12 Holiday Gifts the Baby in Your Life Will Actually Use

One of the greatest joys of childhood is being able to wiggle your way into small spaces. A play tent is the perfect addition to any nursery. When the child is an infant, it can be used for tummy time. When they’re a toddler, it’s a portal into an exotic jungle. It’s a great buy.

One of the best and most-used gifts we ever received for our child was a sound machine. We use it every single night. Not only does it signal to our now-toddler that he's getting ready to go to bed, but most importantly, it helps to block out the other noise in our house so he can sleep in peace.

Eventually, that squishy baby will be standing. And then standing will lead to stepping. And stepping to walking. While the little one is in the cruising phase, holding on to tables and couches to move around, you can use this walker to get the walking process going. In addition to helping with the child's coordination, this walker also serves as an activity panel.

Someone purchased this developmental gym for my son before he was born. We've used it in one way or another from the time he was 3 months until today at 16 months. I mean, this little gym does so much. There are colors, sounds, and textures to engage all of the little one's senses. The panda in the middle also helps develop hand-eye coordination. We can't say enough good things about this.

This is another item I can personally vouch for. We used this bouncer every day until we couldn't use it any longer. Of course, our then-infant enjoyed being able to sit up and look around the room independently and I loved the freedom of being able to put him down for a minute to move about freely. I was so hurt when my son eventually learned to crawl out of it.

By now, I've referenced tummy time at least three times. That's because not only is it one of the few things your baby can do from the time they're born, it is also essential to growth and development and all of those fun milestones like crawling. So you'll want to make sure your little one has a soft place to do all of this and let's be honest, fall, tumble, and roll in the process.

One of my favorite gifts to receive from people are books for my son. They're a gift that can grow with your child as they begin to understand more and more. It's a lovely bonding time for parents and babies. And of course, reading stimulates the brain and language development. Any book will do but ones that are interactive make the experience that much more memorable.

Soothing a fussy baby can be a challenge, even for experienced parents. This adorable lovey is not just a sweet toy — it also has a pacifier holder and a speaker to play white noise and a lullaby. The toy is easy to clean, just take out the soundbox and toss it in the washing machine!

There's a reason this toy has survived generations. It's tried and true. This classic stacking toy helps improve their motor skills and helps them understand how objects fit together. Plus, it's a great way to teach them to recognize different colors.

Boppy is well-known for their nursing support items, which are as helpful for baby as they are for parents. These supports provide ergonomic support while breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and bonding. When baby starts learning to sit on their own, this can also support them so they don't fall backward.

A lot of little ones have an issue with being confined. But until they can move about on their own and without endangering themselves, confinement is just a part of the game. Whether it’s the crib, the bouncy chair, the play pen or the car seat, there’s a lot of strapping in to do. But toys can make these necessary containments more bearable. This spinning toy will certainly help distract your little one while you prepare meals or get some work done.

The holiday season extends past our own Western celebrations. Whether the celebration of the Lunar New Year is a part of your own culture or you want to educate your child about the customs of one of the oldest and largest groups of people on the planet, this book is a great introduction for young readers … or listeners. The colors and pictures in this book will not only excite and entertain your child, but hopefully it will also inspire them to learn more about other people and the way they celebrate.