Infants change so quickly that it's hard to find toys and gifts that will make them happy for very long. During the first few months, babies don't even play with toys, and when they do develop an interest in toys, their little hands aren't able to hold onto anything very big. The following toys make great gifts for babies of about 3 months old because they can grow with the baby for a few months or become a classic playroom addition.
1. Kathe Kruse Grabbing Star Toy
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The bright colors and bold stripes on this soft grabbing toy are eye-catching for babies and parents alike. Knots on some of the star points are fun to touch and chew, and a beech wood ring is attached to another point for teething. You can also attach a pacifier or another toy to the last star point.
2. Lamaze Mortimer the Moose
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Moose toys are usually pretty cute, but Mortimer is cuter than average, I think. This fun infant toy from Lamaze incorporates teething elements with textures and stimulating colors and patterns so there's something for baby to enjoy almost any time. A link at the top lets you attach Mortimer to a baby carrier or stroller so he can go with you for portable play time. From his chewy antlers to his stretchy legs to his big crinkly hooves, this moose is a perfect friend for any baby.
3. Lamaze Chime Garden
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Pretty music is the reward when baby learns to touch the flowers on this toy. Five brightly colored flowers on long stems make up the Lamaze Chime Garden. You can set it to different modes so that each flower plays one note, a piece of a song or a full song when baby touches it. This is a toy that will encourage your baby to explore and learn. It's also a toy that looks different from different angles, so it's great for babies who are learning to sit or crawl, because it encourages them to seek a different view.
4. HABA Lucky Mushroom
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This plush toy is perfectly sized for a baby's hands. The bright red top has contrasting spots for lots of visual interest. There's a little rattle inside, too, so baby can shake it all around for exciting noises, too. This is a basic toy that is fun for baby to hold and touch.
5. Cloud B Sleep Sheep
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If your baby could use a little help getting to sleep, this fuzzy sheep may be the answer. The sound box inside the sheep plays a variety of sounds - from heartbeats to rain and whale songs - to soothe baby and mask any distracting noises that may keep baby awake. Your baby can drift off to sleep peacefully with more than 20 minutes of soothing sounds. A loop on the sheep lets you attach it to baby's crib so it isn't near baby's face.
6. Sassy Butterfly Rattle and Teether Set
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This rattle set is easy for tiny hands to grasp, so it's a great toy for even the youngest infants. The set includes five of Sassy's wonderful rattles, each in a different shape. Some of the rattles have clear sections with colorful balls inside, some have softer teething sections, and some have plastic rings around them for extra sight and sound stimulation, but all of them feature Sassy's signature bright-colored spots and stripes. Cute, inexpensive and easy to stash in a diaper bag for travel!
7. Infantino Foot Rattles
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Sometime around this age, baby's hands and feet become favorite play things, simply because they're always close. These cute foot rattles add even more interest to baby's feet, and they stay put since they're attached to a pair of socks. The monkey and elephant characters are positioned so that baby will want to move and stretch to get a good look at them.
