A baby’s first Christmas only happens once, and it’s the one the family will talk about for years: the first stocking, the first photo by the tree, the first gift they tore into (or tried to eat). The best gifts for baby’s first Christmas are the ones that get kept. A hand-knit friend still on the shelf at ten, a holiday rattle that comes out every December, an outfit that makes it into the family album.
Shop this story
Gifts from this story
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:
- Best gifts for baby’s first Christmas
- Holiday rattles and stocking stuffers
- Keepsakes they’ll keep
- First Christmas outfits
- For a baby girl or a baby boy
- Gift sets and baskets
- Frequently asked questions
Best Gifts for Baby’s First Christmas
- Best overall: the NYC Embroidered Baby Gift Set ($228), our bestseller, arriving gift-boxed.
- Best stocking stuffer: the Snowman Baby Rattle ($28), a first-Christmas keepsake.
- Best keepsake: Frank the Dog ($72), the friend they’ll still have at ten.
- The showstopper: the Frank NYC Baby Gift Basket ($440), twelve pieces in a handwoven caddy.
Holiday Rattles and Stocking Stuffers
Snowman Baby Rattle
A cheerful hand-knit snowman with a cozy hat and a carrot nose. The perfect first-Christmas rattle, and one to bring out every winter.
Gnome Baby Rattle
A friendly hand-knit gnome, full of holiday whimsy, and a sweet one to tie onto the ribbon of a bigger gift.
Loved it: My friend was so happy to receive this for a gift it shipped quickly and is excellent quality. Thank you!
NYC Taxi Baby Rattle
Our bestselling rattle, a bright yellow cab with a checkered stripe, and at $28 the easiest stocking stuffer on the list.
Rattle toy taxi: So cute. Love it. Purchased it for our new grandson who will be born in New York City.
NYC Taxi Baby Teddy Bear
A small, soft bear dressed for the city, sized for little hands and perfectly sized for a stocking. $32.
Keepsakes They’ll Keep
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 a best friend.
Great dog! I love this dog. I have bought it for other people's children, and it's always their favorite.
Pierre the Paris Dog
Frank’s chic French cousin, with a red beret and a “Je T’aime” sweater. A lovely gift for any family 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.
Pedro the Pigeon
New York’s most famous bird, made huggable. A little bit cheeky, completely lovable, and always good for a laugh on Christmas morning.
Large NYC Taxi Plush
A big, squeezable yellow cab: a toy, a cushion and a piece of nursery decor all at once.
Organic Stuffed Taxi Cab Pillow: We received our soft Taxi Cab Pillow from Estella - and it is everything we wanted in this item - soft, cute and cuddly.
First Christmas Outfits
NYC Print Baby Romper
Taxis, pretzels, apples and pizza, head to toe, in soft organic cotton. Festive without being fussy, and perfect for photos by the tree.
Big Apple Baby Gift Set
A long-sleeve NYC romper with hand-knit Big Apple and taxi rattles, so the outfit comes with its first toys.
Whale Baby Gift Set
Our bestselling knit whale romper or gown, with a matching striped hat and a hand-knit whale rattle: a special-occasion outfit for a first Christmas.
Whale gift set: We loved the whale organic baby gift set!! Absolutely adorable. The colors are vivid and beautiful and our baby looks adorable in it.
For a Baby Girl or a Baby Boy
Girl Power Baby Gift Set
A Girl Power knit romper, an “Elect Women” teddy bear, a headband and a board book: a first-Christmas gift with a message she’ll grow into.
I Love Paris Baby Gift Set
Pierre the Paris Dog and a heart lovey, two pieces of Parisian charm in one sweet gift. Choose blue or red.
Je t’aime chien: My niece loved it! So cute!
All American Baby Rattles
A baseball, a basketball and a football, hand-knit and soft enough to toss, for the littlest fan in a sports-loving family.
MVP Football Baby Gift Set
An organic cotton bodysuit, a hand-knit football rattle and a board book, for game days with the family.
Most of our gifts are loved by every baby, so choose by what the family loves rather than by color.
Gift Sets and Baskets
NYC Embroidered Baby Gift Set
Three embroidered organic cotton bodysuits, four hand-knit rattles and an NYC ABCs board book, all in a gift box. Our bestseller.
Premium Feel: The fabric feels luxurious and the rattle quickly became a favorite toy.
NYC Little Explorers Baby Gift Set
Two organic cotton bodysuits, a matching NYC bib, hand-knit taxi and Big Apple rattles and a New York board book: six pieces for dressing up, playing and reading.
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 from newborn to 18 months, including Frank the Dog, a large taxi plush and five hand-knit rattles. See all of our baby gift baskets.
What Size to Give for Baby’s First Christmas
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. Rattles, dolls and books need no size at all.
Ready to Give for Christmas
Add a free gift message in your cart, and 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
How many gifts for a baby’s first Christmas?
One or two meaningful gifts are plenty. Many families choose one keepsake, like a hand-knit doll or holiday rattle, plus something practical, like an outfit or a book.
What is a good first Christmas gift for a baby?
A keepsake they’ll keep, like Frank the Dog or a hand-knit snowman rattle, or a gift set that combines a toy, clothes and a book in one box.
Will 0–3 months fit a newborn?
Usually, but only for a few weeks. For a gift, choose 3–6 months so it fits 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 unique baby gifts and our luxury baby gifts.
Keep reading:
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.