The best baby gifts for newborns 2026

If you want a great gift that's not only suitable for a new baby but extremely practical for teething tots, look no further. 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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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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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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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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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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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!

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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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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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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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It's a little on the pricey side, but if you're looking to really push the boat out for your choice of best baby gift, the Babybjorn Bouncer Bliss ticks all the boxes for best baby bouncer/rocker. Super lightweight and extra convenient due to coming fully assembled, the Bliss is sturdy, supportive and well-made.

Beloved by Mumsnet parents for years, we think the Bouncer Bliss is a brilliant gift option if you want to give the new parents in question a bit of a break as it is designed to respond to the baby's movements, stimulating them with bouncing or soothing them to sleep. Best of all, the three-position recline grows with the child, meaning they can continue using the bouncer up to the age of two.

Read our full BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss review.