What to Buy Your Friends’ Kids Based on How Old They Are

This rattle has everything. It has a cute face for babies to focus on when they can start seeing things, it makes a nice rattle noise, and, best of all, it lights up different colors when it is bonked against things. It proved a very valuable distractor in the carseat, which my daughter hated.

Babies can’t see much at all when they’re new. They start to make out shapes in black and white first, so this book is transfixing.

It lights up and plays classical music! Ok, so the music is very tinny and a little (a lot) annoying, but babies sure do love it well beyond three months.  

Babies can’t sleep with blankets and, when they’re too big to swaddle, they sleep in adorable little sacks that make them look like cute baby ghosts! This is the gold standard in sleep sacks and lasts until they’re two.

ELLE’s executive editor Emma Rosenblum, mother to two small boys, swears this will be your baby’s best friend. It learns their name, teaches them words and feelings, and plays music. 

A classic! Actually fun to read. 

These eggs kept my daughter entertained for months. First she learned how to open them, and then she learned how to put them back together again. An endless delight! 

This book plays different works of Vivaldi on each page by pressing a button. This is very entertaining for a baby and mildly entertaining for an adult! 

This Portland-based company makes the best, softest cotton pjs. Don’t worry, they also make adult sizes.

A charming little mystery story.

These magnetic blocks are so cool you may want to buy a set for yourself. They are easy to stack and manipulate into different shapes and come in a chic little felt carrying case. 

The beloved favorite book, now with matching PJs. 

Adults will also enjoy.

My daughter’s name is Ada so I was gifted this book a lot. It’s such a good one.

Important!  

Mo Willems Knuffle Bunny books are award winning for good reason. All three together makes a nice set!

ELLE contributor Raakhee Mirchandani wrote this book as a gift to her daughter Satya and voila! now it’s an actual book with the most inspiring story about heroes and community and giving back.

Cult-fave Swedish minimalist brand COS has just launched kids clothing and it’s so chic I can’t take it.

Town & Country’s digital director Elizabeth Angell loves these graphic novels about the Greek gods. Teach ’em young! 

Any and all building toys are great.

If you follow Instagram’s fashion director Eva Chen you know she’s been on a whirl wind tour to promote her first kid’s book. Her daughter Ren serves as the inspiration for the main character. Ren is, of course, the main character in Chen’s legendary Insta stories, too.