Purchasing baby gifts can be overwhelming. There are so many options and so many things to consider. Do you go for the adorable outfit or the practical car seat base? My mother has always made it a point to give a new book or educational toy to a new family, and I try to do the same thing now. Given my love of books and learning, I wanted to gather a list of fantastic educational gifts for babies!

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Books

Obviously my first suggestion is going to be books! This is another overwhelming area of the baby shower world, as there are so many wonderful options out there. I have previously written about some of our favorites, as well as ways that we included books into my baby shower and pregnancy.

Vocabulary Building

First 100 Words by Roger Priddy is a wonderful introduction to books and reading. We received a couple copies when my daughter was born and it quickly became her favorite book. This book uses large clear photographs and simple text to introduce kids to words in a variety of categories. The brightly colored pages are sturdy enough to hold up to repeated readings by little ones.

Click here to see why your child’s bookshelf should include Priddy books!

Interactive

Baby See, Baby Do by Robie Rogge and Jennifer Hale is a fun and interactive book about emotions and expressions. Each page shows a different emotion through bright photographs and simple text, and the attached mirror gives kids a chance to try the expressions for themselves!

Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings was written by Matthew Van Fleet. This touch and feel board book introduces kids to different shapes, colors and textures through simple text and illustrations. Each page shows a textured shape that changes into an animal when the flap is lifted. This was another one of my daughter’s favorite books as a baby, and I love that it reviews so many concepts in so few words.

Sentimental

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You was written and illustrated by Nancy Tillman. This sweet story imparts the message that a parent’s love will follow wherever you go. Her heartfelt words are accompanied by beautiful illustrations of children and animals experiencing all kinds of fun adventures. The entire series of sentimental board books are wonderful books for reading aloud to little ones. Her messages of love and comfort are universal in their appeal.

Your Favorites – Today there are so many more options for board books. Most of your favorite stories are now available in board book format, making them perfect for tossing into your diaper bag. They are also sturdy enough that kids can flip through them on their own over and over again without destroying them. Some of our favorites include the Bear series by Karma Wilson, or the Dr. Seuss books.

Click here to find more recommendations for great books for babies!

Educational Toys

Mirror

Babies love mirrors! When they are very young, mirrors are great for keeping their attention during the much needed “tummy time”. As they grow, mirrors provide them with an opportunity to explore their faces, and practice making different expressions. My daughter really enjoyed this mirror when she was an infant, and I loved that it’s soft texture and folding set up made it very versatile.

Foam Letters

Introducing kids to letters early on can provide them with a familiarity and comfort level with them that will help them in the long run. Foam letters are a great way to give kids hands on experience with the alphabet, and can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you are using them in the bathtub, a sensory table, or on the floor, the bright colors and soft texture make them attractive to little ones.

Water Mat

A water mat was one of my daughter’s favorite activities for tummy time. She loved the sensory experience of moving the water around in the mat, and she really enjoyed moving the fish around. Since she didn’t always enjoy her tummy time, this was a real life saver for those days when she wasn’t interested.

Family Photos

By surrounding your child with family photos, you can get them familiar with the family members that they don’t see too often. My daughter has a durable photo album that she has looked at since she was an infant, and it helped her to learn and practice the names of her parents, grandparents, and aunt. In addition, her grandmother created photo magnets of all her great aunts, great uncles, and cousins, which cover our refrigerator. She loves to move them around and talk to them, calling out the names of the relatives pictured.

What are your favorite educational gifts for babies? Share in the comments below!

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