There’s shortage of well-meaning presents that arrive to welcome a new baby to the world.
Bouquets may wilt before you’ve managed to pop them in a vase, soft toys already destined to join the pile in the nursery and outfits so tiny they’ll fit for all of a week. Lovely gestures, of course, but perhaps not the most useful when mum is surviving on broken sleep and baby is intent on testing the limits of both lungs and laundry.
The truth is, the best gifts are the ones that make life easier while adding a touch of comfort. A beautifully designed baby sling, for instance, is more than fabric and buckles. It’s two free hands to eat toast while keeping a newborn snuggled close.
A considered nappy bag is not simply a receptacle for wipes and muslin cloths. It is a sanity-saver that can double as a chic handbag. Skincare made for mother and child brings ritual to the chaos, a small pocket of calm at bath time or bedtime.
What modern parents secretly want is practicality dressed up as luxury. A hamper that contains the essentials, but in versions that feel special rather than perfunctory. A clever piece of kit that manages to be as stylish as it is sensible. These are the presents that will be remembered long after the congratulatory cards are recycled.
Gifting in this space has come a long way. No longer confined to pastel blankets and silver rattles, there are now thoughtful options that recognise both mother and baby as a unit. Something that serves one while supporting the other.
Whether it’s a sleep suit soft enough for newborn skin yet resilient enough for nightly washes, or a body oil that soothes stretched skin while being safe for tiny toes, the most successful gifts are those that understand that a happy mum equals a happy baby, and vice versa.
With that in mind, we have gathered some of the best new ideas for mum and baby, designed to be cherished and actually used, rather than politely stored in the loft.
Shop now
Best nappy bins to buy in 2025
Cybex Gazelle S single to double pram review
Best car seats to keep little ones safe and comfortable on the road, tried and tested
Best baby formula bottle prep machines to make feeding your little one a breeze
Best baby play mats for a fun and stylish play space
Best kids’ dressing gowns to keep your little ones warm and cosy
PowFood Flexitarian 7 Day Meal Bundle | For New Parents with babies 0–3 months
Packed with wholesome dishes designed for energy and recovery, this bundle is tailored for new parents who need fuel but lack time for chopping vegetables. It covers breakfast, lunch and dinner with balanced portions and minimal effort required. It’s the sort of gift they don’t realise they need until they’re eating a hot, healthy dinner without lifting more than a fork.
Buy now £115.00, PowFood
Cowshed Mother & Baby Wicker Hamper
This is the Rolls Royce of new mum gifts. Packed with natural bath and body treats for both mother and baby, it turns the bedtime routine into something spa-worthy. Inside you’ll find soothing oils, gentle baby lotions and calming bath products designed to make the chaos of early parenthood feel a little more luxurious.
Presented in a sturdy wicker basket, it looks beautiful in the nursery long after the lotions and balms are used up, doubling as chic storage for toys, muslins or keepsakes.
Buy now £250.00, Cowshed
Angelcare Soft Touch Baby Bath Support
Bath time can be nerve-racking in the early days. This ergonomically designed bath support makes things far calmer by keeping baby safe, comfortable and supported. It’s lightweight, quick-drying and wonderfully practical.
Buy now £21.95, Amazon
Mamas & Papas Sit & Play Baby Floor Seat
Equal parts toy and lifesaver, this padded floor seat gives little ones the chance to explore upright while keeping them safely cushioned and entertained. It comes with built-in toys that stimulate sensory play, encouraging hand-eye coordination as well as independent sitting practice. It’s portable enough to move from living room to kitchen, and buys parents just enough hands-free time to drink a hot coffee — and that alone makes it priceless.
Buy now £35.00, Mamas & Papas
NEOM Oh Mg! Better Sleep Duo Gift Set
Magnesium cream and pillow mist in one neat set, designed to help parents drift off when the opportunity actually arises. The lavender and chamomile blend feels soothing without being overpowering, while the magnesium helps to ease tension in tired muscles. It’s small, affordable and brilliantly restorative — a thoughtful nod to the real currency of new parenthood: sleep.
Buy now £19.95, Amazon
Artipoppe Zeitgeist Baby Carrier
The baby carrier that looks more like a designer accessory than a piece of kit. Comfortable, beautifully made and endlessly Instagrammable, it’s designed to support baby’s hips in the optimal position while still feeling lightweight for parents.
The luxury fabrics, considered finishes and fashion-forward prints make this one of the most stylish ways to keep baby close, while the practical design ensures it works from the newborn stage right up to toddlerhood. For parents who want their hands free without compromising on style, this is the ultimate investment piece.
Buy now £350.00, Harrods
Nosy Crow When I Became Your Mummy Kids' Book
A beautifully illustrated book celebrating the moment a family begins. Gentle enough for bedtime reading, heartfelt enough to become a keepsake, and the kind of story little ones will ask for again and again. With lyrical words that capture the bond between mother and child, it’s a sentimental but accessible addition to the bookshelf that parents will treasure long after the toddler years.
Buy now £12.99, John Lewis
Neal's Yard Remedies Organic Mother's Balm, 180g
Rich, soothing and entirely organic, this balm is designed to nourish stretching skin through pregnancy and beyond. Free from synthetic fragrances and preservatives, it’s made with natural butters and oils that absorb easily, keeping skin supple and comfortable during all the changes it goes through.
Buy now £27.00, Neal's Yard
Najell SleepCarrier X
A clever hybrid of carrycot, baby nest and travel bed, this is one of those ingenious designs that adapts as baby grows. It provides a snug, secure place for newborn naps, then expands into a safe play space or on-the-go sleep solution. The breathable fabrics and sturdy handles make it as practical for use at home as it is for travel.
Buy now £145.00, Najell
bbhugme Nursing Pillow, Pink Melange
Developed by healthcare professionals, this adjustable nursing pillow supports mum’s back and arms while ensuring baby is positioned comfortably. It can be tied and adjusted to fit any body shape, making it more versatile than most standard feeding cushions. The soft, Scandi-inspired design means it looks stylish enough to leave out on the sofa, and its high-quality filling ensures it bounces back to shape after daily use.
Buy now £76.50, John Lewis
Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Bin
Not glamorous, but utterly essential. This nifty bin individually wraps each nappy in antibacterial film, locking away both odour and germs. The compact design makes it easy to tuck into the nursery or bathroom, while the refill cartridges last longer than you’d expect.
Buy now £17.50, Amazon
My 1st Years Personalised Extra-Large Keepsake Box Gift Set
Every parent ends up with a pile of little treasures too precious to misplace — first booties, tiny hospital tags, birthday cards, the slightly wonky handprint art. This extra-large keepsake box provides a beautiful home for all of it, keeping memories safe and organised rather than scattered in drawers. The personalised engraving adds a thoughtful touch that makes it feel bespoke, while its generous size means it will grow with the family’s story.
Buy now £50.00, My 1st Years
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Microstripe Blanket
Given the seal of approval by Chrissy Teigen and a feature in Hailey Bieber’s annual Christmas gift guide, Barefoot Dreams has a cult celebrity following. Born out of Malibu, the collection includes sumptuously soft loungewear, robes and accessories but is perhaps best known for its throws.
The brand has recently launched in the UK and we made it our mission to see if it was worth the hype - and we have to agree, this is one of the softest blankets we’ve felt. It comes in a range of designs too, from block colour to stripes to our favourite leopard print.
Buy now £133.99, Amazon
Fridababy 3-in-1 Humidifier, Diffuser & Nightlight
Best for: night light
Create a dream-ready environment for your baby with this three-in-one device. The humidifier cleverly uses the power of ultrasonic vibration to turn water into a cool hydrating mist that runs for up to 12 hours, ensuring your little one has a solid night’s sleep. Simply use the mist adjuster to go from light to tropical rainforest with a turn of the knob.
Not only does it purify the air, but this gadget also comes complete with a range of serene sleep-lulling lighting. The machine will automatically turn off when the water runs out or the tank is taken away.
Buy now £47.99, Amazon
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day & Night
Tommee Tippee is a new parent’s go-to brand for everything from bottles and sterilisers to weaning bundles. They also happen to have one of the best and most popular prep machines on the market.
The Perfect Prep Day & Night is one of the most efficient around and prides itself on making up a fresh, body temperature formula feed in just two minutes – that’s about 10 times faster than using a kettle. It's very easy to use – simply choose your feed size, add your formula to the bottle and place it on the stand. A 70°C ‘hot shot’ of water will then be added in, to kill off any bacteria. Pop the lid on the bottle and shake it well, before putting it back on the stand to add the rest of the cooler water and hey presto: a perfect bottle of formula.
It comes with lots of clever features, like an adjustable base to fit different bottle shapes, a special anti-bacterial filter (meaning you can use water straight from the tap rather than boiling it first) and soft lighting and adjustable volume control for those middle-of-the-night feeds.
It’s also super easy to clean, taking about 10 minutes at the touch of a button. We’ve got friends who love it so much they’ve invested in two, one for the kitchen and one for their bedroom.
Buy now £139.00, Amazon
Done by Deer Quilted Changing Bag, 24L, Green
Finding a chic, comfortable to hold and spacious changing bag has never been the easiest task – that is, until Done by Deer. This whopping 24L-capacity piece of kit comes in three neutral hues, features a two-way zipper, thermo pocket inside, water-repellent surface, adjustable shoulder straps, pram hooks and even a foldable changing mat.
Buy now £79.95, John Lewis
