The first three months are a season of firsts. A baby 0–3 months old is learning faces, following voices, finding their first smile and, by about three months, starting to swipe at things nearby. New parents, meanwhile, are living in a blur of cuddles, strolls and feedings. The best gift ideas for babies 0–3 months serve both: something soft and beautiful for baby to gaze at, something useful the family will reach for every day, and something special enough to keep long after this tiny stage has passed.
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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
- What babies 0–3 months love
- Top gifts: first rattles
- Soft friends and loveys
- Swaddles and first outfits
- First books
- Gift sets for new babies
- Frequently asked questions
Our Quick Picks
- Best under $50: the NYC Taxi & Pretzel Baby Rattle Set ($48), two hand-knit New York icons.
- Best keepsake: Frank the Dog ($72), a hand-knit friend baby will love for years.
- Best for new parents: the NYC Print Baby Swaddle Blanket ($50), used every single day.
- Best “wow” gift: the Baby New Yorker Gift Set ($298): nine pieces, including a dog doll and a swaddle.
What Babies 0–3 Months Love
Faces and contrast. Young babies see best up close and love a face. A hand-knit doll or rattle with stitched eyes, held near, will hold their gaze.
Gentle sounds. A soft rattle shaken beside them invites baby to turn toward the sound, an early game for a grown-up and baby to share.
Being close. Most of the day is spent in someone’s arms. A swaddle or lovey makes those cuddles, strolls and supervised play even cozier.
Something to grow into. By three months, babies start to swipe and grasp. A light, soft rattle will be in their hands before you know it.
When choosing, think about the family as much as the baby: what they love (animals, sports or New York), what they’ll use every day and what they’ll want to keep. Every pick here is gender-neutral and needs no size, unless it’s clothing.
Top Gifts for Babies 0–3 Months: First Rattles
Giraffe Baby Rattle
A tall, gentle giraffe with a sweet stitched face. Perfect to gaze at now and to grab in a few months.
Cutest rattle!: Love this giraffe rattle, perfect gift for a new baby boy!
Monkey Baby Rattle
A playful little monkey, small and light, with a soft rattle inside. A sweet $28 gift on its own or tucked into a bigger box.
Monkey is super cute: The monkey is soft and cute. It is a baby shower gift. I'm sure the new mom will love it!
NYC Taxi & Pretzel Baby Rattle Set
Two New York icons, a yellow cab and a soft pretzel, hand-knit as rattles for the tiniest city fan.
Precious rattles: We love our NYC rattles in the new nursery! Perfect size
Safari Baby Rattle Set
A lion, an elephant, a giraffe and a monkey: four hand-knit friends for animal sounds and peekaboo.
Organic Baby rattles: I ordered this adorable set of rattles, lion, giraffe, monkey and elephant, for my grandson. They really are cute and well made.
Soft Friends and Loveys
Frank the Dog
Our most iconic piece: a 12-inch hand-knit dog with floppy ears and a little taxi on his chest. A newborn will gaze at him; a toddler will carry him everywhere.
Perfect in so many ways: It is for a newborn boy and it is perfect. Loved by Mom and Dad and the knit dog looks like Mommy’s dog.
NYC Taxi Baby Teddy Bear
A small, soft bear dressed for the city, sized for little hands and easy to bring along. A lovely gift at $32.
Perfect baby gift!: Excellent experience and service. Arrived very quickly. The bear is super cute!
Whale Lovey Security Blanket
Cozy stripes, a playful whale and a padded tail, about 14" x 14". A sweet comfort object for supervised cuddles; keep loveys out of the crib until after the first birthday.
Excellent: Beautiful, well-made little blanket for my grandson. Absolutely love it!!
Octopus Lovey Security Blanket
A friendly octopus face in turquoise or pink, hand-knit and 14" x 14". Whimsical, soft and very giftable.
So cute and unique: Gave as a baby boy gift and my friend loved it!
Swaddles and First Outfits
NYC Print Baby Swaddle Blanket
A breathable muslin swaddle printed with New York’s landmarks and favorite foods. New parents reach for a swaddle every day, for cuddles, strolls and tummy time.
Great product and quick delivery: I would highly recommend buying from Estella. I purchased a swaddle blanket and it’s super cute and it arrived really quickly.
Baby Loves NYC Striped Baby Romper
A striped organic cotton romper with a red heart on the chest and an NYC apple on the leg, for the baby who already loves New York.
Striped Knit Baby Hat
A soft organic cotton knit hat in cheerful stripes. At $18, the perfect add-on to any gift.
Amazing gift for baby shower: Awesome quality and adorable. Highly satisfied!!
Whale Baby Gift Set
Our bestselling knit whale romper (or gown), a matching striped hat and a hand-knit whale rattle: an heirloom-feeling first outfit with its first toy.
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.
First Books
NYC ABCs Baby Board Book
The alphabet, the New York way, with a bright illustration on every page. Reading aloud is one of the loveliest things to do with a new baby, and at $14 it’s an easy add-on.
New York Is, Baby Board Book
A stylish, rhyming board book celebrating New York’s culture, landmarks and energy, made for reading together. $18.
Gift Sets for New Babies
NYC Baby Rattle Gift Set
A taxi, a hot dog, a pretzel and a Big Apple: four hand-knit rattles that make a complete gift for any New York–loving family.
The best!: This rattle set is my favorite baby gift to give all of my friends who once lived in NYC. I highly recommend to everyone!
NYC Dog Doll Baby Gift Set
A hand-knit NYC dog doll, the NYC ABCs board book and two hand-knit rattles, an apple and a taxi. Something to hold, something to shake and something to read.
Wonderful Gift!: My friend absolutely loves the rattles and knit dolls for her 3 month old daughter! So beautiful and perfect.
Baby New Yorker Gift Set
Nine pieces, including an organic cotton bodysuit, a bib, a dog doll, a swaddle and hand-knit rattles. Our favorite gift when you want to cover everything at once.
My Go-To Baby Gift Now: This officially became my go-to baby gift for NYC families. Thoughtful, adorable, and consistently well received.
Frank NYC Baby Gift Basket
Twelve pieces in a handmade rattan caddy: three organic cotton bodysuits in 3, 6 and 12 months, Frank the Dog, an NYC swaddle, four hand-knit rattles, a reversible bib and the NYC ABCs book. A gift that shows up at every milestone of the first year.
What Size to Give a Baby 0–3 Months
Babies outgrow 0–3 months fast, so choose 3–6 months for an outfit they’ll wear for a while, or 6–12 months for one that grows with them. Rattles, plush toys, loveys, swaddles and books need no size at all.
Ready to Give
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good gift for a baby 0–3 months old?
A soft rattle or doll to gaze at, a swaddle the parents will use daily, a bold board book or an outfit in 3–6 months. A gift set combines several of these in one box.
Do babies this young play with toys?
Not on their own at first, but they love to look and listen. Hold a rattle or doll close and shake it gently. By about three months, they’ll start swiping and grasping.
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. As with any toy, supervise playtime.
Should I give clothes or a toy?
Both are lovely. Clothes are useful right away; a hand-knit toy becomes a keepsake. Many of our gift sets include both.
Can I buy Estella on Amazon?
No. Estella is sold only at estella-nyc.com and at select museum and boutique partners.
More Ideas, Made with Love
See all of our newborn baby gifts, our hand-knit baby rattles and our organic baby gift sets. Welcoming a baby this holiday season? See our Baby’s First Christmas gifts.
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