Top 5 Gift Ideas for a baby between 6 - 12 months and beyond

Are you looking for some gift ideas for a baby? Whether it's for a birthday, a holiday, or just a special occasion, you want to make sure you choose something that is fun, educational, and age-appropriate. Here are my top 5 categories of gift ideas for 6 - 12 month olds and beyond, along with some examples of each one.

#1 Books

Books are always a great gift for any age, but especially for babies at this age who are developing their language and cognitive skills. Books can introduce them to new words, concepts, and stories, and spark their imagination and curiosity. Some of my favorite books are: 

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, 
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.
• Ditty Bird audio books - my baby loves dancing along to this!
• Indestructible books - babies can be very rough with books or even chew on it, so this is perfect! Can even wash them.
• First 100 words series
• Interactive busy sing-along nursery rhyme books - my baby loves the board sliders on each page
• a personalized storybook with their name and photo. I've seen customized books from Wonderbly and they are beautiful as gifts!
• Julia Donaldson books (The Paper Dolls is my baby's favourite)

This set of 11 books is the best deal I've found so far for only $38 containing top classics like Dear Zoo, Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon and a bunch of Eric Carle books! It's usually >$10 a book the print quality is very good!! Perfect as a gift too. Here's the Shopee link if you are interested to check it out.

Here's my baby turning the wheels round and round as we sing 🚌She can now point to the correct animal when we say their names!

#2 Open-ended and sensory toys

Open-ended toys are toys that can be used in many different ways, depending on the child's creativity and interest. They encourage exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving, and can grow with the child as they learn new skills. Some examples of open-ended toys for 1 year olds are: 

• wooden blocks
• magnetic tiles - there are a number of brands out there but eventually I went for Playmags 100 pieces after doing some research as it has good magnetic strength and a sale.
• stacking cups, 
• shape sorters, 
• puzzles, 
• balls

#3 Experiences 

Experiences are gifts that create memories and enrich the child's life. They can be anything from a trip to the zoo, a visit to a museum, a play date with a friend, or a family picnic. Experiences can expose the child to new sights, sounds, smells, and sensations, and help them learn about the world around them. Some examples of experiences for 1 year olds are: 

• Singapore's Children Museum [Free! Book a ticket here or try your luck with walk-in]
• S.E.A. aquarium
• Ice cream museum 
• Birds Paradise
• Singapore Zoo / Night Safari / River Wonders
• Farms where they can come close to and feed the animals

#4 Clothing 

Clothing is a practical gift that can also be fun and stylish. 1 year olds are growing fast and need clothes that fit them well and are comfortable and durable. You can also choose clothes that reflect their personality and interests, or that match with their parents' outfits. Some examples are: 

• onesies with cute prints or slogans, rompers or jumpsuits with zippers for easy diaper changes
• hats or headbands with ears or bows
• matching pajamas or outfits for the whole family.

#5 Daily use items

Daily use items are things that the child needs or uses every day, such as diapers, wipes, bottles, sippy cups, bibs, spoons, plates, bowls, etc. These items can make the child's life easier and more comfortable, and can also be personalized or customized to make them more special. Some useful items would be: 

• diapers or wipes with fun patterns or colors, 
• bottles or sippy cups with their name or initials engraved on them, 
• bibs with their favorite character or animal embroidered on them, 
• plates or bowls with suction cups to prevent spills.