Best new baby gifts

[NeonLover]

got Some new babies arriving in the family but not up to date with newborn gifts as my kids are all teenagers now.

when they were little it was sophie the giraffe and jelly at rabbits but have things moved on?!

will definitely include some clothes so any suggestions for the softest nicest baby grows or where to get cute outfits would be much appreciated

All my mum friends got inundated with outfits that didn’t get worn. They were either impractical (dresses/ jeans etc)or the baby grew too quick. I think personally the best gift I could’ve hoped for when my baby was born would’ve been 100 packs of wet wipes. Sounds stupid but that would’ve been so helpful, definitely been used and definitely remembered!

If you want to buy clothes, go for sleepsuits with zips in a bigger size, not newborn, and things like socks and vests which are really helpful. We didn’t know if our baby was going to be a boy or girl which stopped people buying overbuying to an extent, but my friends who knew had mountains of stuff go to waste, which is a shame really.

Boots voucher for nappies/wipes
frida snot sucker
ewan dream sheep
If clothes- get the bigger size vests and sleepsuits from next. Footless and 2 way zips are the best and last longer. Everyone gets tiny baby stuff so by the time they’re 6-9 months+ and your mat pay has run out you have no clothes lol. Matchstick monkey teethers are fab
muslins
I was most grateful for boots and next vouchers, so I could actually get stuff when he needed without having to stress!

My husbands cousin was 3 months old by the time we met her. We had a little pink rabbit comfort blanket and a teething toy that you can freeze or microwave.

I’ve got a two year old and my second due in June.
I got gifted lots of clothes but used them all - as others have said zipped sleep suits are really handy and clothes in a few sizes up as you get a lot of 0-3.

The Little Dutch has some really nice baby toys.

I would also ask the mum if there’s anything practical she needs eg bouncer/ bath/ playmat.

Id also be happy with a Jellycat or Sophie the Giraffe!

I recommend useful things, rather than cute things. Newborns dont need a teddy, but good quality wipes and muslin clothes are essential. Something nice for the mum too!

Clothes are always tricky. Not everything will be to the parents' taste. It's all very well suggesting getting bigger sizes but I know people who have exclusively been given stuff in older sizes but were banking on being given newborn things then had nothing for their newborn. And what's more, will the things available in the shops now be the right season once baby is old enough to wear it? People have given me lovely summer dresses in 9-12mths but it will be late winter/early spring when they fit - assuming Babe is average in size. If they're tiny then maybe it will be right but if they're huge they'll have light and floaty dresses for the middle of winter!

I'd go with really practical stuff like a bath time hamper with bubble bath, a toothbrush and toothpaste, teething granules, bath toys etc. Or a weaning hamper with some nice plates, bowls, cutlery, cups etc.

For my last baby my friends made up a basket with calpol, ibuprofen, saline nasal drops, baby wipes, teething powders and gels, lots of muslins and a set of bibs. They added aveeno baby shampoo, conditioner and lotion and a next voucher so I could buy things as and when needed. For me they did a basket with a nice bath wash, shower gel, lotion, hand wash, hand lotion, bath salts, face masks, nipple balm and a fancy water bottle. They added in a just eat voucher which was most appreciated and a toy each for my older daughter and son.

We did get lots of clothes from family members but not all got worn as they were the wrong season when baby could fit into them. We already had all the big ticket items as she was the last baby.

I often do a weaning basket so larger bibs, plates, different cups or sippy cups and a weaning book. My thinking is they are all going to go through that phase anyway and it's just a starting point for the parent, where they can try different cups and see what suits and what needs to be added.

We received 20 jelly cats/similar toys. I kept the handmade one and 1 other and gave the rest to the children's hospital.

Getting clothes in a bigger size is a great idea but watch the seasons - we ended up with a winter coat in size 6-9 months for our January baby. Never worn!

We loved it when people gave vouchers, or children's books that they had loved reading or having read to them.

Frugi do lovely organic cotton clothes

Yeah clothes are always welcome but be careful of sizing and seasons eg if going to buy a snowsuit for a baby born in May to wear later, best get 6-9 months.
Jellycats are expensive but very much still popular!
Cute blanket or comforter type toy- they often end up treasured for years.
Baby milestone book or box for collecting mementos- lock of hair, first tooth, hospital bracelet etc
Toys eg Lamaze sensory ones. I loved those ones with a clip that attach to the pram, such a great idea.
Baby books.

Lots of great ideas thank you

Why not ask what the parents want specifically? That way you avoid them having duplicates of things!

I've always included a John Lewis voucher in gifts bc parents can spend at Waitrose on a nice ready meal or baby essentials, or spend on clothing or bigger items at JL direct :)

I’ve had 2 babies in the last 2 years and the best gifts I received, the ones I appreciated the most, were snacks & food😂

Yes Sophie the giraffe is still an excellent present to get, as are Jelly cats. I got my daughter one before she was born, it was the first thing I got her to keep for when she arrived. She is 11 years old and still sleeps with it.

Wipes, infatot teether, nuby banana teether, vests for bigger sizes (the wrap ones) dribble bibs, a boots voucher so they can pick up things! A Baby sleeping bag - always handy to have spares incase of leaks.
A special Tuppence and Crumble Star fleece is another lovely item in so many colours.
Nappies - although appreciate people can be fussy.
Wouldn't say teddies - we were inundated but lovely to have. A book or small toy (like a suction one that goes on a high chair)
If clothes, I'd of appreciated more 6-9, 9-12 as had so many smaller sizes which when less than 3months were totally impractical. But be aware of seasons!

My friends got me a rockit for the pram which I love and use loads. And mail order donuts after a particularly hard night nearly made me cry tears of joy. Was so nice to get something for me rather than just the baby.

One of my friends made me some home made dinners for my freezer which was a lovely gift but I had Jellycat’s, Sophie the giraffe and all sorts of nice things
if in doubt a voucher is always good 👍

How about a mini porcelain Noah's ark. I've seen a lovely East of India one

Deliveroo voucher

Food! For the parents!

Such as -
Waitrose/M&S voucher
Deliveroo voucher
Baked goods
Home cooked meals
Nice frozen ready meals or a voucher
Hamper of tea bags and snacks

Maybe a token gift for the baby, like a book?

These were my absolute favourite gifts, as a mum of three under four.

Ive just gifted my best friends daughter's baby -
A cute vest
Jogger&sweatshirt set
Childs farm - bath foam, moisturiser, sleep spray (for room) - sleepy time version
Packet of wet wipes
Packet of nappy bags
Packet of cotton wool pleats
3 muslin squares
My gifts went down very well!

I might also buy - a tub of sudocrem, nappies (larger size if you don't know the size), baby sleeping bag - i saw some cute ones in asda, bottle of calpol or baby ibuprofen, gripe water.

A large slab of homemade brownie. Sophie will always be good, or Oli & Carol veg.

You can never have too many muslins! There are fancy (ahem, expensive) ones available if you want something more “gift appropriate” like Etta Loves.

The gifts people actually remember are usually either genuinely useful in the foggy newborn weeks or small enough to become part of the family story later.

If practical things are already covered, I would go for something simple and personal rather than more gear. A nice baby book, a proper photo album, a really good blanket, or even a box file with a card saying "for the bits you will want to keep" is lovely because people can actually use it without it turning into clutter.

My favourite sort of sentimental present is anything that makes it easier to save one or two memories properly, rather than a novelty keepsake that just sits there. Even adding a handwritten note about why you chose it makes it feel much more special.