Best Toys to Register For

Picking your favorite toys is like picking your favorite children - impossible! But we're giving a valiant effort here with some of our favorite picks per category. 

TLDR

• Newborn sensory toy: Estella's NYC taxi rattle and the NogginStik Rattle are the two we see on every registry; Plan Toys House Keys and anything Jellycat rounded out the category.
• Teether: Piccoliny's BEC teether takes the top spot, with Keith Harin and LouLou Lollipop teethers, as well as the Itzy Ritzy Crinkle Baguette & Charcuterie Trio close behind.
• Activity Gym/Play Mat for small spaces: Itzy Ritzy's Music & Motion Gym plus their activity lovies for when floor space is tight.
• First Books: Goodnight New York and Foodie Baby books are the must-registers, alongside board books and our brainiac primers.
• Gross motor toy for late first year: Fat Brain Toys' Suction Kupz, Innybin, and Rock N Roller Piano.
• Shop the full edit at Babesta

Table of Contents

• The 5 Picks
• Shop the Edit

The 5 Picks

1) Best Newborn Sensory Toy

Estella's rattles are a Babesta classic: although we're still missing the metro card, we're going to hold fast to the NYC taxi! It's 100% organic cotton and 100% city pride. The other one that makes its way on every registry is the NogginStik Rattle - it lights up, entertains little fingers with its texture and there's even a little mirror where they can see their smile. Plan Toys House Keys are another can't-miss in either brights or pastels.

Of course, if the senses you're focused on are soft to the touch, then we're going to go with Jellycat anything. Whether it's a classic bunny or black and white puppy or a French baguette, Jellycat's got a stuffed toy that will be MVP (most valuable plushie) in your household in no time.

2) Best Teether

We'd have to nod to our NYC crew here: Although we adore the Pretzel, Coffee Cup, Lox, Pizza Slice, and Black and White cookie: it's gotta be the BEC by Piccoliny! (Sunday morning bliss!)

But those aren't the only games in town: some other favorites: a Keith Haring baby teether, and a suite of teethers from rainbows to sushi by LouLou Lollipop, and the can't resist Itzy Ritzy Crinkle Baguette and Charcuterie Trio.

3) Best Activity Gym/Play Mat for Small Spaces

Itzy Ritzy is our go-to for activity gyms as they're plush and fun with all sorts of things to entertain and challenge baby.  The Itzy Music & Motion Gym features a spinning mobile with detachable plushies, a mirrored tummytime bear for core strength and a soft book to relax with.  On top of the gym Itzy Ritzy's activity lovies that incorporate textures, teethers, music, and more are another must-register for in our opinion. 

4) Best First Books

Goodnight New York is a must for any city kid. We also love the board books "My First Dog" and "My First Cat", as well as any and all from the TouchThinkLearn series. And we'll also give a shout out to our little brainiac primers, like the ABCs of Economics, Blockchain and (our favorite, as it's a Babesta exclusive) Crypto.

As for a soft book, that's easy, it's Foodie Baby, a NYC dinnertime primer. It can even hook to the stroller!

5) Best Gross Motor Toy for Late First Year

Fat Brain Toys has a bunch of great options - all bright and cheery, made to practice new gross and fine motor skills, including Suction Kupz (which can even stick to their high chair tray), Innybin where you fit shapes into a box, and the Rock N Roller Piano for some sweet tunes.

Shop the Playtime Edit with Babesta

We said picking favorites was impossible, and it still is: these five are really a greatest hits list of what keeps showing up on registries and getting mentions in the milestone books.

Add any or all of them straight to your Babesta registry, or stop by the shop and let your little one test-drive the rattle-shake, the crinkle crunch and the Rock N Roller piano in person. We'll help you figure out what's worth doubling up on and what one of each will cover and we'll be back with the next round of favorites once baby outgrows these. 

Shop the Playtime Edit or start your registry with Babesta today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need every category on this list, or can I register for just a few?

Register for what fits your space and your baby's stage. No registry needs all five on day one. A teether and a sensory toy earn their spot the earliest; the gross motor pick can wait until you're closer to the 6-12 month mark.

Which of these works once baby is already crawling or pulling up?

The gross motor picks (Suction Kupz, Innybin, Rock N Roller Piano) are built for exactly that stage. The activity gym is more of a 0-6 month item, though the attached lovies and toys can keep riding along in a stroller or car seat once baby's mobile.

Are any of these reusable across siblings or multiple years?

Most of them. Teethers and rattles tend to get retired once teeth settle in, but the activity lovies, first books, and gross motor toys hold up for years and hand down well to a second kid (or a friend's baby). 

Which pick is easiest to actually clean?

Hard plastic, wood, and silicone win: the teethers, Plan Toys House Keys and the Fat Brain Toys pieces all wipe down. Plush toys need a gentler hand: check the care label, but most are fine on a delicate machine cycle. 

What works best in a small apartment with limited floor space?

The Itzy Ritzy Music & Motion Gym is designed with small spaces in mind and the activity lovies take up zero floor space. Books stack on a shelf rather than sprawl and the gross motor toys here are compact enough to live in a basket instead of needing their own corner.