Discover the Best Gift Ideas for a Newborn

By Ava Brown, March 10, 2021

Getting a bundle of joy in your friends’ or family’s circle is certainly a joyous occasion. But as much as we all cherish those moments, when it comes to gifting something to a newborn, it’s not uncommon for people to struggle, especially those who aren’t experienced with babies.

If your greatest dilemma currently is what to gift the new member in your closest circle, you should know that when you’re buying a gift for a newborn, you’re technically buying for the new parents, not for the baby. Knowing this, you probably want to choose something that will be of practical use to them, or have a great sentimental value when the baby grows up. Here are a couple of ideas you can’t go wrong with.

Baby Crib Mobile

If you still want to give something that both the parents and the little one will love, don’t hesitate to get a lovely nursery mobile as the perfect fit for every baby crib. Despite being too young to understand, the baby will definitely enjoy the time spent observing the colourful and musical mobile. So, this is one gift that even the little one will appreciate in a unique kind of way.

If you thought that the baby mobiles serve just as a cute decoration to the nursery room, then you’re wrong, because their purpose is far beyond a lovely ornament hanging above the baby’s head. In the first months of their being, babies start to develop their senses and become aware of the surrounding and environment. Having a cot mobile is a great way to stimulate their visual sense, and give them the opportunity to start perceiving different colours and shapes.

Aside from helping with their development, nursery mobiles can also be great for soothing a fussy baby. When turned on, they move slowly which is excellent for calming the baby. And in addition to this, crib mobiles are great for entertaining the little ones, especially when it comes to changing diapers and clothes. Having a couple of clouds peacefully floating, or elephants joyfully chasing each other in front of the baby’s sight is a great way to keep the baby distracted and engaged, while the new parents change the dirty diapers without many difficulties.

Some baby crib mobiles also come with music devices included as a great way to stimulate the baby’s auditory perception too and let them get to know different sounds. Listening to sweet and calm baby songs combined with the different figures moving around is a method that a lot of mothers use to get their babies to sleep.

Getting a baby mobile is one of the most budget-friendly gift options that will definitely impress the new parents once they see how their baby reacts to it.

Personalised Clothes

What can be cuter than a tiny bodysuit with a “daddy’s little princess” or “mummy’s little bug” inscription on it? Gifting personalised clothes to a newborn is a trend that a lot of people started practising lately. And it’s not surprising at all, since it’s a unique way to express that you cherish the newborn’s arrival by putting efforts into a personalised gift.

Don’t be afraid to get creative and come up with your own inscription that makes sense and has meaning to you and the new parents. You can even choose a funny quote that will make the parents laugh and remind them of you every time they dress their little bundle in the clothes you gifted. Sometimes, gifting something memorable and personal has a greater value than the most expensive gift.

Baby Swaddle

A soft, cotton baby swaddle makes for an excellent gift if you want something practical which will definitely be used instead of sitting and gathering dust. Even if your gift isn’t the most unique one in the new parents’ collection, it’s an option they will appreciate a lot since babies tend to make a lot of mess, and swaddles are always needed in big numbers.

In addition to being handy for changing the little one, it’s scientifically proven that it’s beneficial to swaddle newborns since it protects them from the natural startle reflex and imitates the mother’s touch. That said, swaddling the baby is a great way to soothe them to sleep and give the parents the opportunity to rest more, which can be rare when having a baby. Make sure you wrap it in a nice cotton bag, and your gift is set.

Diaper Bag

Getting out for a walk with the newborn can be a headache for both of the parents since the list of things they need to bring along for spending a couple of hours outside is as long as the distance to the moon… and back.

So, a really practical thing you can gift to the new parents is a nice diaper bag that will be spacious enough to store and organise all the things needed for their little bundle: disposable diapers, wipes and tissues, diaper rash cream, a changing mat, changing clothes, etc. It may seem like a cliché idea, but once they go out for a walk, the new parents will be grateful for the great gift.

Baby Monitor

A nursery room can’t be imagined without a baby monitor, which makes it one of the smartest ideas that will be of great use to the new parents. The benefit of having a baby monitor is that it gives the parents the opportunity to hear their baby crying, even if they’re in another part of the house.

Some monitors even feature a camera that allows the parents to enjoy some “Netflix and chill” or spend some quality time together while watching their baby peacefully sleeping in the nursery. If you want an even more advanced version of the baby monitor, some of them feature additional insights tracking, such as the baby’s breathing, sound and sleeping patterns, which the parents can always monitor on their smartphones.

This makes for a very impressive gift for the newborn and gives the parents some freedom, and the ability to leave their infant in the crib without “droning” above their head all the time. What could be more purposeful than this?

Baby’s First Album

Even though we live in a digital era and the only albums we know about are the ones on our social media, there’s nothing that can replace the value of the classic baby’s first album.

A baby’s first album is a thing that the parents are most likely to forget when shopping for their newborn. By gifting it, you’ll make the parents collect the baby’s first photos – from the arrival to the first words and steps and the first birthday in the traditional way, where they can write the dates and describe the moments with cute notes. This makes for a gift with a great sentimental value, containing all the memories of their little bundle growing up that will last forever.

A Piece of Jewellery

Gifting jewellery to newborns has its origins in Asian culture thousands of years ago, where the elders did it as a way to welcome a baby in the family and express their love and protection. Today, jewellery is still one of the most meaningful gifts for newborns. But, before you wrap up a piece of chain in a nice little bag, you need to know that buying jewellery for a baby is different from buying jewellery for an adult.

The first thing you need to consider is that necklaces and chains are dangerous for a baby since they can cause choking. Make sure you choose a much safer option, such as a bracelet, or anklet, preferably without any charms, since the baby can swallow them accidentally if the bracelet suddenly breaks.

Another important detail to consider is the material the jewellery is made of. Babies’ skin is sensitive, and the last thing you want to do is to irritate it. For that reason, always choose hypoallergenic materials, since they minimise the risk of an allergic reaction. The best material choices are solid gold, sterling silver or plated fine metals.

A piece of jewellery also makes for a meaningful gift that has a great sentimental value for the parents, and the baby too, once it grows up.