Gift Ideas for Baby Girl 2nd Birthday

Buying Baby Gifts: What to Buy in The First Year

During their first year, you'll be surprised by how much babies grow and change, developing new skills and interests every few months. That's why when it comes to buying gifts for an infant, there's a lot to take into consideration, such as age, development and baby's growing interests. In the buying baby gifts guide below, we provide some of our favorite gift ideas for the first year of life—breaking them down by age to make shopping easier.

0 to 3 months.

During those first few months everything is brand new, and as you're savoring every precious moment, baby is developing a host of essentials skills. Not only do they experience an increase in strength and motor skills, they also start smiling at familiar faces and focusing on objects 8 to 14 inches away.

What are some beneficial gift ideas for this stage? You can't go wrong with baby rattles and shakers. These classic toys never fail to capture baby's interest and brighten those contagious smiles. Make sure each type of toy is well made and doesn't easily wear away or break down with extended use. Believe it or not, newborns don't have a tendency to be gentle when playing in the nursery.

Another present that suits baby's first year of life quite nicely is a soft and snuggly stuffed animal. When baby is first brought home from the hospital, it's a good idea to keep this friendly companion out of the crib, but as baby gets older, they'll love cuddling up to their newfound friend. Along the same lines, a swaddle blanket keeps your bundle of joy tightly wound for a calming sense of comfort. Being swaddled also helps keeps his or her hands from flailing about and accidentally scratching their face.

3 to 6 months.

3 months in, you're starting to get the hang of everything. Baby is thriving and continuing to develop at a rapid pace, as evidenced by an increase in hand-eye coordination and improved memory. Another development in the stage is your little one's uncanny ability to put nearly anything in their mouth. Keep this in mind when buying baby gifts for the first year, and encourage them to bite down on these appropriate items instead.

An obvious choice to help with the chewing is a teether. They tend to come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, including wood and soft polyester or cotton, which help soothe gums affected by emerging baby teeth. Some even double as rattles to keep young ones occupied while enjoying a cruise in their stroller or getting a quick play break in the travel crib.

Movements and sounds pique baby's interest at this age as well. Toys that crinkle or vibrate, such as activity mats and some stuffed animals, hold short attention spans and also help stimulate their growing brains. If you're the type to plan ahead, you can also get baby a pull toy for when they start crawling and walking.

6 to 9 months.

Halfway to a year old and baby is on the move—cue the free cardio workouts from the comfort of home. Baby is now able to distinguish between sounds and is also capable of sitting up on their own. What should you buy baby at this stage? Anything that encourages a small increase in independece.

As mentioned in the previous section, pull toys are a solid choice for babies just starting to move around on their own, as they encourage crawling. In the same vein, push toys are ideal for babies confident enough to stand in place while holding onto something for support. Other toys that keep baby on their toes are wooden alphabet and number puzzles, shape sorting toys and soft blocks.

Buying baby gifts that make sounds or play music is another excellent idea for this age range. Consider hanging a mobile near their crib, and watch as the soothing tune it plays effortlessly lulls your little one to sleep. For a slightly different experience, find a baby sound machine. It cancels out distracting noises while playing ambient white noise, such as ocean waves or a running river, that is consistently calming.

9 to 12 months.

It's almost here...baby's first birthday. They've come such a long way since their first day home, and they still have a long way to go. For this very special milestone, consider buying baby gifts that encourage curiosity and build their confidence with walking solo.

Once your little one has gotten their feet under them, help them along with a ride-on toy. Usually shaped like a fun animal, they help with balance and build core strength—both important factors when learning to walk. If baby is still just comfortable standing still, provide them something to hold onto, such as a push toy.

As your rapidly growing bundle of joy discovers the world around them, consider getting a jump start on basic skills, such as color, shape and word recognition. Board books and picture books are ideal for this task, as are books with different textures on each page. To help build problem-solving skills, opt for stacking rings, nesting cups and other mix-and-match toys.

Buying baby gifts for the first year is a fun if not overwhelming task. Knowing exactly what to get them at each stage of development is key to a happy and healthy baby. Is your 1-year old thriving? Show us how they play at the hashtag #CrateKidsStyle.

Gift Ideas for Baby Girl 2nd Birthday

Source: https://www.crateandbarrel.com/ideas-and-advice/buying-baby-gifts

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