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With the holiday season on the horizon, now is the time to start brainstorming gift ideas. Gift guides for kids of all ages are easy to find. But what if you don’t want to just buy the latest popular toy for a child? Or what if you are a parent who is highly critical of the toys your child plays with? That is where a non-toy gift guide comes in.

(Make sure you read about why I don’t put toys on my kid’s Christmas list.)

This guide is for babies ages one and under. At this age, children don’t yet understand the holiday season. The presents they “open” will not be met with as much enthusiasm as other ages. So this gift guide may not have as much fun stuff as other ages.

(P.S. If you are looking for gifts for older children, make sure you check out The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Toddlers, The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Preschoolers, The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Elementary Aged Kids, and The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Families)

Baby Supplies

When you list what a baby actually needs, the list is quite simple: food, a place to sleep, clothes, and diapers. Why not help fulfill one of their needs?

One of the easiest ways to do that would be to sign the family up for an Amazon Family subscriptions. It offers many of the same benefits as Amazon Prime (Free 2 day shipping and free streaming of tons of movies and music) with fun, family benefits. Just by being a member, you can save 20% on a diaper subscription and are sent exclusive deals and coupons.

Join Amazon Family 30-Day Free Trial

Food:

If a baby is formula fed, buy a can of the preferred formula. Make sure you ask the parents because some babies will only drink one specific kind.

If they are bottle-fed, buy some of their preferred bottles. (Our favorite was the Tommee Tippee bottles, no matter what the size. They even make cute, brightly colored ones now.)

Clothes:

I feel like a baby can never have too many sleeper sacks. When my daughter was a newborn, she lived in sleeper sacks because they were easy for sleep-deprived parents to put on her but still kept her warm and snuggly. These Carters One Piece Sleep Sacks are comfy and adorable. They are available in so many different patterns and colors that everyone is sure to find one they like.

Socks are nice for older babies. Those suckers get lost all the time, so a new pack is welcome. Buying a unisex package of socks is nice because the colors will go with any outfit the baby is wearing.

Diapers:

If a baby uses disposable diapers, buy a pack or even a box. Diapers are expensive and even a smaller pack are welcome. A cute print (like from the Honest company) would be a fun change. You could buy an Honest variety pack. There are two unisex packs with a bunch of different prints. They have some of the same prints, but a few different also. One features strawberries, bananas, guitars, and anchors. The other features giraffes, bumblebees, hearts, and watermelon.

If a baby uses cloth diapers, buy a cutesy new diaper. I love Grovia and BumGenius diapers. We mostly used Grovia all in two diapers. This package comes with two shells and four soaker pads. What a great addition to a cloth diaper stash. My favorite all in one cloth diapers are made by BumGenius. All of them are cute, even the solid colored ones.

Buy a box of wipes. Believe me, wipes are not something you want to run out of! These new Amazon Elements Wipes look like an awesome deal! You could may even set up a delivery of wipes for a few months for the new parents!

Books

I know some people would probably tie books in with toys, but I feel like there is a difference. And yes, babies can use books! When Mac was little, we would prop a book up in front of her during tummy time.

The books we used most were mostly black and white with some high contrast colors to hold her attention. The Hello Baby board book series by Roger Priddy were some of our favorites. There are several of them like Faces and Animals.

If you are looking for something a little less structured, Spots and Dots by Chez Picthall may be right up your alley. This is another black and white book with high contrast colors, but this one is all patterns instead of animals or faces. Great for even young babies to look at.

Memberships

If you have a bit more cash available for a larger gift, consider giving a yearly membership to a child-friendly location. I have talked about the benefits of a membership with toddlers, but it applies to all ages. Even smaller babies will enjoy a change of scenery that a membership can give them. Consider giving a yearly membership to:

• A children’s museum (we absolutely love the Minnesota Children’s Museum)
• Zoos
• State or National Parks
• Nature Centers

Some Cute “First Christmas” Clothes

Okay, this one is not as practical as the other suggestions have been, but if given far enough in advance, they are awfully cute! I found three super cute First Christmas outfits for babies. The first one is a onesie and pants set that says “My First Christmas” and has Santa butt. The second one has a cute onesie and pants set along with a hat and bib. The third outfit has a onesie and pants, but also comes with a hat and a little bow. Click on the link or the outfit below to see the details.

Babysitting

Offer a day or night of babysitting. Not only will the parents get some time off, baby will get to spend quality time with you. It’s a win-win for everyone.

What other non-toy gifts can you think of for babies? Let me know in the comments.