The best personalised gifts for babies and toddlers

personalised gifts

by Samantha Ball |
Updated on

It can be hard searching for the perfect present for your little one, especially when they might already have a lot of toys, but a personalised gift for babies and toddlers is a great way to get them something that's a little bit different and a lot more sentimental.

It's easy to buy babies or toddlers the must-have toys that can help their development, but they can be quickly put to the bottom of the toy box, (or somewhere completely random where it gets rediscovered a year down the line). But a personalised gift is a lot more loved, not just by the little ones, but by parents and carers too.

Best personalised gifts at a glance:

Best personalised gifts: Wooden Name Puzzle - Buy here on Etsy.
Best personalised gift book: Wonderbly's Bedtime For You Book - Buy here on Wonderbly.
Best practical personalised gift: Personalised Toy Box - Buy here on Etsy.
Best ride on personalised gift: Retro Style Ride On Racing Car - Buy here on Not On The High Street.

Whether it's a personalised toy or keepsake, little ones will love their name being engraved on to their special gift. So take a look at our selection of personalised products that make beautiful gifts for babies and toddlers.

Best overall personalised gift for babies and toddlers

Not only does this Wooden Name Puzzle make a lovely decorative piece for your little ones nursery, but it also makes a great toy to help your child develop their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination.

One review said: "I give a name puzzle to each of my grandchildren when they turn 2 years old. It's a wonderful gift. The children and parents are thrilled with these puzzles! the colors are just as pictured. I like the little handles. The children feel special with their name as the puzzle. Thanks!"

Pros

  • Beautiful and decorative
  • Option to have pegs or not
  • Aids hand eye coordination

Cons

  • Additional elements not included
Dimensions:35 x 8 x 0.9cm
Material:Plywood
  • Personalised name puzzle and optional engraved message on the back
  • Upto 10 letters

Best personalised gift book for babies and toddlers

There's nothing better than snuggling up with your little one at bedtime and reading to them, but with Wonderbly's Bedtime For You Book, those moments will be even more special. With beautiful illustrations, the book is completely personalised as you can choose the cover colour, add your little ones name and even choose a book character that looks like your child.

One review said: "I love the fact that our granddaughter's name is on nearly every page, whether on a towel or her pyjamas. It also has a lovely inscription that can be personalised. I can't fault it!"

Another review said: "My daughter’s favourite book! It really is a lovely, personal gift that not only is a perfect bedtime story but also a keepsake when my daughter has outgrown it."

Pros

  • Completely personalised
  • Beautifully illustrated

Cons

  • Can't have two children in one book
Recommended age:0 - 4 years
Dimensions:22.5 x 22.5cm
Number of pages:26
  • Personalised cover colour
  • Child's name featured throughout
  • Personalised inscription
  • Book formatting options

Best personalised gift name sign for babies and toddlers

This beautiful Wooden Layered Name Sign can be made with up to 25 characters and even with name accents if needed. You can leave the background unpainted, or have it painted white so the name stands out.

One customer wrote: "These signs are beautiful and will make my little ones room extra special. Amazing customer service too." Another said: "The name sign is well made and looks the part in our daughters room. We love it!"

Pros

  • Beautiful design
  • Can request proof before cutting
  • Can include name accents

Cons

  • Names can vary in size
Dimensions:Approximately 40cm - might vary slightly
Material:Poplar ply
  • Oak look name on white background

Best vest personalised gift for babies and toddlers

This Personalised Baby Vets with Hearts would be great to use for a baby announcement, but it also makes a gorgeous gift for a newborn. Made from 100 per cent cotton, you can personalise it with baby's surname, (or first name if you prefer!). It'll be a great little keepsake for mum and dad too.

One review said: "The baby grow arrived personalised the day after ordering- even though it wasn't due to arrive until a few days later. The design is so simple but effective. Amazing quality. I can't wait for my newborn to wear the babygrow as we introduce 'he/she' to our family and friends."

Pros

  • Popper fastening
  • Simple yet lovely design

Cons

  • Some felt it was on the smaller size of the sizing
Suitable for:Newborn - 18 months
Material:100% cotton
  • Short sleeves
  • 'Baby' and three hearts motif, with personalised name

Best cutlery set gift for babies and toddlers

With a mirror polished finish, this Children's Cutlery Set makes a wonderful gift for those starting to use a knife and fork more confidently. They also make a lovely gift for small children, to be used when they are older enough.

One review said: "Bought this for my granddaughter, who's just stating to use her own utensils. A beautiful gift, in a lovely box and with delicate personalisation. Parents loved them. Only thing is the fork prongs look a bit sharp, so should be used under (responsible) adult supervision (or maybe blunted a bit?)! Other than that, a lovely set or keepsake. Very quick delivery."

Pros

  • Practical and beautiful
  • Dishwasher safe

Cons

  • Some thought the fork wasn't suitable for really young children
Made from:Stainless steel
Finished type:Polished
Stain resistant:Yes
Dishwasher safe:Yes
  • 1 x knife
  • 1 x fork
  • 1 x spoon
  • 1 x teaspoon

Best practical personalised gift for babies and toddlers

It's no secret that children come with mountains of toys, so a toy chest to store them all is just the answer. This Personalised Toy Box is a lovely and sophisticated design, meaning it will look great in any room of the house, and can even double up as a little seat.

One review said: "Absolutely amazing customer service! So accommodating and managed a quick turn around got my nieces 1st birthday. The quality was amazing and allowed me to add a personal touch to the toy box. Overall lovely finish and I’m so happy I bought the lettering.

Pros

  • Custom to your colour preferences
  • Stylish and practical

Cons

  • Returns not accepted (exclusions for damage from delivery)
Dimensions:62 x 40 x 46.60cm
Material:Wood or acrylic
Colour:White, grey, pink and blue
  • Personalise toy box colour
  • Acrylic or wooden personalised name
  • Lid can be use as a seat

Best backpack personalised gift for babies and toddlers

With the sweetest matching dinosaur, this Personalised Blue Cord Mini Backpack and Dinosaur Toy is the perfect gift for little ones. Whether they need it for nursery or just for their own little treats when going out for the day, they'll love how soft it feels and their new companion.

One review said: "Excellent, well made & love that you can add name" Another review said: "The items are good pieces"

Pros

  • Zip main compartment
  • Cute dinosaur accessory

Cons

  • Mini dino can't be personalised
Dimensions:28 x 22 x 8cm
Suitable for:1 - 3 years
  • Cord backpack
  • Mini dinosaur
  • Front pouch
  • Zip compartment

Best comforter personalised gift for babies and toddlers

This gorgeous little set is made from super soft fabric, meaning it's gentle against newborns' skin. The Embroidered Baby Elephant Comforter and Blanket Gift Set makes a lovely gift, where the comforter can be personalised with baby's name and date of birth too. It'll make a lovely little keepsake one day too!

One review said: "Lovely item, that came beautifully wrapped and boxed. The personalisation is perfect, and could not believe it when it arrived the next day. It was gifted to my friend that had just had a baby, she loved it as much as I did. Would highly recommend this business!"

Pros

  • Super soft
  • Arrives with giftbox

Cons

  • Blanket can't be personalised
Suitable for:Newborn+
Dimensions:90 x 70cm
Material:Breathable waffle material
  • Gift box
  • Soft fabric baby comforter
  • Breathable waffle cot blanket

Best ride on personalised gift for babies and toddlers

This Retro Style Ride On Racing Car is perfect for toddlers and little ones finding their feet. They'll be able to zoom around the house in style on this metal racing car. You can choose your colour preference and also customise it with your little ones name!

One review said: "A super cute car and really well made. Absolutely love it. Cant wait to give it to my grand-daughter for her 1st birthday" Another review said: "Amazing gift for my new nephew. He will be having hours of fun with his new wheels I'm sure. Lovely red bow too."

Pros

  • Unique design
  • Personalised with colour preference and name

Cons

  • Extra for it to arrive assembled
Dimensions:73.5 x 35 x 40cm
Material:Metal with plastic seat
  • Arrives unassembled (unless paid extra)
  • Metal with plastic seat
  • Optional T-shirt upgrade

Best personalised gift for babies and toddlers train set

No parent forgets their little one's first train track, so why not make it more memorable by having their name engraved on to it? With the Personalised Engraved Wooden Kids Train Set, you can add a personalised message and name of your choice to the track, and gift it to start a train track collection that will provide endless hours of fun and imagination. This track is compatible with other wooden tracks, too.

One review said: "My grandson absolutely loved this little gift." Another review said: "Parents of the recipient truly loved the set. I think they will all get a kick out of it."

Pros

  • Compatible with other wooden tracks
  • 35 piece set

Cons

  • Only 20 characters engraved
Recommended age:3+ years
Track pieces:35
Material:Wood
  • 35 x track pieces
  • Select up to 4 tracks for engraving

Best baking set personalised gift for babies and toddlers

Budding chefs will love this personalised chef's hat which comes with the Hoolaroo Personalised Embroidered Kid's Baking Set. They'll look the part for any baking days now or even when they help out in the kitchen! It even comes with a sturdy, wooden rolling pin and shaped cookie cutters. It's a great little kit to kick-start your little chef's cooking skills.

One review said: "This was bought as a birthday present for my 6yr old daughter. Had it personalised with her name on the hat. Looked around for a quality product as I think she will get a lot of use from this set. I was not disappointed. It arrived in a lovely gift box, the hat and apron folded in tissue paper. Very professional presentation. The hat and apron are beautiful and my daughter is going to love wearing them whilst baking."

Pros

  • Eight piece set
  • Fun pattern

Cons

  • Only blue colour available
Recommended age: 3 years+
  • Four cookie cutters
  • Matching hat and oven mitt
  • Mini rolling pin included

Best dressing gown personalised gift for babies and toddlers

Personalised Ivory Hooded Fleece Robe
Price: $18.40 (was £23)

www.my1styears.com

Made from super soft material, this Personalised Ivory Hooded Fleece Robe will keep tots snug through the cold weather and on those chilly mornings. It's cute and snuggly and can even have your little ones name embroidered on to the dressing gown, making it the perfect personal gift.

One review said: "Bought as a new baby gift. The recipient absolutely loves it and can't wait to put the little on in it when he gets a little bigger as he's only three weeks old!" Another review said: "Lovely and fluffy. I have one for my son and bought a matching one for my nephew."

Pros

  • Soft and snuggly
  • Personalised text, font and colour

Cons

  • The more characters, the smaller the text
Suitable for:0-6 months up to 7 years
Washable:Wash at 40
  • Soft hood
  • Waist tie
  • Large front pockets

Best poem book personalised gift for baby and toddlers

Enjoy singing nursery rhymes to little ones from this Nursery Rhymes and Personalised Poems Book. It's personalised with a child's first name, which completes some of the poems in the book. Rhyming books are great fun for children and having their name in it is a great way of keeping them engaged with singing and reading.

One review said: "Such a beautiful book for my great niece. She has an unusual name so lovely to get something personalised" Another review said: "This is a beautiful and unique gift. It is of a high quality and will be a lovely keepsake. Very happy with it!"

Pros

  • Makes a lovely keepsake
  • Childs name is included in some poems

Cons

  • Some said the book binding could be slightly better
Dimensions:28 x 21cm
  • Option to add personalised message
  • Beautiful illustrations

What are the different types of personalised gifts?

Toys and books: children have lots of toys and books, but seeing one that features their name is guaranteed to give them the biggest smile. It makes the toy or book personal to them.

Keepsake: From baby vests to prints, some items, especially ones with their name on, will become sentimental, and can even make a nice decorative piece in their room.

Practical: we love a practical gift, but with a personalised element it makes it a little more special and probably a bit more exciting to a baby or toddler. Toy storage to hide all those toys, but with their name on? They'll love it.

Why choose a personalised gift?

Other than the fact that personalised gifts for babies and toddlers look cute and are incredibly sentimental, it could actually help boost your childs confidence seeing their name written in or on something.

Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.

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