We very recently had a baby of our own – a month later the cards are still up decorating the house, us stealing glimpses every now and again of the lovely messages. The flowers are drying out currently, so we can enjoy them even longer. We vowed to be equally thoughtful in the future and always send something to friends and family to mark these special occasions.
What gift to send though! We love a list as much as the next person, so we’ve pulled together the best baby gifts for newborns. You might say we’re somewhat biased with NINA (but with very good reason, especially with the masses of comparison we’re now doing with other brands’ baby clothes and muslins).
It’s true that aside from NINA, we’re using so many other baby brands products, some were gifted, others we researched and bought ourselves. We hope the edit below provides the inspiration you’re after when it comes to baby gift ideas!
Best gift for the first-time parent
Call it a onesie, call it a sleepsuit. They’ve definitely been our go-to these past few weeks with Finn. An instant outfit! NINA onesies are noticeably softer than other brands, getting softer with each wash, rather than crispy. Onesies with zips are so much better too – as a first-time parent there’s so much to get your head around with nappy changes and bedtime and tummy time. And with a crying baby on your hands, no-one wants to be popping what feels a hundred poppers. The white onesie in particular is perfect for angelic newborns.
Other baby gift ideas: Mori’s combination of bamboo & organic cotton means their onesies are also soft. And we’re fans of the double zip, which make for even easier nappy changes. In our view however they don’t last as long (the legs and feet have crumpled up a bit for us) nor do they have the touch of a smaller, more personal brand.
Best gift for the practical parent
A NINA muslin (or two, or three!).
Muslins are the most practical baby item. We must have at least one muslin every room in the house currently. Endless uses – as an extra layer in the moses basket, to clean round the milk-foaming mouth during feeds, mop up the sicky bits on the playmat, as a sun shade in the car pre those car window shades arriving, a cover over the pram on a blustery seaside walk.
Other baby gift ideas: We’re also big fans of the black & white sensory muslins from Etta Loves. Love the concept and the science behind them. Beyond muslins, there are endless products out there for practical parents – the Freerider sling, the Frida snot sucker (!), the Mamas and Papas sleeping bag. Maybe less of a gift you’d be inclined to give, but I would also highly recommend the Korbell nappy bin and the Inoby portable bottle warmer!
Best gift for the artistic parent
Clementines muslin! Or BEGIN muslin. Or, quite frankly, any of our muslins designed by artists – very difficult to choose! We’ve been told that NINA muslins are the perfect gift for new parents. A unique gift (organic too), also perfect when you don’t know the gender of the baby given how unisex the designs and colours are.
Other baby gift ideas: the beautifully intricate handmade alphabet tapestry from Moppet or the footprint kit from Bam Bam.
Best gift for newborn babies with eczema
NINA baby clothes are made from organic Peruvian Pima cotton. This makes them extra soft. Which in turn means they’re really good for babies’ skin. Also breathable given the natural fibres, which helps when their skin is so sensitive. I have had eczema since I was born so I’ve been keeping a close eye on Finn’s skin – you get all the creams and you’re sorted on that front but it’s easy to forget how important your choice of clothing is when it comes to protecting baby’s skin.
Other baby gift ideas: Neal’s Yard barrier cream (and bath oil for mum too), a personalised cashmere baby blanket…we’re also big fans of Binibamba’s sheepskin liners and their very cute booties – sheepskin is a really good material for regulating temperature, so ideal for babies and protecting their sensitive skin.
Best gift for the bohemian parent
Moses basket!
A lot of new parents I’ve spoken with lately have mentioned feeling slightly housebound, something I’ve definitely encountered too. You’re doing well if you’re out the house by 3pm, even for a brief breath of fresh air and a reminder of the outside world. I’ve really lived in my house these past few weeks. Each room has a reason – you discover that the light in the living room is best at 4pm, whilst the sofa in the snug that you ummed and arred over is ideal for morning feeds, and how the best evening vibes are in the kitchen with the lights on low, a glass of red wine in hand, baby in the bouncer having a great time taking it all in.
Moses baskets are so handy during the daytime. The other year we were in touch with a women-only cooperative in Ghana, in a region called Bolgatanga. Each basket takes 3-5 days to make, weaved out of the local ‘elephant grass’. Sometimes the harvest is not so good – on one occasion we were told that the cows had eaten all the grass so we would have to wait a tad longer to receive the baskets. We ended up ordering several moses baskets – they’re beautifully natural and look perfect whichever room they end up in at home. They'll be available to buy on our website soon!
Any questions on any of the above products, get in touch with me and Oli at hello@ninababy.co.uk.