Baby’s First Christmas Gifts: The Ultimate Gift Guide

Christmas is just around the corner! Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, but it was extra special last year. My husband and I announced our pregnancy to our families by giving them ornaments I painted. I always wanted to be able to announce our big news during our favorite time of the year, and God had perfect timing! Now Baby E is here, and Christmas is extra special again because we get to celebrate with Baby E for the first time! I so look forward to most importantly celebrating the birth of Jesus along with our other traditions of decorating the Christmas tree, seeing the lights, having extra family time, and this year spoiling Baby E with a few special gifts.

I put together a list of ideas for baby’s first Christmas gifts. When shopping for Baby E’s first Christmas, it’s important to me that I pick out gifts that will grow with him so he can use them for awhile. I admit I’m a bit picky with what Baby E plays with so I made a wishlist on Amazon to guide family. This gift guide includes some of our favorites along with other ideas for that special baby boy or girl in your life! You can see the prices and further details by clicking on the links or pictures. Now on to the gift guide!

This gift guide has been recently updated for Christmas 2018. Now that E is 16 months old, I’ve added even more fun gift ideas. All of these gifts are appropriate for any baby’s first Christmas. The guide includes fun and developmental toys, practical stocking stuffers, and Christmas-themed presents and outfits. I have included a variation of age-appropriate gifts, depending on the age of your baby during their first Christmas. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s better to have toys they can grow into and enjoy for at least several months! May you have a blessed and joyful Christmas!

Be sure to check out Best Toys for Baby’s First Year, my gift guide for the new mom and my gift guide for the new dad! There are also lots of gift ideas here for anyone who loves decor and farmhouse style.

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Nontoxic Wooden Cars: These cute cars and planes are made from nontoxic wood and paint. Baby E has the cute blue plane. He loves how the wings can move (they are attached with bungees). This toy is really sturdy, and the paint has never chipped at all (no one wants their baby playing with toys when the paint chips!).

The Most Adorable Stuffed Animals: Baby E has the owl and the elephant, and he loves them so much! These are my favorite stuffed animals for him. They’re so cuddly and cute!

Skip Hop Explore & More Follow-Me Bee Crawl Toy: This developmental toy is so adorable and it encourages your baby to crawl! It is perfect for pre-crawling babies, beginner crawlers, and even advanced crawlers as it moves in different patterns.

Shape Sorter, Baby Toy Starter Set, My First Tugboat, My First Stacker, Twist Teether Toy, Elephant-on-Wheels: Remember how I said I was picky with the toys Baby E plays with? I LOVE Green Toys and how they are free from BPA, phthalates, PVC, and external coatings. Plus they’re made from recycled plastic and you can throw them in the dishwasher to sanitize them! I love how I don’t have to worry about chemicals in Green Toys, and they’re made in the USA! And no, they don’t pay me to say all of this! I just love them that much! 🙂

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Related: Gift Guide for the New Mom

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Baby Touch and Feel: Christmas: This is a cute book for the stocking. The touch and feel book features a padded cover, fun pictures with words, and different textures.

Wrist Rattle & Foot Finder Socks: These wrist rattles and socks help babies discover their hands and feet. It’s a fun way for babies to learn about their movement. When Baby E was 1-3  months old, he would move his feet and hands and notice the rattle! These are the perfect stocking stuffers!

VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker: Save yourself the trouble, and get this now! Even if your baby can’t play with it right away, they will definitely grow into using it before they turn one. Once Baby turned 10-11 months old, he LOVED this toy. He went from sitting and crawling to standing and walking around while pushing this toy! It has a removable front play panel that develops fine motor skills, and it features over 70 fun sing-along songs, music, sound effects, and fun phrases. Baby E loves all the buttons, the phone, and the songs! When your baby is getting close to 9 months, this toy is a MUST!! The walker is meant for babies and toddlers 9 months to 3 years old. Only buy this toy if you want your baby to walk soon!!

First 100 Words: The First 100 Words is a great book for teaching babies to speak. Little E has learned so many words because of these books. We also love the First 100 Animals and Numbers Colors Shapes! He points to the pictures and says or signs several of the words now! The First 100 Christmas Words is adorable and PERFECT for the stocking! They even make a box set of 3 books!

Boppy Tummy Time Pillow: This adorable mini boppy pillow will keep any baby entertained as they work out those important muscles during tummy time. It comes with a cute crinkle book and teether ring. I personally called Boppy and asked them if the teether is BPA free, and I was told ALL of their products are BPA free! The pillow is also small enough to take with you for playtime. The recommended age is 2-6 months.

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Skip Hop Explore and More Mix-and-Match Animal Activity Book: Baby E loves this book! It has crinkly pages and the handle is a rattle. The colors and animals make it so much fun for him. It also has a cloud-shaped teether attached, and it’s PVC-free and Phthalate-free.

Oball Toy Ball, OBall Rattle & Roll Car (BEST SELLER ON AMAZON!),  Oball Shaker, Oball Grab & Rattle Football: I had never heard of Oball toys before we received a few for Baby E for his first Christmas. I quickly became obsessed so he now has at least 7 different Oball toys! He can easily grasp and hold all their toys because of those fun little holes that are perfect for babies’ fingers. He loves the ball, the rattle shaker, the bath toys, and his cars! They’re BPA-free and the surfaces are flexible and teetheable. Many of their toys also have fun rattle beads that he loves to watch (and they make a fun noise).

 

 

Dr. Brown’s Coolees Soothing Teether: This teether is nice because it can safely go in the freezer. Baby E began using this before his first tooth came in, and he continues to like it (and he is over 1 year old now). It is very lightweight and easy to hold.

Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball: This ball has different textures, colors, and a gentle rattle sound. It’s for 6 months and older and helps develop baby’s motor skills.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Kick & Play Piano: Baby E learned to dance to this piano!! And it is the cutest dance ever! He received this as a Christmas gift, and he absolutely loves it! It has 3 different settings, including 10 minutes of straight music and flashing lights, a push and learn setting that teaches numbers, shapes, and colors, and a piano playing setting. We like to use it when he is sitting up or doing tummy time. He loves the music, pushing the buttons, and the flashing lights! It can also be tied to the crib so babies can push the buttons with their feet. The age says it can be used beginning at newborn stage, and it will definitely grow with the baby as it can be used laying down, during tummy time, and while sitting up. Like I said earlier, we have more non-battery toys than battery-operated toys (this one actually comes with batteries!), and I’m so happy he has this one! He loves it!

Skip Hop Hug-and-Hide Tummytime Playmat, Owl: Another owl! This is a cute tummy time play mat. It comes with a supportive tummy time pillow and includes two developmental toys.

 

Here Fashion 3 Packs Non-toxic Soft Fabric Baby Cloth Books: These are some cute cloth books! Plus they’re nontoxic which is so important because babies like to put everything in their mouths.

Sophie the Giraffe Teether: This teether is made from natural rubber and is soft on the gums. Baby E loves this teether! He loves how it squeaks, and it’s easy for him to hold and chew. He has loved this teether since before his first tooth came in, and he continues to love Sophie even at 16 months old. It has proven to be very durable!

Gund Baby Flora The Bunny Animated Plush Stuffed Animal Toy: Flora, the sweet bunny, plays peek-a-boo and sings “Do Your Ears Hang Low.” The ears flap during the interactive game and song. This cutie is appropriate for all ages.

Christmas in the Manger: This sturdy board book has beautiful artwork and vivid colors. The book shares the meaning of Christmas in a lyrical and cute way. E received this book as a gift for his first Christmas and he still loves it now during his second Christmas season!

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Related: Gift Guide for the New Dad

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Evenflo Exersaucer Moovin & Groovin Activity Center: Baby E started using this when he was just shy of 4 months. He absolutely loves all the animals and activities! The seat spins so he can face the toys he wants to reach. This activity center features so many activities that help infants and toddlers from 4 months to walking age in key early child development areas. The fact that it’s a farm makes it even more fun!

HABA Snug-up Doll Luisa First Baby Doll: This cuddly doll is so cute! I love that it is free from toxins including BPA, phthalates, PVC, flame retardants, and water repellent chemicals!

Bath Letters and Numbers, OBall Scoop ‘N Spill Bath Toy:  There are so many bath toys out there and E definitely has plenty, but these are 2 of my favorites. These nontoxic foam letters and numbers are cool because they stick to the bath walls after getting them wet. E loves to play with them even if he can’t spell or count yet (you can’t start teaching them too young!). The BPA-free Oball scoops are fun because they’re different colors and shapes and they make “rain” when you let water fall through the holes. The scoops are easy to clean for parents and easy to grasp for little hands. They also nest nicely for storage.

VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck: E loves this truck! This fun dump truck has “rocks” that your baby puts in the hole which then drops the “rocks” into the dump truck. The back of the truck can tilt to dump the “rocks” out, and the truck has a pull string. E loves to pull the truck around the house! It has cute sayings and melodies, and it helps teach numbers, colors, and tools. It also helps develop motor skills! The age recommendation is 6 months through 3 years old.

Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Jumper: Because sometimes it’s nice to have 2 jumpers in the house? Yes, yes it is!! Once Baby E liked to sit up more than leaning back in one of these kinds of bouncers, this jumper became another favorite. It’s not fun dragging one of these from room to room, and they’re a nice break if you have to put away the laundry or do a small chore. We obviously do a limited amount of time in the jumpers, but he loves his special jumper time! Baby E loves this jumper just as much as the Farm jumper (see above). He can bounce more in this one since it’s suspended. This is one of his toys that has noise and lights because the turtle has buttons to push. Three settings include numbers and colors in 3 different languages, music, and piano playing. The turtle also easily detaches so babies can play with it elsewhere!

Alphabet Zoo Activity Gym: This bright activity gym has letters and animals and looks like it would be so entertaining for any baby! It has 17 developmental activities, and it would definitely grow with the baby.

Infantino Balls, Blocks, & Buddies Activity Toy Set: This toy set includes blocks, animals, and textured balls. They are all BPA free according to the seller. E has these exact sensory balls, and he loves them!

Discover & Play Piano Musical Toy: E has had this toy for close to a year! He loves this piano especially for on-the-go in the car! The piano has soft cloth keys and has different settings (musical instruments, animal noises, piano keys), and it also counts in English, Spanish, and French. I don’t see E’s love for this toy ending anytime soon!

Black, White & Red Infant-Stim Clip Along High Contrast Flash Cards for Baby: We received these fun flashcards as a gift, and I’m so glad we did because I never knew the importance of black and white (and red) toys for babies. For their first 6 months, babies respond best to bold, contrasting colors and graphics. These flash cards will encourage visual development and physical activity (think wiggling and waving their arms and kicking their feet).

Infantino Stick and Spin High Chair Pal: This cute little monkey suctions to our high chair tray and keeps Baby E entertained while prepping food and in between bites (and it also keeps him engaged after mealtime when I need a few minutes to clean up). It has a mirror on the foot and the head turns and makes a clicking sound. The green ball also spins, and the colorful discs move up and down the blue arch. The suction works well as long as the surface it’s sticking to is clean. The monkey is BPA free and can also be used on a stroller tray.

Melissa & Doug Animals Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzles Set – Fish and Pets: These cute puzzles have large knobs that are easy for babies to grasp. We have the Melissa & Doug farm puzzle but these are so cute, too!

Baby’s First Christmas Santa’s Playset & Photo Album Gift Bundle: This adorable soft playset comes with a “Baby’s First Christmas” photo album. The snowman, elf, Santa, and reindeer feature fun sounds including crinkle, jingle, rattle, and squeak sounds! The recommended age is 6 months through 36 months old so you should get a lot of use out of this fun Christmas toy!

Bright Starts Around We Go 3-in-1 Activity Center Zippity Zoo: This is a great toy for 6 months and up to 25 lbs or 30 inches tall. Baby E would love this activity center! It has over 15 activities to keep baby busy, and it’s a walker! The reason I would look into getting this one over other activity centers is because it’s lead-free, BPA-free, and non-toxic!

Hape Wobbling Melody Penguin: This adorable wobbly penguin adds some music to playtime! I can’t tell you how much I love this brand of nontoxic wooden toys! E has several instruments and toys by Hape, and E loves them all!

VTech Turn and Learn Driver, VTech Rhyme and Discover Book, VTech Sort and Discover Activity Cube: VTech makes great learning toys for all ages, including babies! I especially have loved the Turn and Learn Driver and their Rhyme and Discover books. E loves to play with knobs, levers, and buttons so these toys are right down his alley. The VTech books have fun songs and movable pieces on each page. Its recommended age is 6 months to 3 years old. The cute pink activity cube introduces colors, numbers, animals, nursery rhymes, and so much more, and it’s also intended for ages 9 months to 3 years old.

2″ Hair Bows Fully Lined Hair Clips, Our Favorite Teething Bibs, Baby Hat with Earflap: These all make excellent and practical stocking stuffers! These bibs are perfect for teething babies (we loved these bibs best for our drooling guy).

Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether, Sippy Cup Set, Munchkin 6 Piece Fork and Spoon Set: A few more practical stocking stuffers! E loved this toothbrush when he started teething. When he was using sippy cups, the sippy cups below were great. We never had any leaks and the handles made them easy to hold.

My First Christmas Tree: This absolutely cute Christmas tree will keep your little one busy with their own tree and away from the real Christmas tree that has fragile ornaments. The age on this says 18 months and over but I can’t resist putting this on the list. I can see some babies closer to one year old being interested in this tree! We did not have this for E’s first Christmas, but we are having it for E’s second Christmas!:) I’m so excited! (Please make your own judgement on whether this is age-appropriate for your child).

WINMI® Baby Girls’ Newborn 1st Christmas Onesie, Baby Snowflake Coat+Romper Playsuit, Lil’ Reindeer Christmas Plush Rattle,  Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby 4-Piece my First Christmas, Carter’s My First Christmas Santa Hat: Christmas-themed gifts are always fun especially for baby’s first Christmas! Use this opportunity to take a lot of pictures in Christmas outfits, too!

Baby Girl First Christmas Outfit, Baby Boy First Christmas Outfit, Christmas Headbands for Baby Girls: I’m going to say it again! Don’t miss the opportunity to take a TON of first Christmas pictures of your baby. You will love looking back on the pictures from their first Christmas! They grow up so fast! These are adorable outfit options for your little one. 🙂

I hope this gift guide gives you fun ideas for your baby’s first Christmas!! Make sure you bookmark and pin this so you can refer back for future gift-buying! May your Christmas be filled with lots of joy!