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.

My girls have a small grimms rainbow and they are 5 & 7 and it is still used for their imaginative play. Not sure how much the big one is but it will certainly be a gift that will last.

Another vote for Aden & Anaïs swaddles. They are super expensive for something you can essentially buy in a supermarket for a couple of quid, but they come in loads of lovely patterns and are perfect for laying on the grass of London Fields so their little darling can enjoy the sunshine with all the other hipster babies.

Also recommend Aden and Anais swaddles. Lots of lovely prints and are still useful past the newborn stage.

www.greentoys.co.uk

We have one of the submarine bath toys and it's well made and very popular at bath time.

Honestly thank you all SO MUCH. I’m going to spend the rest of the evening looking at everything suggested.

I never know what to buy them as it is because we’re definitely not hipsters but even more so when it comes to babies so I’m really grateful for everyone who replied. x

We really liked this company, especially their giant swaddle blankets.

tinyalpaca.co.uk/

Nice prints, organic cotton or bamboo and your money goes further than with Aden and Anais.

The packaging had also made extra effort to be recyclable/reusable.

I do love the Aden and Anais giant muslin swaddle but I received I think 3 with DC1 and another 2 with DC2. I’ve had several other friends say the same. So I reckon avoid that one even though it is a great suggestion because chances are several other friends will think along the same lines. My vote would always be for books. Tonight I read the 4YO a bedtime story she received as a newborn present which I can’t say about anything else we received.

We use this small business a lot for all our new baby gifts and I love the gift box too - they have a little print at the back where you can pop baby's handprint at the back, multi purpose
Chewiecat.co.uk

Clicky link chewiecat.co.uk

These guys used to be on Broadway market I think, gorgeous prints

www.leaping-lizards.co.uk/product-page/baby-pants

For clothes
www.polarnopyret.co.uk/

For toys try Scandiborn

Apparently all hip baby boutiques have names like Millie and Mandy, Ben and Banana, Teddy and Tutu. Cheesy!

Second Etta Loves. Also Tobias and Bear.

It's been mentioned but an Etta Loves muslin? I went and bought bulk cheap muslins when pregnant and would never have thought to splash out on a really nice sensory one. It's a nice gift.

Fox in the attic is a beautiful small business that does stunning illustrated muslins and swaddles. I always secretly wanted someone to buy me one as a gift but couldn’t justify buying one for myself

The book "on the night you were born" a work colleague bought me it days after my first was born and it's such a beautiful, beautiful book. It sums up your feelings of having your very own, first baby.

Highly recommend x

Can't go wrong with a couple of books.

Dear Zoo and Each Peach Pear Plum were my kids favourites. My toddler loves anything with flaps.

With a nice, cheery message inside from you to them. That's always a good gift, isn't it?

Another vote for Tuppence and Crumble star wrap, nobody bought us one but I got one second hand - very cute, small brand, so much easier than wrestling baby into coats/ pramsuit. I’ve just bought her one in the biggest size too.

Also there’s a cute small brand called Rosa and Bo that do Russian doll type toys in different designs. To be fair my daughter has expressed no interest whatsoever in ours, but I love them and they look really nice on the bedroom shelf.

Mini rodini

Owl Babies story book with a note inside and a £15.00 book token.

3-6 month dungarees in a gender neutral colour scheme eg primary colour stripes made of hemp or similar - saw some lovely ones a a festival last week (I know they are back!) made from hemp and nettles.

Or the doring kindersly (might be misspelled my kids are adults) touch and feel books, mine loved them as babies, think it's a set of 4

I have a one month old baby and the gifts I've enjoyed most are books and toys rather than clothes. Nice muslin cloths would be great. I can easily get through 2-3 per day. Reusable wipes. I use cheeky wipes but there may be an independent business that does similar.

@BunnytheFriendlyDragon makes a great point, our DC is 7 weeks old and the most useful gift was a pack of cheeky wipes

The Sketchy Muma book is a nice gift for new mums. I'm a second time mum and even now it makes me feel a bit less alone.

Floss & Woo make beautiful little outfits for babies. Handmade bloomers and the like, nice for newborn photo shoots.

Muslins always come in handy but as PP have said not Asda ones or a bamboo weaning plate also essential for the discerning hipster baby.