Having a new baby on the way is a time of extremes – excitement, nervousness, stress, and anticipation to name a few. If you’re looking for helpful and thoughtful baby gift ideas or you are a first time Mum or Dad planning for new bub, here are some ideas that I found super helpful.
If you or your gift-recipient are the more practical type (or perhaps need to be!), or already have an excess of cute toys and baby clothes, these more practical ideas could be just the thing to take some off the pressure off those first few weeks with new bub.
This list is focused on new parents (new mums in particular but definitely dads too). Top gifts for new babies are well documented (toys, clothes, books, nappies etc) however, here I wanted to focus on what I, as a parent, found most useful in the first few weeks after bringing baby home. These are some of the things I figured out as I went, things that weren’t always on the usual baby must-have lists I researched beforehand. Everyone is different and will make their own ways of being, but hopefully one or two of them are helpful for you or as a baby shower gift idea!
1
Baby file organiser to keep all the paperwork together
Don’t be fooled by the excess of pregnancy apps on offer and the rise of telehealth GP appointments – the physical paper trail relating to having a new baby is real and excessive!
This baby document organiser was my go-to for every single follow up GP and midwife appointment after baby was born, and continued to be my source of knowledge for quite some time after. They include 10x sections for healthcare, parenting resources, receipts, and warranties. My son is now 18 months and I still have a quick look to check vaccinations or dates and contact details of specialists. Safe to say, I’m using the same again for baby number 2!
I created these for my sister and a friend when they were expecting and then used for myself later on. They were so well received at the baby shower (no double ups of this gift!) that I decided to make a second variation. You can opt for ‘pregnancy’ or ‘baby’ themed divider tabs, or buy as a combo pack.
Where you can buy:
Right here at Neat Little Duck! Choose baby or pregnancy themed tabs
2
Meal delivery service to make dinners easier
This one is a no-brainer but a really useful gift idea for new parents! Adjusting to the round-the-clock schedule of a demanding, albeit very cute, little baby, leaves little time and energy for healthy meals. Even if you have pre-planned and stocked your freezer with pre-cooked meals in the freezer, or have been gifted lovely homecooked meals by family, all good things must come to an end. Healthy, low maintenance dinners can be a real lifesaver.
Places like Hello Fresh and Marley Spoon deliver all the ingredients, which you then throw together and cook. Non-cooking, ready-made meal options include Dinner Ladies and Youfoodz.
As an alternative, many butchers have high quality, real-made meals and even offer home delivery. If in Sydney, Central Coast or Wollongong areas, I highly recommend Tender Gourmet Butchery. Their ready-made gourmet meals include stir fry and enchiladas, however, the meatballs are the absolute favourite in our house!
Where you can buy:
https://tendergourmetbutchery.com.au/
3
A house cleaning service to take away
The first few weeks with a new baby are typically filled with sleepless nights, combined with an excess of family and well-wishers. When I had my first baby, we started using a cleaning service once a week for a couple of weeks, then slightly less on an ongoing basis after that. It was amazing! Worth every cent. Yes, you do need to coordinate baby sleep times, and yes, perhaps the cleaners don’t do the dusting exactly how you would, but on the plus side… they do the whole house in 1-2 hours! And then it’s done and you and your partner haven’t had to lift a finger.
This gift idea is especially helpful if longer than usual delivery recovery is at play (such as caesarean or other complications), but let’s be honest…. who would this not be handy for?
Where you can buy:
Check out local cleaning services in your area online and be sure to check reviews. If in Sydney, Urban Company have a really easy app you can use to book anytime and check availability
4
A mini mum and bub feeding station
Now when I say ‘feeding station’ I’m not necessarily talking breast pumps and nipple cream, although those can be handy too. In this case, I mean a ready-to-use kit to have next to you while you feed. This one was really handy for me, especially those first few weeks while still getting the hang of feeding and lack of sleep.
I recommend having 2 if you find you breastfeed in more than one location quite regularly. Contrary to what I saw in beautiful nursery photos, I actually spent 80% of my time breastfeeding in the lounge room. Find something light, preferably with a handle and definitely with a flat base.
As a gift idea, why not make it all up ready for use, add some cellophane and top with a beautiful ribbon? You could choose a colour or theme for the items to tie it all together.
In mine, I had a mixture of items for both myself and bub. A water bottle, healthy snacks like nuts or muesli bars, moisturiser, breast pads, tissues, burp cloths, bibs, and a spare muslin wrap. You might even want to add your headphones for taking calls easier.
Where you can buy:
Ikea, homeware stores, Kmart or discount stores have a good range of small storage tubs and baskets.
5
Hands-free voice assistant
The number #1 most frequent household item I used with new baby was my Google home mini. Asking about the weather or news of the day are all handy, but in particular, I had set up Spotify playlists for both play and sleep time for my little one. I found voice-command was substantially easier than fumbling with my phone while trying to put baby down to sleep.
The benefit with this one was primarily frequency of use. Even since bub was born (and even now and into the foreseeable future), I use this at least twice a day. Slightly embarrassingly, but my 18 month old can happily say “Hey Google!” and look quite pleased with himself!
Where you can buy:
Whether you opt for Siri or Alexa, they are available at a bunch of tech stores including Officeworks, Kogan and Dick Smith.
6
Nappy change wallet for quick outings
Easily my second most-used item was (and still is!) a custom nappy bag with change mat that I received as a gift from my sister. They are waterproof, compact and come with a foldable change mat inside.
While there are a lot of times I take a full nappy bag/backpack with bottles, toys, the whole deal, sometimes for a quick outing this smaller size is perfect to chuck in the bottom of the pram. Mine usually contains 3–4 nappies, mini-hand sanitiser, 3 nappy bags, a baby wipes clutch like this one and the change mat that comes with the wallet. Just enough to safely cover a trip out for a few hours. If I’m honest, I’ve also chucked my phone and keys in here too on occasion, although I know it’s probably not recommended 😉
Where you can buy:
‘In Our Nest’ where mine is from have sadly closed down, although I’ve also seen similar ones on Etsy. Check the size before you order. It should be small, but still able to hold the bare essentials.
7
Voucher for a health or wellbeing app
While exciting and rewarding, being a new mum or dad can also be stressful and leave you feeling physically or mentally drained while learning to balance and adjust to life with new bub. In as little as 10 mins a day, a small space of calm or physical exercise at home can work wonders to get the body or mind moving.
There are a lot of options for mediation phone apps. Ones such as ‘Mind the bump’ and ‘Expectful’ focus on new and expecting mums and can be a good starting place. ‘Headspace’ has great ratings on the app store and is a good all round option. The best one may depend on your level meditation experience.
For fitness, there are also a whole bunch of great options. 7 minute workout apps are a good choice for getting maximum benefit for little time and although there are more comprehensive and tailored paid options.
I created these for my sister and a friend when they were expecting and then used for myself later on. They were so well received at the baby shower (no double ups of this gift!) that I decided to make a second variation. You can opt for ‘pregnancy’ or ‘baby’ themed divider tabs, or buy as a combo pack.
Where you can buy:
You can pick up vouchers for Google Play or the App store & iTunes at many supermarkets and online, or purchase a Headspace subscription here
8
Baby clothing organising hangers and drawer dividers
These allow you or the parent-to-be to organise all baby’s clothes for months and are a great gift idea for those who like to be organised. They are handy for two reasons. Firstly, new babies grow super quick in the first few months and you’ll power through clothing sizes. Secondly, new parents will likely be gifted a range of newborn clothes before and after bub arrives, and having a method of sorting and storing them comes in handy. Plus, they are a really cute gift idea! If you’re unsure of the nursery theme, opt for something neutral like wood.
My tip is to get ones with the actually clothing size as well as the age range (‘000’ rather than ‘0-3 months’) as you can’t always predict what size they will be when.
Where you can buy:
eBay or some baby gift stores, but also there is a great range on Etsy
9
A smart kettle to help with early morning formula feeds
A disclaimer here… this one is mostly targeted at formula feeding parents but still useful none the less, plus they are just cool and future-istic! Once my bub moved to bottle feeding, that first early 3 or 4am feed was the worst to try and time the temperature of the water. Believe me when I say every second counts when a hungry baby is crying! The water needs to be freshly boiled, but a safe temperature for baby to drink.
Unless you are keen to invest in a formula dispensing machine or high-end thermos, I found a smart kettle was a good work around option which was also practical for an everyday kettle that doesn’t take up precious bench space. I set it to boil 1.25 hours before bub’s usual wake up time, by which time it had cooled to a perfect temperature ready to mix the formula.
For extra convenience, opt for one with an app to boil remotely if budget allows. You can voice activate from a far or use the app to get the kettle to boil while on the road and heading home.
Please note: Make sure you follow the advice of the formula you are using or your GP to ensure you are correctly preparing the milk. Also, follow all safety instructions for using the smart kettle.
Where you can buy:
Kogan have a range of options depending on your price bracket.
10
Large, BPA-free water bottle you can open one-handed
Keeping hydrated is incredibly important, but not always top of mind when sleep-deprived. Also, where breastfeeding or not, baby’s feed time takes up a lot of time and having something you can drink from and open one handed can be a lifesaver.
Choose a bottle that is easy to open and close one-handed. I found a flip lid a lot easier, rather than a twist to open style of cap.
Where you can purchase:
Supermarkets, Kmart, Big W and homewares stores
11
Gentle moisturiser, suitable for both mum and bub
This may seem like a nice-to-have, and in some ways it is, however those 10 seconds of self-care might be just enough to keep you sane when it’s one of “those” days. For babies, moisturiser helps to care for sensitive skin and keep them hydrated.
For convince, have a gentle, hydrating moisturiser on hand that is suitable for both Mum and baby. Opt for one which is fragrance-free. Perfect as an all-over baby moisturiser, and for adult hands.
Where you can purchase:
Anywhere really! Aveeno, QV, GAIA and Mustela are all consistently rated well and can be found at your local chemist or online
