Thank you so much for the specific suggestions. DS and I are starting online shopping and are grateful for your detailed replies. -OP

All good ideas and I agree, think of the next 6 months or so, so like 12-18 months. I second the suggestion for books. Also around that age my kids really got into music- there’s a pink fong book that has buttons for all the songs (London bridge, head/shoulders/knees toes) that my 1 year old loves. The favorite toys in our house were a plan toys wooden drum and ball or car ramps. Also, little tikes has a picnic/cooking bath toy set that my kids have loved for 5+ years. Initially they liked to chew on it, scoop water, pour water; now they use it for play cooking or with other bath toys. For angel gifts I try to find things that I think will endure or that multiple ages can play with - maybe a bag of megablocks? My toddler loves them but so do his older siblings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d get a toy truck, some bath toys, a fleece coat/bunting (we love the Columbia ones) or something that is car-seat safe, basically any toys by Fat Brain (search by age—we love the spinner), some winter booties, and maybe a drinking cup (Miracle 360) and plate set. Pajamas and sleep
Sacks are great too. Kids age out of those quickly. Grobag and Hanna Andersson make some good mid-range cost sleep sacks. (Halos are thinner.)

Board books my kid loved as a baby and young toddler: little Face Big Face, Peek a Who?, Where do Diggers Sleep at Night, Dear Zoo, and Dream Animals.

I know lots of people don’t like noisy toys, but my kid loved the VTech drop and Go dump truck for a long time. It helps that it has a few ways to interact with it.

NP, trying to identify the "spinner" you referenced from fat brain; is it either of these?

https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/minispinny.cfm
https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/spinnypins.cfm

PP here.

I was talking about the full size spin again (I didn't realize they had so many spin toys!): https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/spinagain.cfm
We also liked these for the 9m-15m age range: https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/whirly_squigz.cfm. Great for car/other windows. Our kid's play area is in our bay window and it was a great combo, though they do fall down a tad bit too easy if you ask me.

The Suction Kupz were just ok. I don't really get the point of them, and neither did my kid: https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/suction_kupz.cfm.

Anonymous wrote:Stacking cups, blocks, shape sorter, small baby doll, toddler maracas, chunky puzzle, little people toys, a board book.

This is a great list

Anonymous wrote:I’d get a toy truck, some bath toys, a fleece coat/bunting (we love the Columbia ones) or something that is car-seat safe, basically any toys by Fat Brain (search by age—we love the spinner), some winter booties, and maybe a drinking cup (Miracle 360) and plate set. Pajamas and sleep
Sacks are great too. Kids age out of those quickly. Grobag and Hanna Andersson make some good mid-range cost sleep sacks. (Halos are thinner.)

Board books my kid loved as a baby and young toddler: little Face Big Face, Peek a Who?, Where do Diggers Sleep at Night, Dear Zoo, and Dream Animals.

I know lots of people don’t like noisy toys, but my kid loved the VTech drop and Go dump truck for a long time. It helps that it has a few ways to interact with it.

NP, trying to identify the "spinner" you referenced from fat brain; is it either of these?

https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/minispinny.cfm
https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/spinnypins.cfm

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you so much for all of these suggestions. As I said, my kids are older now and the baby days seem so long ago.

We will definitely buy a few toys, board books (which I completely forgot about), clothes and footie pjs. We usually spend around $100-150 on each child we sponsor. I loved the Carter’s door busters when mine were little. I will look!

What do you think about shoes? They gave me a size. My children were not walking at 9 months. What type is best?

Mom to a 10 month old here. For shoes, all of our baby friends wear Zutano's in the winter because babies can't pull them off. There are also knockoffs on Amazon. Buy some with grips on the sole for when baby does start walking. And also soft leather moccasin style shoes are great for outdoor toddling around. Like Robeez - but again plenty of good less expensive options on Amazon.

Agree on jammies, including Christmas jammies. Bonus if they have zippers and grips on the feet for when walking starts (or go footless with Zutano's).

And seconding Fat Brain, especially Dimpli. The V Tech walker is also a big hit - it's loud with kind of obnoxious music, but super-fun.

You may want to size up and get some bigger sized stuff as well since babies change sizes quickly.

I’d get a toy truck, some bath toys, a fleece coat/bunting (we love the Columbia ones) or something that is car-seat safe, basically any toys by Fat Brain (search by age—we love the spinner), some winter booties, and maybe a drinking cup (Miracle 360) and plate set. Pajamas and sleep
Sacks are great too. Kids age out of those quickly. Grobag and Hanna Andersson make some good mid-range cost sleep sacks. (Halos are thinner.)

Board books my kid loved as a baby and young toddler: little Face Big Face, Peek a Who?, Where do Diggers Sleep at Night, Dear Zoo, and Dream Animals.

I know lots of people don’t like noisy toys, but my kid loved the VTech drop and Go dump truck for a long time. It helps that it has a few ways to interact with it.