A grandchild’s first Christmas is one of the sweetest milestones there is. For grandparents, it’s a chance to start a tradition: the gift that comes from Grandma and Grandpa every year, the keepsake that ends up in the memory box, the toy that gets passed down. The best first Christmas gifts from grandparents are the ones that get kept, and the ones that say, without a word, how much this little one is loved.
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Every gift in this guide is from Estella, a family-owned New York brand making baby gifts since 2003. Our toys are hand-knit one at a time by artisans in Peru with a soft organic cotton exterior, and our clothing is organic cotton. We’ve earned 1,800+ five-star reviews from 55,000+ families, been featured in Vogue, and you’ll never find us on Amazon.
In this guide:
- Our quick picks
- Gifts that say “from Grandma and Grandpa”
- Keepsakes to pass down
- Holiday rattles and stocking stuffers
- The big gifts
- Sending a gift from far away
- Frequently asked questions
Our Quick Picks
- Best from grandparents: the Grandma & Grandpa Teddy Bear ($32), hand-knit and made for exactly this.
- Best keepsake: Frank the Dog ($72), the hand-knit friend they’ll still have at ten.
- Best gift set: the Baby New Yorker Gift Set ($298), nine pieces in one gift.
- The heirloom: the Heirloom NYC Baby Gift Basket ($695), seventeen pieces in a handwoven caddy.
Gifts That Say “From Grandma and Grandpa”
Grandma & Grandpa Teddy Bear
A hand-knit grandma and grandpa bear, made to be the gift from the grandparents. Small enough for little hands, and a keepsake to treasure for years.
Toy bear: The bear is cute and small enough for baby hands to grasp.
My First Book of NY Gift Set
My First Book of New York with Frank the Dog: a book to read together on every visit, and a friend to hold while you do.
Adorable: The dog is adorable and my grandson will love the book showing him what NYC was and hopefully will be again
NYC ABCs Baby Board Book
The alphabet, the New York way. A lovely book for grandparents to read aloud, and a sweet $14 add-on to any gift.
Adorable: My granddaughter loved it and so did we.
Keepsakes to Pass Down
Frank the Dog
Our most iconic piece: a 12-inch hand-knit dog with floppy ears, a stitched face and a little taxi on his chest. The first-Christmas gift that becomes part of the family story.
Great dog! I love this dog. I have bought it for other people's children, and it's always their favorite. I just bought one for my soon-to-be-born grandson.
Pierre the Paris Dog
Frank’s chic French cousin, with a red beret and a “Je T’aime” sweater. A lovely gift from grandparents with a soft spot for Paris.
Organic knit doll, Pierre Dog: My 16mth old grandson LOVES Pierre! The toy is very well made, beautiful colors and great size.
Large NYC Taxi Plush
A big, squeezable yellow cab: something to hug and lean on, and a piece of nursery decor too.
NYC Taxi Cab- Adorable: The soft, stuffed NYC taxi cab has been placed in my grandson’s room.
All American Baby Rattles
A baseball, a basketball and a football, hand-knit and soft enough to toss. A favorite from sports-loving grandparents.
Holiday Rattles and Stocking Stuffers
Snowman Baby Rattle
A cheerful hand-knit snowman with a cozy hat and a carrot nose: the start of a tradition, brought out every winter.
Gnome Baby Rattle
A friendly hand-knit gnome, full of holiday whimsy. Wrap it on the outside of a bigger gift.
Gnome: Enticing! I wrapped my 14 month old grand daughter’s gift with the Gnome toy on the outside of the package.
NYC Taxi Baby Rattle
Our bestselling rattle, a bright yellow cab with a checkered stripe, and an easy stocking stuffer at $28.
Rattle toy taxi: So cute. Love it. Purchased it for our new grandson who will be born in New York City.
The Big Gifts
Baby New Yorker Gift Set
Nine pieces: a taxi-print organic cotton bodysuit, a matching NYC bib, a muslin swaddle and a pacifier holder, plus Frank the dog doll, a taxi bear, an NYC board book and two rattles.
My Go-To Baby Gift Now: This officially became my go-to baby gift for NYC families. Thoughtful, adorable, and consistently well received.
Whale Luxury Baby Gift Set
A whale romper with a matching hat, a whale lovey and two hand-knit rattles: a complete, coordinated gift that’s as lovely to unwrap as it is to use.
Beautiful baby gift set: My friends were really pleased with the Whale Luxury gift set. Perfect grouping of soft and cuddly things.
Frank NYC Baby Gift Basket
Twelve pieces built around Frank the Dog in a handwoven rattan caddy that stays in the nursery for years.
Heirloom NYC Baby Gift Basket
Our most complete gift: seventeen pieces including organic cotton clothes up to 18 months, Frank the Dog, a large taxi plush, a taxi lovey and five hand-knit rattles, in a handwoven caddy. A once-in-a-lifetime gift for a first grandchild.
What Size to Give
Size up from the baby’s age at Christmas: 3–6 months for a newborn, 6–12 months for a baby around three to six months, and 12–18 months for a baby nine months or older. Toys, dolls and books need no size at all.
Sending a Gift from Far Away
Many grandparents send their first Christmas gift by mail. Ship directly to the family and add a free gift message in your cart, like “Merry first Christmas, sweetheart. We love you to the moon. Love, Nana and Pop.” Every order includes a gift receipt with no prices. Gift boxing is $8, complimentary on orders over $175. Orders ship within 1–2 business days, with free shipping on U.S. orders over $75; order early, since carriers slow down in December.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do grandparents give for a baby’s first Christmas?
Many choose one keepsake, like a hand-knit doll or a Grandma & Grandpa bear, sometimes with a book to read together on visits. Others give a complete gift set the parents can use right away.
How much do grandparents usually spend?
It varies by family. A meaningful keepsake can be $30 to $75; a complete gift set or basket is $150 and up.
What size clothes should I buy for a baby’s first Christmas?
Choose the next size up from the baby’s age so the outfit lasts through the winter.
What are Estella toys made of?
Our knit toys have an organic cotton exterior, hand-knit by artisans in Peru, with a soft polyester fill. Each product page lists its materials.
Can I buy Estella on Amazon?
No. Estella is sold only at estella-nyc.com and at select museum and boutique partners.
More First Christmas Gift Ideas, Made with Love
See all of our Baby’s First Christmas gifts, our luxury baby gifts and our baby gift baskets.
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