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There's a lot of fun in shopping for babies, but when it comes to getting gifts for kids that age, you're really looking for something that'll please the parents. That means staying away from toys that won't hold up to a baby's love, clothing that can't be washed or will only be used once, giant toys that won't fit in a toy box — or, worse, make irritating noises — or items that hit other parental pet peeves.
So what does that leave? If there's no hint from a baby registry about what to get, it might be hard to find useful, fun, long-lasting gifts. So we checked in with parents and experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting and Pets Lab — then scoured through favorites and best-sellers — to narrow down this list of the best baby boy gifts for 2023.
These are items that can stand up to the rough treatment that babies give them and the washing and cleaning that's required afterward. That means they'll last long enough so that you'll be shopping for gifts for 1-year-olds and toddler gifts before they tire of them!
Edushape Original Sensory Balls in Boho Chic
This set earned a previous Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award because experts found it was a long-lasting toy, which babies can play with starting at six months. First, babies can use the textures on the different sizes of balls to practice grasping, then move on to rolling until they finally master throwing and catching. Parents also appreciated the modern color palette that fits in with a neutral nursery.
Infantino Pop-Up Ball Pit
Bring the playspace home with this sunny ball pit, which folds down to the size of a grocery bag when it's not in use. "The balls are soft, so they don’t hurt even if my 1-year-old and my 3-year-old toss them at each other,” one parent said. Ages 9 months+
Crawligator Tummy Time Toy
Tummy time isn't always the most fun, but this comfy crawling aid will help give babies ages 4 months and older a safe space to practice lifting their heads and crawling, which will definitely make the time more enjoyable. It won over testers enough to win a previous Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award.
Peekaboo Who?
Good Housekeeping Institute testers were charmed by this book, which had interactive flaps so different animal faces could hide their eyes with paws, wings or tentacles. Parents got a kick out of hiding and revealing the animal faces. Ages 0+
Textures, colors, sounds — this sensory toy has it all, making it so much more than just another stuffie. Babies will love how each segment of the caterpillar's body gives them something new to explore.
Tummy time doesn't have to be such a chore for babies. This water-filled mat is filled with water and sea creatures, giving your favorite baby boy an extra incentive to keep his head up. It's meant for kids ages 3 months and older.
Get those baby eyes looking at the world around them with this all-in-one set. It comes with a soft-edge baby mirror (perfect for tummy time), a high-contrast black-and-white book, a "baby phone" rattle and a high-contrast bullseye hanger.
Adults won't be able to get over just how incredibly soft this hacci fabric is. It's part of Gerber's Modern Moments by Gerber collection, which also has PJs, sweaters and special-occasion clothing at affordable prices. Sizes 0 – 24m
Parents swear by this rattle-with-personality, saying that their babies love looking at the light-up face, grasping the base easily and shaking to hear the pleasing sound.
If they're looking for a coming-home outfit, this swaddle blanket and beanie set will look perfect in those newborn photos. There are lots of other prints, too.
Baby needs a new wardrobe? Done. Take care of all the basics with this 10-pack bodysuit set, which features clothes in every shade of the rainbow made from soft organic cotton. HonestBaby also has these big sets in different color families (pastels, fall colors, etc.), as well as short-sleeve t-shirts and long-sleeve shirts.
With rumply, corduroy-like ripples, the baby will love to give this sweet, soft fox a squeeze. If foxes aren't his favorite, then Jellycat has a bunch of different furry animal friends, including elephants, giraffes and dragons. (Just remember to keep it out of the crib when they're sleeping.)
This soft tissue box comes loaded with 10 different scarves, which include a range of colors and textures for sensory stimulation and helping babies ages 5 months and older practice their fine-motor coordination.
Winkel Rattle
It's a rattle and a teether in one, and there are so many tubes to grab (and chew on) and ways to interact with this wacky-looking cube. Babies can practice their fine-motor coordination when they grab this one with either one or two hands.
Their paci won't get mixed up with all the other babies' with this personalized clip. Plus, it'll save parents a bit of back pain, making it so they'll have to take fewer trips to the floor to pick up a lost pacifier.
Woodland Custom Baby Boy Blanket
This gorgeous woodland-themed blanket can be personalized based on the name of the new baby boy. Good for snuggling and tummy time, it's something his parents are sure to treasure.
This Montessori-inspired toy is soft, but also easy for babies to grab starting at 12 weeks. Babies can use it to practice motor coordination, learn cause-and-effect relationships and build strength.
When it comes time to go outside, it's way easier to slip on a pair of baby booties than try to wrangle a newborn into baby shoes. Plus, Zutano booties snap closed, so the baby won't be able to pull them off again (at least not as easily).
Babies as young as 5 months can start to explore textures, shapes and balance with this toy, which lets them work on their fine motor coordination as they stack pieces on the wobbly base. If you think they'd enjoy more KiwiCo offerings, you can also sign them up for the PandaCrate subscription box for kids ages 0 to 2.
The Little Boy Who Lost His Name
This book features a personalized adventure that incorporates the letters of the baby's name. It's perfect for those first bedtimes, all the way up through when he learns to spell.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
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