Gifts for New Parents

New parents get piles of tiny outfits and very little help with the parts that are actually hard: sleep, meals, and having a free hand. The gifts they remember are the ones that solve those problems, plus a few things for the baby from brands that have been trusted for decades. Food and help for the parents count just as much as anything for the nursery.

Under $25 6 ideas

  1. Sophie la girafe Teether

    The natural rubber giraffe made in France since 1961, sized for small hands and easy to chew. A classic for good reason, and a nice thing to tuck into a bigger gift.

    VulliStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  2. Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether

    A tangle of soft, colorful tubes that a baby can grab from any angle, with a rattle in the middle. Light and easy for very young babies to hold.

    Manhattan ToyStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  3. Goodnight Moon Board Book

    The bedtime book many parents remember from their own childhood, in a sturdy board edition that survives chewing. It becomes part of the routine quickly.

    Margaret Wise BrownBook

    See it on Amazon

  4. Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting

    An economist walks through the evidence on the big early decisions, from sleep to feeding to daycare. Calming for parents drowning in conflicting advice.

    Emily OsterBook

    See it on Amazon

  5. Burt's Bees Baby Organic Cotton Burp Cloths

    Soft, absorbent organic cotton cloths. New parents need a stack in every room and on every shoulder, and they will use every one.

    Burt's Bees Baby

    See it on Amazon

  6. Pearhead Babyprints Photo Frame

    A frame with space for a photo and a handprint and footprint, with a no-mess ink pad included. Parents mean to record how small the baby was, and this makes it easy.

    PearheadFor display

    See it on Amazon

Under $50 7 ideas

  1. DoorDash Gift Card

    Dinner delivered on a night when nobody has the energy to cook. Arguably the most useful thing anyone can send in the first month.

    DoorDashArrives by emailGets used up

    See it on Amazon

  2. HALO SleepSack Swaddle

    A wearable blanket with a wrap that velcros around the baby, so no loose blankets end up in the crib. Easier to get right at 3 a.m. than a muslin swaddle.

    HALO

    See it on Amazon

  3. aden + anais Essentials Muslin Swaddle Blankets, 4 Pack

    Large, breathable muslin blankets that end up used as nursing covers, stroller shades and burp cloths as well as swaddles. They get softer every wash.

    aden + anais

    See it on Amazon

  4. Boppy Original Support Nursing Pillow

    The C-shaped pillow that props the baby up during feeds, whether nursing or bottle feeding, and saves the parent's arms and back. Intended for awake, supervised use only, not for sleep.

    Boppy

    See it on Amazon

  5. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym

    A play mat with hanging toys and a piano the baby can kick to make sounds. It gives the baby something to do on their back while the parents finish a coffee.

    Fisher-Price

    See it on Amazon

  6. Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 24 oz

    A cold drink within one-handed reach during long feeds, with a straw that works without tipping the bottle over the baby. Nursing parents get very thirsty.

    Owala

    See it on Amazon

  7. Simple Wishes Hands-Free Pumping Bra

    Holds breast pump flanges in place so a pumping parent can use both hands for a phone, a snack or a book. Only useful if they plan to pump; check first.

    Simple Wishes

    See it on Amazon

Under $100 4 ideas

  1. Hatch Rest 2nd Gen Sound Machine and Night Light

    A sound machine and dimmable night light controlled from a phone, so parents can adjust it without walking into the nursery. It stays useful as a toddler okay-to-wake light.

    Hatch

    See it on Amazon

  2. Ubbi Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail

    A steel diaper pail that takes ordinary kitchen bags instead of expensive proprietary refills. Steel holds smells in better than plastic pails.

    Ubbi

    See it on Amazon

  3. Skip Hop Forma Diaper Bag Backpack

    A structured backpack with a changing pad, insulated bottle pockets and a wide top opening. It looks like a regular backpack, which matters to parents of either gender.

    Skip Hop

    See it on Amazon

  4. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart

    Dump ingredients in, walk away, and dinner is ready. For new parents with no time to stand at a stove, and handy for batch-cooking freezer meals.

    Instant Pot

    See it on Amazon

$100 and up 3 ideas

  1. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video Baby Monitor

    A dedicated video monitor with its own screen that works without Wi-Fi or an app, so there is no account to set up and nothing streaming to the internet. Parents like that it just works.

    Infant Optics

    See it on Amazon

  2. Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier

    A breathable mesh carrier that fits from newborn through toddler in several carry positions. It gives a parent both hands back, which is worth more than almost anything in the first year.

    Ergobaby

    See it on Amazon

  3. Aura Carver Digital Photo Frame

    A Wi-Fi frame that family members can send photos to from their phones. Give one to the new parents, or to the grandparents so the baby photos reach them automatically.

    AuraFor display

    See it on Amazon