Gift Ideas for a Newborn

[DiannaVM]

I usually don't put too much thought into it because I LOVE shopping for kids/babies and so I would've just gotten something cute and called it a day, but this particular newborn will be DH's first niece.

Because this is his (I guess our) niece I want to make sure that the gift we get her is special. Apparently they are having a baby shower (although in all honesty they haven't made mention of it to us specifically yet, I only know about it because MIL and DH's aunt talked about it the other day) so we will probably give some money towards one of the big ticket items, but I still feel like as her uncle, we should give her something a little more special, especially since they live away. I just feel like an outfit or a toy won't be a nice enough gift for us to send, but maybe I am wrong.

Do you guys have any advice or ideas on what we should or could get for her? As a note, because I've been thinking about personalized stuff, we have no idea what her name is going to be and I feel weird asking them for her name (if they have even settled on one yet). Also, I don't think BIL and his wife have any objections to their baby getting jewellery (but I would abstain from earrings since I know not all parents pierce their baby's ears), but I only bring that up because I know when sister and I were born, my uncle gave us gold necklaces with pendants.

 

[aejammers]

Since you mention jewelry, you could start her on a charm bracelet and give charms for birthdays, holidays, important milestones.

You could also start a savings/college fund that you deposit money into for the various events through the years and give it to her on her 18th birthday or when she needs it for college of whatever.

 

[scrapquitler]

I usually don't put too much thought into it because I LOVE shopping for kids/babies and so I would've just gotten something cute and called it a day, but this particular newborn will be DH's first niece.

Because this is his (I guess our) niece I want to make sure that the gift we get her is special. Apparently they are having a baby shower (although in all honesty they haven't made mention of it to us specifically yet, I only know about it because MIL and DH's aunt talked about it the other day) so we will probably give some money towards one of the big ticket items, but I still feel like as her uncle, we should give her something a little more special, especially since they live away. I just feel like an outfit or a toy won't be a nice enough gift for us to send, but maybe I am wrong.

Do you guys have any advice or ideas on what we should or could get for her? As a note, because I've been thinking about personalized stuff, we have no idea what her name is going to be and I feel weird asking them for her name (if they have even settled on one yet). Also, I don't think BIL and his wife have any objections to their baby getting jewellery (but I would abstain from earrings since I know not all parents pierce their baby's ears), but I only bring that up because I know when sister and I were born, my uncle gave us gold necklaces with pendants.

Give a gift card, then the parents can buy whatever they need. Or if you want to be the nice aunt and uncle, give a chunk of cash and specify that it's for the start of the college fund.

I'm not a fan of giving a cute outfit....when I had my kids I was given so many cute outfits that my child could have worn something different every day for months, and that's just a waste since I liked keeping them in simple to take off garments like sleepers and onesies.

 

[DiannaVM]

I'm not a fan of giving a cute outfit....when I had my kids I was given so many cute outfits that my child could have worn something different every day for months, and that's just a waste since I liked keeping them in simple to take off garments like sleepers and onesies.

That's why I don't want to do it for her and want something more special. If we give her clothes, they will just get lost in with the rest she gets and forget about it.

Since you mention jewelry, you could start her on a charm bracelet and give charms for birthdays, holidays, important milestones.

You could also start a savings/college fund that you deposit money into for the various events through the years and give it to her on her 18th birthday or when she needs it for college of whatever.

I never even thought about a college fund, but its still a great idea! The charm bracelet is such a cute little thing too, but what kind should we get and what size? Obviously a charm bracelet maybe too much for a little baby to wear until she gets older, but how much older?

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I have two little girls and another on the way. I personally really, really like practical gifts for my babies over something sentimental. Something like a keepsake ornament, a picture frame, silver rattle, artwork to hang (yay--project for me), jewelry for the baby etc just is not a big hit with me.

Things I have enjoyed getting that are nicer (or bought myself):
Aden and Anais muslin blankets--typically come in a pack of 2-4. High quality blankets that can be used for multiple purposes.
Rock n Play (cradle from Fisher Price)
High-end Hanna Andersson baby pajamas--these last and last
Halo Sleep Sacks (6 month+ size because many babies under 6m are still swaddled)
Sturdy, interesting baby books (touch and feel, lift the flap, etc.) This is nice because you can write a personal note on the inside of the cover.
Homemade knit items--blanket, sweater, hat etc.
Zutano booties

 

[aejammers]

I never even thought about a college fund, but its still a great idea! The charm bracelet is such a cute little thing too, but what kind should we get and what size? Obviously a charm bracelet maybe too much for a little baby to wear until she gets older, but how much older?

Personally I would get a traditional charm bracelet with the dangling kind of charms, and not Pandora or such. To me, the traditional kind is timeless. But that's up to you. I am 49 and still have the bracelet that my parents gave me as a teenager. I occasionally add more charms even today to commemorate something special.

As for size, you could start with a small size that your DN could wear on special occasions from her preschool to tween years. Then for her 12th or 13th birthday you could get her an adult size and offer to move all the charms to the larger bracelet. This would be something special that she treasures and remembers her aunt and uncle, as well as the meaning of all the charms.

 

[abdmom]

Lands End has small fleece blankets that you can embroider with the baby's name +/- a small design. D18 still has hers and loves it.

 

[lesliekatya]

We love giving this baby blanket, but like to do it if we can personalize it: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/prod...ssentials-blankets&&bbaby-essentials-blankets - it is the softest thing ever made!

Or, this is a neat idea: https://www.addapearl.com/
You buy a starter necklace with one pearl on it, and then add another pearl for birthdays, holidays, whenever you want, and then when she's grown, she'll have a whole pearl necklace.

 

[ahutton]

I have started sending things for the parents of the newborn, and then following up after 6 months or so with something for the baby when they've started to run out and grow out of all the cute baby outfits. The last family, very close friends, we sent a package that was a few dinners from an order place that delivers. Everything was quick, frozen, healthy stuff that I knew was the kind of thing they liked, was very easy to cook (heat) and I was told a few times how convenient it was as they had food ready to go when they couldn't get to the store.

 

[SMD]

I've seen pictures from the baby shower my mother had before I was born, and I don't remember any of those gifts. But I do remember several things I got from various great aunts when I was 2-3 years old, like a kitchen playset and a small table and chairs that I played with for years. I say, unless there's some family heirloom you want to pass on, get something really useful off the registry and once your niece develops her personality, send items that she'll enjoy.

Although if you are into any kind of craft, something handmade is always nice to include.

 

[luvsJack]

My favorite gift to give and one I still have from dd's baby days: A soft monogrammed blanket and a special book signed by the giver.

DD's book is "The Giving Tree" which is still displayed on my bookshelf and her blanket was the softest, warm and fuzzy pink blanket monogrammed in white (its still in the hall closest and has been pulled out for each of the grandbabies at least once).

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I have two little girls and another on the way. I personally really, really like practical gifts for my babies over something sentimental. Something like a keepsake ornament, a picture frame, silver rattle, artwork to hang (yay--project for me), jewelry for the baby etc just is not a big hit with me.

Things I have enjoyed getting that are nicer (or bought myself):
Aden and Anais muslin blankets--typically come in a pack of 2-4. High quality blankets that can be used for multiple purposes.
Rock n Play (cradle from Fisher Price)
High-end Hanna Andersson baby pajamas--these last and last
Halo Sleep Sacks (6 month+ size because many babies under 6m are still swaddled)
Sturdy, interesting baby books (touch and feel, lift the flap, etc.) This is nice because you can write a personal note on the inside of the cover.
Homemade knit items--blanket, sweater, hat etc.
Zutano booties

If you're capable of making something, this would be my suggestion. We saved the homemade quilts we got for DS to pass down to his first child. As a matter of fact, the homemade gifts are among the few items we've kept. The others are all sentimental for different reasons. One of the quilts looked simple to make, but was still one of our most cherished gifts. You could probably find instructions on how to "quilt" & simple design online. A baby size quilt shouldn't be that hard if you find fabric with a single, large design on a solid color like one of his is. You could do it with a needle & thread. No machine needed.

 

[DiannaVM]

I really liked the idea of a personalized blanket, but like I said I don't have name for her. I guess I could get it after she is born, but DH's parents will go to Canada the week after she is born and so I wouldn't have enough time to get it, unless we just have it delivered straight there.

 

[mtemm]

One of my favorite gifts for my first was a pretty white basket filled with favorite board books. It was a great way to start off my kids library and they were all wonderful classic books.

Personally I got a ton of blankets.

 

[Hikergirl]

My kids were given Lands' End baby blankets when they were born and they still have them. I just checked the website and they still make them, the scottish lace ones.
I would also give a book with a nice inscription in it. Of all the things that were given to me when my kids were born, those are the things we still have. We also have ornaments too.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I love the book ideas! You can give her some titles you remember from childhood - that and inscriptions will make them special. And if you really want to go big, maybe one of those bookshelves that hold the books facing out:

http://mobile.kohls.com/product/prd-1837369/guidecraft-expressions-bookrack.jsp?ci_mcc=ci&utm_campaign=EC TOYS&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=google&utm_product=95568639&CID=shopping15&gclid=CMnI-rTx7M8CFRNahgodURUAvg&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJ7Xn7Xx7M8CFe6hswod-Q4NSQ

They seem to be very popular lately, and it's easier for little ones to see the book they want.

 

[wilkeliza]

Really depends. For our nephew we bought him a basket full of stuff and things he could use for longer than infant stage. We see him all the time so still buy him stuff and take him places so that let him mom and him know we care.

For my fiancé's best friend we bought them the rocker chair they wanted. It wasn't too expensive and they have been amazing to us and the friend really keeps my fiancé mentally well so we wanted to do something big. We chose the chair because they can use it even past their first baby and later in life.

 

[phorsenuf]

I make and sell some cute baby items on Etsy, if interested.

 

[low-key]

sleeping pills (for parents)

 

[clh2]

One of the gifts I am still appreciative for-was a GC for a photo studio. My DD is now 23, and I still love the photos from that session, when she was just about 6 or 8 weeks old.

One thing I like to give i like to give is the diaper bag that they've registered for in their gift registry. And then I fill it up with little things that might also be on the registry, and anything else I feel like-travel-sized wipes, books, teething toys etc.