Buying gifts for a newborn is challenging; especially if it has been years since your children were babies OR you’ve never had a child yourself. Rest assured, after experiencing a newborn twice now, I can tell you what a new parent would love to be gifted for their sweet bundle of joy. You can purchase these gifts directly from my post by selecting the item. It will guide you to the website. Comment below and let me know what else should be added to this list.
Practical Newborn Gifts
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Box of Honest Diapers-Or any diapers. Size 1 or size 2 and wipes. Newborn diapers only fit babies up to 10 pounds, so chances are you won’t use the newborn sizes for long (if at all). I love the honest diapers at least for the first few months because of their adorable designs. The Honest Company’s diapers are hypoallergenic and do not get processed with chlorine. They are also free of fragrances, lotions, latex, and irritating chemical additives. Read more about the Honest Standard here.
Keekaroo or less expensive option the Bumbo-These wipeable changing pads are TOTALLY worth it. Believe me, I probably washed 1000+ changing covers every time Harper had an accident on them while changing her diaper. What a hassle. If I would have known about these wipeable changing pads the first go around, it would have been a no brainer! Check with the parent if they have a changing table that requires a specific pad. If not, you can stick these bad boys on top of any dresser or in the master bathroom to make diaper changes a breeze. If this is her first and she is planning on having more children, the Keekaroo is definitely worth the investment.
Barefoot Dreams Baby Blanket-Our good friend Kim, gifted Harper a Barefoot Dreams baby blanket when she was born. They are pricey but this is the one blanket that Harper sleeps with every night. She calls it her “soft blanket”. If you are feeling generous, buy the adult size version for mom.
Moby Smart Sling Tub-We love this tub. I put it right in our bathtub and our toddler takes a bath as well at the same time. This tub is lightweight and easy to move around with one hand. Affordable and works great! Highly recommend!
VAVA Nightlight-I found a great light to keep next to the bed while the mom is breastfeeding or formula feeding. The husband may be sleeping. Their baby may even be sleeping while eating and they need soft light to see that sweet baby of theirs.
NoseFrida Snot Sucker-There’s a long list of things new parents worry about, but one concern that caught me by surprise was whether or not my newborn daughter could breathe through her nose. It’s not the most glamorous gift but it is a must-have. It’s pur[pse is to safely suction mucus that’s plugging up your newborn’s nose so he or she can breathe easier and sleep better. The parent literally uses a tube to suction snot out of the baby’s nose. Do not worry, mucus will not get in their mouth. There’s a disposable filter in the tube that blocks snot and germs, so none of the icky stuff makes its way to them.
A Gym– A baby play gym helps with gross motor skills, hand, and eye coordination, and stimulates the baby’s senses. They encourage movement and freedom and boosts cognitive development.
OXO Drying Rack-Every new parent needs a bottle drying rack. I like this one in particular because it doesn’t take up much space, gets the job done, and is easy to clean.
Comotomo Bottles-Literally my favorite bottle in the universe. Our two and a half-year-old is STILL using it for her milk before bed. I cannot say enough about this bottle. Comotomo bottles have two anti-colic vents that are smartly placed on the nipple to ensure that the baby’s bottle is perfectly ventilated. This means that their little one drinks milk and not air. Good airflow helps to prevent unwanted colic, spit-up, burping, and gas. The comotomo is a bottle that will keep any parent happy.
Baby Thermometer-Easy to use and accurate. Every new parent needs one of these in their medicine cabinet. not the most glamorous gift but absolutely necessary.
Tubby Todd Bath Products-Tubby Todd is all about good, clean fun for the whole family. A very cute family created Tubby Todd with sensitive-skinned babies in mind, and each product works hard to nourish, hydrate, and gently soothe skin from head to toe. Use MY special discount code for 10% off all purchases. Click here.
Baby Robe- There’s nothing sweeter than snuggling a new baby up in a plush robe after bathtime.
Welda Diaper Rash Cream-Absolutely in love with this cream. My husband discovered it when Harper had a diaper rash while vacationing in Colorado. He ran into Whole Foods and it was the only diaper rash cream available. Her rash cleared up overnight. After further research, I discovered that this was the number one diaper rash cream in Europe. This is a must-have diaper rash cream for a new parent.
Pacifier and Clip-Named of its function, the Cutie PAT is a Pacifier and Teether in one. This multifunctional pacifier is made in two different stages: Stage 1 and Stage 2. I never used pacifier clips with Harper and I was always looking for her pacifier. Use a clip. You will never lose them.
Boppy Nursing Pillow-This is functional for mom and for baby. I use the heck out of my boppy pillow.
Softest Zip Onesies-I love Kickee pants onesies. They are so colorful and soft. Always buy onesies with zippers. They are practical. No sleepy mom likes trying to figure out how to button the onesie in the middle of the night. Start with 0-3 size or 3-6. Some babies skip newborn sizes altogether.
Echo Dot Amazon Alexa-We’ve got one of these in each of the kid’s rooms and in our kitchen. This device is perfect for white noise to help the baby sleep and as they get older, nursery rhymes, fun music, etc. This is a great, inexpensive gift.
Books-You can’t go wrong helping a new parent build their child’s library. Some favorites:
and so many more great books!
Personal and Customized Newborn Gifts
Engraved Name Puzzle-This is so sweet and babe can play with it when he or she is older.
The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name Book-This is a worldwide bestseller. My friend gifted it to Harper when she was born and we read all the time. Send a child on a personalized journey of self-discovery to find the letters of their name. A story that inspires bravery and curiosity.
The Birth Poster-The Birth Poster is a series of unique and timeless illustrations that are scaled to represent the baby’s actual length at birth in a 1:1 scale. You enter the child’s birth details: name, length, weight, and the date and choose your preferred illustration. The illustration will then be scaled proportionally to the baby’s length at birth. At the bottom of the poster, they print your child’s name and birth details. A beautiful poster, incredible keepsake. Use code happilyharperblog10 for 10% off.
Splurge-Worthy Newborn Gifts
Solly Baby Wrap-I absolutely love babywearing. It’s so practical and makes having two children so much more manageable. I love Solly wraps because they are lightweight, easy to use, and have gorgeous colors.
At Solly Baby, they believe in 3 things:
Being thoughtful.
Keeping it simple.
Doing small things with great love
Dockatot-Babies sleep longer than usual in the Dockatot. The design is durable and firm yet the sides are shallow so you can watch your baby inside. We move our Dockatot all over the house; on the couch, kitchen table, dresser, etc. I feel so safe that he is in there securely and soundly.
Sakura Bloom Carrier and Ergo Carrier-There are so many wonderful benefits of babywearing. From supporting the baby’s natural posture to reducing infant crying, strengthening the bond between baby and her caregivers, and more, using a baby carrier is a win-win for you and your baby, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. You can start using a baby carrier from day one. Carrying a baby in a sling, wrap or pack frees your hands to work, or assist in the needs of their older children while still being able to give the baby the closeness he or she needs. Many slings also allow for breastfeeding while on the go. The thing I love the most about these carriers is the fact that you can continue to use it until your child is up to 45 lbs while keeping your back safe, which means toddler piggyback rides just got way easier.
The SNOO-When I became pregnant with our second baby, getting enough sleep was my top priority, and the Snoo seemed like my best chance. If you’re going to splurge on one baby item, let it be the SNOO bassinet. The SNOO is a smart bassinet from Dr. Harvey Karp — who is best known for teaching millions of parents how to soothe newborns with his best-selling book, The Happiest Baby on the Block. It looks just like a chic bassinet but is equipped with a microphone to detect crying, speakers to play white noise and a motor that rocks your baby to create a soothing womb-like environment. I can join the thousands of parents who agree it’s beyond worth the investment.
Gifts For Mom
Customized Name Bracelet-Perfect gift for a new mom-a bracelet with her brand new baby’s name on it to wear everywhere.
Cozy Pajamas-Button down pajamas is key if the mom plans to breastfeed.
Light Weight Robe-There is nothing easier to nurse in than a soft robe.
Large Insulated Cup to Stay Hydrated-I am carrying one of these cups around 24/7 with water, Gatorade, iced coffee, you name it.
Espresso Machine-This is the best one I found for less than $200. There’s nothing more exhausting than having a baby, and many new parents keep going thanks to a hefty dose of caffeine. Make it easier for your friends to get their much-needed shot(s) of espresso without leaving the house with an espresso machine.
Postpartum Essentials-Tucks, Nipple butter, Ibuprofen, Winged pads, Depends diapers, Mesh underwear, Prunes or Miralax, or both. Check out my blog post-Must-Have Items Post Baby Delivery on happilyharper.com. Click here to download a PDF postpartum recovery checklist.
Classic and Stylish Diaper Bag-I’ve had my Fawn diaper bag for over 3 years and it has held up so well. It’s gorgeous and has become my everyday purse.
Revlon Hair Dryer– This thing is a lifesaver! I can literally dry my hair in 10 minutes. She will love you forever. I’ve never been able to master the at-home blowout until I discovered this hair dryer. It’s easier on my hands and wrists since I’m only using one tool, and it gives me more control, which results in a better blowout. I love the simplicity of it. I’ve found that the best way to style using this brush is to let my hair air-dry for a few minutes while I’m doing my makeup or making coffee and then blow-dry last.
Snacks-Protein shakes premade, my sister-in-law brought me the Vega chocolate shakes and I love them over crushed ice. It’s always nice to give trail mix, protein bars (I like QUEST bars), fresh sliced fruit, premade meals, lactation cookies, and anything else you think she will enjoy. I have my own homemade recipe for lactation cookies. Post in the comments if you would like the recipe.
