Baby’s first Christmas is such an exciting time! And as exciting as it is, it’s often hard to know what to buy for such a little person. They are, after all, simply too young to play with a lot of toys. There are, however, some toys that are developmentally appropriate and perfect for them. Here are the top 10 gifts for babies up to one year.

It might also be a good idea to get gifts that are more practical, too, such as diapers, wipes, or clothing (and I’m sure the parents would appreciate it as well).

We’ve teamed up with some awesome sponsors for this gift guide!  They are not only providing you with the toys as a giveaway, but they also provided each of the toys for us to donate to a local organization here in Columbia called Jubilee Academy.  Jubilee was so happy to receive their donation when I went to deliver it.  They’re a school working towards a solution to generational poverty.  Jubilee Academy is a faith based organization, working to turn the hearts and lives of inner-city children, youth, and families towards Christ and academic excellence.  The items that they can’t use in their school and after-school program are going to be given as gifts to some of the students and their families.

Not all of the toys in each gift guide are going to be given away.  We tried to make it so that each gift guide would have a giveaway of 4-5 gifts.  The other toys in the guide are just toys that I liked and thought they’d make great gifts for your kids this year.

Top Gifts for Infants:

Mary Meyer Taggies Monkey Toy
Retails: $21.98
This monkey has a soft face and a floppy body. The tags and fur can help babies soothe themselves into falling asleep.  My daughters always love Mary Meyer Toys.  When this gift came in for a review, I immediately took it out of the box and gave it to my youngest.  Mary Meyer toys are always great, quality toys.  I love their Taggies line because my daughters always enjoy the feel of the satin ribbon between their fingers.

Lego Duplo Playhouse
Retails: $19.99
This Duplo playhouse has big, chunky blocks that are perfect for small hands. It includes bricks decorated with toothbrushes, clocks, and more to introduce daily routines. In our house, the kids get started on Legos at an early age and this one is no exception.  I love the bright colors that engage their creativity.  This would be more appropriate for older babies.

Hasbro Play All Day Elmo
Retails: $42.99
Elmo is always a super popular Christmas gift. This new Elmo features 8 games and more than 150 responses (like Pat-a-Cake, Red Light Green Light, and more). Plus, it’s plush and cuddly. This toy would be more appropriate for older babies.  Actually, my husband saw that we received this as a review and he was so excited about giving it to our younger kids.  So far, he’s had a blast trying it out and checking out all of the different settings.

Green Toys Submarine
Retails: $14.99
Make bathtime more fun with this Green Toys submarine! It’s made with 100% recycled plastic milk jugs and it can be completely submerged underwater (the whole toy is dishwasher safe, too).  This bath toy is very sturdy and well-made, plus, the colors are beautiful.  If you’re considering getting it and hoping it sill last for multiple kids, it definitely will.

Oball Rattle
Retails: $7.59
Oballs are always one of my kids’ first toys they ever play with. They’re lightweight and the tons of finger holes make it really easy for tiny babies to grasp. Plus, they’re colorful and have little rattles on the sides.

Books
You can never starting reading to your kids too early. It helps with bonding and language development. Some of our favorites are Hop on Pop, Goodnight Gorilla, and Rainbow Fish.

Nuby Teether Keys
Retails: $3.67
Let’s face it: teething isn’t fun for babies. Make it easier on them with a soothing teether. This Nuby teether is nice because you can stick it in the fridge and it will stay cool to soothe baby’s gums.

Green Toys Stacking Toy
Retails: $14.99
Stacking Toys are classic and are great for little hands and motor skills. I like this Green Toys stacker because there’s no center post, it’s made from 100% recycled materials, and babies love holding the pieces even if they aren’t old to enough to stack them yet.

POCO DIVO Play Mat
Retails: $12
Play Mats are fun for babies because they can roll, stretch, crawl, and play on a soft surface. They are especially good if you have a large space like a playroom or a room with hardwood or tile floors.

Soft Blanket
Retails: $9.99
I think babies always appreciate blankets. They’re great for tummy time and can provide comfort during naps (and obviously warmth). Soft fleece blankets like these are a favorite of babies: they can cuddle up with them and they often rub the soft fleece on their faces as they soothe themselves to sleep.

The Giveaway:

One Southern Savers reader is going to win all of the following:

Green Toys Submarine
Lego Duplo Playhouse
Play All Day Elmo
Mary Meyer Taggies Monkey Toy

To Enter:

Fill out the widget below to be entered to win.
Gift Guide Giveaway: Infants Age 0-1

This giveaway is sponsored by Mary Meyer, Hasbro, Green Toys and Lego, but all opinions are 100% my own.