Gifts for Baby's First Christmas

A first Christmas is mostly for the grown-ups. The baby won't remember it, and will probably be more interested in the wrapping paper than the present. But a good present doesn't need to be remembered. It needs to be used, every day, long after the decorations come down.

That's how we've chosen these. Every one is something a baby can actually do something with at their age, not a toy to grow into next year. They're grouped by stage, because a three-month-old and a nine-month-old are, for gift purposes, completely different people.

How we chose them

• Right for the age now. Every product here is rated from birth or from 6 months, and the age is on each product page.
• Safe to mouth. At this age, everything ends up in the mouth. We've stuck to food-grade silicone, soft fabrics and organic cotton.
• Easy to wash. A first Christmas present will be chewed, dropped and dribbled on before Boxing Day is out.
• Used, not shelved. We'd rather recommend one thing that comes out every day than three that look lovely in a photo.

👶 For a newborn, up to about 3 months

New babies can't see much detail yet. What they can see best is strong contrast: bold black and white shapes, close up. They're also starting to notice sounds, and to grip whatever's put in their hand. So the best gifts at this stage are things to look at, listen to and hold. If you'd like the detail, our guide to black and white toys explains why contrast matters so much in the first months.

Black and White Rattle Set, £10

A rattle and a maraca, both in bold black and white patterns, with a gentle sound. In the early weeks you'll hold them and shake them for your baby to watch. A few weeks later, they'll start to grab them back. It's a simple present that covers sight, sound and grip in one. Suitable from birth.

Baby Flash Cards, £5

Twenty wipe-clean cards with 40 illustrated sides. They start with simple black and white patterns for the first weeks and move on to colour and more detail as your baby grows, so they stay useful well beyond the newborn stage. Hold one 20 to 30cm from your baby's face during tummy time and watch them focus. A thoughtful small gift, and an easy one to post. Our flash cards guide explains which cards suit which age.

Lamb Baby Comforter, £9

Lammy Lamb is soft plush with knotted ends for small fingers to find, and two food-grade silicone teething rings sewn in for later. Many babies settle on one comforter and keep it for years, and this is a good candidate. Do keep it out of the cot while your baby sleeps until they're 12 months old, as safe sleep guidance advises. Our comforter guide covers when and how to introduce one.

Marine Animals Baby Fabric Book, £10

A soft fabric book of dolphins, seals, turtles and other sea creatures, with crinkly pages, textures and 3D tails to tug. The simple black and white designs suit young eyes, and a hook means it clips onto a pram or play gym. It's a first book that can be chewed without anyone worrying. More ideas in our guide to crinkle cloth books.

🧸 For a baby of around 6 months

Somewhere around six months, a baby turns into a small scientist. They grab, turn things over, chew, bang them together and drop them on purpose to see what happens. Teeth may be arriving, and solid food is starting. The gifts that work now are ones that stand up to all of that. For more on this stage, see the best toys for a 6 month old.

Angus the Cavapoo teether, £8

Angus is a soft, food-grade silicone teether that we designed ourselves, based on our own family dog. He has different textures for sore gums, he's easy for small hands to hold, and he goes in the dishwasher. He's suitable from birth, but he really comes into his own when the first teeth start pushing through. Our teething guide covers what to expect.

Silicone Stacking Flower Toy, £7

Six soft silicone pieces that stack into a flower 12.5cm tall. At six months, the fun is pulling it apart and chewing the pieces. A few months later, it's working out which piece goes where. Because it's soft, it can be thrown across the room without damage to anyone. Read more in our guide to stacking toys by age.

Mould Free Silicone Bath Toys, £12

A turtle, a duck, a whale and an octopus, in food-grade silicone. They fill and squirt like any bath toy, but each one opens into two parts, so you can clean and dry it properly. No black gunk when you squeeze it a month later. A good choice for the baby who's started to love bath time. From 6 months. More in our post on mould-free bath toys.

Dinosaur Baby Feeding Set, £14

If the baby has just started on solid food, this is a present the parents will thank you for. It's a 6-piece silicone set: a dinosaur suction plate, a suction bowl, a sippy cup, a soft fork and spoon, and a bib with a food-catching pocket. It gets used three times a day. From 6 months. If you're unsure whether they've started yet, our weaning guide explains the signs.

💛 Something to keep

Tim the Tiger Comforter, £12

Tim, from Little Big Friends, is flat, light and ultra-soft, with plush on one side and a silky jungle print on the other. The flat shape is the clever bit: a newborn can hold on to something thin long before they can grip a chunky toy. He has ribbons, cords and a teething ring to explore, too. Comforters like Tim tend to become the one that goes everywhere, which makes him a lovely first Christmas present. As with any comforter, keep him out of the cot at sleep time until 12 months.

At a glance

Gift	Price	From	Best for
Black and White Rattle Set	£10	Birth	Watching, listening, first grips
Baby Flash Cards	£5	Birth	Tummy time and focus
Lamb Baby Comforter	£9	Birth	Cuddles, and teething later
Marine Animals Fabric Book	£10	Birth	A first book to share
Angus the Cavapoo	£8	Birth	Sore gums
Stacking Flower	£7	Birth	Grabbing, chewing, stacking
Mould Free Bath Toys	£12	6 months	Bath time
Dinosaur Feeding Set	£14	6 months	A baby starting solids
Tim the Tiger Comforter	£12	Birth	A keepsake comforter

⚠️ Worth knowing before you buy

• Check the age on each product page. Toys for older children can have small parts, so it's worth a quick look, especially if there are older brothers and sisters in the house.
• Comforters and soft toys stay out of the cot at sleep time until 12 months.
• Silicone picks up fluff. A rinse sorts it, but it's worth knowing before a teether lives in a changing bag.
• Bath toys need drying. Ours open up so you can, but it's still a job to do now and then.

Questions we're often asked

What's a good first Christmas present from grandparents?
Something useful that lasts. A comforter, a feeding set or a fabric book will all be used every day. There are more ideas in our gifts from grandparents guide.

What if I don't know the baby's age exactly?
Choose something rated from birth. Everything in the newborn section works from day one and stays useful for months.

Can you send it straight to the family?
Yes. Just add their address as the delivery address at checkout.

What's a good small present or stocking filler?
The flash cards or Angus. For more under £10, see our stocking fillers guide.

Browse everything suitable from birth or our gift ideas. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.

❤️ From our family to yours,
Neil