A Gifting Guide for Newborns: What to Buy (and What to Skip)
Buying a gift for a newborn is lovely, but it can also leave you standing in the shop with no idea where to start. New parents are showered with tiny outfits, and a lot of it goes unworn simply because it wasn't quite right. After years of helping people choose gifts for the newest arrivals in their families, here's what we'd actually recommend.
First, a word on sizes. It's tempting to buy newborn size because it looks so sweet, but babies grow out of it in a matter of weeks, and plenty of them never fit into it at all. If you want the gift to get some real use, go for the three to six month size instead. The parents will thank you when the baby is still wearing it months down the line rather than the day they bring it home.
When it comes to fabric, keep it soft and keep it simple. A newborn's skin is delicate, so cotton and muslin are the safest bets, as they're gentle, breathable and easy to wash. This is exactly why we stock trusted names like Zero, along with other well-known brands, since they get the basics right time after time. Give anything scratchy, heavily embellished or covered in fiddly beads a miss, however pretty it looks on the hanger.
Think about practicality too, because that's what parents remember. Outfits with poppers down the front or along the legs make nappy changes far easier than something that has to be pulled over the head of a wriggly baby. Envelope necklines are another small detail that makes a big difference in those early weeks.
If you'd like to give something a touch more special, a small gift set works beautifully. A couple of soft cotton outfits together, perhaps with a little something for a festival or a first family occasion, feels considered without being over the top. It's also a safe choice when you don't know the parents' taste, since practical and soft rarely goes wrong.
A few quick pointers to round off. Neutral colours and gentle prints suit everyone and take the guesswork out of it. Always keep the receipt or gift note so the parents can swap the size if they need to. And don't feel you have to spend a fortune, because thoughtful and useful will always be appreciated more than expensive and awkward.
If you're not sure where to begin, we're happy to help you pick something out, either online or in person at our stores in Parvati and Pimple Saudagar. And with easy seven-day returns, there's no harm done if the size isn't quite right first time.
