There is nothing more special than welcoming a new baby into your life. Whether they are your best friend’s baby, your new niece or nephew, or are a colleague's brand new bundle of joy, no one can resist those tiny hands and adorable little faces. When you meet a new baby for the first time it is traditional to get them a gift - or, at least, give their parents a gift that you have picked out for them to use for the child.
With literally thousands of baby gifts available on the market today, it can be difficult to know what to buy. Should you get them something practical? What about something decorative or sentimental? Should you buy them clothes, and if so, what kind of clothes? You also need to decide how much you want to spend. With such a huge amount of choice it can be hard to stick to a budget.
SO, the most important thing you need to do when buying gifts for a new baby is to set yourself a strict budget and stick to it as much as possible. This will help prevent you from spending too much and it will also mean you are not accidentally showing anyone else up who is also buying gifts for the baby and may not have spent as much money as you have. These are just some of the more popular choices when it comes to baby gifts, feel free to use it as inspiration!
Traditional and modern baby gifts
Jewellery is a traditional gift for babies, though it is often only the right size for them for a short few years before it becomes a treasured keepsake. Silver, in particular, is a traditional precious metal for baby jewellery, and many cultures around the world will buy young babies something simple like a silver bracelet or necklace. These are perfect for those adorable baby photoshoots, but jewellery should never be left on an unsupervised baby, even if they are a little older.
Another traditional gift for young babies are rattles. These can be made from many different materials such as plastic, though wood is more traditional and even sterling silver can be used to make luxury baby rattles. These are something that the baby will actually enjoy playing with, and they are interactive and help to teach a young child fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Clothing is always a welcome gift for children, especially high quality organic baby clothes in neutral colours and practical designs. Look for everyday essentials that the little baby will definitely get their wear out of such as undershirts, socks and onesies. It might be tempting to get those adorable dress-up outfits, but try to resist because they are unlikely to be worn more than once or twice and can actually be annoying to keep clean and looking good.
If you want to get them something really special then a handmade blanket made from cashmere or organic cotton is another great idea. Choose one in colours that match their nursery, or choose one that matches their pram for extra style points. A luxurious handmade blanket in stunningly soft and hypoallergenic materials can become a treasured hand me down they can enjoy for years, and hopefully keep safe and sound until they have children of their own.
If you are a close friend or family member then you might like to spend a little more on the baby and their parents’ gift. If this is the case you may be better off asking what they would like so you can avoid overspending on something they don't need. For example, every baby will need a crib, pram or car seat and these can be expensive for new parents who have a lot of other stuff to think about. Buying them one of their larger essential purchases can take a lot of stress off them and let them get on with other things once the baby is born.
If you are truly stuck, you can always buy them a gift card to a baby-centric store. This will be a thoughtful gift even if it is an easier choice because it allows them to buy exactly what they need.