Is There a New Baby in Your Life? We Have the Perfect Presents

New York Times

13-05-2025

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This beloved teether has been around since the 1960s. It's made from soft-yet-strong rubber, so you don't have to worry about a baby puncturing it when they get their first few teeth.
In the early 2000s, Sophie the Giraffe was like the Murakami Louis Vuitton collection — a Parisian must-have among celebrities. Halle Berry, Kate Hudson, and Elton John (and their babies) were all spotted with the smiling, speckled rubber mammal. The animal's natural features — long limbs and a neck that can reach a baby's itchy gums — create the perfect teether. My son was given Sophie by a family friend, and he gnawed on it as soon as he began teething. It later became a casual figurine that he shared with his sister, long after all of his teeth had come in.
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These round, sturdy shades come in a variety of colors and offer reliable UV protection. The included cloth carrying case can also be used to clean the lenses.
Sometimes Mr. Golden Sun can be a little on the harsh side. Thankfully, shades like the Babiators Classic Tortoise Keyhole can make kids feel super-cool while also protecting them from the sun's intense rays. Younger kids are likely to snatch off shades, so it may take time for little ones to get used to wearing them. But a baby who loves seeing themselves on a camera or in the mirror (like mine does) may revel in how stylish they look and agree to keep them on. Babiators are a longtime pick in our guide to kids' beachwear, and they have a winning one-year warranty that covers loss as well as damage.
Folkmanis
This soft puppet looks just like the real thing. Your fingers control the mouth and hands, so it is even more believable for little ones.
If the baby in your life is anything like mine, they'll be absolutely giddy over a soft plushie that can 'speak' and clap, and that they can snuggle up with. (You'll get to sharpen your ventriloquism skills, too.) Puppets like the Folkmanis Dutch Rabbit puppet can provide some enriching, imaginative playtime for a baby. And this is a toy that's likely to stay in rotation for many years to come: Older children may be interested in putting on a puppet show of their own. This company has hundreds of hand puppets, all of them thoughtfully made and incredibly durable.
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This piano comes with pre-set songs, a recording feature, and stickers with the names of the keys. It also has a volume dial so an adult can control just how loud the music time gets.
My daughter is learning to walk, but in the meantime, she's crawling all over the FAO Schwarz Giant Dance-On Piano Mat, and laughing and clapping at the notes. The keys respond to a gentle amount of pressure, so she doesn't have to work too hard to get the mat to produce sound. I'll admit it — I've been playing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' on this mat, too. Babies have a ball with interactive toys, and this piano is one that can teach cause and effect, as well as introduce them to music (it plays five songs, including 'Chopsticks,' 'Beethoven's 5th Symphony,' and 'Für Elise').
Studio Roof
This mobile is part adult arts-and-crafts project, part decoration for a child's room.
It takes about 45 minutes to construct the recyclable Studio Roof Butterfly Dance Mobile. And it doesn't involve any tape or glue — just cardboard that fits tightly together and string. You'll also need a small metal hook, to screw the mobile into the ceiling over a child's crib or play area. The result is a dangling set of colorful creatures that gently sway in the breeze. And when a child has outgrown the mobile, it can be recycled or used as compost, since it's colored with vegetable ink. Sweet dreams are practically guaranteed.
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This cotton towel has floppy bunny ears on its hood. It's gentle on a baby's skin and can be personalized with a child's name. $49 from Pottery Barn Kids
Nothing says 'I got this with you in mind ' like a present with a baby's name on it. When my mother got to bathe my daughter for the first time, she thought the Pottery Barn Kids Bunny Critter Baby Hooded Towel was the most darling thing, and it was part of an incredible bonding experience that neither of us will forget. You can personalize the towel, for an additional $16 (regardless of the length of the child's name). Since the towel is only 31 by 23 inches, my baby will only be able to use it until a few months after her first birthday, but it's a sweet keepsake that I know she'll cherish. There are also other animals to choose from, such as a crocodile, a puppy, and an elephant.
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These wooden cubes make the most of each side, with debossed illustrations of animals, Chinese characters, and the English translation.
The earlier children are exposed to a second language, the easier it is for them to pick it up. These Uncle Goose Chinese Blocks are printed with simplified Chinese characters for animals and numbers, so a baby can get exposure to new words in two languages as soon as they begin babbling. The blocks include some basic characters, like those for dog and cat , but we found some others were a bit less accessible for little ones just learning words (like emu and hedgehog ). And if a baby is teething, they may also try to gnaw on the blocks, but they won't splinter. Uncle Goose also makes versions in Hebrew and Japanese.
Gund
This peek-a-boo honeypot contains three tiny friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Winnie-the-Pooh books are classic tales of friendship and adventure, and many kids love them from babyhood up through grade school and beyond. Gund makes a cuddly 12.5-inch Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger. But for infants, we love the more-unusual Winnie the Pooh Plush Playset. The 8-inch cloth honeypot opens up to reveal three little noise-making stuffies: a rattling Pooh, a crinkling Piglet, and a squeaking Tigger — all perfectly sized for a baby's grip. We recommend pairing this set with The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh , an unabridged and beautifully illustrated version of A.A. Milne's classic stories.
Petit Collage
This wooden elephant toy is great for introducing kids to a variety of musical instruments.
My youngest daughter is a pro at transforming anything into an instrument. She taps on boxes, clangs toy cars together, and even shakes her bottles and cups to hear the liquid slosh. As much as she likes to have impromptu jam sessions, I knew she'd have a blast with the Petit Collage Wooden 5-in-1 Elephant Music Toy. Using the small stick, she can play the drum and cymbal, tap at the xylophone, and run along the three distinct-sounding güiros. The elephant's ears also produce a nice clack. Kids can find the music in anything, and I find joy in helping them along.
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With five colored rings and a rocking base, this multifaceted toy is both educational and fun as children learn to hold and shake things.
The engaging Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack Ring is exciting for a baby, even if they aren't quite sure how to stack the rings in the proper order. (Some guidance and a little trial and error will do the trick.) The red top ring doubles as a rattle, adding another element of play. The rings also have purpose beyond the first year: They can be used to teach colors, the shape of a circle, and size differences. I use the rings as bath toys, too, since they're so lightweight that they float.
Kiddobloom
This three-piece set comes plain or with kid-friendly characters.
As babies start to eat solid food, you can make mealtime more enticing by giving them special tableware. The Kiddobloom Stainless Steel set includes a plate with three compartments, a 13-ounce bowl with handles (easy to pick up to drink cereal or soup), and a 6-ounce cup. (We recommend the plate in our guide to the best plastic-free feeding tools for babies and kids.) Missing the pop culture characters often found on plastic options? Opt for a set etched with pictures of a fire truck, princess, or frog. The pieces are made from 18/8 stainless steel, so they should last until long after a child has moved on to adult dinnerware.
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Getting kids to drink from a cup without a lid takes time and practice. But the festive Baby's First Mini Sipper Training Cup, from Nuby, does a good job of helping ease the process. Another pick in our guide to the best feeding tools, this cup has grippy silicone walls that are simple to grasp, and the weighted base helps reduce spills. At just 2 ounces, the cup fits a tiny amount of liquid, so you may have to refill it frequently. If a child does manage to tip it over, though, there's less to clean up.
PlanToys
Babies will enjoy the multicolored toy alligator that plays follow the leader.
Once a baby learns to walk, the next step is zooming a little faster, many times with something in hand. Plan Toys' cheery Rainbow Alligator gives a little one something to hold onto, and it provides added fun of being 'chased' around. Babies who are not yet walking can push this little gator, as they would a toy train or a truck. With its vibrant colors and gentle clacking sounds, this toy pleases the senses and results in endless fun.
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These soft, snap-on booties keep a baby's feet warm — and they stay on.
One of the great puzzles of early parenthood is figuring out how to keep a baby's socks on. If an infant isn't pulling socks off with their hands, then they're flinging them off with their vigorous kicking. (Who knew those little legs were strong enough to send socks flying?) But the Zutano Cozie Fleece Gripper Baby Bootie stays put, since each one has a snap securing a band that goes around the baby's ankle. These fleece booties are thicker than socks — they won't fit under shoes — and they're best for babies in the pre-walking stage or for little ones to wear indoors like slippers. While the 3- and 6-month sizes have soft soles, in larger sizes (they go up to 24 months) the booties have nonslip gripper soles. The fleece version comes in about 10 colors and some two-toned options; they are also available in organic cotton and faux fur versions.
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Little ones can bounce around with glee while staying securely in place. This jumper can generally work for tots from about 5 months old, since neck control is required.
Wirecutter has longstanding guides to baby swings, bouncers, and rockers that you set on the floor. But for eliciting joy in babies, it's hard to beat a hanging seat on a massive spring. We've long recommended the Graco Doorway Bumper Jumper as an alternative choice in our bouncers guide. And several Wirecutter babies have had a ball bouncing themselves to giggle land in the suspended seat. Of course, you do need to ensure your doorway provides a safe and secure fit for the jumper's clamp. Once you do that, the fun begins.
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This high-quality, easy-gliding sled will last through multiple kids (or even generations).
L.L.Bean's wooden Kids' Pull Sled and Cushion Set is our sled pick for the littlest snow lovers. It's expensive, but writer Doug Mahoney's four kids have used it over about 10 years — and it's still in great shape. Under the wooden runners there are metal bars, which add durability, and the side rails prevent tots from tipping out.
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Of all the infant sleepers we considered for our guide to the best pajamas for kids, Kyte Baby's Ribbed Zipper Footie PJs stood out. The soft ribbed fabric is derived from bamboo, and it feels notably plush and supple. That stretchiness makes this sleeper easy to put on and take off wiggly babies, and the two-way zipper simplifies middle-of-the-night diaper changes. It comes in about a dozen muted colors, as well as in the non-ribbed original version (this one isn't quite as plush, but is available in more fun prints).
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This stuffed toy sparks curiosity and encourages interactive play.
This sweet, soft stuffy comes with its own little wraparound bee blanket. The Douglas Baby Bee Hug is a trusted friend for a little one to cuddle up with before bedtime — and as a baby grows, they'll look forward to getting their friend all ready for a night's rest. Plus, as the child learns to make the 'B' and 'Z' sounds, they'll have fun naming the insect and mimicking its beloved buzzing noise.
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These thoughtfully designed boxes are for kids from birth to age 4. They come with ample guidance and educational materials for parents.
If you like the idea of giving a new baby a whole box of age-appropriate toys — or a toy subscription that keeps arriving as they grow — Lovevery's high-quality offerings are aesthetically appealing, in a minimalist sort of way. Each box comes with half a dozen or so Montessori-inspired toys, along with written instructions on age-appropriate play. These boxes are definitely a splurge (and they're far from necessary). However, the included toys, mostly crafted from wood, are well made and presented, and they're beloved by many new parents looking to make the most out of playtime.
This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.