Newborn gift for stylish parents!

[EllaMayGrace]

We have some lovely friends who are expecting any day now (we don’t know if it’s a boy or girl yet!) and I’d love to buy them a gift for their new arrival.

DH and I don’t have any children so I’m not really sure a) what baby stores exist out there and b) what new parents actually need/appreciate. I would love some recommendations!

The couple are very stylish Broadway Market hipster types. They like independent brands, things which are ethical/fair trade/living wage, quality over quantity, etc.

Budget is around £30-£40 and I’d prefer to buy online but if there’s any particular shops recommended we are currently in the north east/Newcastle but we will be in east London to visit said baby so could pop in somewhere beforehand.

Don’t buy any clothes for the baby there is so much uncertainty over size and things end up being the wrong season. Anything cute and pretty is usually massively impractical too because babies vomit and do massive yellow poos over everything as newborns.

I hated it when people bought bath or feeding products and tried to impose their own view of “best” on me. It’s all really personal.
Two thoughts are: sponsor a child in need from a developing country or similar donation
Or
Buy the parents really really good quality coffee and/or chocolate

If you absolutely must buy the baby something the most useful thing I had was giant muslins that are natural fibres and can be used to swaddle, as a blanket, as a temporary sun shade etc.

The ultimate, pretentious, hipster baby gift -

www.kidly.co.uk/products/oli-and-carol/kendall-the-kale-teether/6129?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8nfZaIRGYdbpY82vw45As3NkrWUX4vUZ8HOOUUVjP5rUOc7lUEY62RoCIuMQAvD_BwE

Anything Danish eg
Georg Jensen cutlery
Kaj Bøjesen figures
Anything by triptrap or brio.
Småfolk clothing

• Scandiborn
• Kidly

If you want local to Broadway market (In Hackney)

• What mother made
• Bob and Blossom
• Luna & Curious

Frugi or picadilly for clothes.

Any toys from babipur or kidly

Newborn wise dont get newborn clothes. Go for 3-6 and get something generic season wise (dungarees)

Baby sensory stuff is always good. I LOVED etta loves sensory strip also priya and peanut do.some good bits. Small brands with nice stuff.

A beautiful blanket. Etsy do lovely, hand-knitted ones.

Can't go wrong with a classic picture book or three. I like where the wild things are, beegu, mr magnolia, oh the places you'll go.....

Something from The White Company. Loads of lovely stuff on their website.

Anything from Mama Owl. I live near Broadway Market and it’s the archetypal drab hipster babywear website. (Though to be fair, some of it is lovely)

I agree with the pp who said fancy giant muslins. A stylish friend got me some and they are actually very handy.

Olli Ella, the hoodie barn is nice (but a bit more)

or a Maileg mouse? Look at Liberty for lots of ideas and brands

If it’s their first, cute babygro from Kidly/Eddie and Bee/Lindex and a book like I Want My Hat Back or Oh No George.

If it’s their second, send food. Pizzas, brownies, Deliveroo credit - anything except baby stuff, which they’ll inevitably have tonnes of. Not another White Company blanket.

It sounds like you are quite good friends if you’re going to visit. I would go for books as they can’t be branded as hipsterish or not and if you did your favourite selection from when were a child it’s v personal, there are the classics like Mog, Peepo etc.

I love Aden and anais Muslins. No idea if they are ethical but some lovely prints and the giant ones are useful

Is it their first baby? What about something from 'grimms'. Or something from Babipur. They stock grimms! They'll probably be given loads of clothes. Duns sweden has nice unisex baby clothes though if you can't resist and they are organic!

Books
Owl babies
Peepo
The zoo one ( I can't remember the name)

If you fancy a day out in Corbridge Baby at the Bank have just what you are looking for.

Great place for a day out too.

What about something from Mr Wolf, the toy shop in Newcastle. They have an online shop or you can ring them for advice.

I forgot Mr Wolf. Great toys, clothes and gifts.

Bamboo set www.bamboobamboo.com/collections

My mum used to hand knit for suehillclothing.com/collections/unisex-baby-blankets-cardigans-hats

Good quality but she had to give up knitting as the deadlines were quite harsh.

Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets. Amazing versatile muslins.

I'd buy a Grimms grasping toy - the hedgehog is lovely. Very subtle and ethical.

I would go for a Tuppence and Crumble star wrap (think about weather vs likely size of baby, they do 0-4 months and 4-10 months). They are really lovely, beautifully packaged if you pay for that and can be ordered online in a range of colours. Very useful and much easier than a coat, especially for going in and out of buildings!

If you want to get something to keep/play with, you could get a small Grimms rainbow from Babipur for about £25.