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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!
Check out more of our top gift guides:
The Best Gift Ideas for Baby Girls | The Best Gender-Neutral Baby Gifts | The Best Baby Shower Gifts
Crawligator Tummy Time Toy
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 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award.
Tinkle Crinkle Caterpillar Plush
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 Baby Water Mat
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.
Look & Learn Baby Box
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.
NogginStik Light-Up Rattle
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.
Posh Peanut Baby Swaddle and Beanie Set
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.
HonestBaby Rainbow 10-Pack Bodysuits
HonestBaby Rainbow 10-Pack Bodysuits
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.)
Sense & Grow Sensory Magic Tissue Box
Sense & Grow Sensory Magic Tissue Box
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.
Personalized Pacifier Clip
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
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.
Fleece Baby Booties
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).
Wibble Wobble Shape Stacker
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
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.
Treasure the Ocean Musical Mobile Gymini
Treasure the Ocean Musical Mobile Gymini
This play gym won a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award because testers loved that it came with a starfish toy that makes ocean sounds and plays melodies designed by a music therapist. They also said it was easy to store flat when it wasn't needed.
Sensory Balls, Blocks & Buddies
Sensory Balls, Blocks & Buddies
It's hard to find a block set for babies, because of the hard pieces and sharp corners. However, these are soft and sturdy, and this set comes with textured balls and some animal-shaped squirt toys for the bath, offering a ton of sensory experiences.
RELATED: The Best Sensory Toys for Exploring Different Textures, Sights and Sounds
My First Tackle Box
My First Tackle Box
Baby boys can take up a new pastime with this funny five-piece play set, which includes a rod, a worm crinkle toy and two fish toys, all packed in a plush tackle box.
Roar! I’m a Dinosaur
This unique board book is shaped just like a dinosaur's head, and it even allows little ones to peep through the built-in eyeholes to transform into various dinosaurs themselves. Good Housekeeping Institute testers say their kids thought it was hilarious!
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
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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