The teether every nursery ends up owning. Soft, squeaky, exactly the right size for a fist that can't hold much yet. For a baby in the first year for a birthday, it's the one I'd actually buy.
Buttery organic cotton at a real price. The everyday layer you're not precious about — which is the point with a newborn.
Shop at Burt's Bees Baby →
Drool bibs that read as an outfit, not a spill rag. You'll want the four-pack — trust me.
Shop at Copper Pearl →
Crinkle wings, teether feet, a clip for the stroller bar. The busiest little bug in the business.
Shop at Lamaze →
A collapsing lattice of beads and elastic that fascinates a baby who can barely grip. A modern classic for good reason.
Shop at Manhattan Toy →
Bath toy, beach toy, stacking toy. Nesting cups are the most-used toy per dollar I know of.
Shop at Skip Hop →
It's the satin tags they love, not the blanket. A five-dollar idea that becomes the most important object in the house.
Shop at Mary Meyer →
A cheerful tangle of tubes that a brand-new hand can grab from any angle. Does more developmental work than it looks like.
Shop at Manhattan Toy →
Crinkle pages, a mirror, a squeaker — the whole sensory buffet in one washable book.
Shop at Melissa & Doug →
Silicone bubbles you push through, back and forth, forever. The fidget that survives the diaper bag.
Shop at Fat Brain Toys →
One button, one baby, endless replays. The car-seat and grocery-cart peacekeeper.
Shop at Baby Einstein →
A silicone banana they gnaw on that happens to clean the first little teeth. Cheap, brilliant, dishwasher-safe.
Shop at Baby Banana →Little Lamb earns a commission when you buy through our links — at no cost to you. We take no sponsored placements; every pick is chosen the way I'd choose for my own grandkids. —Rebecca Full disclosure →