Gifts for babies and new parents

Big rings are easy to grab and line up for small hands that are still clumsy. Before stacking clicks, roll the rings across the floor to crawl after, then show that the biggest one goes on first, a first lesson in size order. Fisher-Price has made the Rock-a-Stack since 1960. It’s for 12 months and up and needs no batteries.

• From 12 months
• Six rings, rocking base
• Top ring rattles with beads

What owners say: The big size and bright colors are a hit, and it helps toddlers learn colors and coordination; one 14-month-old had it mastered. It stands up to long spells of play, too.

Featured in First birthday gifts →

In the early weeks the baby lies under the arch; later the piano moves to where little feet can kick it, and in the end it comes off to be played sitting up. The ten linking toys clip closer or further away as reach improves, the 36 x 27 in mat goes in the washing machine, and the 3 AA batteries are included.

• 85+ songs, sounds and phrases
• 10 toys plus a piano
• Removable piano for sitting play

What owners say: Owners say the songs are the kind you can stand hearing all day, that it goes together in minutes, and that it keeps going into toddlerhood once the piano comes off the gym.

Featured in Baby shower gifts →

Strider began in 2007, when its founder cut down a 12-inch bike for his two-year-old son, and the 12 Sport is its full-featured model: a 6.7 lb steel frame, foam tires that never go flat and quick-release clamps. Set the seat about an inch under the child’s inseam, measured in socks, so both feet stay flat on the ground; the longer seat post in the box takes a four-year-old.

• 18 months to 5 years
• Foam tires never go flat
• Built-in footrests for gliding

What owners say: Owners say children pick up balance on it fast and that it shrugs off hard use, and the quick seat and handlebar adjustments get a lot of credit.

Featured in First birthday gifts →

The soft-touch mesh warms quickly in the water and lets it drain straight through, and the whole thing weighs 14.4 oz. Run a couple of inches of warm water, lay the baby on it so the mesh takes their weight, and stay beside them the whole time. Rinse it and hang it from its loop to dry; it moves on once they sit unaided, at about six months.

• Birth to 6 months
• Mesh cradle on a frame
• Leaves both hands free

What owners say: Owners say the grippy mesh keeps a slippery baby from sliding, that it makes bathing a newborn alongside a toddler possible, and that it’s the first thing they tell other new parents to buy.

Featured in Baby shower gifts →

The insulated pockets take bottles from 5 to 11 oz, and a changing pad comes with it. A separate parent pocket keeps keys and a wallet away from the wipes, and the mesh diaper organizer makes a clean diaper a one-handed grab. It measures 16.5 by 11.8 by 7.8 inches and weighs 28 oz; spot clean it, or hand wash in cold water and lay it flat to dry.

• Changing pad included
• Insulated bottle pockets
• Switches to a handbag

What owners say: Spacious and well made, it swallows a laptop alongside the diapers and bottles, and the padded straps stay comfortable for hours. Plenty like that it passes for an ordinary backpack, and it doesn’t stain easily.

Featured in Baby shower gifts →

Motion sensors set off music and magical sounds while it rocks or rolls, a Learning mode introduces colors, and there’s an Adventure mode and a twinkling horn too. It suits ages 12 to 36 months. It runs on 2 AAA batteries, and the ones in the box are only for the store demo, so fit fresh ones before the first ride.

• Ages 12 to 36 months
• Rocker turns into ride-on
• Motion sensors trigger music

What owners say: Parents find it easy to put together and to switch from rocking to riding, and toddlers soon climb on and off by themselves. Several note it rocks only gently.

Featured in First birthday gifts →

A push-button fold, a toy bar and a carry bag come with it, and there’s nothing else to pay for. Before each use, check that all four top rails have clicked into place and the center of the floor is pushed down flat. Take the bassinet out at 15 lb; the playard serves until 35 in tall or 30 lb, and folds into a 10 in square column 26 in tall.

• Bassinet up to 15 lb
• Playard up to 30 lb
• Bassinet folds with the playard

What owners say: Up in a minute and down again as fast, parents say, and handy for trips and stays with grandparents. They like that it’s roomy enough for a toddler yet packs small, with the bassinet folding up inside.

Featured in Baby shower gifts →

It’s a bouncer to 20 lb or until the baby starts trying to sit up, whichever comes first, BabyBjörn says; as a chair it suits a child who walks and sits unaided. There are three recline positions, no infant insert is needed, it folds flat and the cover machine washes at 104°F. There’s no toy bar in the box. BabyBjörn’s very first product, sold in 1961, was a baby bouncer.

• Baby-powered bounce
• Chair mode to 29 lb
• No infant insert needed

What owners say: Owners keep it short: it’s comfortable and their babies love it. On the cotton version they add that the bounce is easy to keep going with a foot from the couch and that it settles a fussy baby.

Pink and white noise, a fireplace and a hushing track are in the mix too, and the light runs through 10 brightness levels; a dim, warm shade is enough for night feeds and diaper changes without lighting up the whole room. When the timer runs out, the sound fades away rather than stopping dead. A USB-C cable comes in the box.

• 30 sleep sounds
• 12-color night light
• Fades out when time’s up

What owners say: Owners enjoy cycling through the sounds and colors, and say they drift off within minutes. The spread of volume and brightness settings wins praise too.

Featured in Baby shower gifts →

It sterilizes in about 6 minutes, dries in 45, or does both and switches off, all from one button, and two HEPA filters clean the air it dries with. The lid keeps everything sterile for 24 hours. Fill the base to the line with the measuring cup, stack the parts tray on the bottle basket and shut the lid, and always wash the parts in soapy water first.

• Holds 6 bottles
• Sterilizes in about 6 minutes
• Narrow or wide-neck bottles

What owners say: Owners say a full load is sterile and dry in about an hour at the press of a button, and the upper tray takes every nipple, valve and pump part. A few had a unit give up early on.

Heads up: The two HEPA filters are good for about six months each, so put a reminder in the calendar; replacements are sold separately.