The baby gifting gauntlet – how to get it right.
Bright pops of primary coloured toys, sleek Scandi-style nursery decor, temptingly tiny booties and seriously drool-worthy bibs. It’s easy to get carried away by the abundance of cute when shopping for a new baby, but what do new parents really need?
Choosing the perfect baby shower gift to help make the lives of soon-to-be exhausted parents easier and brighter doesn't need to be complicated. Sticking to some tried-and-true, useful items will have them praising you for your clever gift – day and night.
Dress for success
That adorable tutu with matching headband and ballet-style booties may seem irresistibly cute, but the reality of dressing and undressing a small baby (several times a day) is likely to have overly fussy outfits quickly relegated to the impractical pile.
Top points are given for something that delivers on the baby clothing trifecta – cute factor, easy to put on or take off, and easy to wash. Items like our organic cotton romper will tick all three boxes with minimal effort.
While it’s easy to be drawn to the itsy-bitsy doll-sized newborn clothing, new parents will appreciate having a stash of larger clothing their baby can grow into (and some babies may skip newborn sizing all together!) Consider shopping for clothing in the 6 or 12-month range, but beware of seasonal variations.
Add a gift of your time – it’s truly mind-blowing how much washing a tiny person can create – help a new parent by offering to put on a load of washing, or simply help fold that endless pile.
You are feeling sleepy
While gifting the (often elusive and always cherished) necessity of sleep to a new parent isn’t usually possible, products that can help on this front are always appreciated. Most parents will find themselves working their way through a bevy of sleep-related products (swaddles, sleeping bags and sleep aids) to find what suits them and their baby best, so complementary products like sleepwear, our beautiful merino bee blanket or the multipurpose muslin swadle make great gifts.
Our merino or cotton gowns are a clever way to dress a baby at night, making night-time nappy changes easy. Anything that saves tired parents from trying to match up dozens of domes in a dimly lit room will have them thanking you for making life that little bit easier. And yes, boys can wear gowns too!
Add a gift of your time – Offer to take the baby off their hands for an hour post-feed, so they can catch up on a little sleep.
Splish splash, it’s time for a bath
The delicate skin of a newborn means bath time in the early days is less about colourful bath toys and more about gentle muslin flannels paired with non-irritating skincare. New parents usually have something in mind for larger essentials like a baby bath, but accessories (think an essentials baby pack or a cosy hooded towel ) always go down a treat.
Add a gift of your time – Instead of stopping by for tea and a chat, watch the baby for half an hour so they can take an uninterrupted, leisurely shower.
The messy business of mealtime
Starting a baby on solids isn’t typically on the radar of parents-to-be, and the associated products don’t often feature on new-baby essentials checklists. This makes baby-feeding accessories seriously useful gifts with some longevity.
In the first year of a baby’s life, food seems to be more of a fashion item (to be worn) rather than a source of sustenance, meaning a decent stockpile of bibs is essential. Pretty bibs like the this are perfect for catching spills and staying crumb-free while out and about, whereas the more industrious silicone bib offers the practicality of being dishwasher-safe and stain-resistant.
Add a gift of your time – bring over a hearty, home-cooked meal that can be easily frozen or reheated. Exhausted new parents will truly love you for it.
The days are long, but the years are short
It’s so easy for those precious early years to pass by in a blur of broken sleep and nappy changes, which is why a keepsake baby book makes a thoughtful and memorable gift for parents-to-be. Our beautiful monochrome Marlee + Jo Baby Book allows parents to record everything, from their first thoughts when the new babe arrives, right through to favourite memories of the not-so-new babe’s first day of school.
Add a gift of your time – Take your camera along to the baby shower and snap away. Compile and print these special memories for entry in the gifted baby book.
Still not sure? Dimples gift vouchers are available for purchase online and in-store, and allow new parents to hop online and pick up those forgotten items...all while still in their pyjamas.
