The best gift ideas for new parents

This little owl will become a newborn's best friend. You can take this little guy on the go. It can be attached to cots, prams and car seats. It plays four soothing sounds, such as a heartbeat, white noise and rainfall with adjustable volume settings. If the baby cries, then Ollie The Owl will respond. By playing 20 minutes of soothing sounds or lullabies, the baby will fall back to sleep. Sleep is exactly what new parents need! This one is USB rechargeable, but there is a battery-powered option too.

One reviewer said: "The white noise helps keep our baby asleep during her naps - an absolute godsend! The cry sensor is great. When our baby had a cold, she would cough and wake herself up. But, the cry sensor recognised the noise and re-started the white noise and she fell back to sleep. Hoping it still works for us when she's in her own bedroom. Definitely recommend giving this a go though."

Read our full Ollie the Owl review.

COOK's "First Fortnight For New Parents" box is tailored to make life easier for new mums and dads embarking on the journey of parenthood. Designed to provide nourishing meals during those initial hectic weeks, these chef-prepared dishes offer convenience without sacrificing nutrition or taste. From comforting classics like Lasagne to wholesome options like Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie, each meal is crafted with care and packed with flavour. This fantastic gift takes the stress out of mealtime, allowing new parents to focus on bonding with their little one without worrying about cooking.

Tested by Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "As my husband and I prepare to welcome our first baby any day now, the COOK First Fortnight box has given us such peace of mind that we will have access to wholesome meals that require very little on our part when we're sleep deprived and trying to figure out parenting! We couldn't resist trying a couple of meals and they are seriously delicious - you really can taste the high-quality ingredients that have been used."

A truly unique gift, this holistic online resource is designed to support and guide new parents through the postpartum period. Crafted by midwife and hypnobirthing instructor Siobhan Miller, the pack provides expert advice on postpartum recovery, mental well-being, and baby care. With video content, practical tools, and nurturing guidance, it fosters confidence and self-care during this transformative phase. From breastfeeding tips to emotional well-being strategies, the Postpartum Pack is a valuable companion, empowering parents with knowledge and resources for a positive and smooth transition into parenthood, ensuring they feel supported and informed during this precious time.

Reviewed by mum Amanda: "I used the hypnobirthing course with my first baby in 2018 and it couldn’t have been more helpful on informing about birth and helping me remain calm during my labour. So, I was delighted to see there is now a postpartum pack too. An area I felt entirely unprepared for once I had delivered. Despite having been through the postpartum phase already, the course has been very insightful in a lot of areas I don’t know about. Plus a great reminder of all the things I do know about it."

You can never have too many baby products and this Childs Farm kit is a must for new parents. The products are all perfect for throwing into a changing bag when the family is on the go. Plus, they’re gentle to use on baby’s sensitive skin. The set includes a baby wash, baby bedtime bubbles, baby moisturiser, baby bath thermometer and nappy cream.

One reviewer said: "I bought these for my new granddaughter. Her parents were concerned she may have sensitive skin as her father does and runs in the family. The whole range is great. This was a little case with essentials. Very pleased with purchase, good value for money."

Read our Child's Farm review.

The Frida Baby Basics Kit is a must-have for new parents, featuring essentials all mums and dads will truly use with their little one. This thoughtfully curated set includes popular products like the unique NoseFrida Snotsucker, Windi Gas & Colic Reliever and more. A truly practical and effective gift.

New parents will feel a lot more at ease when taking their newborn's temperature. This clever device is the perfect gift. It can easily track a baby's temperature. Plus, it can even measure the surface temperature of the milk or baby food with infrared mode. It's super easy to use and quick with a fast two-second reading.

One reviewer said: "This was bought as a little gift for my daughter who is a new parent. She loves this so much. She donated her other ear thermometers to a local hospital children’s ward."

Read our Tommee Tippee No Touch Forehead Thermometer review.

Trying to juggle housework with a crying baby can be difficult. This baby carrier is the perfect solution, helping the baby feel close to his parents and comforted while freeing up mum's and dad's hands. A carrier is great on walks when you don't want to take the pram. Sometimes, all baby needs to feel comfort is to be close to you. All FreeRider slings are made from 100 per cent TENCEL™. Plus, they are soft, breathable, and come in a range of cool, beautiful designs.

One reviewer said: "I purchased this sling for our new great-granddaughter who is due to make her debut in 2 weeks' time. I am told by her mummy that the sling is beautiful, very soft and of the highest quality, thank you for supplying such a great product."

Read our Freerider Baby Sling Carrier review.

When you're a new parent, it can be hard to find time for yourself, but this self-love journal from Lovendu will encourage them to spend a few minutes a day focusing on building their self-confidence. It's a 14-week journey, but it's undated so they can dip in and out at any point.

Reviewed by our commercial content writer, Arabella Horspool: "As a person who loves journaling, the Lovendu Self-Love Journal was a delight to use. You're given a page a day (for 14 weeks) to fill out your positive affirmations and what you're grateful for, which is nice to look back and reflect on at a later date. There are also a few positive quotes and other worksheets to complete which also focus on self-esteem and building your confidence."

It's safe to say the new parents will have their hands full so when they do get a moment for a cuppa (even if it's cold...), elevate the experience with this stunning box of hand-iced, baby-themed biscuits. There are nine different designed biscuits in the keepsake box for them to work through although they're so pretty they may not want to!

Reviewed by Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "Biscuiteers tins are the best gift, whatever the occasion. They look absolutely incredible and even more importantly, they taste it too!"

A baby bouncer can be a real-life-saver. Suddenly, you can put your baby down for a few minutes and do the washing up. Or, maybe even treat yourself to a shower. New parents will LOVE you if you buy them this as a gift. The Joie Baby Dreamer Rocker has a position reclining seat, two-position adjustable leg rest and soothing sounds and vibrations to calm little ones. Plus there's a rotating toy bar with three adorable toys for playtime fun. It's lightweight and can easily be compactly folded for easy storage and travelling.

One reviewer said: "I recently purchased this for my granddaughter who loves sitting in it. It is a great baby seat and rocker combined in one. It collapses easily for storing or for travelling. I love the good quality fabric as it's great value for money."

If you're still not sure what gift you should get, why not settle on one of these cute hampers that contains a bit of everything a new parent may need? It features a brush and comb set, a teddy bear, some knitted booties, a bib, a sweet heart-shaped plaque and a lot more.

One reviewer said: "It was very well presented in a grey box. Everything was displayed nicely so you could see exactly what was in there and was all beautifully covered in a grey muslin type bag with a bow at one end. Bought this for my grandson who’s partner is expecting their first baby."

Keep their energy levels up with this thoughtful sweet treat. Available in full half and mini slabs, you can choose both the style and personalisation to suit who you're buying it for.

One reviewer said: "I don’t have a picture as I’ve already eaten it!! However, this brownie was honestly one of the best brownie I’ve ever had. The hard chocolate layer was really delicious too. I got the brownie for my friend’s birthday and stuck a picture of them on the brownie. Everyone laughed seeing it and the picture quality was good considering it was on edible paper.

New parents will cherish this camera just as much as those precious family moments. When parents take photos, they tend to end up with thousands on their phones but nothing physical to show. So, they’ll really appreciate this gift. It's pocket-sized! So, it doesn’t take up much room in a changing bag either.

One reviewer said: "If you want a Polaroid camera with out the cost then this is the camera to get. You get instant prints and the paper has a sticky back so you can stick the photos into a book or on paper. Plus the style is nice, it's easy to use and is definitely portable."

Everyone tells you that those first few months flyby in a blink of an eye, but when you're in the midst of many sleepless night and nappy changes it doesn't always feel like it, but having a memory book like this can encourage them to write down those precious moments before they pass them by.

One reviewer said: "I absolutely loved this book. It was beautiful and I loved everything about it. The prompts were short sweet and to the point and there were lots of blank space to add extra pictures."
Another reviewer said: "I bought this as a gift for a friend and I was impressed with the quality when it came in. It is beautiful and I like the way it is laid out."

Handmade with care, this piece of jewellery is one that they'll never want to take off. Simply select the parent's and the child's birthstone from the list and choose the metal you want. You can even add a sentiment card for that extra special touch!

One reviewer said: "I bought the sterling silver bracelet for my friend six months ago when she had her first baby. She has told me that she has worn it every day since and never takes it off. She sent me a recent photograph of the bracelet and it is still in perfect condition. A really beautiful item with a lovely meaning."

The perfect night-feed companion; the Kindle Paperwhite is extremely light and better still - it has no ads! That means they can get through that book they've always wanted to read a lot quicker (perhaps during the little one's naptime).

One reviewer said: "Got this for my birthday and love it! I'm reading books right now! Haven't read a book in years and look at me now - reading as much as I can (way better than doom scrolling before bed). I love the yellow tint backlight, matte screen, waterproofness and the battery. Plus, it's the only device that you don't need to bring a charger for (or even think "Have I fully charged it?" before going away)."

As much as we want them too they don't stay little forever, so this hand and footprint kit will make a wonderful piece of art to look back on in months, years and decades to come. It's totally inkless too, so they won't have to worry about making a mess or cleaning the baby afterwards.

One reviewer said: "I really like these inkless handprints. They worked really well for my baby so I've been getting them for all other babies born this year as a gift."
Another reviewer said: "Lovely packaging, granddaughter was delighted with this gift. All ready for the baby being born August. Purchased for baby shower lovely reasonably priced gift."

There’s nothing worse than being unprepared for a teething little one, and you just never know when they will start. It’s really useful to have teething products on hand. So, this mitt that attaches comfortably to the baby’s hand is perfect for when those little toothies become irritable.

One reviewer said: "I bought this product because my little one is at the stage where she chews on everything. They are an amazing purchase and I'm happy we got these. I would recommend these and they've helped us massively. We haven't had any issues with parts coming off and honestly, I'm pleased I did and I would recommend them."

Sensory stimulation is important for a baby's development. So, rather than overload mum and dad with excess stuff, why not get some musical toys that help stimulate the little one's senses? Each of the three toys emits different sounds that help develop early music and sensory skills.

One reviewer said: "I'm so pleased I bought this. My 3-month-old granddaughter adores them and can grip them easily. Plus, she's fascinated that she can make sounds with 2 of them by shaking. Also likes chewing them. Brilliant purchase which we will get a lot of use from."

This cube can provide endless amounts of fun for any baby. The six-piece attachments provide different experiences to help develop your little one's imagination and hand-eye coordination. Each side of the cube will unravel a new activity, from animal sounds and rotating rattles to a beads maze. It's recommended for babies aged 10 months and up so, new parents will appreciate having this toy ready for their baby before their first birthday.

One reviewer said: "Finley seems to love his new cube even though he is only 8 months. It is bigger than I expected so I am very pleased. It's a great toy for a little one and educative as well."

Rear-facing car seats make it hard to know how your baby is doing while you're driving. This baby car mirror attaches to the backseat headrest, meaning you can keep your eye on your newborn on even the shortest of car journeys.

One reviewer said: "I wanted to be able to see my daughter in my rear-view mirror so went for this. It wraps around the headrest. When I first put it on, it seemed secure enough after giving it some rough tugging to make sure it wasn't going to fall off on her while driving. I used it without any issues until she was old enough to be turned around."

This teething banana toothbrush is perfect to have around the house for when a baby starts teething. It’s also great for introducing the idea of brushing teeth. It’s made from silicon, and the peel handles make it easier for those little hands to hold.

One reviewer said: "This is lightweight and easy for a young baby to hold. We used it as a toothbrush initially and then as a teether. It is still in perfect condition a year later so is really good value for money. It is compact so can fit in a handbag easily to take with you."

After an exhausting week of being a new parent, a long hot soak in the bath is just what they need. So, what better than some bath salts to help them to relax and unwind as they enjoy five minutes peace?

One reviewer said: "I use these in my bath during the winter. They are so lovely as they help me to relax in after a busy week! I keep them in a glass jar on my bathroom windowsill. I highly recommend them."

Yes, really. It sounds disgusting - and, well, really is. But this is a game-changer when your newborn has a snotty cold and there's no way you can teach a one-month-old baby to blow their nose. Trust us on this one! Plus, we can almost guarantee it's not something the parents would have bought on their own accord.

One reviewer said: "This might be the single greatest invention for a baby. Seriously. I had a conversation with my wife asking “how else would you get out bogies without this?!” I have no idea. My daughter hates having slimy grey snot sucked out of her nose but the sheer relief on her face is amazing."

If you're after something a little bit different, this Jar of Joy makes a charming present. Filled with 42 scrolls, they can open one up whenever they feel like it to read either a funny or meaningful quote. Once all the quotes have been read, it can either be re-gifted or they can use the jar for something else.