What to buy a newborn: useful gift ideas for every budget

Choosing a present for a baby who’s just been born seems easy until you try: parents get lots of 0–3 month clothes that are outgrown in no time, and soft toys that end up on a shelf. The gifts people appreciate most are the ones that get used every day for months and, if they’re beautiful too, end up being kept as a keepsake.

Before you choose: three questions

• Do they have a baby registry? Ask: if they do, giving from it is the surest way to avoid duplicates. Some registries, like ours, also let you make a contribution of any amount.
• When is the baby due? A winter baby needs warmth; a summer baby, cool fabrics like a muslin.
• Is it their first? First-time parents are missing almost all the practical things (changing, out and about, bath time). For parents who already have children, something special or a gift card is a better idea.

Gifts under €20

Useful little gifts for work colleagues or friends, or to go with another present:

• Dummy clip, so the dummy doesn’t end up on the ground. See dummy clips.
• Dummy pouch or teether: small and practical.
• Wash bag for the baby’s creams and brush, at home or when travelling. See wash bags.
• Nappy wallet, for carrying clean nappies in the changing bag. See nappy wallets.

From €20 to €40

The price range most gifts fall into:

• Muslin in 100% cotton bambula, 100 × 100 cm: it’s good for almost everything. We explain it all in what is a muslin for.
• Hooded towel, for lifting the baby out of the bath and drying them before they get cold. See hooded towels.
• Padded travel changing mat, for changing nappies anywhere. See travel changing mats.
• Swaddle, 70 × 70 cm, the classic for leaving hospital and the first visitors. See swaddles.
• Document wallet for the baby’s health record and vaccinations.

From €40 to €60

• Set of multi-purpose bags, for organising changes of clothes and dirty laundry.
• Nursery backpack, a gift that will be used later on. See backpacks.
• Pram bag: light, with compartments, a coated terry lining and two straps for hanging it from the pushchair. See pram bags.

Delivery to mainland Spain is free on orders from €59.

Gifts to give together

If the family or a group of friends are clubbing together, it’s the moment for the pieces parents don’t usually buy themselves:

• Carrycot and crib sleeping bag, with thick padding for winter. See carrycot and crib sleeping bags.
• Maternity bag, for long days out and nursery. See maternity bags.
• A set combining several pieces in the same fabric. See the sets in newborn gifts.

A gift for mum

In the first few months, mum gets lots of visitors and very few treats for herself. A beautiful wash bag, a bag she can use afterwards or a clutch for outings without the baby are gifts that are really appreciated.

If you don’t know what they have

A gift card for €50, €100 or €200 lets them choose for themselves, once they know what they’re missing. It’s sent by email, ready to forward or print, and it’s valid for 24 months.

Christmas gifts for babies

If the baby is born in autumn or it’s their first Christmas, think about warm pieces (a sleeping bag, a swaddle) or something they can wear for the first time over the festive season, like a muslin or a hooded towel in a special fabric. To make sure it arrives in time, order early: we prepare and dispatch orders within 48–72 working hours, but in the weeks before Christmas it’s best not to leave it until the last day.

You’ll find more ideas, sets and our selection by price in newborn gifts.