Budget Baby Gifts Under $25

Skwish looks simple, but it's incredibly fun for babies of all ages to play with. Made of rubberwood and coated elastic, Sqwish can be manipulated in many different ways, from basic squishing to moving the little beads to rolling it around. You can even flatten Skwish entirely and then watch as it pops back up, unfazed. Even older kids and adults have a hard time resisting the magic of Skwish.

These squishy, textured balls aren't just fun for babies. They'll be enjoyed for many years to come! In fact, my daughter has one of these that was given to her as an infant, and she still occasionally pulls it out of the toy box at age 9. Not shabby for a gift that costs so little! As the name implies, these balls stimulate baby's senses. The rubber nubs are fun to feel, plus the ball is squishy-feeling. Babies can roll the ball or teethe on it, and toddlers can practice their balance and motor skills by kicking it or balancing it.

Every baby needs a lovey, and these little muslin squares from Aden + Anais are made for just that. They're soft and cuddly in the middle, silky on the edges, and just the right size for babies and toddlers to carry around. There are two Issie loveys in each package, so you can wash one while baby is snuggling one, or just keep one safe somewhere in case the original is lost.

It looks fairly plain, but this box is one that your baby will play with for a long time! There are buttons all over the Mozart Magic Cube, and pushing them creates different instrumental sounds. There's another button that plays all of the instruments at once. Lights flash along with the music baby makes, too. Baby gets a little cause and effect lesson along with just plain fun.

This fantastic wooden toy from Wonderworld is made from renewable rubberwood and offers a lot of playtime opportunities for baby. There's a shape-sorter in the top where the included blocks can be fitted. The blocks, which are garden-creature-themed, are also fun to play with and stack on their own. The whole sorter can be rolled around on its side, too, and it makes interesting sounds as it move around.

I don't know about your house, but at my house, the laptops are always in demand by the younger set. Your baby or toddler might enjoy a perfectly sized laptop just for little hands, like this one from VTech. There are lights and sounds to keep baby entertained, and the buttons offer lessons on feelings, colors and shapes. There's even a volume control so the sounds aren't audible on your conference call! Best of all, baby can push all of the buttons on this laptop, in any order, at any time, without you worrying that you've just lost the day's work.

This bright boat can be used for all sorts of imaginative play, but it also allows your baby to burn off a bit of energy by using the included plastic hammer to bop the 3 balls through the holes in the top of the boat. The balls roll through the boat and come out of the end, so the whole process can start again. Bop the Boat is loads of fun for babies and toddlers alike, and it's easy to get the hang of how to bop the balls, so small children won't get frustrated.

Neptune is a sweet turtle from the popular Baby Einstein series. This plush version of Neptune makes cool musical instrument sounds when you squeeze his arms or legs. Baby can squeeze to hear violins, drums, xylophones or saxophones, and classical music that features those instruments. Parents will love that there is a volume control for this toy, as well as an on/off switch for times when quiet play is necessary.

The Activity Ball from Tiny Love goes well beyond the normal rolling mode. An adorable plush toy peeks out from the center and can be hidden away for peek-a-boo games. The ball makes silly sounds when you toss it in the air. There are also crinkly textured areas and some plastic rings that rattle and can be used for teething. There's so much to discover on this toy that babies can enjoy it for many months.