What to Get New Parents for Christmas
A baby's first Christmas is special, and so is the first Christmas as a parent. But new parents are also exhausted, short on time and often swimming in baby clothes. Here's how to pick a gift they'll be grateful for.
Ask one question first
Did they have a baby shower? If they did, they probably already have the basics: diapers, bottles, onesies, a car seat. Ask what's still missing, or check their registry for anything left over.
If you can't ask, skip the obvious stuff and think about what makes the day easier.
Gifts that make daily life easier
The best baby gifts get used every single day:
- A baby carrier. It lets a parent hold the baby and still have two free hands for coffee, laundry or a walk. Look for one rated from newborn up, so it lasts.
- A play gym. A safe, interesting spot to put the baby down for tummy time, so a parent can take a breath.
- A sound machine or night light for the nursery, to help with bedtime routines.
Check that anything the baby touches is machine washable. With spit-up and drool, it matters.
Gifts just for the parents
New parents rarely treat themselves. A gift that's only for them feels great:
- Cozy loungewear or a soft robe
- A good insulated mug for coffee that goes cold between feeds
- A food delivery gift card for nights when no one can cook
- A subscription to a streaming service for late-night feeds
The gift of help
Often the most useful gift isn't a thing at all:
- Homemade meals they can freeze and heat up
- A cleaning service for a month
- Babysitting so they can have a night out, or just a nap
- Running errands for a week
Write it on a card and wrap it with something small. It'll be the gift they remember.
What to skip
- Newborn-size clothes. Babies outgrow them in weeks, and parents get piles of them.
- Big toys the baby won't use for a year or more.
- Anything that needs lots of setup or a manual to read.
- Strong-smelling candles or lotions, since many parents avoid scents around a newborn.
Think about the long run
Babies grow fast. A gift rated for months gets outgrown quickly. A gift rated for years, like a carrier that works from newborn to toddler, gives parents more for the money.
The bottom line: something that makes daily life easier
The best gift for new parents makes daily life easier, gets used every day and goes in the wash. A baby carrier that lasts for years is hard to beat. Pair it with an offer to help, and you've given them the two things they need most: free hands and a little time.
To see a baby carrier compared with a play gym and a sound machine, read our best Christmas gifts for new parents.