If you are unsure what to give as a gift for a newborn this article will guide you as to the types of gifts that will be a hit and those to avoid!
When it comes to best gifts, practical items were in top place when we asked parents. Some examples included; nappy bin, fleece sleeping bag for the pram, linen, sling, wraps and clothes in a variety of sizes.
Personalized gifts were also rated highly by parents. Some examples include a handmade felt book with the baby's name inscribed on the front. A hand made towel with the baby's name on it, a beautiful quilt with baby's name and date of birth on it. Another personal gift was that of the baby's birth stone.
Some parents felt that the best gifts they received were the ones that could be used months down the track such as a portable high chair. This is a high chair that folds up and can be kept in the car and taken out when you go to restaurants, friends places or away on holidays.
A number of parents expressed their gratitude at receiving prepared meals in the weeks after their baby was born. This is a time when parents are so focused on the needs of the baby that they often forget about themselves. When they do have a spare minute to think about themselves making a meal can seem more like a chore. Having prepared meals in the freezer or knowing that one will be dropped over can be a godsend to parents and just one less thing for them to worry about!
Another favourite category was toys. You can never have too many toys for your newborn. Parents found that they received many interesting toys some of which they would never have thought of to buy themselves. Some examples included musical box, activity mat, developmental toys, nesting blocks, rattles, toys with mirrors, nursery rhyme CD's, animal train, toys for hanging off play gym and pram.
The last category of best received gifts was books, many parents commented that they loved gifts of books. For this age board books and cloth books are the best, a variety is also good so that parents do not get bored. Books for parents such as an ideas book of activities to do with your baby or a subscription to a parenting magazine were also favourite gift ideas.
Now, it is also important to find out the worst gifts that parents received for their newborns. Some people do not like to admit that they receive gifts that are terrible, but realistically this is bound to happen. Now you will be able to learn from others mistakes and ensure you give a gift that does not make its way onto this list!
The gift of clothes is a controversial one. It seems that except for the basic clothing items most parents like to choose there own baby clothes. In our survey many parents commented that clothes for one reason or another were amongst the worst gifts they received. Parents received very small clothes that never fitted the baby, clothing for the wrong season or clothing that was not to their taste so for all these reasons the clothes were never worn. Most parents received at least one item of clothing that was either impractical, old fashioned or ugly and therefore, never worn. Parents expressed their feelings of guilt and sadness for wasting these clothes. The lesson to be learnt is not to buy clothes for a newborn!
Teddy bears and soft toys are a traditional gift but many parents commented that they received just too many. In the first few months of life these toys are just ornamental anyway as it is more hygienic for the baby to play with hard plastic toys that can be washed. If you can avoid these cute soft toys and buy a more interesting toy for the baby to play with your gift may actually be used!
The other category was ornamental items that parents disliked because they were either impractical, old-fashioned or over the top. Some examples included a silver container to put a lock of the baby's hair in, a porcelain shoe with the baby's name inscribed on it or a silver birth certificate holder. Some parents may appreciate these items, but for our down to earth parents who replied to the survey they would have liked something that the baby could have used.
