Some gifts with a new baby in mind:

1. Ball Tracker: This is THE ball tracker. It is more expensive than most of the ones you find online but totally worth is because it is larger and honestly just better. We didn’t get this for Mimi’s first Christmas but I wish we had.
2. Balls: Soft balls, squishy balls, balls with different textures and colors to encourage exploration, movement and tactile awareness but the mirror balls are so fun and the different sizes allow for a lot of mathematical experimentation later. They are used on a daily basis in our house over a year after getting them.
3. Stacking and Sorting Toys: Nesting toys are a classic for a reason. They help develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness are are great for open ended play as kids age. These plastic ones make a great stocking stuffer and because they all fit inside each other, are great for home or on the go to, the park, beach, pool, or tub.
4. Object Permanence Box: A toy that teaches the concept of object permanence, where a baby discovers that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. So simple, but so great!
5. Musical Instruments: Safe and age-appropriate musical instruments like shakers, drums, or xylophones to encourage rhythm and coordination. Our first shaker was a baby bottle with some black beans in it, but these are probably a little more aesthetically pleasing. Our shakers live in a basket by the tv and get broken out on the regular when Whistlefritz get a whistling.
6. Mirror Play: Unbreakable mirrors for the baby to explore self-awareness and engage in visual tracking. I mounted these mirrors into our bookshelves and created a space that was inviting and engaging (and took up no extra space!).
7. Puzzles: Simple puzzles with large pieces that promote problem-solving and cognitive development. I put familiar (or not so familiar faces) in ours and it has done wonders for keeping people who live far away relevant in the kids lives. It would be a really sweet touch if you were gifting it to someone not so close.
8. Animal Figurines: These are not the most realistic but they are WELL loved. Blaise in particular would have been happy only playing the giraffe head and only the giraffe head for months on end.
9. Baby Doll: I am a firm believer than every child should have a doll. So get that little dude in your life a sweet baby for him to love on.
10. Baby Crinkle Paper: It is the best, the black/white combo is perfect and it is chewable, washable and provides hours of exploration.
11. Books (each book is a link): High-quality books that support language development and encourage a love for reading. Touch and feel books are wonderful to engage the child before the story really captures them. An Indestructible book is a MUST. It can go in the dishwasher. Enough said. Brown Bear is a classic example of a repeating book that can really engage a child in the words being spoken. Finally, this soft, crinkly, tactile book is wonderful for young babies to explore independently.

When it comes to babes I feel like less is more, so I tend to go for things that have a longer life cycle Happy gifting!

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