Practical Baby Gifts: Useful Presents for New Parents
Practical baby gifts are always appreciated. When choosing a baby gift, combining practicality with charm is a winning idea. While decorative keepsakes are lovely, practical gifts ensure that your present is used and appreciated daily and often with gratitude and fond memories.
Unique and "unexpected" baby gifts make the difference - some of the best baby gifts are the ones that new parents never knew they needed, until they receive them! Many parents, including myself, have been amazed at the practicality of certain gifts, finding them indispensable in daily baby care.
Here are some of my top recommendations for practical baby gifts that will be used and appreciated.
Diaper Cakes: A Creative Take on an Everyday
Essential
Diaper cakes are a delightful way to gift an absolute necessity. Wrapped beautifully, they offer a fun and visually appealing alternative to simply handing over a pack of diapers and baby care items. Common yet essential baby gifts such as diapers, wipes, bibs, onesies, socks, and bath accessories can be given a special touch when presented creatively. Consider gifting them as part of a beautifully arranged baby gift basket, a sock bouquet, a diaper bouquet, or a handmade diaper cake.
Here you find instructions for diaper gifts, such as the whimsical diaper cake pictured above.
New Baby Journal
A baby journal is a wonderful keepsake for new parents to document milestones, from birth details to first smiles and steps.
Personalized journals - as this one designed by me and available at zazzle - make thoughtful gifts, and you can even pair this with a matching onesie for a charming baby shower set.
Travel High Chair
Many parents have a high chair at home, but a travel high chair can be a game-changer. Perfect for dining out, traveling, or even office visits, portable high chairs provide a secure seating solution for baby. Restaurant high chairs also can be dirty and gooey. So if you bring your own you know for sure the chair is safe and clean. And this makes a travel highchair a practical baby gift!
The award-winning (#ad) Inglesina portable hook-on chair, for example, is lightweight, compact, and available in multiple colors. It comes in many vibrant colors (but also in "boring" black) and is suitable for toddlers up to 3 years / 37 pounds. Parents call this super practical travel chair "a must for going out and traveling".
Baby Carrier
A baby carrier provides both comfort for the baby and hands-free convenience for parents. And a baby carrier is not only a good thing when you are on the go, as it also gives a mom or dad a little bit of freedom in the house because baby is in a safe place and mom or dad have both hands free!
(#ad) Ergobaby carriers are among the best, offering ergonomic support from infancy through toddlerhood (12-45 lbs.). With over 30 designs to choose from, these carriers make an excellent practical baby gift for on-the-go parents.
Baby Hangers and Baby Closet Dividers
Help with baby closet organization and gift these practical baby gifts: Hand-painted wooden baby hangers (such as for example the ones from Kidorable) add charm to a nursery while keeping baby's outfits organized.
Baby closet dividers also make a thoughtful and really practical present, helping parents sort baby clothes by size and season effortlessly so mommy will find what she needs in a sec, and of course daddy, too!
Nosefrida - Nasal Aspirator
While it may seem unconventional, the NoseFrida nasal aspirator is a lifesaver when it comes to clearing a congested baby's nose. It is recommended for ages 0-3 and highly recommended by parents, this simple yet effective tool improves sleep and feeding, benefiting both baby and the entire household.
This review on amazon says it all: "...I used to get up to soothe my baby every couple of hours on those nights... now I get the Nose Frida and he sleeps the rest of the night. It is amazing! I am buying this for every baby shower I go to from now on."
Products To Help Baby Sleep Better
Help babies, and their parents, get better sleep with thoughtful and practical gifts designed for bedtime. Options include white noise machines, swaddle blankets, and soothing nightlights. Find sleep aids for babies here.
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Helpful parenting books like "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp and the sequel and "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" provide invaluable guidance to new parents, helping them navigate newborn sleep challenges and toddler tantrums with ease.
Even though these guidebooks are around for a long time already, they are still up-to-date as ever. (Not only) celebrities like Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer and Pierce Bosnan used to praise Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician in Santa Monica, California and his approach to calm crying babies and help newborns sleep longer. The books are available in several languages as a (#ad) book or DVD.
Pull Along Wagon
A classic kids' wagon is not just for summer fun. It's for sure a practical and entertaining gift that can be used for outings to the park, zoo, or even snowy winter adventures.
See various models of kids pull along wagons and select the one that fits your family best.
Practical Baby Gifts
Twilight Turtle Nightlight - Twilight Ladybug - Twilight Carz - by Cloud b
It's really a hard decision which nightlight to gift as there are so many adorable ones in various shapes and sizes, even travel ones.
A soothing sleep companion, such as the Cloud b Twilight Turtle Nightlight or Twilight Ladybug, projects gentle star constellations onto the ceiling, offering comfort to babies and toddlers afraid of the dark. These battery-operated nightlights automatically shut off after 45 minutes tp preserve battery life, making them both practical and charming.
The (#ad) Cloud B Buddies Nightlight Soothers are equally as cute and project stars as well. There are three colors to choose from for the glow function: blue, amber and green. If you cannot decide which color to choose, just use the morph mode. Available as a dragon, bunny, unicorn, owl, bunny and hippo.
Baby Bouncer - Baby Swing
A baby bouncer or swing provides a safe and fun place for a baby to relax, giving parents a few moments of free hands. Some even come with built-in entertainment centers or a musical toy. Baby will be occupied for quite some time and maybe even fall asleep in the bouncer, so mom and dad can relax for a few minutes, too.
Bumbo Baby Seat
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The Bumbo Seat is a floor seat which allows babies from approx 3 months old to sit upright independently, offering parents a hands-free moment while keeping their little one engaged in family activities. Baby will be very happy about being able able to participate more in family life.
More Practical Baby Gift Ideas
Baby Diaper Caddy Organizer
A diaper caddy helps parents keep all essentials, such as diapers, wipes, bottles, and toys, organized and within reach.
Some sets come as a gift package with additional goodies such as pacifier clips and drool bibs, making them an all-in-one practical gift set.
Boppy Pillow / Boppy Nursing Pillow
A nursing pillow, like the (#ad) Boppy Pillow, offers ergonomic support during feedings and doubles as a comfy spot for tummy time and early sitting practice.
Most Boppy Pillows have a removable slipcover which zips on and off for machine washing. The Boppy Nursing Pillow is also available with a 100% organic slipcover. Lots of positive reviews on amazon confirm that this cushion is one of the best nursing pillows around, and it makes a practical baby gift for sure.
The Bökee
The Bökee is really practical! It was designed by parents to make bottle prep easier for parents and caregivers. With its smart, hands-free design, you can open, fill, and close bottles or sippy cups using just one hand. Perfect for multitasking while holding your baby or toddler.
The Bökee is also a game-changer for safely transferring breast milk from bag to bottle, removing pump parts or keeping silicone pumps upright. Made from 100% silicone, the Bökee helps prevent spills by keeping bottles upright, and if any milk overflows, you can easily pour it back without wasting a drop!
In my twins baby gifts section I have listed some more practical baby gifts which are not only helpful for twin parents but also for singleton parents! View more practical baby gifts here!
These practical baby gift ideas ensure that your present will be useful, appreciated and remembered fondly. Whether you choose a diaper cake, an innovative baby gadget, or an everyday essential with a special twist, your thoughtful gift will make life a little easier for new parents. Happy gifting!
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