Posted by A big brother gift is a great way to get an older sibling excited about the new baby and his role as big brother.
Big brother gifts can come from parents, friends or family members and make the child feel special during a challenging time of transition. One where everything seems to center around the new baby.
So what do you get an older sibling when a new baby is born?
Personally, I think the best big brother gifts are ones that keep the older sibling busy! This is something that they can play with on their own that won’t make a big mess (sorry Kinetic sand 😏). Or something they can play next to or with mom while she’s breastfeeding for hours on the couch.
Oh, and did I mention it shouldn’t make a terrible racket? 😂 There’s a new baby and sleep-deprived parents in the house after all.
I’ve got a whole lot of big brother gift ideas for you based on this whole “keeping busy” business. My recommendations are based on toys that my own boys have loved. They are listed by age so you can easily find the right gift.
But also…
If you’re a friend or family member buying gifts for the big brother, consider the gift of your time. Offer to come play with the big brother if you live nearby.
The hardest part about bringing home our second baby boy was not being able to give his big brother the same amount of undivided attention as before.
My eldest loved having visitors come and play with him when his baby brother was born.
This way the big brother doesn’t feel forgotten and also, maybe mom can take a nap with the baby.
Anyways, onto the list of big brother gifts!
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Big Brother Gifts For 1 Year Olds
Big Brother Books
A one year old most likely will not fully understand that he’s about to have a new sibling. That’s why I personally think books that teach about a new baby in the family or loving a sibling are one of the best big brother gifts for a one year old.
Here are some board books to choose from:
Stacking Boxes
Stacking is one of the first things one year olds learn to do with toys and we have absolutely loved these Melissa & Doug stacking boxes. Make a tall tower, knock it down, arrange them from big to small, learn the alphabet, or use them to put other little toys inside. It’s an inexpensive big brother gift that will get used a lot.
Teddy Bear
Teddy bears are a classic gift, and I love the idea of a teddy bear being a new “baby” for the big brother. When mom feeds the new baby she can ask her one year old to feed his new baby too. Make sure to get a “first teddy bear” (something like this) that doesn’t have any button eyes or a plastic nose since they are choking hazards.
Coordinated Big/Little Onesies
When there’s a new baby in the house, you can bet that mom and dad will be taking lots of photos. Why not give them the perfect photo op with coordinated onesies for the big brother and little brother/sister?
Walker
Whether big brother has been walking for a while now or is still learning, this Fisher Price walker is fun to push around or sit next to and play. It’s also something that the new baby will grow into quickly so it will get lots of use!
Big Brother Gifts For 2 Year Olds
It’s hard to go wrong with a big brother gift for a 2 year old because at this age they are really just discovering the world of toys and what they like. Below I’m recommending some of the toys that my 2 year old son currently plays with the most.
Mega Bloks
Mega Bloks are some of the easiest “first builder” toys for small children who are just beginning to develop their fine motor skills. The set we have is discontinued, but I think this similar Mega Bloks set would be just as big a hit as a gift for a 2 year old big brother.
Dot Puzzle
Help the big brother learn his colors by gifting him a dot pegboard puzzle that he can do over and over. I like this toy because unlike a regular puzzle (which is difficult at this age), these come with multiple pictures to push dots into so it’s different every time!
Dot Markers
Sticking with a dot theme, these washable dot markers are a fun first art tool for this age. My 2 year old will sit in his high chair and entertain himself for a while making colorful dot art (and it’s not messy like regular markers).
He does this so often that I even made my own dot marker printables that you can print for FREE and give to the big brother as a bonus.
Related:
Ride On Toy
What could be a more exciting gift for a big brother to open than something that comes in a huge box?! We have a ride on toy similar to this Mickey Mouse airplane that my boys use in the house to go round and round the kitchen island. Two is the perfect age for it, and I can tell you it will get played with for a few years at least!
Playing House Toys
Two year olds love being helpful. My 2 year old loves to empty the dishwasher or go to town with the Swiffer Duster like it’s a toy. Of course I’m not suggesting you just gift him a bunch of dusters 😂
But seriously, some of his actual favorite toys this year are this wooden vacuum that he pushes around to vacuum up the “debris”pieces it comes with.
He also loves this Melissa & Doug playing house set.
Just imagine mom busy with the new baby, and her asking big brother to help by “cleaning house” with his new toys!!
Big Brother Gifts For 3 Year Olds
Building toys and truck-related toys are the best big brother gifts for 3 year old boys, in my opinion. At this age, their motor skills and imaginations are rapidly developing and these toys will keep their little fingers and minds occupied. These are the toys we’ve loved most at age 3.
LEGO Duplo Set
Duplos are the most played with toy in our household and have been for a few years. I recommend this LEGO Duplo set because it has train cars. The train cars always get used the most to make all sorts of cool cars.
Tinker Toys
Tinker toys are so timeless. I remember loving building with them as a child. My mom actually kept our tinker toys all these years and re-gifted them back to us. It’s been fun watching my own kid learn to follow directions to build from the booklet as well as make his own unique creations.
Mr. Potato Head
You can’t go wrong with a classic toy like Mr. Potato Head as a big brother gift for a 3 year old. So many silly faces to make for mom and the new baby to see.
Melissa & Doug Vehicle Stickers
Stickers are always good fun for kids. But not just any stickers, reusable ones that a big brother can stick over and over! We have this sticker set by Melissa & Doug that comes with tons of cars and trucks stickers along with different scenic backgrounds. My boys love to stick them on windows too.
Game Choice: I Found It
I love the Disney themed seek and find card game called I Found It. Big brother can easily play this game with mom while she feeds the new baby on the couch. My kids love all the Disney characters on the cards and it keeps them focused looking for different items.
Big Brother Gifts For 4-5 Year Olds
If you are buying a gift for a big brother who has turned 4 or 5 years old, this is the age that the imagination really awakens and they make their toys talk. This why I’m recommending toys they can give a voice to such as stuffed animals, super heroes, cars and dinosaurs.
Hot Wheels
This is the perfect age for Hot Wheels cars. My son makes them talk, races them, gives them names and marvels at the different styles. One thing I’ve learned is that you can never have too many hot wheels cars!
Monster Trucks
The same thing is true for monster trucks like this awesome batman one. It doesn’t get any cooler than that.
Superhero LEGO Set
Superheroes are also big for 4 and 5 year old boys. I’ve noticed that Spider-Man seems to be the most prevalent superhero character in TV shows that are appropriate for this age. So chances are the big brother is a Spider Man fan.
This Spider-Man LEGO set would make an awesome gift for the big brother and really make him feel special… or “super”. It will keep him busy building and then making the characters interact!
Dinosaurs
My eldest son has loved dinosaurs for a while now and it all started with this set of dinosaur figures. The set comes with an interactive book for learning about each dinosaur and it also has push buttons to hear the dinosaur names and their roar. Perfect for a big brother who is newly interested in dinosaurs or wants to add more to his collection.
Squishmallows
If you haven’t heard of squishmallows, they are a popular brand of stuffed animals that come in all sorts of cute, squishy designs.
We have around 40 stuffed animals, but my 5 year old’s favorite is a sloth squishmallow that he affectionately named after his newborn brother. One of these similar squishmallows would be a great “baby” for a big brother to take care of while mom takes care of the new baby.
Game Choice: Guess In Ten
This is another super easy card game that mom can play with the big brother even if she’s stuck on the couch breastfeeding. To play Guess In Ten, mom can read the clues on the card and see if big brother can guess the animal.
Big Brother Gifts For 6-8 Year Olds
Older children have a much better idea of what to expect when they become a big brother. Heck, they might even be an older brother already. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a little congratulatory gift too. These are currently favorites from my friends’ boys (since my kids aren’t this age yet).
Mythical Figures
Older kids aren’t afraid of monsters and strange creatures anymore, but rather, these things have become fun! Check out these Schliech Eldrador creatures that feature ice dragons and lava monsters and you’ll see what I mean.
Ninjago LEGO Set
I remember the Ninja Turtles being big when I was this age, so it makes sense that kids are into the “Ninjago” ninjas of today. Grab this LEGO Ninjago set and big brother can launch and spin them over and over again.
Velcro Dart Board
Competitiveness seems to set in around this age, so why not gift the big brother a game that takes some athletic skill? This dart board comes with sticky balls rather than darts and would be a great addition to big brother’s room.
Hover Soccer Ball
Chances are that big brother already has a soccer ball. But does he have this best-selling hover soccer ball? Probably not. This is a great alternative when the weather is too bad to play soccer outside (and it won’t wreck the furniture!).
Game Choice: Uno
All of us remember playing the Uno card game as kids, right? It’s still just as popular and fun for kids and parents today. I love this for a budget-friendly idea.
What to put in a big brother bag?
Can’t decide on just one thing?
A popular big brother gift idea is to fill a bag with a variety of small toys or books. Think of it as a “busy bag” to entertain the older sibling while mom is tending to the new baby.
The following items work best for a big brother bag for children ages 2-5:
- Coloring Book
- Andre The Best Big Brother Book
- Water Bottle
- Animal Figures
- Stickers or sticker book (this one has been a favorite)
- Cars
- Big Brother T-Shirt
- Mini Slinkies
- Water Wow
- Healthy Snacks
- Big Brother Cap
Gifts For The Big Brother: Final Thoughts
Giving a gift to a new big sibling is a very thoughtful gesture, and I hope that you found something on my list of big brother gifts that you think the recipient will enjoy.
If you’re still undecided though in finding the perfect present, consider the following:
- Be sure that it is age appropriate. A toy with small pieces, for example, is a choking hazard for a child under 3.
- Is the gift appropriate for the recipient’s home? It’s probably not a good idea to buy a large gift if you know that the family lives in a small apartment.
Some other gifts for the big brother that are not appropriate include:
- Oversized stuffed animals
- Nerf guns or toys that promote violence
- Religious gifts for a non-religious family
- Collectors items they can’t actually play with
- Messy toys such as slime or kinetic sand
If you’re really feeling clueless about what to get the big brother, you can always ask his parents!
I always appreciate it when friends and family ask me what my boys want or need.
If you follow these guidelines, I know that your big brother gift is going to be well loved.
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