Gifts for new parents in the UK

Sleep is the whole game

UK parents are told to use baby sleeping bags rather than loose blankets, and they always need another one, in the next size or the next tog. Check the tog against the room: 2.5 tog suits a room around 16 to 20 degrees and is too warm for summer. A zip-up swaddle saves learning to wrap. A white noise machine with a cry sensor helps naps in a noisy house.

Muslins are the other constant. Parents use them for everything and never have enough.

Feeding

A double bottle warmer that also sterilises is a real time saver, but only for parents who are bottle-feeding or pumping. If they plan to breastfeed only, buy something else. Ask before you buy anything feeding-related.

For the parents

One gift should be for the people doing the work. A Cowshed bath set is the obvious one; check for fragrance sensitivities first, especially if mum is breastfeeding. A sharing chocolate advent calendar gives a couple a small treat every evening in December, as long as nobody in the house has a nut allergy.

Keepsakes and budgets

A named soft bunny and a named wooden train are grandparent gifts that last. Both are made to order, so allow about a week before the post. Under 25 pounds covers a comforter, a sheep blanket or a set of muslins; buy two comforters if you can, because one always goes missing.

What we would give

The Little Green Sheep set, because it covers sleep and feeds in one box and needs no wrapping. If you know mum well, add something just for her. If the budget is tight, a set of muslins and a comforter will both be used daily. Leave keepsakes to the grandparents; they usually want to buy them anyway.

Allow time for the post if you are not visiting, and send it to arrive after the first week, when the flowers have died and the visitors have gone.

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.