Birth gift ideas: what to choose according to baby's age?
A great birth gift is one that gets used, at the right time. Here are our month-by-month pointers to help you choose, give as a group or add to a baby registry.
Comfort and sleep
Sleeping bag, muslin cloths, comforter, cot mobile, 3-month size onesies.
Awakening and discovery
Play mat, easy-grip rattles, teething rings, high-contrast fabric books.
First meals, first games
High chair, tableware set, bibs, stacking cubes, push-along toys.
Time and rest
Meal delivery, a massage session, a birth memory book, a comfortable nursing pillow.
Give for later, not just for the birth
Newborn-size clothes and soft toys often arrive in abundance. A gift chosen for 3, 6 or 12 months will be used at just the right time, once the first gifts have become too small. Note the intended age on the label: the parents will appreciate it.
Check the baby registry before buying
If the parents have created a registry, it is the best way to give a useful gift. Reserve the chosen item: it disappears from the available options for other loved ones, so you avoid duplicates. For a big-ticket item, join or start a group gift.
Gifts that last
Some gifts stay with the child for years: a keepsake box, a birth book, a blanket embroidered with their name, a tree planted on the day they were born. They often become the most treasured.
- A personalised item with the name and date of birth.
- A book to read together during the early years.
- A contribution towards a project: savings, a trip, a first bike.