Baby gifts: what to avoid
Giving a gift for a new baby is a gesture of love. You want it to be useful, beautiful, memorable. And yet, some gifts, even carefully chosen, complicate the lives of new parents or are never really used.
I am a mother of two boys. I received wonderful gifts, and I received others that I politely put away without ever really using. Here's what I would avoid, if I had any advice to give.
The comfort blanket/toy (doudou)
It's THE ultimate baby gift. And yet, it's one of the riskiest to give. The comfort blanket is an intimate story between a baby and their object: no one can predict or provoke it. Parents often already have a precise idea of what they want, or choose it instinctively over the weeks. Giving a comfort blanket is taking the risk that it will never be adopted.
If you insist on giving something soft and cuddly, opt instead for a swaddle blanket or a regular blanket, which are much more versatile and just as tender.
Noisy toys
With a newborn in the house, nights are short and silence is precious. A musical toy, a play gym with integrated melodies, an interactive plush toy: all these objects are adorable in theory. In practice, they are often a source of stress for exhausted parents trying to get their baby to sleep.
If you want to give a developmental toy, wait a few weeks and ask the parents what they need at that time. A well-chosen gift at the right time is worth a thousand times more than a premature gift.
Large sizes, beyond 18 months
It happened to me. You receive an adorable outfit in size 2T, and it stays in the closet for two years. Two years is a long time. Tastes change, seasons change, and that space in the closet is sorely missed when you live in a Parisian apartment.
The golden rule: do not exceed size 12 months. Parents will have time to choose clothes for larger sizes themselves, depending on the season and their child's developing personality.
Out-of-season clothing
For my spring-born baby, I received a magnificent padded snowsuit in size 3 months. The problem: at 3 months, it was 30 degrees Celsius. And by winter, that size no longer fit him at all.
Before giving clothing, think about the season in which the baby will wear it, not the season in which they are born. A spring baby will need warm clothes in autumn, when they are 6 months old. That's the time to anticipate.
Overly bulky gifts
We were given a magnificent little vintage wooden car. Superb. And absolutely impossible to fit into our apartment, which was already transformed into a nursery storage unit. It sat in the middle of the living room for months, because we didn't know where to put it.
A baby gift is also a gift for the parents, and parents often live in spaces that are not expandable. Small, thoughtful gifts, those that are easy to store and truly used, are always the most appreciated.
So, what should you give?
The first thing to do is to ask for the baby registry. Parents have often thought about it, and respecting their choices is a gift in itself.
If you prefer to choose yourself, here's what always makes people happy:
- Clothes, in size 6, 9 or 12 months. You can never have enough, and these sizes correspond to a period when baby is active, stains a lot, and needs changing several times a day. A beautiful pajama or outfit in these sizes is sure to be worn.
- A hooded towel. It's useful from the first baths and for years to come. It's a soft, practical everyday gift that lasts a long time.
- Swaddle blankets. You always need more than you think. They are used for everything: protecting, covering, wiping, swaddling. A set of quality swaddles is always welcome.
- A set of bibs. For the same reasons as swaddles: you can't have too many. Practical, washable, and used from the first days.
Simple gifts, used from day one, and appreciated long beyond the first few weeks.
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