The best baby gifts for newborns 2023

Price on writing: £14 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Teething 

What we love

• Perfectly safe for little mouths
• Stimulates five senses
• Encourages co-ordination

What to know

• Can be tricky to wash

What Mumsnet users say

"My baby loved Sophie, she's torn a hole in her from loving her so much." (Recommended by Mumsnet user 20viona)

"I would send a classic Sophie Giraffe [as a baby gift]" (Advice from Mumsnet user TightFistedWozerk)

"[We were] bought a Sophie le Girafe teething toy for DS (DC#1) and he loved it." (Approved by Mumsnet user ohidoliketobe)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

Considered by many as an absolute classic, Sophie La Girafe is a Lamaze toy that’s perfect for teething. Created in France in 1961 and made from 100% natural rubber and food grade paint, this little marvel manages to stimulate all five senses, soothing sore gums and providing hours of curiosity.

It’s also easy for a baby to hold and squeeze, making it tactile and reassuring. This one comes in a pretty gift box too. If you want a gift that’s affordable yet beautifully presented, Sophie is it, topping many a Mumsnet thread on the subject of the best baby gifts for well over a decade. 

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Price on writing: From £23 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Feeding, cleaning, play, light blanket, cover up 

What we love

• So much more than just a muslin
• Super soft
• Variety of subtle designs and patterns to choose from

What to know

• Cheaper muslins are available

What Mumsnet users say

"[The best baby gift we received was] Aden and Anais huge muslin squares." (Recommended by Mumsnet user EverdeRose)

"I have a load of these and love them. I’m on baby no. 4 now and the ones I bought for baby 1 are just as lovely as they were when new." (Approved by Mumsnet user Isawthathaggis)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

There's just something about the Aden + Anais muslins that sets them apart from other musy squares for many a Mumsnetter. It might be the large size - which means they can be used for so much more than mopping up milky burps - or it may be the super soft feel of them or their sweet, subtle designs. Whatever it is, these come up time and time again as one of the best baby gifts on the Mumsnet forums. 

Yes, cheaper muslins are available, but if you're looking for a multi-pack gift under £20 which is pretty much guaranteed to be useful in some form (whether it's to mop up spills, wipe snotty noses, drape over a pram for shade or become the comforter of choice long after mum's put away her maternity clothes for good) well, you can't go far wrong. 

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Price on writing: £30 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + (as long as it's placed out of reach) | Best for: Sleep aid

What we love

• Nightlight and white noise machine all in one
• Choice of four white/pink noise options
• Can be hung out of reach of baby for safety

What to know

• Not recommended to be left in the cot until baby is over a year

What Mumsnet users say

"I had Ewan with my first baby. Was great as my son was a poor sleeper and we needed all the help we could. Used as part of bedtime routine so was helpful when staying somewhere unfamiliar too." (Recommended by Mumsnet user turtletum)

"[The best baby gift we received was] Ewan the dream sheep! He’s now like a dearly loved family member." (Approved by Mumsnet user Littleone638)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

Ewan the Dream Sheep is a best-selling baby sleep aid. This is due to the fact that it's been seen to help babies sleep peacefully, providing comfort and security by emitting real womb and heartbeat sounds. It’s cute, cuddly and highly functional, featuring three other calming sounds; rainfall, harp melody, and a vacuum cleaner noise.

Ewan also comes with a soothing night light and has been proven to reduce colic. Magic. Parents will love you so much for buying this, it may well count as one of the best gifts for new mums as well as babies - after all, what better gift for new parents than the gift of sleep?!

Ewan now comes as a Deluxe version too which features a cry sensor that switches him on automatically when baby stirs.

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Price on writing: From £62 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: 6 months + | Best for: Entertaining older babies

What we love

• Hours of fun
• Promotes fine and gross motor skills
• Lasts many years

What to know

• Large
• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

"Definitely buy a Jumperoo if you don’t already have one, the most enjoyed piece of equipment from say 4-9mo for most babies I know." (Recommended by Mumsnet user Heruka)

"My daughter loved hers. She used until she was a year old. Best buy we made." (Approved by Mumsnet user McNo)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

This Fisher-Price staple comes with a 360-degree rotation which plays music and sounds to get babies interacting, reaching and developing all the important fine and gross motor skills. Sought after by Mumsnetters as the dream learning toy for babies 6 months and over (babies must be able to hold their own head up before it's safe for them to use), this Jumperoo is the type of gift parents will thank you for later.

It features 12 friendly rainforest animal toys and activities such as an alligator clicker, butterfly teether, a lion roller and two overhead soft monkeys. Plus, it’s easily adjustable with three height settings, is designed to strengthen motor skills and also encourages babies to jump and wriggle about. One of the best baby gifts which is both fun and educational in equal measure. Plus, though it's not suitable for newborns, it can be used by little ones well into their second (even third!) year, promising to entertain and stimulate little ones for years to come.

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Price on writing: £10 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Sensory development, teething, fine motor skills

What we love

• Inexpensive
• Multi-sensory features

What to know

• Surface wash only

What Mumsnet users say

"Whoozit is the best thing ever. Gave ours away and I rue the day I did that." (Recommended by Mumsnet user MissBetseyTrotwood)

"All of my children loved the Whoozit toy." (Approved by Mumsnet user Zhx3)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

You really can’t go wrong with this award-winning Manhattan Whoozit toy. Renowned for being a baby’s best friend, this is a classic, soft, multi-sensory activity toy with a big smiling face that babies adore.

It features bright, eye-catching colours as well as black and white contrast to appeal to newborn eyes, various textures and patterns to hold attention and soothe anxious cries. Whoozit rattles, squeaks, crinkles and comes with loop attachments to fasten onto car seats, strollers or cribs. 

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Price on writing: £6 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Feeding, teething, dribbling, weaning

What we love

• Stylish as well as practical
• Huge range of colours and patterns to choose from

What to know

• Pricey for a bib

What Mumsnet users say

"Best gift for baby - Skibz bibs, they really came into their own when teething started." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user BuggyBabe)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

If you’ve got a practical hat on, this gift idea could be just for you. These dribble bibs by Skibz will be a lifesaver to both parents and baby. They’re functional, stylish, comfortable and are perfect for teething mouths.

These bibs come with an adjustable fastening, are known to keep their shape (no shrinking, fading or distortion) and are highly absorbent so babies don’t have to suffer soreness or chafing around the chin and mouth. You can even mix and match with different patterns. Granted, they're not the cheapest bib out there but their high quality design means they should still be getting plenty of use for years to come - and they'd make a great option for the best baby shower gift too!

Price on writing: £35 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Developing an early love of books and reading

What we love

• Encourages active imagination
• Appeals to children for years
• Reading can soothe younger babies

What to know

• Smaller babies may lose interest before stories are finished

What Mumsnet users say

"[The best baby gift is] a Julia McDonald book set. I spent hours reading these to my daughter. You'll find them on Amazon." (Recommended by Mumsnet user B1rd)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

Mumsnet users love giving books as baby gifts because it’s something they can grow into and keep for a long time. These Julia Donaldson picture books come in a collection of 10 colourful, rhyming stories, giving the family a chance to gather around, cosy up and share tales together.

Even though babies won’t understand a word, they will joyfully react to the sound of your voice and it's never too early (in our opinion) to encourage a lifelong love of books and reading. Babies will be soothed by the rhythm of Donaldson's gentle rhyming and although their attention might wane long before they discover what, exactly, a Gruffalo is, reading at bedtime can help set parents and little ones up for a great bedtime routine to encourage sleep (which is what all new parents really want, after all!).

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Price on writing: £12 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Combination (combi) feeding babies

What we love

• Dishwasher safe
• Designed to maximise success of combination breast and bottle feeding

What to know

• Some found teat too fast flowing for newborns

What Mumsnet users say

"I loved the Lansinoh bottles that I used for my daughter. She rejected every other bottle." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user KitchenTowel)

"I recommended the Lansinoh bottles to someone in my antenatal group who also had a picky combi feeder, and she got back to me to say her son had taken to them really well too. The bottles are lovely and have stood up really well to 10 months’ use, with regular steam sterilising plus a few Milton cold water tablet sessions when visiting family." (Recommended by Mumsnet users OhTinyBear)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

Winner of the Mumsnet Best badge 2018, these bottles from Lansinoh are made from soft, natural-feel 100% silicone which mimics the breastfeeding action and are clinically proven to encourage babies to take to bottle-feeding naturally, which could prove a game-changer for new parents looking to combination feed their baby.

Thanks to the impressive design of Lansinoh’s NaturalWave teat, which prompts an instinctive sucking action, parents can maintain their baby’s breastfeeding pattern and move from breast to bottle (and back again if wanted) easily. The mOmma feeding bottles also come with air ventilation which reduces the baby’s intake of air, preventing colic flair-ups. As a trusted brand for more than 30 years, feeding bottles don’t get much safer or more effective than this.

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Price on writing: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + (not recommended for babies weighing under 8.8 lbs) | Best for: Babies who don't like a swaddle

What we love

• Perfect for growing babies
• Variety of tog options available for different temperatures/ times of year
• Keeps baby warm in bed with minimal risk

What to know

• Not suitable for babies weighing under 8.8 lbs
• Can make night time nappy changes more difficult

What Mumsnet users say

"I used sleeping bags from day 1 with my two (both over 9lbs though) and they were great. I had winter babies so keeping them in a sleeping bag really helped with night feeds." (Recommended by Mumsnet user Twizbe)

"Grobags are amazing... Actual Grobag brand though rather than random brand baby sleeping bags." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user londonloves)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

Loved by parents everywhere, these Grobags from The Grow Company are the snuggliest gift you can buy for babies. There’s no need for extra sheets or blankets, these baby sleeping bags are all they’ll need to soundly drift off to sleep. All Grobags have accurate Tog ratings and you will be able to rest assured knowing the covers will stay put, thanks to the fastenings at the shoulders.

Available in three ages: 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 18-36 months. While the traditional Grobag sleeping bags are not suitable for babies smaller than 8.8 lbs, there are a range of Gro-snug Cosy Swaddle sleeping bags suitable for tinier babies.

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Price on writing: From £49 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Keeping babies safe and occupied 

What we love

• Grows with baby so can be used from birth to toddler years
• Encourages sensory play
• Vibrations and rocking feature can soothe fussy babies

What to know

• Not recommended for sleeping

What Mumsnet users say

"My son is 15 months and still uses his! We've got it on the toddler setting now and he'll sit and play with his toys in it. I like it because they can kick their legs and move around." (Recommended by Mumsnet user moita)

"I have one, it's very good, used with 4 month old. He has napped in it, but goes in his cot now during the day.It is not high off the ground and actually reclines, so you can have it more upright." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Rosie29)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

Colourful, convenient and space-saving, Fisher-Price strikes again with this newborn-to-toddler vibrating rocker seat. It comes with two comfortable reclining positions, features calming vibrations and comes with a fold-out kick-stand for sturdiness.

It’s the ideal place to feed and, according to Mumsnet users, no baby gift list would be complete without a mention. At under £50, it’s affordable yet practical and would be one well-received gift addition, particularly as it keeps babies entertained long enough for mum and dad to have a little break. Read our in-depth Review of the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker here.

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Price on writing: £117 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Parenting peace of mind

What we love

• Helps parents keep tabs on baby while sleeping
• Sensor pad alerts parents if baby stops breathing

What to know

• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

"We had one, never experienced over-sensitivity and it really helped my post-natal anxiety - I could open my eyes, see the little green light blinking, and not have to get out of bed to check my son's breathing constantly. Just don't forget to switch it off when you pick the baby up!" (Recommended by Mumsnet user HavelockVetinari)

"Had Angelcare mats for both of mine, I wouldn't have slept without them." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Calmyertits)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

Last, but by no means least, is the Angelcare Baby Monitor. It has an under-the-mattress sensor pad, which monitors all the baby’s movements, no matter how slight, and if no movement has been detected for 20 seconds an alarm will sound.

Its portable parent unit displays the nursery room temperature, and has a two-way talk back feature that allows parents to soothe and reassure their baby. The Angelcare Movement Monitor is top of the range and ticks all possible boxes as far as baby monitors are concerned. Again, any gift for baby which helps their parents sleep better will be the best baby gift you can buy.