There is probably nothing better in this whole wide world than watching a little one open a gift, especially if it’s his or her very first Christmas present ever. The air crackles around them with excitement, expectation and pure joy. And this is even before they have torn open the paper. Watch their eyes shine like stars when they discover what’s inside.

Whether you’re a new parent, an aunt, an uncle or a friend of a new parent or parents, you might not know what kind of present to buy a baby. When choosing a gift for a young one, it is important to keep in mind that they are growing so quickly, literally changing overnight with each passing day and what a baby can do at six months, they couldn’t do at two. Even though they are developing rapidly during their first year, it is easy to give the ideal gift if you buy the present to roughly correspond to how old the baby will be at Christmas.

Gifts for Babies Including Newborns (0 to 6 months)

Bibs for boy or girl babies will come in handy for the first year of the little one’s life. Sure, choose ones that look pretty or stylish, but also ensure that they are absorbent and machine washable. Cotton is the best material for absorbency. For optimum functionality, select bibs that fasten with Velcro; this will allow mom or dad to attach the bib to a diaper bag for accessibility when they’re on the go with baby.

They won’t be needing them until they are a bit older (6 months or more), but you can help new moms and dads get ready for teething time. Teethers and teething toys help sooth baby when they are cutting teeth. The hallmarks of a good teether are softness, durability and easy for baby to grasp. They should also be easy to clean. Small toys with a smoother surface (not fuzzy like a stuffed bear) that can be put in the freezer also make great teething toys.

Babies love music and motion and moms will love the fact that baby is happily entertained while on the move. They most likely have a mobile over their crib, so why not give baby one that is designed to go where they go. Don’t forget to make it colorful to help stimulate their senses and keep them engaged.

Gifts for Babies 6 to 12 Months

At this stage of the game, anywhere from 6 to 12 months they are sitting up, moving around and thinking about crawling. Encouraging physical activity with toys the move, bob and jiggle are a great way to get baby to do the same.

Blocks are good for developing and strengthening all sorts of skills, including motor and hand-eye coordination. To ensure that they will be educational as well as fun, select a block set with a specific theme, such numbers, the alphabet or shapes and colors.

You can never go wrong with giving a baby a stuffed animal, plusher the better. Something ultra-soft to the touch is particularly comforting and soothing to little ones.

Other gifts you can buy for babies 12 months and under are books, videos and music CDs. Many early years educators can’t stress enough the benefits of storytelling in any of its various forms, the earlier the better.