Gifts for new parents in Australia

Wraps, wraps, wraps

The thing new parents use most in an Australian summer is a light wrap. Muslin and stretchy rib wraps double as pram covers against the sun, feeding covers and change mats. Organic muslin is breathable but takes practice to swaddle with. A stretchy rib wrap is easier for nervous first-timers but smaller.

Getting out of the house

By month two or three, parents want to leave the house without packing for a week. A change clutch holds a few nappies and wipes and unfolds into a padded mat. A waterproof picnic rug lets the baby lie on park grass without the damp coming through. Both suit parents who already go out, not week one.

Small jobs and first toys

A rechargeable nail file takes the fear out of trimming tiny nails. A pocket bib is for the start of solids around six months. Suction spinners and a roly-poly bear are first-year toys for the high chair and tummy time.

First books matter more than first toys. A board book of Australian animals by an Indigenous artist, or a gift card for First Nations picture books, starts a shelf that lasts.

For the parents

Laundry doubles overnight with a baby. A laundry set with linen spray and dryer balls sounds dull and is exactly the sort of thing a tired parent appreciates. Under 40 dollars covers most of the wraps and toys here; post takes a few days, so order before the birth if you can.

What we would give

A muslin wrap and a board book. Both are used for months, neither takes up much room, and the book gets read long after the wraps are outgrown. For a group gift, the laundry set or the picnic rug. Skip newborn outfits; in a hot summer the baby lives in a nappy and a wrap anyway, and everyone else will bring clothes.

Timing

Send gifts to arrive in the second or third week, after the first rush of visitors. Order early in December, since post slows down before Christmas and some shops here hold low stock.

Questions people ask

What do new parents actually want as a gift?

Time, sleep and food. Gifts that save a step, like a bottle warmer, an electric nail file or a one-pan cooking set, get used daily. A food delivery card for the first weeks is one of the most welcome gifts going. Add one small thing just for the parent, such as a bath set, so it is not all about the baby.

What is a good gift for new parents who have everything?

Something consumable or something for later. A food delivery card, a bath and body set for the parent, or a bib and suction spinners for when the baby starts solids at around six months all avoid duplicates. A keepsake like milestone blocks or a footprint kit also works if they like taking photos and keeping mementos.

How much should I spend on a gift for new parents?

Most useful gifts on this list cost between $25 and $60. Under $25, dryer balls, muslins, a bib or a picture book are all fine. Bigger items such as a bottle kit, a pan or a boxed sleep set are best as group gifts, so one person checks the registry and the parents get one useful thing.

Should I buy a gift before or after the baby arrives?

Either works, but they suit different gifts. Before the birth, buy from the registry or choose first-weeks basics like swaddles and muslins. After the birth, send food, a delivery card or something for the parent. A second small gift at two or three months, when solids and outings start, is often the most appreciated of all.