.png)
Nature-Inspired Gifts for Babies and Toddlers (0–3)
- Alexa Stoia | Hearth & Wander
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear we genuinely use and love as an outdoor family. Thank you for supporting Hearth & Wander and helping me continue creating resources for wonder-filled childhood adventures.
Do you walk through the stores in search of the perfect gift for the littles in your life and cringe because of the loud, flashy toys and piles of plastic that fill the children's section? Isn't there something better out there?!
There is! Just because its on the department store gift guide doesn't mean you have to add it to your kid's wish list. There’s something different about choosing gifts for babies and toddlers; they need simple, beautiful things that invite curiosity, movement, and connection to the world around them. Not batteries. While some of those gifts are fun and engaging (for awhile), I myself get toy burnout FAST. The sounds, the pieces, the request for batteries....instead, I want to give my children presents that nurture their imaginations, move their body, and send them outdoors.
Are you with me?!
Nature-Inspired Gifts for Babies and Toddlers
This gift guide is for parents, grandparents, and loved ones who value nature, slow childhoods, and meaningful play. Every category below is designed to grow with your child, encourage imagination, and support development without overstimulation.
Whether you’re shopping for Christmas, a birthday, or simply want to build a more intentional toy shelf, these ideas focus on quality over quantity - gifts that will actually be used, savored, and enjoyed...even by you!
1. Soft Play for Little Hands
In the earliest years, babies learn through touch, texture, and movement. Soft, natural materials help them explore while developing fine motor skills and sensory awareness.
Look for:
Natural fibers like cotton, wool, and felt
Simple animal shapes
Open-ended designs without batteries or buttons
These soft, natural fiber toys for toddlers are ideal for floor play, quiet moments, and early imaginative exploration. I especially love Waldorf-inspired toys for babies because they’re calming, durable, and beautiful enough to leave out year-round.
2. Wooden Toys That Grow With Your Child
Wooden toys are a staple in a nature-loving home - and for good reason. They’re sturdy, timeless, and encourage open-ended play that evolves as your child grows.
For babies and toddlers, choose:
Wooden stackers
Simple puzzles
Push or pull toys
Shape sorters
These open-ended wooden toys for toddlers support coordination, problem-solving, and independent play. They don’t dictate how a child should use them — and that’s exactly the point.
3. Nature-Inspired Board Books
I should have put board books first because books are my go-to gift and if I do choose to gift a toy, outdoor play tool, or even clothes, I find a book to match it. Books are one of the most meaningful gifts you can give in the early years. Even before children understand words, they absorb rhythm, imagery, and connection through shared reading.
Choose board books for babies about nature that feature:
Realistic elements like wildlife and nature
Beautiful illustrations
Seasonal themes and editions
Engagement - lift-a-flap, sparkle, peek through, touch and feel
These books often become favorites - read again and again before naps, bedtime routines, or cozy winter mornings.
4. Simple Sensory Play for Curious LITTLES
Babies are natural scientists. Sensory play allows them to explore cause and effect, texture, sound, and movement in developmentally appropriate ways.
Look for Montessori-style sensory toys for babies like:
Stacking cups
Texture balls
Nesting bowls
Wooden rattles
These toys encourage concentration and discovery without overstimulation - perfect for quiet play during the day. Plus they're open ended enough to stay in use for years to come; their baby rattle becomes a doll's toy. Stacking cups become a mud kitchen tea party. These exploration tools grow with your child.
5. Outdoor Exploration for Little Adventurers
Even the tiniest explorers benefit from time outside. Gifts that support outdoor play help babies and toddlers build confidence, curiosity, and a love for nature early on. While babies and tots can always benefit from outdoor gear (since they grow SO fast), they don't find the same appeal in a new winter jacket or hiking boots. So I've been on the hunt for toys that nurture outdoor time.
Great options include:
Wagons, bikes, and walkers with bigger wheels
Exploration tools like a gardening or bug collection kit
Mud kitchen and mud kitchen tools
Sandbox and sand toys
Gear to make outdoor time easier like a sunshade
These outdoor toys for toddlers encourage movement and sensory exploration while fitting naturally into everyday family life.
6. Cozy, Practical Gifts for Slow Days
Not every gift has to be a toy. Some of the most loved items are the ones that support daily rhythms and cozy moments.
Consider:
Wool blankets
Soft slippers
Toddler-friendly winter layers
Simple floor cushions for reading
These cozy essentials for babies and toddlers make slow mornings, story time, and winter evenings feel warm and grounded. They're even perfect for cuddled up outdoors or taking along on a camping trip
Why Nature-Inspired Gifts Matter
When we choose nature-inspired gifts for babies and toddlers rooted in simplicity, nature, and imagination, we’re doing more than filling a toy shelf - we’re shaping how our children experience the world.
Nature-inspired toys:
Encourage imagination
Support development
Reduce overstimulation
Create space for meaningful play
And perhaps most importantly, they invite children into a childhood filled with wonder, calm, and connection.
Save This List for Later
If you’re building a wish list or planning ahead for holidays and birthdays, bookmark
this guide or save these lists to Pinterest so it’s ready when you need it!
Comments