to its adorable pointy ears, we’re a tad obsessed with this baby Frenchie! Even better, each one is crafted by Peruvian artisans who are paid fair wages for their work.
Melissa & Doug
• $53.99
Melissa & Doug is a childhood staple–and this bundle of developmentally appropriate sensory toys is the perfect place to start. Including their best-selling Pineapple Stacker with crinkly leaves, squeezable rings and tons of texture, their PB&J Take-Along Toy which is great for entertaining on-the-go, and the Wooden Gift Box which has four engaging toys tucked inside.
Magnetic Me
• $40
Yes, this looks like your typical baby coverall, but oh, do we have a surprise for you! This sanity-saving essential from Magnetic Me is designed with fully encased magnets instead of snaps to make getting squirmy little meatballs dressed frustration-free. What’s more, the grow-with-me design features foldover cuffs at the hands and feet to ensure it fits for quite some time. Seriously brilliant.
Quince
• $79.90
Let’s start with a little dash of luxury! Quince, makers of the hype-worthy $50 cashmere sweater offer baby options that are just as dreamy. The cable one piece and hat set is perfect for days filled with naps and snuggles and because well, they’re babies, it’s also totally machine washable.
Mudpuppy
• $12.99
It’s never too early to instill a love of art in your little ones. The crinkly pages of this colorful stroller book feature some of Andy Warhol’s iconic artwork to keep them engaged on the go. (And let’s be honest–it makes you look pretty cool as well.)
KiwiCo
• $59.95
Designed to engage their ever-growing sensory and motor skills (and maybe even foster a future passion for the stars!) the five-piece Sensory Solar System Set from KiwiCo has developmentally-appropriate playtime covered. There’s a sun lovey with high contrast planets and stars, a Saturn teether, galaxy rattle, spaceship wobbler and a board book to bring it all together.
Fisher-Price
• $54.99
For some parents, it’s hard to imagine life without this ubiquitous play mat. Not only because of the Purple Monkey earworm you’ll never forget (and possibly sob at upon hearing), but because there’s some kind of baby sorcery going on here. The lights, sounds and eye-catching toys seem to keep every baby wildly entertained and with a few quick changes, it does the same for toddlers!
Arquia
• $96
From the sumptuous Peruvian cotton fabric to the ringer tee aesthetic, we’re instant fans of Arquia’s minimalist baby essentials. They’re definitely a bit of a splurge, but what better time than their first Christmas?
Hanna Andersson
• $100
This adorable capsule collection from Hanna Andersson makes a great gift–not only because of its heirloom quality and next-level comfort. It’s also packaged up in a reusable gift-ready bag!
Mustela
• $35
Yes, baby smell is delicious. (Mostly.) But until you can bottle it, the Musti Eau De Soin Spray from Mustela is a worthy alternative. The subtle citrus, rose, lilac and amber scented spray is made with all plant-based ingredients including chamomile and honey extracts to hydrate delicate skin and freshen baby linens as well.
Finn + Emma
• $99
Go ahead and try to find a prettier baby swing. We’ll wait.
Made by artisans in India, this wood and organic cotton macrame swing is just about the most swoon-worthy hang out we can imagine. And unlike its plastic counterparts, it practically doubles as home decor. No room inside? No problem. It’s suitable for outdoor use as well.
Feltman Brothers
• $59.50
Does it get any more darling? This long-sleeved knit coverall is just the type of future heirloom piece to gift to a loved one with a new babe.
Lovevery
• $80
Not only are Lovevery toys developed with experts–they also take the stress out of playtime. The Lovevery toy kits are designed with baby milestones in mind and feature a selection of toys to keep playtime developmentally appropriate and engaging. Kits are delivered every two months and come complete with activity suggestions for parents as well.
Fisher Price
• $17.99
With calming vibes (literally) and four soothing tunes, this pup is more than just a lovey. Each of the four modes play for ten minutes, making it a great buddy for car rides and bottle prep time buying.
OneBerrie
• $54.95
Hooded towel meets cozy babe-friendly robe with this luxe bath time must-have. The Classic Baby Bath Towel from OneBerrie is an absolutely ingenious design that not only makes it easier to take your wet baby out of the tub–it also keeps you from getting soaked in the process. The super soft bamboo and cotton is cozy and absorbent and it even transitions to a regular hooded towel as they grow!
LouLou Lollipop
• $25
The combination of soft silicone beads and textured wooden rings makes for an ideal teether to help soothe sore gums. Even sweeter? The beechwood and silicone bead rattles are handmade locally by grandparents in Vancouver.😍
Beiens
• $19.99
High contrast, graphic images are captivating for newborns, and these fun flashcards can help make that time in between feeding and napping more engaging.
Copper Pearl
• $21.95
You can’t have enough of these bandana bibs for sopping up dribbled milk and drool all in the name of keeping clothes dry (read: less laundry for tired parents).
Wee Gallery
• $28.95
Littles will love snuggling up with this soft organic cotton lovey, and they’ll be able to work on their palmar grasp, too, thanks to the handy knot ties on the corners and sweet floppy ears.
Jan Brett
• $15.99
The timeless classic gets a gorgeous update thanks to the spellbinding illustrations of Jan Brett. Start a holiday tradition of reading this tale aloud to your infant on their first Christmas Eve—you’ll both cherish the ritual for years to come.
Nivas
• $30
Just one q: Do these come in adult sizes?
7AM Enfant
• $38
We’ve always known and loved 7AM for their insanely cozy stroller buntings, so it’s no surprise we’ve fallen head over heels for their snuggly soft clothing as well. The adorable wrap top fuzzy is exactly the kind of sweater we personally want to live in all winter long.
WIldbird
• $44
When little babes graduate from swaddles to a sleep sack, this cloud soft style from Wildbird is a favorite. The adorable bendy wiener dog print is just a bonus.
Beatrix Potter
• $19.99
Regale that little love with tales of Peter Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy and the rest of the gang with this collection of stories that’s sure to be treasured for ages. Perfect for read-aloud storytime.
A version of this story was published December 2, 2021. It has been updated.