Baby's First Christmas Gift Ideas
Baby's first Christmas is so special, even if they're more interested in the lights than the presents. Whether you're shopping for your own little one or for a friend's new arrival, the best first Christmas gifts are soft, safe and lovely to keep. Here are our favourite baby's first Christmas gift ideas, all suitable from birth or the first few months.
What makes a good first Christmas gift?
A baby having their first Christmas could be anywhere from a few weeks to nearly a year old, so it's worth thinking about what they can actually enjoy.
- Safe from birth. Check the age label. Look for 0+ months for newborns.
- Soft and sensory. Gentle sounds, crinkles, textures and high-contrast pictures are perfect for tiny babies.
- Easy to wash. Anything a baby loves will end up in their mouth.
- Something to keep. A beautifully made toy can become a keepsake of that first Christmas.
Cuddly comforters
A comforter is one of the nicest first Christmas gifts, because it can become the toy they sleep with for years.
- Little Dutch Fox Cuddle Cloth (from birth). A soft comforter with easy-to-grab knots, sensory labels and a loop for a dummy. It's machine washable at 30°C.
- Picca LouLou soft toys. Handmade, filled with recycled stuffing and presented in a plastic-free gift box with a ribbon. Try Louie the lion, Wendy the whale or Lily the llama.
Sensory toys for tiny hands
- Little Dutch Soft Activity Cube (from birth). Different textures, crinkles and a baby-safe mirror on every side. It's great for tummy time and grows with them. Also in Forest Friends.
- Little Dutch rattles (from birth). The Baby Bunny ring rattle and Fairy Garden deer rattle are light and easy to grip. The rain rattle makes a soft, calming raindrop sound.
- Petit Boum Sensory Bottle (3 months+). Hidden ladybirds and grass move with a gentle sound when shaken.
- Jo & Nic's Crinkly Newspaper (3 months+). A crinkly cloth "newspaper" with bold pictures, so baby can read the paper on Christmas morning too. It's one of our favourite first books and comes in lots of editions, like Bugs and Safari Animals.
For days out over Christmas
Christmas usually means lots of visiting, and a few clever toys make car journeys and pram walks easier.
- Little Dutch Pram Toy Chain (from birth). It clips onto a pram or car seat, with a rattle, mirror, squeaky and crinkly toys. It's machine washable too.
- Little Dutch Soft Activity Booklet. A soft book with textured tags, crinkly pages and a mirror, small enough to keep in the changing bag.
- Little Dutch Silicone Teether (4 months+). Useful if those first teeth arrive over the holidays.
Gifts they'll grow into
If you'd like a present that lasts beyond the baby months, the Green Toys My First Stacking Cups (£19.49) are suitable from 6 months and are brilliant in the bath, and later for stacking and counting. The Bigjigs Ella and Elsie rag dolls (£19.99) are soft, suitable from birth, and the kind of doll that gets carried around for years.
A soft play mat for those first months
If you'd like one bigger present, the Play & Go Coco Organic Babymat (£89.95) is one we love. It's a flower-shaped baby nest and play mat in one. Open it out flat for tummy time and floor play. Pull up the padded sides and it becomes a cosy spot to lounge while you're right beside them. Later on it doubles as a soft basket for toys. It's made from organic cotton with a recycled filling, and also comes in Meadow Green.
A note on safety: the Coco is for supervised awake time only. Never leave your baby unattended in it, and never use it for sleep. For sleep, always put your baby on their back in a cot, crib or Moses basket with a firm, flat mattress.
See all our play mats and baby gyms.
A gift for the parents too
New parents appreciate something practical and beautiful. A Studio Noos foldable teddy changing mat or a Holy Cow nappy pouch makes nappy changes on Christmas visits so much easier. And for music-loving parents, the organic cotton Tambour Battant Harry Smile rattle, made in France, always gets a smile.
Our tips for baby's first Christmas
- Keep it simple. Babies don't need lots of presents. One or two lovely things is plenty, and they'll enjoy the paper too.
- Check age labels. Gift sets and toys for older siblings often have small parts, so keep those well out of reach.
- Think about keepsakes. A special soft toy can be brought out every Christmas.
- Order early. We offer Priority Delivery (1 to 2 working days if you order by 12 noon, Monday to Friday), free UK delivery on orders over £65, and Klarna if you'd like to spread the cost.
Frequently asked questions
What do you buy a baby for their first Christmas?
Soft, sensory gifts suitable from birth are perfect: a comforter or cuddly toy, a rattle, a soft activity toy or a crinkly cloth book. Something beautifully made can also become a keepsake.
Is a baby nest a good first Christmas present?
A padded baby nest or play mat like the Play & Go Coco makes a lovely bigger gift for tummy time and supervised lounging. Use it only while your baby is awake and you're with them, never for sleep.
Do babies need Christmas presents?
Not really, as they won't remember them! But a first Christmas gift is a lovely tradition, and a soft toy or comforter is something they may keep for years.
What are good first Christmas gifts for a newborn?
Look for toys labelled 0+ months, such as soft rattles, comforters, pram toys and activity cubes. Make sure they're easy to wash.
Shop baby's first Christmas gifts
We're an independent, mum-run shop, and we choose every product with real family life in mind. Explore our newborn and baby gifts and our full Christmas gifts for babies and kids. Buying for an older baby? See our Christmas gifts for 1-year-olds, and for stocking ideas, our guide to stocking fillers under £20.
