Gifts for babies in Canada

What a baby uses in the first year

A baby needs very little. The parents need a lot of a few things. Swaddles, muslins, mitts and something safe to chew cover most of the first year, and they get outgrown or worn out, so a second one is never wasted.

Our top pick in Canada is the Lulujo bamboo swaddle three-pack from Montreal. Parents use muslins for burping, wiping, stroller shade and nursing cover, often all in one day, and three is better than one. For sleep, the Kyte Baby sleep bag replaces loose blankets in the crib, but it is priced in US dollars, so expect exchange costs.

Then the small things parents forget: Kushies mittens to stop face scratching, a Sophie la girafe for teething, a high-contrast DK board book.

Dress for the winter

A Canadian baby spends months in a stroller or carrier in the cold. Stonz makes two of the most useful winter gifts here: thumbless Nest Mitts that babies cannot pull off, and insulated booties that stay on over socks. Neither is for snow play, since neither is meant for a walking child in deep snow, but both make a January walk possible.

If the baby is due in summer, buy the next size up so the mitts and booties fit when the cold comes.

Sizes, toys and budgets

Do not buy newborn size. Babies grow out of it in weeks. Buy the next size up for anything sized by age.

For toys, a teether, a set of shakers or the black and white Cosy balls suit the first months. The Tegu train suits a first birthday. Under 25 dollars covers mittens, a board book, a single muslin or a silicone bib. Most shower gifts sit between 25 and 60 dollars. A Compassion Canada newborn kit suits parents who already have everything. Check the registry first, and order early in winter, when Canada Post and couriers run slow.

Questions people ask

What is a good gift for a newborn baby?

Something the parents use daily. A wearable sleep bag, a zip-up swaddle or a pack of large muslins all get used from the first week. Buy the next size up rather than newborn, since babies outgrow the smallest sizes in weeks and parents usually receive plenty of them. Add a teether or a high-contrast board book if you want something the baby can hold or look at.

How much should I spend on a baby gift?

There is no rule, but most useful baby gifts cost between $25 and $60: a sleep bag, a swaddle, a hooded towel. Under $25 you can still give mittens, a teether, a comforter or a board book. If you want to spend more, join a group gift and choose something from the registry, so the parents are not stuck with duplicates.

Are toys a good gift for a baby?

Only a few. In the first months a baby can use a teether, a comforter, a wobble toy and a high-contrast book. Blocks and puzzles are rated for older babies and toddlers, so save them for a first birthday or say on the card that they are for later. Parents tend to get far more toys than sleep and feeding basics.

What should I avoid buying for a baby?

Newborn-size clothes, loose blankets for the cot, and anything big that is not on the registry. Newborn sizes are outgrown in weeks. Safe sleep guidance says no loose bedding, so a wearable sleep bag is the better buy. Big kits and gadgets are often duplicated, so check first or give a gift receipt.