If you're attending a baby shower, welcoming a newborn home from the hospital, or helping to celebrate a first birthday or other event, you've got a wealth of baby gift options to choose from. Adorable outfits, practical items, engaging toys, and many other baby gift ideas will delight parents and little ones.
Ideas for Practical Baby Gifts
These practical gifts are ideal for newborns as well as older babies. They'll give the parents a little breathing room, something they're sure to appreciate.
Soothing Sound Machine
Newborns and older babies can have trouble sleeping if there's too much going on in the house. To mask the sounds of daily life, many parents turn to sound machines. These machines, such as the Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machine, offer soothing lullabies, basic white noise, and the sounds of the great outdoors. Typically available for under $50, these make great, practical gifts.
Baby Grooming and Medical Kit
Featuring everything parents need to take care of the health requirements of a newborn or older baby, grooming and medical kits usually contain combs, brushes, nasal aspirators, medicine spoons, thermometers, and more. Options like The First Years Deluxe Baby Healthcare and Grooming Kit come in a tidy pouch and retail for around $25. The parents will thank you when they're looking for these odds and ends in the middle of the night.
Diaper Service Subscription
For environmentally-conscious parents, cloth diapers may seem like the only option. However, washing all those diapers can be overwhelming, especially during the first few weeks of a newborn's life. Offer to help by giving the parents a starter subscription to a cloth diaper service in your area. These services drop off the clean diapers and pick up the dirty diapers each week, leaving the parents free to enjoy the baby or just catch a quick nap. Prices vary by the location but expect to pay about $100 a month. To find a service in your area, visit the Real Diaper Industry Association.
Unique Gifts for Baby Boys
If you know someone with a new little man in the house, you can always opt for the traditional items like onesies with sports motifs or blue cozy blankets. However, if you're looking for something unique, try one of these fun ideas.
Penny Loafer Socks
You've probably seen the little ballet slipper socks for baby girls; well, these penny loafer socks sold at Amazon are a similarly charming option for stylish baby boys. The attractively packaged socks come in a set of six different colors, so he'll be styling with every outfit he owns. At $26, they make an affordable present.
Mustache Pacifier and Bowtie Onesie
You can give the parents a chuckle, as well as a few moments of peace, with a mustache pacifier. This BPA-free pacifier is clear except for a black mustache that graces the front. It costs about $10. Pair it with a black tie onesie from The Spunky Stork, which costs about $30, for a hilariously grown-up ensemble.
Handmade Gift from Etsy
If you're looking for something truly unique, shop at Etsy, an online artists' marketplace. You'll find everything from hand-knit newsboy caps to hilarious onesies that you won't see anywhere else. You're sure to find the perfect gift to delight the parents and their little man.
Gift Ideas for Infant Girls
If you're shopping for a baby girl, you've got tons of great options - from adorable dresses to keepsake jewelry and toys. Consider one of the following unique choices.
Baby's First Pearls
For a unique heirloom gift, consider giving a sweet baby girl's pearl bracelet with an engraveable sterling silver clasp. The bracelets feature cultured pearls and are available in a range of sizes. Prices start at $76 and include the engraving.
Baby-Safe Baby Doll
Many dolls are designed for children three years and older, but there are a few lovely options for baby girls. The Baby Stella Doll comes with black or blond hair and has embroidered features and easy-to-manipulate clothing, perfect for the youngest mommies in training. At about $32, she is an affordable gift.
Watermelon Legging Outfit
Instead of the traditional pink clothing most people give as gifts, consider this unique alternative: the Watermelon Legging set from Rare Edition. This simple adorable top with tutu and a matching set of leggins is adorable for play. Priced around $20, depending on size, it makes an affordable present for a newborn or older baby.
Newborn and Preemie Gift Ideas
Having a newborn or preemie around the house is both a joyous and labor-intensive time. You can welcome the new addition and help out the new parents at the same time with these sweet gifts.
Swaddling Blankets
Swaddling, or tightly wrapping, a newborn infant or preemie can help calm the baby and help it sleep through the night. However, there's a trick to swaddling, and it can be baffling for new parents who haven't had time to practice yet. Luckily, products like the SwaddleMe make it much easier. Simply lay the baby on the swaddler, tuck his or her feet into the bottom, and wrap the wings around to the front. At under $20, they are affordable enough to buy more than one.
Snap-Front Sleeper
For preemies or newborn babies still in the hospital, a great gift is a snap-front sleeper like the Duckie Footie from Little Me. If the baby is premature and requires monitoring or feeding tubes, the snap front allows the cords to reach the baby better than a zippered sleeper would. Purchase the preemie size for the littlest babies and newborn or three-month size for full term infants. At $16, this makes an affordable gift, and parents will need several.
Baby Front Carrier
Holding a newborn or preemie is important for development, but new parents may also feel like they want to use their hands for other activities like doing the dishes, grocery shopping, or vacuuming the house. That's why a front carrier makes a great baby gift. The Weego Baby Carrier, available in preemie size, is perfect for newborns three pounds and heavier. It's a practical gift both the baby and parents will love. At $129, it may be a splurge or a group gift.
Gifts for Twins
Twins inspire some cute and necessarily practical baby gift ideas. If you're shopping for a set of twins, consider one of the following gifts.
Double Stroller
For parents of twins, a double stroller is a necessity. Since strollers can range in price from under $100 to well over $500, this may be a good group gift. The Britax B-Agile Double Stroller gets great reviews from users on Amazon.com, many of whom are parents of twins.
BeBe Bottle Sling
A necessity for parents who simply don't have enough hands, the BeBe Bottle Sling attaches to the bar of an infant car seat and holds a bottle for the baby. The sling features a cute face to engage the baby and offers hands-free feeding. The sling costs about $20.
ItzBeen Baby Timer
Keeping track of feedings, diaper changes, sleep schedules, and more can be challenging for parents of twins, especially in the beginning. That's where this handy invention comes in. The ItzBeen Baby Timer is a pocket-sized device that logs all of a baby's activities, helping parents determine why the baby is crying. At about $60 for a twin pack of two timers, this is a great baby gift for parents of twins.
Food Gifts for Babies
Although food gifts may not be the first thing to come to mind, babies are pretty enthusiastic about learning to eat. Parents love any gift that makes this process easier and more nutritious for their little one. Try one of these great ideas.
Baby Food Maker
Making your own baby food is a great way to save money and maintain strict control over a little one's diet. The Beaba Baby Food Maker from Williams-Sonoma is a great choice for nutrition-conscious parents. The $150 unit has lots of available accessories and performs several functions: It steams and cooks food, defrosts frozen food, and purees foods to the perfect consistency. You can make large batches and freeze the leftovers for later use.
Selection of Baby Food
If you know the baby and the parents well, you could give a gift of a selection of baby foods to cover the little one's meals. Earth's Best is a popular brand with a range of foods for every age and developmental level. The puree pouches a great choice for older babies, since they allow parents to give the baby meals on the go. Remember to include a cute dish or two, some infant feeding spoons, and a bib.
Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit
The Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit features everything parents need to make and freeze their own baby for a week's worth of meals. Included in the $25 kit are an instructional DVD, a book of baby food recipes, and covered storage containers for the freezer.
Gift Baskets for Babies
Baby gift baskets come in all kinds of configurations from themed gifts to those designed specifically for newborns or preemies. Find the perfect gift basket and learn how to make your own.
Best Places to Shop for Baby Gifts
You can shop for baby gifts at specialty stores in your area or online. Some of the following stores are especially popular:
- Target - Many new parents register here. You'll find cute clothes, great toys, and all the gear that's essential for caring for a baby.
- Creative Kidstuff - If you're looking for unique educational toys, as well as other adorable gifts, Creative Kidstuff is a good option. They have a section just for babies.
- BuyBuyBaby - Another popular place for expectant parents to register, BuyBuyBaby has everything from car seats to toys and clothing.
A Gift from the Heart
No matter which baby gift you choose, you'll be sure to delight that special little one and his or her parents. There are lots of great options out there, and any gift from the heart is one that will surely be appreciated.
