Whether it’s for a birthday present, for the holidays, or just because, it can actually be hard know what to buy for a baby. That’s why we’ve put together this list of non-toxics gift for babies.
A lot of times we buy toys for our kids, only to have them prefer to play with kitchen utensils instead. Or maybe you’ve been overwhelmed by the great toy options out there, only to find that every single thing your baby likes to play with is made with PVC or other toxic materials.
These are tried and true toys that have been a hit with babies. And, they’re made from safer materials. So you shouldn’t find any BPA, PVC, or phthalates in these items. And any cotton used will be GOTS-certified. These recommendations are suitable for babies 0-18 months.
Plus, while a whopping 80% of toys are made in China, many of these are not. Please note that it was impossible to put together a useful list of good toys and avoid China altogether. So you’ll find toys listed below are made in China, including some that are made by responsible companies that own their own factories in China.
Related: The Safest Non-Toxic Toy Brands
We’ve carefully selected these items not only because of their quality but also because they are sure to make any baby squeal with delight. I hope these non-toxic gift ideas provide your sweet baby lots of joy, too!
1) Plan Toys Wooden Drum
Made in Thailand. Every baby should have this amazing wooden drum! We never get tired of ours because it’s simply so much fun to play with. It makes a beautiful hollow kind of drumming sound. Highly recommend as a great gift idea for babies.
2) HEVEA Kawan Mini Rubber Duck
Made in Morocco. This natural rubber duck is beautiful and really well made. It’s also hermetically sealed, so you don’t need to worry about mold. We love ours, and use it as a bath toy. This duckie is so soft it could be played with at any age; in fact my 4 year old still loves his.
Related: Non-Toxic Bath Toys
3) Lovevery Play Gym
A non-toxic play gym, the Lovevery gym grows with your baby. It is great for tummy time in the beginning and then is great for baby’s independent play time as she grows. It comes with a free booklet with playtime ideas for babies, and the detachable toys are made from cotton and/or silicone. The mat is made from polyester, but you can always cover it with a cotton blanket or just use your own non-toxic playmat.
4) HABA Wooden Clutching Toy
Made in Germany. Clutching toys are great for younger babies who are working on their grasp and/or who are teething. They’re also just really fun to hold. This is a great gift for 0-9 months.
5) Hape Country Critters Wooden Activity Play Cube
Made in China. These activity cubes are very popular, and offer five sides of fun play. I would get this for babies 6 months and up, though it is great for toddlers, too.
6) Green Toys Shape Sorter
Made in USA. Shape sorters help babies to develop their hand-eye coordination and shape recognition. This one by Green Toys is made from a cleaner type of plastic. If you prefer a wooden one, try this wooden shape sorter for babies.
7) Grimm’s Large Rainbow Stacker
Made in Germany. This rainbow stacking puzzle is a classic! There are so many ways to play with this, and it is fun for kids of all ages (making it a great pick for families with older siblings).
8) Hape Rocker Puppy Ride on Toy
Made in China. This is the perfect ride on toy for babies and toddlers. It’s a huge hit in our home. My youngest really started to appreciate this toy around the 12 month mark.
9) Lovevery Play Kits
In addition to their popular play gym, Lovevery also offers Play Kits, a quarterly toy subscription box for your baby or toddler. We loved them — the Lovevery Play Kits make a fantastic gift for babies! Check out our full review of the Lovevery Play Kits.
10) Under the Nile Stuffed Toys
Made in Egypt. All of their stuffed toys are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton.
11) Honeysticks Pure Beeswax Crayons
Made in New Zealand. Honeysticks makes crayons made from beeswax, which is a cleaner option for your baby. Especially because babies tend to mouth things (or try to eat crayons!) I think it’s important to get non-toxic crayons that are perfect for little hands, like these from Honeysticks.
12) Finn & Emma Play Gym
Frame made in China; Toys made in Peru or India. Made from birch wood and featuring toys made with organic cotton. These toys also attach to a stroller or car seat, making them useful for on the go. This is a great gift for babies up to 9 months of age.
Related: The Best Non-Toxic Playmats
13) Green Toys Baby Starter Set
Made in USA. This fun baby set includes stacking cups, key rings, and an elephant toy. These are great for babies 3 months and older.
14) HABA Rainmaker Toy
Made in China. A wooden rainmaker toy that makes fascinating sounds.
15) Plan Toy Solid Wood Tea Set
Made in Thailand. Babies love to mimic what they see in the home. This tea set is a perfect opportunity for pretend play.
16) Fat Brain Toys Silicone Cups
Made in USA. Silicone cups can be used for so many things — including bath toys. They make a perfect gift for babies who love to explore. We have gotten a lot of use out of these, and they have held up after months of daily baths.
17) Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks
Made in USA. Uncle Goose makes high quality blocks in 23 different languages and on various themes. These are a great buy! For more ideas, check out our guide to the best blocks for babies.
18) HABA Musical Eggs
Made in Germany. These ergonomically designed maracas are lots of fun. Have a mini jam session with your baby!
19) Personalized Story Books
Personalize the name and appearance of the main character in this cool personalized story book. Even babies appreciate hearing their own name!
20) Bears for Humanity Organic Sherpa Teddy Bear
Made in USA. These bears are adorable and are made with a GOTS-certified cotton outer fabric. Both of my kids have their own for bedtime cuddles. These are appropriate for any age.
21) Fat Brain Toys Personalized Name Puzzle
Made in USA. These high-quality wooden name puzzles will get lots of use over the years. And they help teach kids the letters of their name, which is helpful.
22) Green Toys My First Stacker
Made in USA. A stacking toy that helps babies 6 months and older develop their hand-eye coordination.
23) Hohner Kids Musical Band
Made in Israel. These musical toys are a huge hit in our home. They are plastic, but they are free of BPA and phthalates. These are one of my go-to gifts for first birthdays. However, if you’d prefer to avoid plastic altogether, check out this wooden tambourine toy.
24) Gigglespots High Contrast Cards
Made in USA. These high contrast cards help stimulate your baby’s vision, and they are easy to take along with you in your diaper bag.
25) Fat Brain Toys Spinagain Toy
Made in China. These cogs are fascinating to watch as they spin around!
26) Lily and River Pikler Triangle
Made in USA. A Pikler Triangle is a climbing toy that can be used as early as 6-8 months of age. Popular among Montessori and RIE advocates, it helps babies develop confidence and gross motor skills. If you have the space for this, it makes a great gift!
27) Fat Brain Toys Sensory Rollers
Made in China. Sensory balls are great for sensory exploration, but most popular sensory balls are made from plastic. These are made from food-grade silicone, so you won’t have to worry when your baby plays with them or even chews on them. These may be a little heavy for younger babies, so you might have to use them with supervision.
28) HABA Magica Clutching Toy
Made in Germany. This is another favorite in our home, and it is small enough to tuck into the diaper bag for playtime on-the-go. The colors are beautiful and there’s just something so simple about it that makes it lots of fun.
29) HAPE Rainbow Counting Abacus
Made in Germany. Though this will really come in handy as your baby gets closer to preschool age, I find that even babies under 18 months enjoy playing with this abacus.
30) HAPE Double Bubble Wooden Bead Maze
Made in China. My kids would always play with the bead mazes at doctor’s appointments, so I finally brought one home and it has gotten lots of use.
31) Plan Toys Dancing Alligator
Made in Thailand. Like the walk-along puppy, these wooden pull toys make a fun gift for babies and toddlers alike. I don’t leave these within reach because of the string, but we do let the kids play with them while supervised.
32) CaaOcho Natural Rubber Sensory Ball
Made in China. This bright and colorful 3″ sensory ball made from natural rubber makes a wonderful (and all-around safe) gift for babies.
100% Natural Rubber Sensory Ball (3″) by CaaOchoBuy Now
33) Indestructibles Books
Books are always a good idea! Soft and literally indestructible, Indestructibles are safe for babies to play with. For more baby book recommendations, check out the top books for your baby’s first library.
34) Apple Park Organic Farm Buddies
Made in China. These adorable stuffed animals are made with 100% cotton fabric.
35) Sophie the Giraffe
Made in France. A tried and true favorite teething toy, Sophie the Giraffe also makes a great gift. Made from natural rubber, Sophie is a safe toy (and teether) for babies of all ages. Make sure to look for her other friends, too.
36) My First Tug Boat by Green Toys
Made in USA. Another great classic from Green Toys, this tug boat makes a great gift for babies 6+ months.
37) Organic Farm Buddies Plush Toys
Made in China. An adorable plush toy perfect for babies of any age, Organic Farm Buddies are handmade in China. They are 14″ and made with 100% organic cotton and feature a corn fiber filling. They also make an adorable matching blankie.
38) Chewbeads Stroller Teething Toys
These teething beads are genius! I wish I had known about these when my boys were teething. They make a great gift for babies 3 months and older, though a newborn would also eventually get plenty of use out of them.
39) Chewbeads Silicone Links
Made in China. These links connect and can attach to a stroller, car seat, or high chair. They’re a safer alternative to popular plastic links and would be great for most babies beginning at 3 months or so.
I hope you found these non-toxic gift ideas for babies useful! It really is worth it to buy non-toxic toys whenever possible so that you can avoid BPA, PVC, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals. This goes double when your baby is putting everything in their mouth. Whether you’re shopping for your baby’s first birthday or for holiday gifts, I hope you found a few great toys on this list of gift ideas for babies. For more non-toxic gift inspiration, check out my list of safer toy brands.
Other Gifting Ideas:
- Lovevery Play Kits Review: Is the Subscription Worth it?
- The Best Non-Toxic Crayons for Babies
- Gift Ideas for 1 Year Olds
- 20+ Children’s Bedtime Books That Are Popular for a Reason
- The Best Subscription Boxes for Babies and Toddlers
- 30+ Genius Non-Toy Gifts for Toddlers
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