Unique and Meaningful Gifts for Baby’s First Year

It can be hard trying to come up with baby gifts for first-time parents. For a baby’s First Christmas or First Birthday, you want a practical, useful, and unique gift. Below are some great gifts for a baby under 1, meaningful gifts for one-year-old, and unique baby boy and baby girl gifts.

A great baby gift will have use for a long time to come and not just be tossed aside within a month. For my kids, since the beginning, I started cycling their toys and gifts.

I would put some of the baby gifts they received unopened up in the closet. Every so often, I put some toys away and bring out new ones. I love toys that I can bring out months later, and they will still love playing with them.

Once I had my son, I pulled out all the baby toys from my daughter, and she still loved them at almost 2 years old. She also loved showing her little brother how to use them all.

Great Gifts for Baby Under 1

Below are awesome baby gifts for first-time parents. They can be gifts given for the baby at the baby shower or for a present for the baby’s First Christmas.

Activity Gym Gifts for Baby

These activity mats are great for babies. When they are newborns, they love to lay and look at all the lights or kick at the piano. As infants, they start grabbing at all the toys. They are also encouraged to start rolling over so they can reach certain toys. Once babies become more stable at about 3-4 months, Baby Jumpers make great gifts for the baby.

They are also great for tummy time. The mats are so colorful and engaging; they won’t even realize they are doing tummy time. The Kick n’ Play Piano Gym is great because the piano is removable, so they can enjoy it when they start sitting.

Learning Gifts for Baby

I love gifts that keep babies busy but also are teaching them at the same time. Although most of the time with babies, playing is learning no matter what.

You can’t go wrong with the classic ring stacker. This is a favorite for all babies.

This little dog is adorable; it teaches colors, body parts, music, and more. It comes in a pink sister puppy one or this one. My kids love them. My son now sings along with his; it’s so cute!

This is a very entertaining toy; it rolls around when they push one of the buttons. It encourages them to crawl around and follow it. It also teaches colors and animals. Both my kids loved this one.

Your babies are going to go for the remote; it just happens. Start them off with this one, and they won’t know they are missing out on the real thing. Plus, it sings and teaches numbers. It took some convincing for my daughter to play with this one instead of the real remote, but my son loved it from the beginning.

Practical Baby Gifts First Time Parents will Appreciate.

I admit I was skeptical about this giraffe. There was so much hype about it. But I decided to try it out, and I am so glad I did. My daughter LOVED her Sophie! It comes with a mini giraffe that is great for keeping in the diaper bag. Once she was a little older and I had my son, I gave it to him, but I would still find my daughter trying to sneak it away.

A white noise machine is a must for babies and toddlers. This one is great. It is simple but does the job. It also has a battery backup, which, thank goodness for, since we are in California and can be without power for four days during a safety blackout.

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The Hatch Baby is also a great sound machine for babies or toddlers. It also does triple duty! It is not only a sound machine but a night light and a time to rise light. The night light is great for when you are still breastfeeding during the night.

I recently got one for my daughter’s room to know when it is okay to get out of bed. This is needed during daylight savings time to avoid any extra early wakings.

The Sleep Sheep Sound Soother was a favorite for both my babies. My son still uses it every night and can’t go to bed without his “lamby” on. This one turns off after some time. My son can now easily turn on himself, which he will do if he wakes in the middle of the night.

A Cozy Little Lovies Plush Satin Security Blanket is another favorite. They come in so many different animals and blanket types. I love the ones that have some satin around the edges and Minky too. It gives babies different textures to feel and cuddle.

Both my kids never took to pacifiers and instead had these lovies to help soothe them. My son has a fox, and my daughter has a pink bear.

Meaningful Gifts for One-Year-Old

Books are great gifts for babies of all ages. You can’t go wrong with any book. I love getting the board books; they are a little more sturdy and hold up to reading over and over. I try to get my kids’ new books all the time.

New Parents will love that you are adding to their child’s library. Reading books is also a great part of a bedtime routine. Bedtime routines help babies sleep better.

Below are some of my kids’ absolute favorite books. These are the books they requested over and over as babies under 1 and still request now. Many of them have had to be taped back together from so much use, but they are still favorites.

Any books by Caroline Jayne Church are absolutely adorable. My kids love them all! And I love reading these books to them too.

Unique Baby Gifts for Boy

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This five-piece plush set includes a personalized bag with a baseball, basketball, soccer ball, and a football. Each plush makes a different sound. They are all made from soft machine washable plush.

This alphabet book is uniquely customized for each child. It has beautiful pictures, and each letter introduces a different career. The baby’s name is incorporated throughout the book. This book encourages kids of all ages that they can be anything they want to be.

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New Parents can use this Pacifier clip on all pacifiers and teething toys. It is personalized with a baby’s name. The clip is durable and holds onto clothes easily.

Cute Colorful Moccasins in a unique print. These are great for babies just starting to try to walk. The designs and patterns available are all adorable.

Unique Baby Gifts for Girl

This Ceramic Unicorn Bank can be a great keepsake as a baby’s first coin bank. It is a decorative piece that can brighten up any decor. This ceramic bank is a perfect size, not too small. It is a gift that the child will enjoy for years to come.

This personalized book incorporates a baby’s name on the cover, the story, and the illustrations. It is a lyrical lullaby that will bring your child to sweet dreams. It is a book that will become a bedtime favorite.

This book is uniquely customized for each child. It is a great gift idea for a first birthday. There is an included dedication page from the sender. This personalized book will be a keepsake favorite.

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The personalized teether is an ideal and unique gift perfect for little hands. It is easy for babies to grasp and chew. They help stimulate visual and sensory development. They are handmade with carefully selected materials to ensure they are safe for babies.

Children will use this great stool for years. The quality is super durable, so that it will hold up to a lot of use. There are various designs and wood colors to choose from, then personalized with a child’s name.

FAQ’s for Baby Gift Ideas

What can be gifted to a newborn baby?

The best gifts for newborn babies are things new parents can use. Onesies and diapers are always welcome, but those are usually the go-to gifts for most gift-givers.

Personalized or sentimental gifts are the way to go for newborn gifts. Here are some other gift ideas perfect for newborn gifts that any new parent will love: Baby Memory Books, Baby Handprint Keepsakes, Footprint Art, or Birth Announcement Keepsakes.

What to get a baby who has everything?

A gift to get for a baby with everything is something that the whole family could use, such as a photo session. Families get busy, and family pictures would make a great gift. This would be a gift that first-time parents would greatly appreciate.

What are the best gifts for a 1-year-old?

The best gift for a 1-year-old is something that will be useful in the years to come. If it is a toy, it should be a fun toy and a learning toy. Chunky puzzles are great for little hands learning motor skills. Dolls are great gifts for little boys and girls.

Suppose you want to get clothes to try getting clothes in size up and for the coming season. From personal experience, I always loved getting clothes for my kids that were larger because I always had something on hand when they went up a size.

What is a unique baby gift?

A unique baby gift is usually personalized or something sentimental. It is a gift that you don’t usually see, but that is special and thoughtful. It should reflect the likes or personality of the family the baby gift is for.

What to get a one-year-old that isn’t a toy?

Baby’s tend to get toys as gifts from everyone, so looking for a gift that isn’t a toy is a great idea. One-year-olds are usually starting to walk by now, so shoes that have non-skid soles are a great gift.

Another gift idea for a one-year-old that isn’t a toy, books. Books never go out of style and are loved for years to come.

What is the most useful baby gift?

The most useful baby gift is either something that will last a long time. A gift that the baby won’t grow out of too fast. It could also be something essential that they could use right now. An essential is something that they will use for sure. It is not a toy that may or may not be played with.

Summary

Gifts for a baby under 1 should be useful and practical. Give a gift that the baby or parents can utilize through the coming year. A meaningful gift for babies is also a great idea. A gift that can become a keepsake, later on, something that is sentimental or personalized.

If you need a gift for a baby that you believe already has everything they could need at 1 year old, go for a unique gift to them—a personalized gift for the baby, or even a personalized gift for the whole family to enjoy.

Need gifts for kids a little older? Check out these gifts, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.