Selecting the perfect baby gifts can be difficult. For most people they want to give something that shows how excited they are for the parents on the arrival of a precious baby. There are so many great baby products on the market to consider.
The first consideration is what are the parents like?
• Do they like traditional things, modern things or environmentally friendly products?
• Has the mother given any indication whether she likes traditional baby colours like white, pastel pink, pastel blue and lemon. Some new parents are very traditional for newborns. Alternatively have they expressed a strong wish not to dress their baby girl in pastel pink and therefore colours like red, orange, mauve and beige may be more appropriate. If you don’t know the parents very well I would suggest sticking to more traditional colours for your baby gifts.
• Do the parents have special interests like sports, fashion, craft, education etc. If they are soccer/football fans you may want to look around for baby soccer boots or baby soccer ball, if the mother is really interested in designer fashion you may like to source some designer baby labels, if the mother loves art and craft she may appreciate something more handmade or unique like a hand and feet moulding kit or baby bouquets and if the parents are very focused on education maybe purchasing items to start baby’s first library of baby books would be greatly appreciated.
The next thing to consider is if this is the couple’s first baby?
a. If so, then they probably needs lots of baby stuff and will appreciate most things. Some areas of babies needs to consider are:
i. Baby clothes, newborn baby wears size 0000, but you may also consider sizes 000 and 00 so that the baby has some clothing to grow into. Basic clothing items include jumpsuits, bodysuits, pants, singlets, Another essential items that parents often don’t receive are sleep bags – nearly all babies sleep in a sleep bag (except for in the summer) as they kick off their blankets and the sleep bag keeps them warm. Sleep bags usually come in 2 thicknesses 1.0TOG for the warmer weather and 2.5TOG for the winter months.
ii. Baby toys are also popular, you may consider baby educational toys for when the baby is a little older such as a first puzzle, toys for the cot such as musical mobiles or musical pulldowns, toys for the pram or carseat to keep baby stimulated and distracted whilst travelling, collectable dolls or teddy bears that will keep for years to come, super soft cuddly small toys to comfort and soothe baby, playmats for the floor or baby rockers for the nursery.
iii. Baby Keepsakes also make very popular baby gifts, items such as photo frames, items to hang on the wall of the nursery, baby jewellery, piggy banks, keepsake baby plates that can be personalized, cutlery and dinner sets for when the baby is a little older;
iv. Baby equipment – new parents needs lots of baby equipment such as nappy bags, baby blankets, baby linen, soft pram and cot liners, bathing equipment, beautiful organic baby lotions and creams.
b. If this is not the couples first baby then there are a few additional considerations:
i. If the new baby is the same sex as the first child then they may not need many baby clothes as they will be passed down. However if the first child was a boy and the new baby is a girl the parents may really enjoy receiving lots of pink items.
ii. One item I hear requested for a second baby are new pram toys – they often get sucked and chewed by the first child and most mums appreciate having some fresh ones for the next child.
iii. You may also consider a small gift for the older sibling to help avoid sibling rivalry and help them to understand that they are special in their new role as the big brother or big sister.
iv. Another thing to consider is baby keepsakes – the first baby no doubt received lots of baby keepsakes and the parents will want the second child to have some as well.
v. Maybe considering something to pamper the mum as well – she will be more tired the second time around such as a post-natal massage gift voucher, home cleaning gift voucher or beauty treatment gift voucher for the new mum.
If after reading all of the above you have no idea what to do or what the parents would like, purchase them a gift voucher and send it with a beautiful message. All mums love shopping for their new baby – gift vouchers for an online baby shop may be preferable as it can be difficult for the new mum to leave the home in the first few months and she will be able to shop online at her convenience.