Six months is one of the happiest stages to shop for. A 6-month-old is grabbing with both hands, passing toys from one hand to the other, laughing out loud, babbling and maybe sitting with a little support. Everything is worth a closer look, and everything goes straight to the mouth. The best gifts for a 6-month-old meet them right there: soft toys that are easy to grab, rattles to shake, a plush friend to hug and bold books to share. Choose something beautiful, and it often becomes the keepsake the family saves.
Shop this story
Gifts from this story
1 color available
2 colors available
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 6-month-olds love
- Rattles for any baby
- Gifts for a 6-month-old baby girl
- Gifts for a 6-month-old baby boy
- Books to share
- Gift sets for a 6-month-old
- 5 tips for choosing the best gift
- Frequently asked questions
Our Quick Picks
- Best soft friend: Bruno the Donkey ($85), a hand-knit friend for years to come.
- Best under $50: the NYC Taxi & Pretzel Baby Rattle Set ($48), two hand-knit New York icons.
- Best for a sports family: the MVP Football Baby Gift Set ($75): a bodysuit, a rattle and a book.
- Best overall: the NYC Embroidered Baby Gift Set ($228), our bestseller, arriving gift-boxed.
What 6-Month-Olds Love
Grabbing with both hands. Light, soft toys with easy shapes are perfect for hands that are learning to grip, let go and pass things back and forth.
Making things happen. A rattle they can shake themselves is an early lesson in cause and effect, and endlessly entertaining.
Faces and bold colors. Stitched faces, bright shapes and bold picture books hold a baby’s attention at this age.
Something soft to hug. A plush friend or small lovey is comforting during cuddles and awake, supervised play.
Rattles for Any Baby
NYC Apple Baby Rattle
A bright red Big Apple with a gentle jingle, for the littlest New York fan, wherever they live. A sweet $28 gift.
Nice NYC Baby Items: Items well made, cute and unique
NYC Taxi & Pretzel Baby Rattle Set
Two New York icons, a yellow cab and a soft pretzel, hand-knit as rattles. One for each hand.
A win with baby!: Gifted these to my new niece born in Brooklyn. Per my brother, she loves them — especially the rattles!
Safari Baby Rattle Set
A lion, an elephant, a giraffe and a monkey: four hand-knit friends, perfect for animal sounds and peekaboo.
Baby Shower MVP Gift Right Here: Everyone wanted the link.
Gifts for a 6-Month-Old Baby Girl
Every gift here is loved by girls and boys alike. These are a few of our favorites for little girls.
Bruno the Donkey
A sweet hand-knit donkey, soft and friendly, with long ears to grab. A nursery companion who grows into a best friend.
Donkey Stuffed Animal: So cute and soft! My 6 month old daughter loves it!
Octopus Lovey Security Blanket
A friendly octopus face in pink or turquoise, hand-knit and 14" x 14". A sweet comfort object for supervised cuddles; keep loveys out of the crib until after the first birthday.
Adorable: My 9 month old loves the sweet, silly face and bright colors on this well made security blanket!
I Love Paris Baby Gift Set
Pierre the hand-knit dog and a heart lovey, in blue or red: two pieces of Parisian charm, made with love.
Je t’aime chien: My niece loved it! So cute!
Girl Power Baby Gift Set
A “Girl Power” knit romper, an “Elect Women” bear, a knotted headband and a book about women who changed the world. For the future change-maker.
Gifts for a 6-Month-Old Baby Boy
Just as lovely for girls, these are some of our most-gifted picks for little boys.
Charlotte the Pig
All charm, with a bright pink snout and a playful spirit. Her snout, ears, feet and tail give little hands plenty to explore.
Perfect lovey for baby: I got this for my baby (six months) and he loves it. It’s the perfect size for him to hug and play with.
Pierre the Paris Dog
A hand-knit dog with a stitched face and plenty of Parisian charm, the right size for a 6-month-old to hold.
Organic Knit Doll, Pierre Dog: I love this sweet doll. So perfect for my new grandson for Valentine’s Day!
All American Baby Rattles
A hand-knit baseball, basketball and football: three soft rattles for the family that already knows which team baby’s on.
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.
MVP Football Baby Gift Set
An embroidered MVP bodysuit, a hand-knit football rattle and a football baby book, for the newest (and smallest) fan.
Wise Guy Owl Baby Gift Set
A Wise Guy Owl bodysuit with a matching hand-knit owl rattle, for the baby who’s already thinking deep thoughts.
NYC Taxi Plush Toy – Large
A big, bold, soft yellow cab that brightens any nursery shelf now and becomes a favorite for imaginative play later.
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.
Books to Share
Two Dogs on a Trike Baby Book
A zany counting adventure with playful pups on all kinds of wheels. Bright, funny and perfect for reading together. $14.
My First Book of New York
A vibrant hardcover tour of the sights, sounds and flavors of the city, for reading now and pointing at pictures later. $25.
Gift Sets for a 6-Month-Old
Big Apple Baby Gift Set
A long-sleeve NYC romper with two hand-knit rattles, a Big Apple and a yellow taxi, so the outfit comes with its first toys.
A Joy to Give: This was genuinely fun to give. The design feels intentional, sweet, and full of New York charm.
Dog Lover Baby Gift Set
For the baby joining a family where the dog was there first: a puppy-print bodysuit, a matching bib, a hand-knit dog rattle, a pacifier clip and the Two Dogs on a Trike book.
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, and our favorite “wow” gift.
Premium Feel: The fabric feels luxurious and the rattle quickly became a favorite toy.
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Gift for a 6-Month-Old
- Think soft and light. Toys a 6-month-old can grab, shake and pass between hands get the most love.
- Choose by what the family loves. Animals, sports, Paris or New York make a gift feel personal, and they matter far more than color.
- Size up on clothing. Most 6-month-olds wear 6–12 months now; 12–18 months will last longer.
- Pick one keepsake. A hand-knit friend is the gift that’s still on the shelf years from now.
- Make it ready to give. Add a free gift message, and choose gift boxing so it arrives beautifully.
What Size to Give a 6-Month-Old
A 6-month-old usually wears 6–12 months now. Choose 12–18 months if you’d like the outfit to last into the next season. Rattles, plush toys, loveys 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 6-month-old?
A soft toy they can grab and shake, like a hand-knit rattle, plus a plush friend, a bold board book or an outfit in 6–12 months. A gift set combines several of these in one box.
Are soft toys okay for a baby who mouths everything?
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 buy different gifts for a 6-month-old girl or boy?
Not really. Every gift in this guide is loved by girls and boys alike, so choose by what the family loves.
How much should I spend on a gift for a 6-month-old?
Whatever feels right. A $28 rattle is a sweet gift on its own, and a gift set makes a bigger “wow.”
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 hand-knit baby rattles, our stuffed animals and our organic baby gift sets. Celebrating a first Christmas? See our Baby’s First Christmas gifts.
Keep reading:
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.