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The best baby gifts for newborns 2024
Who best to consult on the best baby gifts for newborns than the UK's largest online network of parents?
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Feb 6, 2024
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Let's face it, parenthood is tough and the last thing a new parent wants or needs is a baby gift that takes up space without being of any use whatsoever. If you're on the hunt for the very best baby gift for the newest little person in your life - whether it's a niece, nephew, grandchild or baby of a friend - Mumsnet has you covered. We've done the hard work for you, leaving no stone unturned in our round up of the best baby gifts available in 2024.
Much like our guides to the best TENS machines and top pregnancy books, we've tapped into the vast knowledge of our Mumsnet forum users to bring you a list of the best baby gifts as recommended by the mums and dads who've received them all. As home to the largest online network of UK parents, Mumsnet users are an invaluable resource for all things parenting-related, from the best prenatal vitamins to take at different stages of the conception journey to the top-ranking parenting books to guide you on the years to come.
So whether you're looking for the best baby gift for practicality, the number one gift for peace-of-mind or the gifts which keep on giving by encouraging sleep and/or independent play, there's something here for every gift-giver (and every gift-giver's budget).
Perfectly safe for little mouths
Stimulates five senses
Encourages co-ordination
Can be tricky to wash
Price on writnig: £16 | Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Teething
If you want a great gift that's not only suitable for a new baby but extremely practical for teething tots, look no further. Considered by many as an absolute classic, Sophie La Girafe is a Lamaze toy that’s perfect for teething. Created in France in 1961 and made from 100% natural rubber and food grade paint, this little marvel manages to stimulate all five senses, soothing sore gums and providing hours of curiosity.
It’s also easy for a baby to hold and squeeze, making it tactile and reassuring. This one comes in a pretty gift box too. If you want a gift that’s affordable yet beautifully presented, Sophie is it, topping many a Mumsnet thread on the subject of the best baby gifts for well over a decade.
Read next: Discover the best stretch mark cream for the treatment and prevention of stretch marks according to Mumsnet users.
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Buy now from AmazonSophie the giraffe toys are good for them when they are into chewing.
So much more than just a muslin
Super soft
Variety of subtle designs and patterns to choose from
Cheaper muslins are available
Price on writing: From £20 for pack of five | Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Feeding, cleaning, play, light blanket, cover up
There's just something about the aden + anais muslins that sets them apart from other musy squares for many a Mumsnetter. It might be the large size - which means they can be used for so much more than mopping up milky burps - or it may be the super soft feel of them or their sweet, subtle designs. Whatever it is, these come up time and time again as one of the best baby gifts on the Mumsnet forums.
Yes, cheaper muslins are available, but if you're looking for a multi-pack gift under £20 which is pretty much guaranteed to be useful in some form (whether it's to mop up spills, wipe snotty noses, drape over a pram for shade or become the comforter of choice long after mum's put away her maternity clothes for good) well, you can't go far wrong.
Related: Pregnant and struggling to get comfortable in bed? Discover the best pregnancy pillow and the top-ranking maternity pyjamas according to Mumsnet users.
Nightlight and white noise machine all in one
Choice of four white/pink noise options
Can be hung out of reach of baby for safety
Not recommended to be left in the cot until baby is over a year
Price on writing: £30 | Suitable for age: Newborn + (as long as it's placed out of reach) | Best for: Sleep aid
Ewan the Dream Sheep is a best-selling baby sleep aid. This is due to the fact that it's been seen to help babies sleep peacefully, providing comfort and security by emitting real womb and heartbeat sounds. It’s cute, cuddly and highly functional, featuring three other calming sounds; rainfall, harp melody, and a vacuum cleaner noise.
Ewan also comes with a soothing night light and has been proven to reduce colic. Magic. Parents will love you so much for buying this, it may well count as one of the best gifts for new mums as well as babies - after all, what better gift for new parents than the gift of sleep?!
Ewan now comes as a Deluxe version too which features a cry sensor that switches him on automatically when baby stirs.
Related: Trying for a baby? Check out our pages ranking the best ovulation tests as well as the best pregnancy tests according to Mumsnetters in the know.
Hours of fun
Promotes fine and gross motor skills
Lasts many years
Large
Pricey
Price on writing: From £75 | Suitable for age: 6 months + | Best for: Entertaining older babies
This Fisher-Price staple comes with a 360-degree rotation which plays music and sounds to get babies interacting, reaching and developing all the important fine and gross motor skills. Sought after by Mumsnetters as the dream learning toy for babies 6 months and over (babies must be able to hold their own head up before it's safe for them to use), this Jumperoo is the type of gift parents will thank you for later.
It features 12 friendly rainforest animal toys and activities such as an alligator clicker, butterfly teether, a lion roller and two overhead soft monkeys. Plus, it’s easily adjustable with three height settings, is designed to strengthen motor skills and also encourages babies to jump and wriggle about. One of the best baby gifts which is both fun and educational in equal measure. Plus, though it's not suitable for newborns, it can be used by little ones well into their second (even third!) year, promising to entertain and stimulate little ones for years to come.
Related: Speaking of bouncing, check out our guide to the best birthing ball for a safe and comfortable way to exercise during pregnancy.
Inexpensive
Multi-sensory features
Surface wash only
Price on writing: £10 | Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Sensory development, teething, fine motor skills
You really can’t go wrong with this award-winning Manhattan Whoozit toy. Renowned for being a baby’s best friend, this is a classic, soft, multi-sensory activity toy with a big smiling face that babies adore.
It features bright, eye-catching colours as well as black and white contrast to appeal to newborn eyes, various textures and patterns to hold attention and soothe anxious cries. Whoozit rattles, squeaks, crinkles and comes with loop attachments to fasten onto car seats, strollers or cribs.
Read next: Pregnant and in need of a wardrobe overhaul? Don't miss our guides to the best maternity clothes according to Mumsnet users, from the comfiest maternity leggings to the trendiest maternity jeans.
Stylish as well as practical
Huge range of colours and patterns to choose from
Pricey for a bib
Price on writing: £6 | Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Feeding, teething, dribbling, weaning
If you’ve got a practical hat on, this gift idea could be just for you. These dribble bibs by Skibz will be a lifesaver to both parents and baby. They’re functional, stylish, comfortable and are perfect for teething mouths.
These bibs come with an adjustable fastening, are known to keep their shape (no shrinking, fading or distortion) and are highly absorbent so babies don’t have to suffer soreness or chafing around the chin and mouth. You can even mix and match with different patterns. Granted, they're not the cheapest bib out there but their high quality design means they should still be getting plenty of use for years to come - and they'd make a great option for the best baby shower gift too!
Encourages active imagination
Appeals to children for years
Reading can soothe younger babies
Smaller babies may lose interest before stories are finished
Price on writing: £30 | Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Developing an early love of books and reading
Mumsnet users love giving books as baby gifts because it’s something they can grow into and keep for a long time. These Julia Donaldson picture books come in a collection of 10 colourful, rhyming stories, giving the family a chance to gather around, cosy up and share tales together.
Even though babies won’t understand a word, they will joyfully react to the sound of your voice and it's never too early (in our opinion) to encourage a lifelong love of books and reading. Babies will be soothed by the rhythm of Donaldson's gentle rhyming and although their attention might wane long before they discover what, exactly, a Gruffalo is, reading at bedtime can help set parents and little ones up for a great bedtime routine to encourage sleep (which is what all new parents really want, after all!).
Read next: Looking for a bit of extra support during and after pregnancy? Check out our guides to the best pregnancy support belt and Mumsnet users' favourite pelvic floor trainer.
Dishwasher safe
Designed to maximise success of combination breast and bottle feeding
Some found teat too fast flowing for newborns
Price on writing: £12 | Suitable for age: Newborn + | Best for: Combination (combi) feeding babies
Winner of the Mumsnet Best badge 2018, these bottles from Lansinoh are made from soft, natural-feel 100% silicone which mimics the breastfeeding action and are clinically proven to encourage babies to take to bottle-feeding naturally, which could prove a game-changer for new parents looking to combination feed their baby.
Thanks to the impressive design of Lansinoh’s NaturalWave teat, which prompts an instinctive sucking action, parents can maintain their baby’s breastfeeding pattern and move from breast to bottle (and back again if wanted) easily. The mOmma feeding bottles also come with air ventilation which reduces the baby’s intake of air, preventing colic flair-ups. As a trusted brand for more than 30 years, feeding bottles don’t get much safer or more effective than this.
Related: If you're suffering from pregnancy-related acne or piles, fear not: our guides to the best skincare for pregnancy items and haemorrhoid cream have got you covered.
Best baby blanket alternative gift
Perfect for growing babies
Variety of tog options available for different temperatures/ times of year
Keeps baby warm in bed with minimal risk
Not suitable for babies weighing under 8.8 lbs
Can make night time nappy changes more difficult
Price on writing: £20 | Suitable for age: Newborn + (not recommended for babies weighing under 8.8 lbs) | Best for: Babies who don't like a swaddle
Loved by parents everywhere, these Grobags from The Grow Company are the snuggliest gift you can buy for babies. There’s no need for extra sheets or blankets, these baby sleeping bags are all they’ll need to soundly drift off to sleep. All Grobags have accurate Tog ratings and you will be able to rest assured knowing the covers will stay put, thanks to the fastenings at the shoulders.
Available in three ages: 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 18-36 months. While the traditional Grobag sleeping bags are not suitable for babies smaller than 8.8 lbs, there are a range of Gro-snug Cosy Swaddle sleeping bags suitable for tinier babies.
Read next: Discover the best hypnobirthing book according to Mumsnet users for natural techniques to relax and reduce pain during labour.
Best baby gift to give parents a break
Portable - lightweight and it folds flat for travel
Converts to a toddler chair so lasts till age two
Removing and re-attaching the cover takes seconds
Expensive
Not quite upright enough for older babies
Toy bar comes at an additional cost
RRP: £210 | Suitable from: Birth to two years (3.5-13kg) | Fabric sling removable and machine washable: Yes | Additional features: None | Dimensions: 56 × 79 × 39cm (highest position) and 11 × 89 × 39cm (transport mode) | Weight: 2.4kg | Batteries required: None
It's a little on the pricey side, but if you're looking to really push the boat out for your choice of best baby gift, the Babybjorn Bouncer Bliss ticks all the boxes for best baby bouncer/rocker. Super lightweight and extra convenient due to coming fully assembled, the Bliss is sturdy, supportive and well-made.
Beloved by Mumsnet parents for years, we think the Bouncer Bliss is a brilliant gift option if you want to give the new parents in question a bit of a break as it is designed to respond to the baby's movements, stimulating them with bouncing or soothing them to sleep. Best of all, the three-position recline grows with the child, meaning they can continue using the bouncer up to the age of two.
Read our full BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss review.
What is the best gift for a newborn baby?
We've made every effort to list a wide variety of gifts suitable for a newborn baby, from those they can enjoy straight away to others they will grow into. Overall we think the best baby gift on our list is Sophie La Girafe. Not only has this cute teether topped Mumsnet threads asking for baby gift recommendations for years, it's small, practical and can be used for years as a soother, teether, squeaker and probably a hundred other things we haven't even thought of.
What is the most needed baby gift?
In terms of practicality, you can't go wrong with muslins - and these giant musy squares from Aden + Anais continuously come out on top for Mumsnetters. Soft, versatile and large, they can be used to protect clothes from milky burps, mop up spills, shade baby from the sun, wrap around for extra warmth - some Mumsnetters even report their child using them long past babyhood as a cuddle blanket.
What should I get a newborn as a keepsake?
Books are an excellent keepsake and this set of 10 by Julia Donaldson will not only encourage an early love of reading, ignite imagination and soothe a baby at bedtime, they're a gift that can be enjoyed for years to come.
How we chose our recommendations
Mumsnetter recommendations
You can’t write a buyers' guide about the best baby gifts as recommended (and wanted!) by real parents without consulting the real parents themselves - and as the largest online network of parents in the UK, what better place to look than the Mumsnet forums. We spent hours combing through threads old and new to find the baby gifts which came up time and time again as the very best for new parents and babies, and those which were not so helpful. By doing this, we gathered relevant, up-to-date and authentic reviews of products that have been tried, tested and loved by parents.
Expert opinion
We then consulted expert review sites and other buyers' guides across the media to ensure all our recommendations are safe, appropriate and made by trusted manufacturers.
Verified consumer reviews
Finally, we assessed and weighed the reviews and ratings of each item on our shortlist to see if previous customers agreed that this gift lived up to customer expectations.
Why you can trust us
Mumsnetters have been recommending products and services to each other for more than 20 years now and always have their finger on the pulse. We’re lucky to have all that knowledge and experience at our fingertips and have spent decades hunting down the very best products in the shops, from buggies and blenders to swing sets to sterilisers, and know exactly which brands to trust and how to pick products that will make parents’ lives easier.
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides such as these, as well as product reviews and expert advice on all things pregnancy and child play related.