We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A New York City music box for encouraging your best friend's baby to sneak out of the suburbs and come visit you in the city ASAP. You need that sweet baby-scent serotonin!
This magical, minimalist music box is made of steel, resin, wood, and iron. It plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" and the tiny ferry rotates around the base while the music plays.
Fun fact: Odin Parker is my go-to stop for personal shopping serotonin *and* baby shower gifts, so I know for a fact that these music boxes are even cuter in person! I own an ocean version and even when it's turned off I get compliments on how cute it is.
Get it from Odin Parker for $80.
2. Where The Wild Things Are, a classic picture book filled with imagination, monsters, and magic that's sure to bring out their family's wild side in the very best way.
3. A silicone teether sure to ~produce~ a sweet smile from your favorite baby.
These teethers are made without holes, which means your kiddo can drool on them, drop them in the bath, and take them everywhere — they'll stay mold-free! Each product is made with 100% natural rubber from Hevea trees and dyed with food-grade dye.
Get the coconut from Oli & Carol for $19.99 (check out all the available teethers).
4. An heirloom doll so darn darling it just might become the baby's first best friend. After you, of course!
Promising reviews: "It's beautifully made and I know it will last a long time. My baby is still too little to appreciate it but family members have made several compliments on the craftsmanship and design. It's expensive, but I like the mission behind the product and that takes some guilt out of buying such an expensive toy, in my opinion. I'd buy this again as a gift to a loved one. Lovely product." —Fatima Esquivel
Get it from Amazon for $62+ (available in two sizes).
5. A shell-shaped play mat the parents can easily move around when they're in the mood to watch some TV while their infant works on tummy time. This thing is so cute it's well worth ~shelling~ out the extra money on!
This cute studio is in Warsaw, Poland. The fabric goods available are made with 100% natural materials and the shop does their best to use recycled good such as buttons, wool, and cloths whenever they can. They have dozens of quilted mats like the one above to chose from, and also have a solid collection of bedding and decor.
Promising review: "This is very well made and absolutely beautiful! I will definitely order from this lovely shop again in the future!" —Frederike
Get it from Moi Mili on Etsy for $68.09 (originally $90.79; available in several colors and sizes).
6. Or a reversible play mat — this BPA-free beauty is a tummy time must-have! Your best friend's adventurous baby is gonna love rolling, crawling, and lounging around on this ocean map.
7. Pokko and the Drum, a laugh-out-loud funny choice for starting to read bedtime stories young. And for reminding your friends they aren't the only parents with relentlessly annoying beings (who may possibly be musical prodigies) for children.
Promising review: "This book is clever and cute and unexpectedly hilarious. The kids and I were all a little surprised at one point when one of the members of the friend group spontaneously eats another member of the group, but, well...that's nature? :D This is a great little story with beautiful illustrations." —Tripp
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
8. A Peter Rabbit gift set so you can share these treasured classics with the little one you love. These are made with the traditional tiny design, meaning they can fit comfortably in a kiddo's tiny hands (and hearts!).
Promising review: "This is a birthday gift for a one year old little boy. I had Peter Rabbit books when I was a little girl in England 88 years ago. It's such a pleasure starting our grandchildren and little friends out reading (or being read to) Peter Rabbit books." —Jacqueline E. Nogle
Get it from Amazon for $13.19.
9. And a Peter Rabbit suitcase everybunny at the shower is gonna wish was their own.
I received one of these baskets and was delighted by the high quality products curated for the gift. You can chose from luxury pre-made boxes or build your own, either making gifts unique or taking the lead from the pros if you don't know the first thing about baby gifts. Either way, this gift will be a hit!
Get the suitcase for $35 and the suitcase gift box for $155, both from Bonjour Baby Baskets.
10. A muslin security blanket featuring a tiny plush star or moon that's sure to teach the tiny astronaut to look to the stars and let the constellations guide them.
Promising review: "We love our star lovey! It’s so cute and cozy. It washes really nice and the colors are so good!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in six styles).
12. A bedside bassinet parents can place right beside the bed to keep their little one safe and snug, and keep them at arm's reach during late night feedings...making falling back asleep easier on everyone.
PSA: the open bassinet side lifts up and down for easy nighttime feedings and snuggles. Lift it up while sleeping to keep baby safe!
Promising review: "This bassinet is everything I hoped it would be. It’s so easy for me to see her and get her out in the middle of the night for feedings. I was scared to co-sleep with our baby in our bed so this allows us to still have her very near to us and is also safer because she is still in her own space. I have had this for about two months now and I highly recommend it. We are very happy with the product." —Marcella
Get it from Amazon for $149.99+(available in two colors).
13. A baby name banner in an elegant, minimal design that's gonna show off the baby's name with pride.
Small business owner and home decor creator, Cherie Herschberger's shop has the perfect mix of personalized pieces and ready-to-ship decor that'd upgrade any ol' wall in your place. The shop is based in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
Promising review: "I was so impressed with how our sign turned out. It’s so perfect for our little nursery!!" —Morgan Paluch
Get it from Cherie Kay Signs on Etsy for $47 (available in two sizes and six colors).
14. A diaper caddy designed with adjustable pockets, so your A-type friend (who likely gave birth to an even tidier baby) can fit everything they need in a neat, orderly, and travel-friendly fashion.
Promising review: "This caddy is great! I ordered the larger size and it holds a ton of stuff. I use it daily to carry my daughter's diapers and other changing essentials from upstairs to downstairs. It's sturdy, spacious, and has a simple, attractive design which is exactly what I wanted. There are three small pockets and two large pockets on the sides of the caddy. The inside separator is detachable so you can arrange the sections however works best for you. The handles are a nice length — it's very easy to pick up. This is one of my favorite baby purchases I've made and I highly recommend it." —Zoe
Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes and colors).
15. A pack of Tommee Tippee silicone pacifiers babies basically obsess over. There's no "wrong" side thanks to its soft symmetrical nipple, meaning their little one will take to it easily thanks to the silky smooth, skin-like feel.
Promising review: "My son will only take Tommee Tippee pacifiers, but the traditional ones tend to trap water in the nipple that I can never get out. I was so happy to find these that are the same style. My only complaint is there is no where to latch a pacifier clip, however, it is an easy fix with a single hole punch! My son LOVES them! Will be buying more!" —Crystal H.
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $14.97+ (available in three sizes and six color options).
16. A woven changing table basket that'll give the baby a pretty changing station. After their baby grows out of it, this'll work great to display toys, plants, books, etc. — meaning the parents will have a good reason to keep the memories of those baby days (and your great gift giving skills) around the house always.
This WOC-owned business was founded by Coretta Owusu. Her passion for the artisans of West Africa encouraged Owusu to build a brand that would "display the true beauty of African design to the world by giving locals an opportunity to truly benefit from the art they create." The Etsy shop is run by Linda Fuller in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. To see more, check out their website!
Promising review: "This is just as described and works perfectly for our little bundle of joy." —Louise Svetlik
Get it from Design Dua on Etsy for $95+ (available with or without bedding and leather).
17. A starter swaddle — this is gonna (safely!) make newborns feel cozy and content, helping them drift off to dreamland in no time at all.
Promising review: "A swaddle that has it all! This is our third baby, and I now know how much swaddling can affect baby's sleep (and parent’s sleep!). I love this swaddle. I love that you can swaddle legs out, and when you do so you secure the bottom with little snaps that don’t make any noise when you have to diaper change. I feel like the price point is very reasonable. and it doesn’t hurt that you can get it in two days with Prime and can be on your way to better sleep!" —Steph
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in 10 styles).
18. Sulwe, written by Lupita Nyong'o, teaches children of their own brilliant beauty while flying our young heroine through a tour of the dark night's sky. This'll surely be an instant classic that belongs on every bookshelf!
Promising review: "This book is beautifully written and illustrated. Little Sulwe tackles her self-love and worth. Sulwe is trying to figure out 'why' she is the color of midnight? This book brings up colorism in the Black community. This is definitely a conversation starter in the Black home." —Chevy
Get it from Amazon for $12.58.
19. An Echo Dot designed for kids — this one-of-a-kind gadget tells stories, makes white noise sounds for sleeping, and helps parents turn out the lights/turn off a fan/start a show without baby ever needing to leave their arms.
Promising review: "I love this Panda Echo Dot for Kids. It's super easy to use. The kids version is nice because if they tell it to play a song that is really not appropriate for them then Alexa will tell them "Sorry, I can't play you this song because it contains explicit material." This also is educational. They can ask any math problems, solar system questions, history, literally anything you would Google. It will read bedtime stories, tell jokes, can be used as an alarm clock to wake them before school and be used as an intercom!! So, if you have a main Echo/Alexa type system within the home, you could use it to talk to your child in the other room, upstairs/downstairs, tell them to get out of bed and come to breakfast for school or whatever works for you. I thought that was a really cool feature. We love keeping music going in the home all the time, so it's been a mood lifter here." —April B.
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in two animal styles).
20. A handmade macramé baby swing so lovely all the pictures of your favorite bouncing baby are sure to look like a photo shoot, who knew their chaotic energy could look so cute?
Promising review: "This has been a great photography prop. It’s very sturdy, it’s easy to hang up, and it's super easy to store. This is beautiful." —Mike Austill
Get it from Amazon for $85.
21. A pastel rainbow stacker with an open-ended design that'll give their child limitless options while playing make believe — from infancy until well into their formative years.
22. The bestselling Baby Einstein aquarium crib soother can immediately distract and calm down a fussy baby. Classical melodies, ocean sounds, and glowing light effects will help them fall asleep and stay asleep.
Promising review: "I have a three-week-old son and I figured I'd try this out and see what happened. This is one of the few things we own that REALLY gets his attention, when he goes down for bed he will intently watch this until it lulls him to sleep. I have a feeling he's gonna love this thing for years to come. Sound quality is good, and I've come to enjoy the white noise myself! Crib light is a very nice touch for us and I use it frequently for diaper changes or to just look at him through the night. Oh and because the strap is so adjustable and versatile it fits on our Arms Reach Co-sleeper bassinet. Love it!!" —Katarina
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
23. A felt mobile — babies spend a whole lot of time looking at mobiles and, with one this lovely, they may just keep it up for good!
Promising review: "It is a perfectly simple and beautiful mobile for my little girl's nursery! I am 100% happy with my purchase! I love when I find handmade products by family-owned-and-operated businesses, big or small!" —Sarah D Crezee
Get it from Amazon for $23.50+ (available in six styles).
24. A wooden music box — a keepsake gift that'll look ~whaley~ cute in their nursery.
I. Love. This. Music. Box. I have a room in my home full of picture books (I like what I like!) and I've started decorating the room with wooden toy decor. Odin Parker is my go-to stop for personal shopping serotonin and when I saw this music box I knew it was a need. It's even cuter in person! The little song is lovely, the boat moves around the whale, and even when turned off I get compliments on how cute it is.
Get it from Odin Parker for $80.
25. A convertible stroller that's so chic you just might be giving the baby a sweeter ride than your friends have...not that their mini van isn't cool. It's cool!
Promising review: "I absolutely love this stroller! It was super easy to put together and it is very sturdy. Our baby used to hate walks but being able to lay in the bassinet made them enjoyable. Once she started hating the walks in the bassinet we switched to the seat and now she gets upset if we DON'T take her out lol! I would absolutely recommend this stroller, especially to first time parents like us who are not sure what to get. Saying that only because we got a different stroller before baby was born and using it on a few walks quickly learned that it is not good at all. Got this one afterwards and it is perfect!" —Cristina Koval
Get it from Amazon for $389.99 (available in five colors).
26. Life On Mars, a spacey story about an astronaut, alien, and cupcake sure to be loved by all the kids in your friends' family, even if it *technically* belongs to the baby. Help their family reading time ~take off~, even without a rocket ship.
Promising review: "Who ate the pastry on Mars? This is a great book to share – it's an engaging story with delightful illustrations and a creative way to keep children engaged as they develop a keen sense of observation." —Beverly C. Rosen
Get it from Amazon for $13.39.
28. And finally, a pre-packed hospital bag to give any parents planning on a hospital birth so that they feel confident they have everything they need when it's officially time to boogie. What could be a better gift for a baby than parents who are prepped for their appearance?!
Promising review: "I have ordered several of the Baby Boldly bags for friends, family, and colleagues. To take the guesswork out of packing or even just having something that gets that basic process started is heavenly. The quality of the bag is fantastic and the products are all extremely high quality! I am always proud to give this as a gift!" —Jamie Anderson
Get it from Baby Boldly for $139+ (available in three kit sizes and four colors).
When you think about how many of these products didn't exist when your own kids were babies:
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
