Holiday Gift Ideas for Babies 6 to 12 Months

Baby sitting on a beige play mat playing with stacking cups while a parent sits beside them, with a decorated holiday tree and gifts in the background

Shopping for a baby between 6 and 12 months is fun and a little confusing. They are too old for newborn rattles, too young for most "toddler" toys, and changing so fast that a gift that fits in November might be outgrown by spring. If you are buying for your own little one or for a niece, nephew or grandchild this holiday season, the easiest way to choose is to match the gift to what babies this age are actually learning to do.

Below, we group ideas by stage using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) milestone checklists, then finish with the safety checks the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends for toys. Every baby develops at their own pace, so think of the age ranges as rough guides. If you are shopping for a baby shower instead, our practical baby shower gift guide covers the newborn stage.

Gifts for around 6 months: reaching, grabbing and exploring

According to the CDC, by about 6 months many babies reach to grab a toy they want, put things in their mouth to explore them, like looking at themselves in a mirror, roll from tummy to back and push up with straight arms during tummy time. Good gifts for this stage support those skills:

  • Soft, easy-to-grip toys. Fabric balls with grabbable loops, soft blocks and crinkly fabric toys are made for small hands. Choose ones with sewn-on parts rather than buttons or loose decorations.
  • A baby-safe mirror. A shatter-resistant mirror made for babies, propped beside them during tummy time, gives them something interesting to look at and reach for.
  • Teethers and mouthable toys. Babies explore with their mouths, so anything at this age should be big enough that it cannot fit fully in a baby's mouth and sturdy enough to chew on.
  • Board books and cloth books. The CDC suggests "reading" to your baby every day by talking about the pictures. High-contrast and touch-and-feel books hold up to grabbing and chewing.

Gifts for around 9 months: sitting, banging and finding

By about 9 months, the CDC says many babies sit without support, move things from one hand to the other, bang two things together, look for objects when they are dropped out of sight and play peek-a-boo. Their play gets noisier and more purposeful.

  • Stacking cups and nesting toys. Cups that stack, nest, fill and dump are a classic for a reason. The CDC suggests letting babies dump blocks out of a container and helping them put them back in.
  • Things to bang together. Chunky blocks, soft rattles or a pair of wooden spoons and a pot let babies practice banging two things together. Look for simple instruments made for babies rather than loud electronic toys.
  • Peek-a-boo and lift-the-flap books. These play right into babies' growing understanding that things still exist when they are hidden.
  • Balls that roll slowly. A soft, textured ball that rolls a short way encourages reaching, scooting and crawling. Keep it larger than your baby's mouth.

Gifts for around 12 months: pulling up, cruising and putting in

By their first birthday, the CDC notes many babies pull up to stand, walk while holding onto furniture, pick things up between thumb and pointer finger, put something in a container and look for things they see you hide. Gifts that work well now include:

  • Shape sorters and drop-in toys. Simple sorters with a few large shapes, or a container with a lid and big chunky pieces, match the "put it in, take it out" phase.
  • Sturdy push toys. The CDC suggests giving babies things to push, such as a sturdy push toy or even a large empty box. Note that the CDC says baby walkers are not recommended, so choose a stable push toy instead.
  • Books with flaps and textures. The CDC recommends these for this age, and they make lovely first-Christmas or first-Hanukkah keepsakes.
  • A small drum or pots and pans. The CDC suggests these for making music together. A baby drum is a cheerful, simple gift.

Gifts that are not toys

Not every great gift has to be played with. A few ideas parents often appreciate:

  • A space for floor play. Babies this age spend a lot of time on the floor rolling, sitting and crawling, and the CDC's tips at 6 and 9 months include daily time on the floor or a play mat. A play mat can be a practical "big gift" from grandparents or a few relatives together. Our own GRHomera Playmat is about 1.3 in (3.3 cm) thick in total, with a coral fleece surface and non-slip backing, in Beige or Dark Grey and three sizes from 50 x 50 in to 118 x 79 in. If you are gifting one, check the family's floor space first; our size guide helps.
  • Clothes in the next size up. Babies grow fast, and soft layers in 12 to 18 month sizes will be used after the holidays.
  • Toy storage. A low, open basket or soft bin makes toy rotation easier and lets little hands reach their toys.
  • Time and help. An afternoon of babysitting or a promise to come over and play can mean as much as anything wrapped.

You can browse all GRHomera products if you are building a bundle around a play space.

Safety checks before you wrap

The AAP's guidance on choosing safe toys is worth a quick look before checkout. Key points:

  • Read the age label. Follow the age recommendations on the package. Toys labeled for older children can have small parts.
  • Size matters. Toys and parts should be larger than a child's mouth so they cannot be swallowed or block the airway. The AAP lists small balls, small parts, coins and marbles among common choking hazards, and warns that balloons are a risk for children up to 8 years old.
  • Watch for button batteries and magnets. The AAP cautions against toys with button or coin batteries or high-powered magnets that a child could get to. Battery compartments should be securely closed.
  • Skip very loud toys. The AAP advises avoiding toys that make loud noises.
  • Check soft toys. Stuffed toys should be well made, with no loose ribbons, strings or small decorations that could come off.
  • Clear the wrapping. AAP holiday tips include getting rid of wrapping paper and ribbons after gifts are opened to avoid choking hazards.
  • Check recalls. The AAP suggests removing recalled toys; you can search recalls on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site.

One more note on screens: the CDC says screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2, other than video calling, so a video call with faraway grandparents is the best "tech" gift at this age.

And because floor gifts often get set up right away: play mats and floor toys are for awake, supervised play. If the baby falls asleep during holiday excitement, move them to their crib or bassinet.

FAQ

What is a good first Christmas gift for a 6 to 12 month old?

Gifts that match current skills work best: soft grabbable toys and board books around 6 months, stacking cups and peek-a-boo books around 9 months, and shape sorters, push toys and flap books around 12 months. Always check the age label.

Are electronic toys good for babies this age?

Simple toys that babies can grab, bang, stack and explore are a great fit at this stage. If you do buy a toy with sound or batteries, the AAP advises avoiding loud toys and making sure button or coin batteries are securely enclosed.

Is a play mat a good gift for a crawling baby?

It can be, especially as a shared gift. The CDC's tips include daily floor or play mat time, and a crawler uses a larger space. Check the family's room size first and confirm they do not already have one.

How do I know if a toy is a choking hazard?

Follow the age label, and avoid toys or parts small enough to fit in a child's mouth. The AAP lists small balls, small parts, coins, marbles, button batteries and balloons among common hazards.

Sources

— The GRHomera team