Present ideas for a newborn baby

[TheSmallAssassin]

It's so long since my kids were born and since anyone I knew had a baby, I am so out of touch with what a nice present would be now! In the past I've bought a sleeping bag or a book, or a cute sleepsuit. What would you buy friends who had recently had their first baby? We're not super close, but they are a lovely couple who we know through a hobby and we work with one of them too, so I would like to buy a little something, maybe about £25?

A dooky. It's a sun shield which hooks on the pram or car seat, about £20 and invaluable during the summer.

Easy to order from Amazon- an in ear thermometer suitable for infants

absolutely priceless for those first fevers

so useful

Tuppence and crumble star snug blanket. I’ve given quite a few, and we’ve also been gifted two, but they are lovely and cute and practical!

A Tuppence & Crumble star wrap! If they’ve been born/are going to be born soon, I’d recommend an M (DD was born in May and we’ve been using ours since October, only just growing out of it now and she’s a big baby!). They can be worn in car seats and they’re so easy to get baby in and out of (including whilst asleep!), keeping baby snug and comfy when it’s chilly

My friend got me a box of baby sensory toys - there's a seller (probably several) on Etsy where you can choose from a selection and they come nicely packaged. I loved it and have done the same for friends with new babies ever since.

I've got a 2 week old baby and the best thing people have bought us is food! So maybe a small gift for the baby and some dinner? You can get Deliveroo vouchers or you could make something.

Money box?

Our baby is 3 months old now and the best things we received were the star blanket mentioned above, sleep bags and food. We got a Cook box delivered with 12 frozen meals in it which were so helpful. We also got a couple of handmade blankets which were such a lovely thought and loved that people had spent the time on them.

I also hugely appreciated anyone who brought a bag of nappies, milk or wipes!
Having now experienced it, I will never again buy any new parents soft toys, anything too old for the age the baby currently is (including clothes, toys, bits for the future - bowls, cutlery, cups, etc.) or anything ‘keepsakey’.

Milestone cards or memory book or keepsake box perhaps as they are something that can be kept, with maybe a nice outfit ☺️

One of the best gifts I got was a bath book because nobody else had thought of that! My DD used it a lot. Also she was given a pair of inch blue leather baby shoes which were gorgeous and she wore a lot, but I wouldn't have bought for her myself because they're quite expensive!
Clothes it's hard to know what sizes they need, we were actually really short of 0-3 months for my youngest because everyone bought her bigger sizes, but then she was big for her age so the 6months + summer dresses she'd been bought fit her when it was too cold for her to wear them!
Definitely not blankets or soft toys, they'll be drowning in them!

Or else a nice blanket, or some Muslins perhaps.

Thanks everyone, some lovely ideas!

Lamaze toy, or black and white board to look at. A lovely big printed muslin if you can find one - it lasts so long, and nice to have some jazzy ones.

That said, I loved it when people bought food (posh snacks).

I received and now give some outfits in size 1 because you know they are season appropriate.

I know you said you wanted to buy for the baby but I’ve always bought something for the mother instead after a birth. Everyone buys for the baby, it’s lovely… but I like to remember the mum. It’s always appreciated!

I always get a small toy like a soft book/rattle and then a voucher so they can buy an outfit themselves as I ended up with so many beautiful clothes but it was impossible to use them all.

My first thought was the fleecy Tuppence and Crumble star wrap. We got one for Christmas and use it most days still. Easy to put on while asleep too, great for in the sling or buggy. Loads of compliments on it, loads of people asking where it's from etc.

My other favourite gift was Sock-ons. They're little stretchy things that you wear over socks to help keep them on. Useful from about 2 months when baby rubs socks off, until walking when they wear shoes to keep them on. Stops the incessant pulling off and losing! Honestly wouldn't be without them.

Sleeping bags are good - go for bigger sizes. And books you read to your children when they were little were lovely gifts. We have a couple that really felt special because of that.

I think clothes are fine, I quite liked putting my children in things that other people chose that I wouldn't. I would go bigger than 3-6 months though. Lots of people thought the same and we had so much 3-6! Make sure it's season appropriate though. We had some things that can't be worn because they bought 6-9 in summer when baby was born but they're not going to be that size in 12 months.

I never buy for the baby. Buy for the mum / parents - wine, a hamper of nice food, voucher for ready prepared meals. They probably have the baby stuff they need. I had to pass on so much stuff we got given and didn’t need

I think these playmats that you can just pack everything up into make a great gift, choose one of the "soft" ones if you want a nice padded one for a small baby though

https://smallkins.com/products/play-and-go-animal-faces-soft-baby-playmat-storage-bag?gl=11g5lm5656upMQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhfqexJmehQMV95xQBh3pVQRwEAAYASAAEgLGbvD_BwE

Best received presents were actually very practical: a big box of next size up nappies, a stack of muslins and a really good quality,
gorgeous scented, hand cream for Mum as she was washing her hands many times a day.

She cried a little that I had thought of her, not just the baby. Hormonal tears of course but I'm glad I chose that for her.

Julia Donaldson books. You can buy a packs of her books on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=julia+donaldson+books+set&crid=37UQKYMZSJPR6&sprefix=julia+do%2Caps%2C661&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_8