Toys & Gifts for Newborns and Babies (0–12 Months)

Looking for gorgeous newborn toys or the perfect baby gift? At Little Snail we’ve curated a collection of the loveliest toys and keepsakes for babies from birth through to their first birthday — things that are as lovely to give as they are to receive.

From snuggly comforters and soft toys that become a baby’s first best friend, to charismatic rattles and teething toys that soothe and stimulate in equal measure, every product in our newborn range is chosen for its quality, safety and aesthetic. You’ll find European favourites like Moulin Roty’s iconic doudou comforters, Maileg’s heirloom-quality soft toys, and HEVEA’s natural rubber teethers — toys made to be treasured, not discarded.

Whether you’re shopping for a baby shower gift, a first Christmas, or simply treating a new little one in your life, you’ll find something genuinely special here. And with flat-rate shipping of $9.95 and free delivery on orders over $150, it’s easy to send a gift straight to the door.

What toys are suitable for a newborn?

Newborns experience the world almost entirely through touch, sound and contrast, so the best toys for this stage are soft, simple and sensory. A comforter or doudou — a small soft toy attached to a muslin or knitted square — is one of the most universally loved newborn gifts because it provides comfort, warmth and something gentle to hold. Brands like Moulin Roty and Maileg make comforters that parents keep long after babyhood simply because they’re so beautifully made.

Gentle rattles and sensory toys are also ideal from birth. Look for soft rattles with a quiet, soothing sound rather than a sharp plastic clatter — babies’ hearing is sensitive in the early weeks, and a softer sound is both more calming and more developmentally appropriate. Natural materials like organic cotton, wood and natural rubber are worth seeking out at this stage, since newborns explore everything with their mouths.

From around six weeks, babies begin to track movement and respond to visual contrast, which is when mobiles and play gyms become genuinely engaging. A beautifully designed cot mobile does double duty as a nursery decoration and an early developmental toy — and it gives a newborn something to focus on during those long wakeful stretches that every new parent knows well.

What makes a good baby shower gift?

The best baby shower gifts are ones the parents haven’t thought to buy themselves. Most new parents stock up on the obvious essentials — nappies, onesies, feeding gear — but few splurge on a truly beautiful soft toy or a handcrafted keepsake. A gift from a boutique toy store lands differently from a registry item precisely because it’s something the parents wouldn’t have chosen for practical reasons, which makes it feel genuinely celebratory rather than functional.

Quality matters far more than quantity at a baby shower. A single well-made comforter from Moulin Roty or a Maileg heirloom soft toy will be used every single day for years, often becoming the beloved companion that goes everywhere with the child. Cheap gifts, however well-intentioned, tend to be quietly retired within months. When you’re choosing a baby shower gift, it’s worth spending a little more on one beautiful thing than spreading the same budget across several forgettable ones.

The most enduring baby shower gifts work on two levels — they delight the baby and they appeal to the parents. New parents spend an enormous amount of time looking at their child’s toys, holding them, washing them and tidying them away, so aesthetics genuinely matter. European toy brands like Moulin Roty, Maileg and HEVEA design with exactly this in mind — soft colours, beautiful materials, considered details — which is why their toys tend to end up displayed on shelves long after the child has grown out of them.