Best 'Welcome Baby' Gifts for Every Budget

Once the baby shower is over and the new baby arrives, you might be looking to bring a gift for the new family.

Below are our top suggestions for a 'Welcome Baby' gift, broken down by budget - under $30, $30-$50, $50-$100, $100-$200, and $200+.

These are based on the products we enjoyed most, giving and receiving for our children, as well as what's most popular in the shop. 

Budget:  Under $30

Top Pick: Skwish ($24.99)

Why did we choose this?

This award-winning rattle and teether toy provides an infant with a rich sensorial experience as they explore the springy elastic and rubberwood rods.  The unique shape of the Skiwsh is intriguing to an infant and holds their attention as they learn to rattle, pull and squish.   It is a great “on the go” activity and can be easily taken with you on outings, traveling, etc.  Made with non-toxic, water-based finishes this toy can be safely explored with all of the senses.  Comes in Natural or Rainbow colours.  

What are the benefits of the Skwish?

• It provides infants with an auditory, tactile and visually stimulating sensory experience. 
• Develops focus and concentration.
• Helps to strengthen the muscles in the hands and develop fine motor skills related to grasping and reaching, pushing and pulling. 
• Develops hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
• As the infant grows and begins to move independently, it helps to develop gross motor skills. Baby learns to move themselves to retrieve the ball.  

Honourable Mentions: 

• 4” Oball ($8.99)
• Baby Face Feelings ($8.99)
• Natural Rubber Teether ($14.99)
• Beaded Raindrop by Hape ($17.99)
• Wimmer-Ferguson Infant Stim Mobile to Go ($19.99)
• Winkel ($20.99)
• Tummy Time Accordion Cards ($22.99)
• Rubber Ball with Protrusions ($11.99)
• Plan Toys Wooden Roller ($22.99)
• Grimm’s Klipp Klapp ($23.99)
• Wimmer-Ferguson Nursery Novel ($24.99)
• Flutter by Birdie Soft Activity Book ($26.99)
• Grimm’s Rainbow Beads Grasper ($27.99)

Budget: $30 - $50

Top Pick: Hape Instrument and Sensory Toy Set ($39.99)

Why did we choose this?

This collection of toys is designed to grow with an infant.  You’ll use this set throughout infancy and early toddlerhood.  Use them as grasping toys to develop the hands, as rattles to stimulate the auditory sense and explore cause and effect or use them to encourage movement and develop gross motor skills.  Each toy provides just the right amount of stimulation without being overwhelming.  It comes with 5 different toys that can be rolled, rattled and (safely) mouthed.   

What are the benefits of the Instrument and Sensory Toy Set?

• These toys are designed to meet your infant where they are in their development.  
• Includes:
• A Fish Rattle which is great for developing fine motor skills, grasping and exploration of cause and effect.
• A Beads Teether that helps to develop hand strength and provides relief during teething.  Made with non-toxic materials and safe to be explored with all of the senses.  
• An Octopus "Stay Put" Rattle which has a suction cup on the bottom.  It can be attached to a highchair tray or table for the infant to explore with both of their hands.  This toy develops fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• A Rolling Rattle that helps to develop fine motor skills, cause and effect exploration and encourages movement.  Roll the rattle away from the infant on their tummy to promote crawling movements. 
• A Dog with Wheels that can be used as a grasping toy or to encourage movement.  As the infant grows and becomes more mobile, they learn to move their bodies after the dog and roll it around on the floor.

Honourable Mentions: 

• Sensory Magic Tissue Box ($34.99)
• Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Shapes ($32.99)
• Montessori Puzzle Ball ($36.99)
• Grimm’s Mini Roller Wheel ($39.99)

Budget: $50 - $100

Top Pick: Wimmer-Ferguson Crawl and Discover Mat ($64.99)

Why did we choose this?

This Crawl and Discover Mat has a variety of features that stimulate an infant’s senses.  Safety-rated for 3 months + this mat is a great addition to tummy time.  Research shows that newborns and young infants are drawn to high-contrast colours and patterns.  This mat is covered in interesting images and includes flaps, different textures, a mirror, a pocket and teethers! 

What are the benefits of the Wimmer-Ferguson Crawl and Discover Mat?

• Safe to be explored with all of the senses, which is how infants learn about the world them.  
• Introduces and develops pattern recognition through high contrast images.  Pattern recognition is a foundational math skill.  
• Helps to develop and strengthen gross motor skills.  When used during tummy time, strengthens the neck and shoulders.  As the infant becomes more mobile, they’ll begin to move and crawl around the comfortable mat.   
• Encourages self-discovery as the infant explores their reflection in the mirror 
• Helps to develop fine motor skills as the infant gradually learns to lift the flaps and use the pocket.  

Honourable Mentions:

• My First Library Bundle ($69.99)
• Wooden Activity Board ($69.99)

Budget: $100 - $200

Top Pick: Infant Montessori Box (0-6 Months) ($189.99)

Why did we choose this?

This Infant Montessori Box is ideal for families who want to introduce Montessori into the home from day 1.  It has everything you need to get started.  The materials in this box are designed to support your child's development from birth to 6 months, although a few of the materials will continue to be used throughout infancy, toddlerhood and beyond.  These 9 materials are designed to gently stimulate an infant’s senses as they explore the world around them.

What are the benefits of the Infant Montessori Box (0-6 Months)?

• The items in this box were carefully selected by an Infant Toddler Montessori Teacher (MACTE) and Registered Early Childhood Educator.
• Each piece is designed to support a child's development from Birth to 6 months and includes instructions on why and how to introduce them to your child.
• The box includes the following items:
• A Munari Mobile is designed to aid the development of the newborn's visual sense with just the right amount of stimulation.  It is the perfect "first" Montessori material.  
• The Accordion Tummy Time Cards are self-standing and perfect for stimulating the baby's developing vision and language comprehension.  Includes eight black-and-white illustrations of baby animals, labelled in four languages:  English, Spanish, French and Chinese. 
• Wooden Rings (Set of 2) are great for sensorial exploration and developing the hand(s).  You can use them in different ways throughout infancy to meet your child's developmental needs. 
• An Octahedron Mobile introduces two new visual stimulants as the infant's vision continues to develop; the primary colours and 3D Octahedrons made of metallic paper that reflect the light.
• A Rubber Ball with Protrusions is great for the development of the hand and stimulates the senses.  It also provides relief during teething and can be safely mouthed.
• Our Wood Maraca is light, made of natural wood and safe to explore with all of the senses.  This maraca is perfect for small hands and aids in the development of fine and gross motor skills, exploration of cause and effect and more! 
• Our Nylon Scarves are incredibly versatile.  Six scarves are included (Primary and Secondary Colours) and can be used to stimulate the senses, explore object permanence, encourage movement and will be used creatively for many years to come.   
• The Montessori Puzzle Ball is initially hung in the movement area of the home and used to encourage movement of the legs.  The unique design of the ball makes it easy to grasp, while the colours and textures stimulate the senses. Note the bundle may come with either the black or blue ball, depending on what we have in stock at the time. 
• A Cotton Rope Basket is used to create order in the environment.  You can use it to contain some of the materials included in this box or in other areas of the home.    

Honourable Mentions: 

• Natural Play Gym with Toys ($149.99) 

Budget:  $200 +

Top Pick: Infant Montessori Box (6-12 months) ($269.99)

Why did we choose this?

We have made gift-giving so simple with this Infant Montessori Box.  This box includes 9 beautiful and high-quality materials designed to meet the developmental needs of an infant aged 6 to 12 months.  Many of these materials will continue to be used in the toddler years as they are meant to be repeated and explored for as long as the child shows an interest.  These 9 materials are designed to meet an infant’s need for repetition, order, fine motor and gross motor activity.  Strengthening the hands and body helps to prepare them for more complex tasks later on.   

What are the benefits of the Infant Montessori Box (6-12 months)?

• The items in this box were carefully selected by an Infant Toddler Montessori Teacher (MACTE) and Registered Early Childhood Educator.
• Each piece is designed to support a child's development from 6 - 12 + months and includes instructions on why and how to introduce them to your child.
• The box includes the following items:
• A Wooden Maraca Rattle develops and strengthens the hand(s) while exploring cause and effect and music.  The two-sided spherical shape invites the child to hold it with one or both hands.  
• The Cube in a Box invites sensorial exploration of a geometric solid, developing what Dr. Montessori referred to as the child's 'mathematical mind.’
• The Fine Motor Set promotes hand-eye coordination and strengthens the hand and wrist as infants learn to remove the items and place them into the corresponding cup. This set helps develop fine motor skills and encourages the use of two hands working together.
• The Plan Toys Wooden Roller stimulates the senses while being light enough to be pushed or grasped by the infant.  This roller encourages movement and develops gross motor skills as the infant reaches for and moves after it.  
• The Spinning Drum is an aid in the development of sitting up with (and eventually without) support but can also be used during tummy time.  The infant spins the drum and explores the sound of the bell inside, the brightly coloured panels and a mirror to explore their own reflection.   
• The Rubber Sensory Ball is designed for safe, independent sensorial exploration of the various textures and colours.  The ball encourages movement and the development of spatial relations.  
• The Stacking Rings are introduced to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as infants gradually learn to remove and replace the rings onto the dowel.  As they get older, the concept of sequence and size can be introduced.
• The Box with Knitted Ball is a great material for learning about object permanence, while also developing problem-solving skills, strengthening the hand and developing hand-eye coordination.  It also introduces the practical skill of opening and closing a drawer.  
• A Cotton Rope Basket is used to create order in the environment.  You can use it to contain some of the materials included in this box or in other areas of the home.