Between six and twelve months, babies change almost by the week. A six-month-old is grabbing and shaking everything within reach; by their first birthday, many are crawling, pulling up and carrying a favorite friend from room to room. The best Christmas gifts for babies 6–12 months grow with them: soft toys to grab now and carry later, rattles to bang and swap, books to point at, and clothes in the next size up. And because it’s their first Christmas, the best gifts are also the ones the family will keep.
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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:
- Our quick picks
- Gifts for 6 to 8 months
- Gifts for 9 to 12 months
- First books
- Outfits and gift sets
- The big gifts
- Frequently asked questions
Our Quick Picks
- Best overall: the Big Apple Baby Rattle Set ($106): a taxi, an apple, a pigeon and a coffee cup to grab, swap and shake.
- Best under $50: the Football & Baseball Baby Rattle Set ($45), for the littlest fan.
- Best keepsake: Frank the Dog ($72), the hand-knit friend they’ll still have at ten.
- The showstopper: the NY Bundle of Joy Baby Gift Set ($292), with three bodysuits, Frank the Dog, four rattles and a book.
Gifts for 6 to 8 Months
Babies this age are sitting up, reaching and passing toys from hand to hand. Light, soft toys with easy shapes are perfect.
Big Apple Baby Rattle Set
A yellow taxi, a Big Apple, Pedro the Pigeon and a coffee cup, all hand-knit in Peru. Four shapes means there’s always another one to reach for.
Big Apple Charm: Playful, creative, and guaranteed to make everyone smile. 😊
Snowman Baby Rattle
A cheerful hand-knit snowman with a cozy hat and a carrot nose: a first-Christmas rattle to bring out every winter.
Gnome Baby Rattle
A friendly hand-knit gnome, full of holiday whimsy, and an easy stocking stuffer at $28.
Whale Baby Gift Set
A whale lovey, a hand-knit whale rattle and a striped knit hat: three cozy pieces for the littlest ocean lover.
Love this!: Purchased this as a gift, and the new parents were so pleased. So glad I came across this!!
Wise Guy Owl Baby Gift Set
An organic cotton owl bodysuit with a matching hand-knit owl rattle, for the baby who’s already thinking deep thoughts.
Gifts for 9 to 12 Months
Crawling, pulling up and maybe first steps: older babies love toys they can chase, carry and bang together.
Large NYC Taxi Plush
A big, squeezable yellow cab: something substantial to hug, lean on and crawl after, and a piece of nursery decor too.
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.
Frank the Dog
Our most iconic piece: a 12-inch hand-knit dog with floppy ears and a little taxi on his chest, easy to grab by an arm or a leg and carry everywhere.
Great dog! I love this dog. I have bought it for other people's children, and it's always their favorite.
Bruno the Donkey
A sweet hand-knit donkey, soft, friendly and ready for adventure, who grows into a cherished best friend.
Donkey Stuffed Animal: So cute and soft! My 6 month old daughter loves it!
Football & Baseball Baby Rattle Set
A soft football and baseball, hand-knit and gentle enough to toss, roll and bang together.
All American Baby Rattles
A baseball, a basketball and a football, for sports-loving families.
An athlete in the making: Order process and delivery were exceptional. These sporting goods are cute and perfect for a baby's hands, nice and soft too.
First Books
NYC ABCs Baby Board Book
The alphabet, the New York way, with a bold illustration on every page for pointing and naming. $14.
My First Book of NY Gift Set
My First Book of New York with Frank the Dog: a book about New York and a dog who loves New York, two keepsakes in one gift.
Great book and toy and gift set: Cute book and plush toy - great new baby gift for a NYer’s baby.
Outfits and Gift Sets
Big Apple Baby Gift Set
A long-sleeve NYC romper with hand-knit Big Apple and taxi rattles. Available up to 18–24 months, so it works across the whole age range.
A Joy to Give: This was genuinely fun to give. The design feels intentional, sweet, and full of New York charm.
Cool Cats Baby Gift Set
The Cool Cats organic cotton bodysuit with a matching hand-knit cat rattle: double the attitude for the tiniest trendsetter.
Dog Lover Baby Gift Set
For the baby joining a family where the dog was there first: a puppy bodysuit, matching bib, Sparky the Dog rattle, pacifier clip and a counting book.
The Big Gifts
NY Bundle of Joy Baby Gift Set
Three NYC organic cotton bodysuits, Frank the Dog, four hand-knit rattles and the NYC ABCs board book, arriving in a gift box.
Best Gift Ever! Overall experience is excellent. Packaged arrived promptly, beautifully wrapped. Overall quality and attention to detail are wonderful!
Baby Loves NY Gift Set
A hot dog and pretzel print organic cotton bodysuit, five hand-knit NYC rattles, a pacifier clip and the NYC ABCs board book, in a gift box.
NYC Memories in a Box: Bought as a gift for New Yorkers transplanted to California. Gift made mom tear up, she said it was NYC memories in a box. Perfect gift set!
What Size to Give a Baby 6–12 Months
Most babies wear 6–12 months between six and nine months old, and 12–18 months from about nine months to their first birthday. If you’re not sure, choose the next size up so the gift lasts into spring. Rattles, plush toys 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
What is a good Christmas gift for a baby 6–12 months old?
Soft toys they can grab now and carry later, like a hand-knit rattle set or Frank the Dog, plus a board book and an outfit in the next size up.
What toys are best for a 9-month-old?
Toys to crawl after and bang together: a large plush, a soft doll or a set of rattles, plus board books to point at.
Are soft toys okay for babies who mouth everything?
Our rattles and plush toys are soft and light, with an organic cotton exterior, hand-knit in Peru, and a polyester fill. Each product page lists its materials. As with any toy, supervise playtime.
Can I send a gift directly to the family?
Yes. Ship to any U.S. address and add a free gift message; the gift receipt never shows prices.
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 hand-knit baby rattles and our baby gift sets. Turning one soon? See our first birthday gifts.
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