One of the most intimidating things I ever did in my twenties was attend my first baby shower. I was still in college, and if there was an online registry of some kind, nobody bothered to share it with me, so I went in completely blind trying to shop for a random sorority sister’s baby. I went with a safe choice: a cute set of baby body soap and lotion. Now, I wish I could go back in time and help out overwhelmed college me. After both having my own child and spending my working hours testing all kinds of parenting gear, I’ve come to discover there are a ton of fun gifts to give little ones.
A member of WIRED’s Gear team has tested and vetted every single one of these gifts, which range from the newborn stage through finishing out 1-year-old-hood, so you can come back to this guide to shop for your favorite baby-to-be’s shower and first couple of birthdays. Babies change a lot, and ridiculously fast, so I’ve mentioned what ages or milestones I used as markers for some of these gifts. But don’t be afraid to gift something on the early side: Better to give something they’ll grow into for the coming months rather than something they’ll grow out of tomorrow!
If you’re looking for more parenting gear, don’t miss our guides to the Best Strollers, Best Baby Monitors, Best Breast Pumps, and Best Travel Strollers. If you’re shopping for older kiddos, don’t miss the Best Subscription Boxes for Kids and the Best STEM Toys for Kids.
Updated December 2024: We removed a gift that was out of stock and added a swaddle blanket and toddler tower, plus ensured the accuracy of links and prices.
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