Here's are some great ideas taken from a guide that my pediatrician's office put together.
Infants (0-6 mo's)
If the child already has what they need, consider getting a gift for mom and dad... my friend brought a lovely tea and some body lotion as a gift to the hospital. So appreciated!
- Mobiles or hanging toys out of baby's reach
- Rattles
- Soft squeeze balls
Infants (7-12 mo's)
Personalized gifts are always nice. Even before they can read, kids appreciate things with their name on them.
- Cloth, plastic or board books with large pictures
- Large blocks
- Soft, washable animals dolls or balls
- Floating bath toys
- Stacking toys
Toddlers (1-2 years)
Gift certificates for a fun outing are another nice idea. How about swim passes, or zoo tickets?
- Cloth, plastic or board books
- Ride-on toys (no pedals)
- Rhythm instruments like bells, drums, cymbals, and xylophones
- Nesting and stacking blocks
- Push and pull toys (no long strings)
- Pop-up toys
- Matching and sorting games
Preschoolers (3-5 years)
Imagination begins to rule at this stage, and toys that can be used to "pretend" seem to be lasting favorites (as opposed to toys that do only one thing).
- Books (short or action stories)
- Simple board games
- Crayons, nontoxic paints, play-doh, chalk
- Housekeeping toys or toy tools
- Number and letter puzzles with large pieces
- Dress-up clothes
- Pretend cooking, food, dish sets
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