Gifts for babies and new parents

A closer look: Stand it open on the floor in front of them during tummy time and it gives them a reason to lift their head. In the early weeks, hold the pages fairly close to their face, as newborns focus best on things nearby. The sturdy board pages cope with grabbing and chewing, so it stays in use long after the newborn stage.

Why we picked it: Bold black and white pictures that newborns can actually see. A lovely little extra to tuck in with a bigger gift.

• Sturdy board book
• Bold black and white pictures
• Made for newborns

What owners say: Babies are drawn to the bold pictures, it’s sturdy enough for little hands, and it’s great value.

A closer look: At 75 × 95cm they stay useful from the Moses basket right through to the toddler years. Cellular weaves work best in layers: add a second blanket on colder nights rather than reaching for something thicker, and tuck them in no higher than baby’s shoulders. Give both a wash before first use so they’re fresh for the cot.

Why we picked it: Certified organic cotton in the open cellular weave midwives recommend for keeping babies at a safe temperature.

• Pack of 2
• 100% GOTS organic cotton
• Cellular weave for airflow
• Tumble dry on low

What owners say: Lovely quality, stays soft after washing, and a handy size for the cot, pram and swaddling.

A closer look: Keep one wherever you feed, plus a spare folded into the changing bag, and six soon feel like the right number. They dry quickly and can go in the tumble dryer on a low heat, so yesterday’s batch is back in rotation fast. Later on, they double as a soft face cloth or towel at bath time.

Why we picked it: Big 70cm squares in a soft bamboo and cotton blend that gets softer with every wash.

• 6 large 70 × 70cm squares
• Bamboo and cotton blend
• Softer with every wash
• Burp cloth, bib or light blanket

What owners say: Soft and gentle on skin, generously sized, and the patterns keep their colour wash after wash.

A closer look: The prompts say “we” and “our” rather than mum and dad, so it works for every kind of family, including adoptive and same-sex parents. Photos can go in any direction on the thick, acid-free card pages, with no cropping. Before wrapping it, write a short note to the baby inside the front cover: a lovely thing for them to find years later.

Why we picked it: Simple prompts that don’t make you feel guilty for missing a milestone, which is why people actually finish it.

• Gender-neutral design
• Simple, open-ended prompts
• Fits 4 × 6in photos
• Covers the whole first year

What owners say: A beautiful book with lovely page designs, well organised, and plenty of space for writing and photos.

Heads up: Pricier than most memory books, but it’s built to be kept.

A closer look: Use the outer pockets for the small things that always go missing, such as nail clippers, cream and a thermometer, and keep nappies and wipes in the main sections. Once the nappy years are over, lift the dividers out and it becomes a tidy basket for books or small toys. A second one downstairs saves a lot of trips.

Why we picked it: Eight pockets and movable dividers mean everything for a change is in one basket you can carry to wherever the baby is.

• 8 pockets
• 3 removable dividers
• 38 × 23 × 18cm
• Carry handles

What owners say: Roomy, easy to rearrange, and handy to have everything ready to grab. Good value too.

Heads up: It’s a soft fabric caddy, so it’s best not overloaded.

A closer look: Batteries aren’t included, so tuck some AAs in with the gift and it can be used straight away. Filing tends to go best while the baby is asleep or feeding, always with the guard fitted, and the soft light helps in a dim room. Move up a head as they grow: ultra-fine for the first 3 months, then fine until 12 months.

Why we picked it: Gentle, quiet and far less nerve-racking than tiny clippers, and it comes with heads for grown-up nails too.

• 3 baby heads by age
• 3 adult heads
• 2 speeds, both directions
• Soft LED light
• Storage case

What owners say: Makes nail trimming gentler and far less stressful. Plenty of parents call it a game changer.

A closer look: Swish the water around before you read it, as a bath can run hotter near the tap end, and a quick elbow test is still a sensible double-check. Between baths it can sit on a nursery shelf keeping an eye on the room. Wipe it dry after each bath before it goes back on the shelf.

Why we picked it: Checks the bath and the nursery, so one little gadget answers both of the 3am questions: too hot, or too cold?

• Checks bath and room
• Clear upright display
• Bath guide 36.5–38°C
• Room guide around 18°C

What owners say: Accurate, easy to read at a glance, and useful twice over: bath water and the nursery.

A closer look: Lay it open in the cot, pop the baby in and zip up: far quicker than folding a wrap in the dark. The poppers at the armholes let you free one arm and then both, and arms out is the setting to switch to once they show signs of rolling, which also eases the move to an ordinary sleeping bag.

Why we picked it: Tommee Tippee has been making baby kit since 1965, and its swaddle bag makes the 3am wrap foolproof.

• 0–3 months, 2.5 tog
• Three ways to wear
• Roomy, hip-healthy bottom
• Bottom-to-top zip for night changes
• OEKO-TEX certified fabrics

What owners say: Soft, good quality and easy to use, and plenty of parents say their baby settles well in it.

Heads up: Follow the weight guide on the label rather than age alone; some babies find it roomy at first.

A closer look: They arrive tied with a ribbon, so there’s no need for wrapping paper, just a card. Lay one out on the changing mat before the bath, hood at the top, and you can lift the baby straight in and wrap them up in one move. Warming it on the radiator while the bath runs makes it even cosier.

Why we picked it: A two-pack, so there’s always a clean, dry one ready for the next bath.

• Pack of 2
• 73 × 73cm
• Cosy hood
• Star embroidery

What owners say: Soft, stay that way after washing, and a good size for wrapping a baby up after a bath.

Heads up: Thinner than an adult bath towel, which suits newborns but won’t last into the toddler years.

A closer look: A lanyard and hanging loop let it clip onto a pram handle, car seat or cot rail rather than rattling around the bottom of a bag. It charges over USB-C, and a memory function saves setting it up from scratch every night. Stand it across the room rather than right by the baby’s head.

Why we picked it: Small enough for a changing bag, with a battery that lasts days, so naps at Grandma’s go just as smoothly as at home.

• 21 soothing sounds
• Rechargeable battery
• Timer and child lock
• Small enough for a changing bag

What owners say: Realistic sounds, lots to choose from, and small enough for a handbag. The battery lasts for days between charges.