And now, a gift guide for your (or your friend’s or brother’s) 9- to 12-month old.
This age range is an exciting one with little ones achieving exciting milestones left and right. Many babies are really starting to communicate, trying oodles of new things, noticing things like patterns and shapes, beginning to stand and maybe even walk, and improving their hand-eye coordination. So, it’s fun to stock up on items that will help them along their busy developing path.
From tools for tots just starting solids to toys that spark the imagination to solutions for a smooth bedtime and better sleep—after all, sleep is an important time for little ones to process all that they’re learning and doing—we have ideas aplenty that little ones and their moms and dads will love. Read on for our curated list!
PLAY TIME
Stacking and sorting toys
Strengthen little ones’ hand-eye coordination with toys they can stack, grab and sort.
Sensory toys
Five rubber balls with different textures for little hands to play with and explore.
This playmat, with piano keys that baby can kick to play, gets the approval of music star John Legend.
More (toned-down) playmats
Give floors extra cushion with this subtle playmat that blends right in with your other stylish stuff.
A foldable mat that can be set up in a variety of ways, offering magical flexibility for tumbling, building forts, pirate ships and more.
Socio-emotional toys
Begin the important work of helping little ones recognize and get to know their emotions.
A book and cuddly friend who bring in the best of the holiday season.
BRAIN BOOSTERS
High-contrast toys
Assist baby’s visual and cognitive development with toys featuring high contrast patterns and art.
Attach these to the stroller for entertaining (and educational) cruising.
Bold graphic patterns for baby, supportive affirmations on the back for you (“I am a great parent.”).
Little-bit-of-everything kits
These kits come with a developmentally appropriate smorgasbord of toys that engage your child’s senses and imagination.
- The Explorer Play Kit by Lovevery. For ages 9 to 10 months.
- The Thinker Play Kit by Lovevery. For ages 11 to 12 months.
- The Play Box: 9-10 Months by Lalo.
- The Play Box: 11-12 Months by Lalo.
FOR THE LIBRARY
These fun (and classic) titles help build baby’s vocabulary and start to identify objects and sounds.
- 100 First Words by DK
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
- Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
- Teeny Tiendas: The fruit shop/La frutería by Lourdes Heuer
SUPPORT SIDEKICKS
As little ones grow, it’s important to build good eating and sleeping habits. Support the process with these gifts for kids and their caregivers!
MEAL TIME
Baby-safe dishes
These tools make mealtime easier and help little ones along in their feeding themselves skills:
High chair
Our Registry Real Talk panelists like these high chairs for their helpful, grow-with-your-child benefits:
A tasty (healthy) menu
These high-quality pouches and finger foods are cheerfully giftable in ready-to-go meals and variety packs. Plus, nutrients are tailored to support the needs of this developmental stage. Bon appetit!
- Little Spoon
- Cerebelly build-your-own bundles and samplers
BEDTIME
A good night’s sleep is excellent for brains and bodies, little and grown-up sized! These tools help the whole family rest easier.
A baby monitor
Our top-rated Pro Baby Monitor keeps you connected to baby with crisp, clear HD video streaming and two-way audio. Smart Notifications (available with an Insights Plan) meet you and your baby where they are developmentally, such as Cry Detection and (especially valuable in this age range) Baby Standing.
A white noise machine
Not only does Sound + Light offer 11 soothing sound options, but it’s also a friendly night light and audio monitor, plus its wireless set up makes it easy to bring along when you travel. And as your baby gets older and more independent, features like OK to Wake (used in tandem with Pro Baby Monitor) help you program in when it’s OK for your child to be up for the day with red and green light cues.
Humidifier
Keep baby’s skin from getting too dry especially during the winter months. You can also set your Nanit to let you know if your baby’s sleep space is in optimal humidity and temperature levels (ideally, around 40 percent humidity and 68 to 72 degrees).
Here’s to a fun, exploring, milestone-marking and memory-making holiday season!
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