It’s a lot of pressure to buy a gift for new parents, isn’t it? You want it to be special — a new life is special, after all — but you also want it to be practical. Want to know a secret? The more practical, the better.
But it’s so cute…
As adorable as tiny shoes may be, they’re not the most useful of gifts for newborns! It’s not recommended that babies wear shoes because they need the sensory stimulation of their feet touching the floor. The Better Health Channel explains that this assists in the development of the bones, ligaments, and muscles in babies’ and toddlers’ feet. This means it’s best for them to go barefoot or wear soft-soled (flexible) shoes for the first couple of years as they learn how to walk. So, what can you get parents instead?
New baby gift ideas their parents will love
You might have guessed by now that newborn gifts are really about their parents. Here’s a list of suggestions of things you can buy that your friends will love!
- A slow cooker. Not kidding. Cooking is one of the most time-consuming but necessary tasks. Parents often struggle with the balance of taking care of baby versus taking care of themselves. Stuffing some veggies, crushed tomato and a pork neck in there will give them a nutritious feast six hours later!
- Onesies. Lots and lots of onesies. Babies eat, sleep, poop and repeat. All. Day. Long. They need a drawerful of onesies. It’s a good compromise – cute and practical!
- Nappies and wet wipes. You can never have enough of these. Ever. Newborns go through around 12 nappies a day, between one- and three-hourly wees, and several poos daily, says BabyCentre UK. The number of nappies needed decreases as the child grows, but parents will need a decent pile of nappies for a long time. As you can imagine, this gets pretty expensive! Plus, no amount of 12-hour leakage guarantees will protect against a poonami. Be mindful that eco-warrior parents might prefer a subscription to a cloth nappy service. And if adding wipes to the gift, think chemical-free and biodegradable.
- The Wonder Weeks. This book helps parents understand the incomprehensibly sudden changes in the behavior of their new baby. One moment, baby naps regularly. Next minute… The book explains cognitive leaps (changes in their brains that trigger new understanding and behaviors) and the timeframes within which parents can expect these changes. Understanding – especially during a particularly challenging phase – is one of the greatest gifts you can give.
- A bassinet. As a parent yourself, you may remember that time when you couldn’t shower because you had to hold your baby 24/7; when you couldn’t make food because it’s not safe to hold a newborn next to a boiling pot on the stove. The crib is too far away and it’s a bit big to be practically portable. A bassinet on castors is the perfect solution – small enough to wheel around and be next to the parent while they shower or binge on Netflix during those four-hour newborn naps instead of sleeping, because #metime. Yes, it will only last for the first few months of baby’s life, but then they can go in a playpen and your friends will have had several glorious months of managing to take daily showers. Safety comes first, so please, refer to the ACCC’s tips for buying a bassinet.
- A chic nappy bag. Practical yet luxe for the fashion-conscious. Spoil the parents-to-be with a designer tote that can double as a laptop bag once baby is out of nappies.
Written by the Circle In team.
Sources:
Better Health Channel
BabyCentre UK
The Wonder Weeks
Healthline Parenthood
