There are so many products for infants and toddlers that it can be truly overwhelming buying a holiday gift for a young child. If you are buying a gift for your own baby, you at least have a basic idea which toys will be enjoyed and which ones will just add to the clutter, but if you are buying a gift for someone else’s baby you may have no idea which toys are developmentally appropriate and which ones are a complete waste of money. Busy Mommy Media has searched the stores, the internet, and the latest product releases to find you the best gift ideas for babies this holiday season.

Oball Rattle from Rhino Toys

Babies love balls. Any parent who has ever walked through the produce aisle with an infant knows this. There are many great ball toys available for infants but you do have to be careful of balls that are made of soft materials that babies can bite into (think nerf) or balls that are hard and may hurt if a baby throws it in the air. Oballs are great for older kids but I especially love them for infants and toddlers. The unique design makes it easy for even the youngest babies to hold onto them. Older babies can practice catching the Oball much easier than more traditional balls because there are just so many places to grab onto. The Oball Rattle from Rhino Toys has all the great features of the standard Oball but includes rattles inserted randomly throughout the ball. I was concerned that the rattle pieces could fall out and become a choking hazard so I have tried to pull out the rattles and have not even been able to make them budge. The Oball Rattle is so much fun for babies to hold onto and shake and helps infants practice basic coordination skills.

Age Recommendation: 2 months and up

Average Price: $8.95

Buy the Oball Rattle from Rhino Toys

The Learning Tower from Little Partners

The Learning Tower from Little Partners is one of my favorite products for infants and toddlers this year. While this may not seem like a toy, toddlers and preschoolers love it because they can use it to do so many activities, from helping in the kitchen, to putting on a puppet show. The Learning tower has some great accessories that allow it to be used for endless activities. This is probably the most used piece of furniture in my kitchen right now and I love the way it simplifies things in the kitchen by keeping my kids out from under my feet and allowing them to safely stand at the kitchen counter to help with cooking projects or other activities.

Recommended Age: 18 months – 6 years old

Average Price:$189.00 (on sale for $170.00 at Amazon.com)

Learning Tower Review by Busy Mommy Media

Buy The Learning Tower by Little Partners

Stacking Rings from Natural Pod

Stacking rings are a classic toy for babies  but with all of the recalls on toys, many parents are more cautious about the products they buy for infants or toddlers, who are sure to put everything in their mouths. I love the stacking ring toy from Natural Pod. The stacking rings are made from pine and finished with pure oils (no peanut oils) that make them smell heavenly. My son received this toy for Christmas when he was one and despite the fact that it had no bright colors and didn’t make any noises, this was by far his favorite. He is now 2 years old and this is still one of his favorites. Stacking rings are wonderful helping infants and toddlers practice small motor skills and the stacking rings from Natural Pod are sturdy enough that they will be around for your grandchildren to play with . . . provided your toddler doesn’t lose the pieces.

Recommended Age: 6 months on up

Average Price: $39.95

Stacking Rings Review by Busy Mommy Media

Buy Stacking Rings from Natural Pod

Playskool Busy Ball Popper

The Playskool Busy Ball Popper is a huge hit with older infants and toddlers and you can get a great deal on this if you can catch one of the $5 off coupons from coupons.com. Parents will want to make sure that the balls don’t get lost because if they do you may have a hard time finding balls that fit but toddlers will be entertained by this toy long enough for mom and dad to clean up the after Christmas mess.

Recommended Age: 9 Months t0 3 Years Old

Average Price: $25.00

Buy Playskool Busy Ball Popper Now

Manhattan Toy Put and Peek Birdhouse

The Put and Peek Birdhouse from Manhattan toy is the perfect toy for younger babies. The soft pieces are gentle for young babies and have a great variety of textures so they are fun for babies to touch. The birdhouse has several openings for infants and toddlers to fit birds into. Each bird has a unique design and includes a rattle to give babies direct feedback as they shake.

Recommended Age: 6 Months to 2 Years Old

Average Price: $22.00

Put and Peek Birdhouse Review from Busy Mommy Media

Buy the Put and Peek Birdhouse from Manhattan Toy Now

Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle

Ride on toys are great for older infants and toddlers but there are so many on the market that are poorly designed and do not hold up to normal toddler use. The Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle is the perfect ride on for toddlers. It is lower to the ground than most other ride on toys and the 4 caster wheels allow easy movement. The Turbo Turtle does have a few buttons that make some sound but they are easily turned off for parents who prefer the strong silent type.

Recommended Age: 18 Months – 3 Years Old

Average Price: $69.00

Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle Review from Busy Mommy Media

Buy the Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle Now

Plan Toys Dancing Alligator

Plan Toys is a great company and I trust them to make green products that are safe for my kids to play with. All of the toys that Plan Toys makes are made from natural rubberwood and painted with non-toxic paint. The Plan Toys Dancing Alligator is a wonderful pull toy for infants and toddlers. The bright colors are appealing to young children and the unique design sets it apart from other pull toys on the market.

Recommended Age: 18 Months – 2 Years

Average Price: $20.00

Buy the Plan Toys Dancing Alligator Now

Together With You Personalized Video

Together With You creates personalized videos, similar to the Baby Einstein videos, that incorporate family photos. My kids loved the videos on their own but they were mesmerized when they realized that our family pictures were included throughout the video. This would be a wonderful gift for grandparents to give to their grandchildren, especially if they live far away from each other. Together With You videos help kids to learn the names of family members that they may not see often and help make them part of their daily life.

Recommended Age: Birth on up

Average Price: $19.99

LeapFrog Tag Junior

Reading is so important in a child’s early years. Kids who learn to love reading at an early age have distinct educational and social advantages in the years to come. While it is always important to spend time reading to a child, products that help make reading exciting can’t hurt either. LeapFrog’s Tag Junior is a younger version of their Tag system. The Tag Junior has an pen that is shaped so that it is easy for toddlers to hold. The board books that go with the system are sturdy and there are some wonderful classic titles that will please any toddler.

Recommended Age: 18 Months-4 Years Old(LeapFrog says 2-4 but I can see 18 month olds using this)

Average Price: $25.00

Buy the LeapFrog Toag Junior Now

FurReal Friends Newborn Puppy

FurReal Friends Newborn Puppies are small enough for toddlers to hold and despite the fact that they have some robotic features, they are still soft and cuddly. These are smaller versions of the original FurReal pets and they are available for a fraction of the price. My 2 year old has one that he drags everywhere with him and he loves the soft whimpering noises his puppy makes and the gentle way that it wiggles when he pets it.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

Average Price: $25.00

Buy FurReal Friends Newborn Puppy Now

Strider Balance Bike

Tricycles are the most common first bike for toddlers but after experiencing the Strider Balance Bike first hand, I am convinced that it is the way to go. The Strider Balance Bike can be used for toddlers ages 18 months and up. Rather than training a child to first push a bike forward with their feet, then use pedals, then training wheels, the balance bike teaches a child how to master their ability to balance first so they can then be moved straight to a two wheeled bike – without training wheels.

Recommended Age: 18 Months and Up

Average Price: $98.00

Buy a Strider Balance Bike Now ($86.00 on Amazon)

Alex Toys Stickers for the Tub

Infants and toddlers love to play with bath toys but I was so fed up with all of our bath toys filling up with water and growing mildew. I am a huge fan of the Alex Toys bath stickers because they can be chewed on, stuck to the wall, used in pretend play, and anything else your child can think of, but they don’t have any little holes that will fill up with water. They are easy to wash so they stay clean for long term use without needing to replace them. Kids love these toys and they come in several different styles to appeal to whatever your child is interested in.

Recommended Age: The manufacture says 3 and up but my kids have used these very happily from ages 12 months and up

Average Price: $11.99

Buy Alex Stickers for the Tub – City Now

Lamaze My First Fishbowl

Soft, colorful toys are always a hit with infants and toddlers. My First Fishbowl from Lamaze would make a wonderful gift for infants and younger toddlers. The simple design helps toddlers practice their small motor skills and can be used for pretend play activities.

Recommended Age: 6 Months and Up

Average Price: $19.99

Buy My First Fishbowl  Now