The Best Baby Gifts

Practical gifts that new parents will actually use and cherish

It can be hard to know what to buy new parents following the arrival of a new baby, especially when it may not be their first child or you have no idea what they’ve already got.

Most parents will cite that the best gifts they received were the ones that helped relieve stress, saved time, increased sleep, or helped with day to day life as new parents. So if you can tick at least one of these boxes, you’re onto a winner!

If you’re searching for that perfect present for new parents, here are plenty of ideas for gifts that they’re sure to love.

Something for…sleep

My two absolute go-to’s for increasing newborn sleep are swaddling and white noise. They are pretty much universal in helping improve a young baby’s sleep, even if just a little. Babies are often overwhelmed being introduced into a world outside of the womb, and need help transitioning. Anything that helps them feel cocooned and safe, and calms their central nervous system, will help them relax, which not only helps sleep but gassiness and feeding too.

A white noise machine that also doubles up as a night light for feeding is a great gift for new parents as it reduces the amount of gadgets needed to carry around the house or out and about. My favourite is the Lumi sleep aid, which has lots of different types of white noise to suit every baby, and importantly it can be turned up loud enough to actually make a difference. The light has a range of brightness levels, and colours, which is perfect for when you need more light for night feeds, and red/amber to promote sleep but still be able to see enough while settling – more tips on creating the perfect newborn sleep environment can be found here.

Swaddle suits are also a big hit, and even if they already have bought a couple, it’s always handy to have spares when the others are in the wash. A firm favourite among babies and parents alike is the Love to Dream swaddle suit. It zips up, which is always a win when sleep deprived, and allows babies to sleep in a more natural position, with access to their hands for settling too.

Something for…baby

As a sleep consultant, I am a huge advocate of comforters for aiding sleep in older babies so they can be a great gift. My son’s favourite as baby (and still in his bed every night now!) where these from The Little White Company, super soft and I can testify they are still good as new after many washes 8 years later! I also often recommend NHS approved Cuskiboo comforters, which are made from eco-friendly, anti-bacterial and super soft bamboo.

Clothing is always an adorable gift, and always appreciated as a practical gift. However, most people gift cute newborn sized outfits, that never get to see the outside world, and become too small within a matter of weeks. To tick the cute AND practical boxes, buy at least the next size up to ensure the new parents have plenty of options once the baby grows before their very eyes. Extra bonus points if you buy sleep suits with zips, such as this one from Mori.

Something for…attachment

Baby carriers and slings are great for hands free baby wearing, but chances are, they may already have bought one that suits their needs, or are planning on visiting a sling library. However, they may not have thought about attachment clothing such as this skin-to-skin top from Seraphine, which is great for bonding and hands free contact naps.

Something for…Mum

I think any Mum will appreciate a bit of pampering post birth. Whether it’s a hamper of treats or toiletries such as this Moments of Wellbeing Collection from Neom, or a voucher for a postnatal massage, any gift that isn’t baby-related will go down a treat.

A great practical gift for long term wellness is a Mummy Mot, a postnatal check up which includes a full postural screen. pelvic floor muscle assessment. abdominal muscle exam to check for any separation. and screening for bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction. Mums also get advice and a rehabilitation programme following the appointment.

Hydration is key for women post birth, especially when breastfeeding, so a non-spill but easy to open one-handed water bottle such as this one from Chilly’s is a simple yet often overlooked necessity in the early weeks and months.

Something for…time saving

One of THE best gifts for new parents will always be something that allows for more time spent focussing on the baby, rather than household chores.

Good nutrition is so important, yet will often be the first thing to be neglected post-birth, so home cooked meals or vouchers for pre-cooked healthy meals are a winner, such as this New Parent 7 Nights of Meals from Cook.

Other vouchers for home help such as washing and ironing, or cleaning will be welcomed, as any new parents will tell you the shock of how such a tiny person can produce so much washing!

Something for…safety

A common gift is a baby grooming kit, which are great. But often overlooked is the even more practical mini first aid kit which can be good to have at home or on the go. Or why not go one better, and offer vouchers for a parent first aid course such as Mini First Aid?

Something for…Dad

Dads like practical solutions to parenting, and there’s so much tech out there that new Dads just love. Whether it’s a gadget for bottle washing (see below!) or a the latest baby monitoring system, it’s bound to get them (almost) as excited as their baby.

New dads often sadly have to return to work pretty quickly post-birth, but still want to be nearby to offer support when it’s needed. A great solution to help dads to stay in the same bedroom, get maximum sleep but also be close enough to wake when really need, is  decent pair of ear plugs such as these, providing maximum comfort and sound proofing.

Another practical gadget is this smart mug by Ember – it keeps drinks hot for up to 90 minutes, meaning they will never have to endure the hot-drink-gone-cold dilemma that plagues every new parent!

Something for…development

It can be hard to know what a growing baby needs at every stage of development, and with such a huge range of baby toys on the market, it can be quite overwhelming to know what to buy.

Love Every have taken out the guesswork, and have Play Kits for every stage throughout the baby months and beyond. Whether you buy a one off kit, or a years subscription, it’s a lovely gift that will ensure the new arrival has everything they need to thrive in their early learning.

Something for…feeding

The first months of a babies life is mostly spent either settling a baby to sleep, or feeding them. If you can make either of those processes easier, it’s game-changing.

My favourite formula-feeding gadget is the Perfect Prep machine from Tommee Tippee. Like a coffee machine fro formula milk, it ensures milk is not only made safely, but it’s also super quick AND creates a bottle at the perfect temperature. Great for day feeds, but really comes into it’s own overnight when trips downstairs to boil the kettle and and wait for the bottle to cool while the baby is screaming becomes a distant memory.

If Mum is breastfeeding, a luxury gift is a breast pump that enables hands free expressing. Medela are leaders in the market of breast pumps, and have recently introduced a wearable version of their popular breast pumps, rivalling the likes of the Elvie.

A super time-saving gift that really does it all is the Baby Brezza bottle washer and steriliser in one. Simply pop in the used bottles or bread pump parts, press a button and 88 minutes later they are washed, sterilised and dried, having used 50% less water and 100% less effort!

Something for…memories

It’s such a cliche, but the first weeks and months pass by so quickly, and they change so dramatically during the first year, it’s so important to capture those early memories.

There are plenty of gorgeous photo albums on the market, but space to write about memories is a great addition. This baby record book from Aspinal of London captures everything worth remembering, with cute illustrations inside and stylish enough to rival any coffee table book.

One of my favourite gifts when my son was born was a set of baby milestone cards such as these from My First Years, which easily document the firsts and capture memories as they happen without the need for time spent printing.

A must have luxurious necessity…a night nanny!

Of course I am biased, but I think one of the best gifts for new parents is the gift of sleep. HushaBoo can offer night nanny services from as little as a one-off night to recoup post-birth, to longer term bookings throughout the early weeks and months. If you want to be crowned winner of the best gift, get in touch to buy a gift voucher of any value for the lucky parents to be! And if they (or you) are having sleep troubles, you can also sign post them to my Gift of Sleep for Christmas blog for lots of useful tips and advice for babies and toddlers.