Learning Toys

• There are many baby learning toys on the market today, and it is a wonderful idea to start the learning process when the child is very small. Learning toys focus on a broad spectrum of skills including coordination, sports, colors and music. Learning toy companies include Leap Star, E Beanstalk, Baby Einstein, Fisher Price and Learning Express Toys.
  
  

Children's Books

• Children's books are an important method of endearing a child to reading from an early age. The earlier the child's parents start reading to the tot, the more likely the child is to be comfortable around literature in the future. Choose fun, colorful books for the baby that encourage laughter and excitement. Musical buttons books are always a good choice for babies, because they can play with the books when the parent is not reading to them. Children's books that are too advanced for the baby but that include brightly colored illustrations are another good gift for the baby, because they tell the baby that a book does not have to make music or be fun to play with to provide entertainment.
  
  

Riding Toys

• Riding toys are in the not so distant future for the baby, as many riding toys are designed for children ages 12 to 24 months. Power wheels are a rechargeable electric toy that can provide great excitement for a little boy or girl. Grow with me tricycles are available for children in this age group, and some come with a handlebar attachment for parents to push the tricycle until the child is old enough to ride it alone.
  
  

Long-Lasting Gifts

• Give the baby a gift that will remain a treasure for years to come. One gift idea that will capture the life of the young one symbolically is to plant a baby tree. As the baby gets older, the tree will get older. Another milestone gift is to get the baby a puppy. A puppy is a special gift for a baby because they can grow older together and become close friends. Just be sure to get a breed of puppy that is recommended for little ones such as a beagle or an English sheepdog. Another very special gift is to send a recent photo of the baby to an artist and have a portrait made, or to purchase the young one a savings bond for her college fund.