Donna Ferguson shares her insights on the best baby gifts to buy a new mum and where to get them cheapest.
Buying a gift for a new baby or mum-to-be can be tricky.
But, as a new mum myself, I can tell you that some gifts really can make a difference to the life of a new mother, especially when the baby is tired and grumpy.
Here’s my list of the gifts that really are worth spending your money on, and where you can get them cheapest.
Babybjorn Babysitter bouncer - Suitable from birth to two years
My mother bought this bouncer for my baby girl after seeing that 93 people gave it five stars on Amazon and it was definitely among the best gifts we received. Why? Because it enables you to sit the baby up from birth.
This changes a newborn baby’s interaction with you and the world (and it’s brilliant at meal-times because you can maintain eye contact while snatching a bite). It also means the baby doesn’t outgrow it for years, unlike most bouncers which only last a few months.
It normally costs £85 but Amazon is currently selling it for just £57.50.
Kindle e-reader and brilliant parenting book - This one’s for mum!
It is hard to read a book while breastfeeding, as you have only one hand free. This is particularly frustrating when you are nursing constantly all day and have little intellectual stimulation.
With a Kindle, you can hold and turn the pages of any book - no matter how heavy - with just one hand. Plus it’s far lighter to carry around all day and eBooks are typically cheaper to buy. I recommend this Kindle model which is £69. Want to go the extra mile? Download What Mothers Do - Especially When It Looks Like Nothing onto it for £4.99. This was by far the best book on parenting that I read, because instead of telling you what to do, it helps you make sense of how your life changes when you become a mother. Hard copies cost £5.39.
Ewan the Dream Sheep - Suitable from birth until they grow up
New parents typically lose more than 700 hours of sleep during their baby’s first year and this cuddly sheep helps to send the baby to sleep. I repeat: This. Sends. The baby. To sleep. It really does work. It plays a soothing heartbeat intermixed with specially-researched pink noise for babies and it also functions as a night light.
It’s cheapest from Play.com, where it costs £23.98.
Babytec autofade bedside light - Suitable from birth until they grow up
This bedside lamp has a touch-sensitive automatic dimmer that will gently dim the light within 15 minutes, so the baby can adjust to the idea of darkness and bedtime in a gradual way. It also has a very low, soft on/off light setting, which allows new parents to do night feeds and nappy changes without waking their partner and is cool to touch, so it’s safe to use close to the cot.
[SPOTLIGHT]It's cheapest from babyhuddle.com, where it costs £18.95.
Baby Swim Seat - Suitable from 3 to 12 months
This floating seat enables babies to sit up in the pool, encouraging them to feel confident in the water and to try out kicking and moving independently. My baby absolutely loved splashing about in it when we were on holiday.
It's cheapest new from Mothercare, where it’s currently £12, or you can eBay it for about £7.
Trumpette Socks - Suitable from 0 - 12 months
Lots of people buy the baby clothes, but most people forget about socks. Unlike all other socks I tried, Trumpette socks actually stay on my baby, plus they are terribly cute because they look like little boots. There are loads of different designs but you can get a set of six ‘Johnny’ socks cheapest from Tiny Tot Shop, where they cost £13.90.
Cleavamama Baby Bath Towel - Suitable from 0 - 12 months
You wear this specially designed towel like an apron, and at the bottom it has a hood for the baby. So when I lift my baby out of the bath, she snuggles close to me and I quickly wrap the towel around her and put the hood over her head. My body heat helps to keep her warm while I use the towel to hug/dry her. She never cries when she comes out of the bath and loves bathtime as a result.
Cheapest from Play.com, where it’s £13.39.
Best of the rest
If the new mum you are buying for is breastfeeding or having a hard time with a colicky, teething or a reflux baby, I recommend these gifts:
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Best for... |
The gifts and where to buy them cheapest |
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Breastfeeding mums |
The Food of Love - an illustrated book about breastfeeding that is not only extremely helpful, it also makes you laugh! £9.09 from Amazon. Bebe au Lait nursing cover - This is the best breastfeeding cover on the market. It makes feeding in public less stressful and means waiters will actually offer you a drink instead of studiously ignoring you. £24.99 from Kiddicare. |
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The Happiest Baby on the Block - this DVD and book combo by Dr Harvey Karp really does help colicky babies. Particularly great for new parents who feel they know nothing about how to calm a screaming baby. £31.99 from Amazon. Summer Infant Swaddle Blanket - I tried a million swaddling blankets and this offered the best fit as the baby grows. £10.99 from Amazon |
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Teething babies |
Sophie the Giraffe - This giraffe is made from natural rubber and the legs are just the right size for teething babies’ mouths. £10.50 from ThatCuteAge. |
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Reflux babies |
Tummy Tub - Allows you to bathe the baby sitting up instead of lying down, which reflux babies hate. I recommend getting the stool as well so you can sit and bathe the baby instead of bending over. £19.50 from John Lewis. |
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