Are you heading to a baby shower? Nobody wants to give the baby something that will just take up space in the house.
So how do you choose the best newborn baby gifts? What makes a baby gift good?
We’ve been through the baby shower circuit many times, so we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes the best gifts. We’ll share all we’ve learned to make the shopping process easier. We’ll also highlight our top 25 newborn baby gifts and give you tips on what to avoid.
- Inhibits mold growth
- Variable humidity control
- Features a projector screen
- Organic cotton fabric
- Six-pack bandana bibs
- Trendy and fashion-forward
- Handrawn illustrations
- 160 pages
- Hardcover
- Made from organic materials
- Soft, lightweight, minimalistic feel
- Machine washable
- World-renowned and best-selling author
- 32-page book
- Affordable
- Safe and soft
- BPA free
- Lightweight construction
- Organic
- Multifunctional
- Thick and soft
- Safe and effective
- Affordable
- Pediatrician recommended
- Ergonomic
- Food grade silicone
- Adorable and high quality
- 100% cotton
- 12 designs to choose from
- Thick and absorbent
Review Methodology: At Mom Loves Best, our thorough analysis and hands-on experience in evaluating the best newborn baby gifts allow us to provide reliable information you can trust. We carefully assess and compare products based on key criteria and decision-making factors such as quality, safety, and practicality, using data collected from our research and first-hand experiences. Our professional review process includes tracking performance, measuring design features, and identifying unique aspects that set each product apart from its competitors. We rank and score each gift based on these factors, ensuring you have the facts needed to make an informed decision and ultimately find the perfect gift for the newest member of the family.
The Best Newborn Baby Gifts of 2023
Here are our top picks for newborn baby gifts.
Vicks Starry Night Humidifier
Congestion Buster
This product is a must-have for when the baby gets congested or needs a little extra light to sleep. It’s a cool mist humidifier that comes with a slot to insert Vicks VapoPads to help open nasal passageways.
It also has a starry night soother projector that will project the moon and stars onto the ceiling in changing colors. This is a nice way to help soothe the baby to sleep.
It’s easy to clean and uses wicking filters that help inhibit mold growth.
The first time our daughter caught a cold, we were miserable until we remembered we had this. Up until that point, we had only used it as a nightlight. Once we turned it on with one of the pads, our daughter instantly went to sleep without hesitation.
It should be noted that your baby should be at least 14 pounds before using Vicks tabs with this humidifier.
Community Feedback
Vuminbox Baby Girl Bandana Drool Bibs
Drooling in Style
Let’s be honest; babies are a drooling mess when they’re teething. That’s why drool bibs come in handy. Not only will they save baby’s clothing, but they’ll help prevent uncomfortable rashes, too.
We like this drool bib set because it comes in a pack of six bibs, each with a bonus teether attached. These bibs can fit newborns to toddlers and are made of soft organic cotton for extra comfort.
Community Feedback
As You Grow Modern Memory Book
Guaranteed to Last
Nothing is better than being able to keep something that babies can look at when they’re older and reminisce. This memory book is gender neutral and has enough acid-free pages to record moments from pregnancy until kindergarten.
This book is broken into sections and includes a pocket to store keepsakes. While a baby won’t be able to fully appreciate this until they’re older, it’s a sweet gesture any parent will appreciate.
Community Feedback
Snuggle Me Organic Newborn Lounger
Best Gift for Relaxation
As much as a new baby wants to be held, there will be times when that just isn’t possible. This lounger allows babies to feel comfy and snug. It’s lightweight and is made from GOTS-certified organic material. And we love that it’s machine washable.
This product is recommended for newborns up to 9 months old or until the baby can roll over on their own.
Welcome Little One Board Book
Best Book for Welcoming Baby
If you want to give something heartfelt, consider this board book. It comes with colorful illustrations and a rhyming poem that promises baby a lifetime of love and care.
There’s also a spot where you can fill in your baby’s information. This includes their name and birth stats.
Community Feedback
Manhattan Toy Winkel Teether
Work Those Hands
This toy is perfect for helping the baby work on their grip and early dexterity skills. On top of that, the plastic loops are BPA-free, so it’s okay if the baby puts it in their mouth. It makes a rattling sound when shaken.
This teether has won several awards, including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award.
Community Feedback
Baby Monthly Milestone Blanket
Documenting Baby Milestones
If the parents-to-be are into social media, this may be a good gift to consider. This milestone blanket serves a double purpose with one side intended for measuring growth by weeks and the other for months. It comes wrapped in a soft ribbon and includes two frames for circling the appropriate week or month and number in photos.
Aside from picture time, you can also lay the soft fleece blanket on the floor so the baby can have comfortable tummy time.
Community Feedback
Little Remedies New Baby Essentials Kit
Essential Newborn Remedies
This may not seem exciting, but it will come in handy. In this kit, you get a variety of medicinal essentials for different ailments. That includes saline spray, a nasal aspirator, gas relief drops, butt paste, and gripe water.
Gripe water is a solution of herbs and extracts made from foods like ginger and fennel seeds. It’s said to help soothe gas and reduce colic in babies.
All products are paraben-free and don’t contain any artificial dyes or flavors.
Community Feedback
Baby Elefun Silicone Teether
Because Teething Sucks
There is nothing sadder than a teething child. Teethers help sore gums, and by keeping the baby calm, they keep parents from totally losing their minds.
This cute elephant-shaped teether comes in three color options: blue, pink, and turquoise. It also has five different textures and bristles that your baby will love to chew and serves as a first-stage toothbrush.
The teether is made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone to ensure no toxins reach the baby. The parents should still wash it before its first use and clean it with soap and warm water or pacifier wipes.
Community Feedback
Baby Aspen Bathrobe
After-Bath Snuggles
If you want to gift a bathtime item, consider one of these bathrobes. It fits babies 0-9 months and comes in six different designs. The cute shark design comes in three color options: pink, gray, or blue.
This thick terry robe is made from 100% cotton. It also comes with a hood to help keep the baby warm.
Community Feedback
Baby University ABC’s Four-Book Set
For Future Scientists
If the parents-to-be are into science, this book set will make the perfect gift for their new baby. This set comes with four board books — ABCs of Space, Science, Mathematics, and Physics.
Even though the content may be beyond their age, it grows with the child, from alphabet learning to deeper content education. And it still makes for a lovely bonding experience between caregiver and baby. A baby is never too young to enjoy books.
Community Feedback
The I Love You Book
A Sweet Read
This is a silly yet heartfelt book that any baby is sure to enjoy well into toddlerhood. The author uses simple and vibrant illustrations.
The wording reminds babies that their parents love them even when they do naughty things like hiding keys.
Community Feedback
Safety 1st Deluxe Health Kit
Safety First
If you want practicality, consider gifting this 25-piece health and hygiene kit. The set comes with everything needed for grooming, all in a convenient carrying case.
It includes nail clippers, nail files, a comb, a brush, a toothbrush, a thermometer, and more. On top of that, there’s an emergency information card that parents can fill out if needed.
Community Feedback
Skip Hop Silver Lining Playmat
Gender Neutral and Aesthetically Pleasing
Activity mats are a popular item on baby registries, so why not try this oversized one? It has a sweet gender-neutral design, making it an easy gift for any baby.
In gym mode, the baby can play with the removable toys, including a mirror, rattling star, and squeaker. The fabric is plush and soft, so the baby will always be comfortable. A cloud-shaped pillow is included for tummy time.
Baby Quote Socks
Best Novelty Gift
Novelty gifts are always a fun way to celebrate a new baby. These baby socks are just too cute. The pack comes with four different pairs of socks, each with a different saying on the bottom.
They’re gender neutral and are soft to the touch to ensure comfort for a baby’s sensitive feet.
Community Feedback
Baby Swaddle Sleepsack
Swaddle Me Comfy
When babies are first born, swaddling is a must to help control their startle reflexes while sleeping. Many hospitals recommend this sleep sack. Some even send new parents home with one.
The fabric is cozy and warm and made from 100% cotton. Parents simply zip their baby into it with their arms through the armholes. Then they fold over the Velcro flaps to hold their arms in place.
This product makes swaddling a much easier process than when you use a regular blanket. There are 40 designs and colors to choose from, so you can choose your favorite.
Community Feedback
Baby University Four-Book Set
Future Scientist: Part Two
This set comes with four books for babies, including an introduction to Quantum Physics, Rocket Science, General Relativity, and Newtonian Physics.
The wording is as simple as possible, and the illustrations are vibrant and bright. This is perfect for new babies to explore as their eyesight develops.
Community Feedback
ProHouse Baby Headbands
Fashionista Baby
These head accessories are so adorable. They’re small enough to fit a newborn but have enough stretch in them to grow with the child for a few years.
They come in a pack of sixteen head wraps, giving you enough color options for that OOTD look. Nonetheless, the soft nylon material is perfect for newborns.
Community Feedback
DC Comics Justice League Bodysuit Set
For Hero Babies
This is the perfect gift for any Justice League fans. This set includes five baby onesies, each with a different superhero theme, for one great price. This would make a nice, funny gift for pictures.
The fabric is made of cotton and polyester, so it’s lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking. It’s also machine washable and dryer-safe.
Knit Swaddle Snuggle Sack
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
This thick-knit snuggle sack is great for families who live in cooler climates. It’s made from cozy material and comes in 10 different color options. The wooden buttons and hooded design add to the appeal.
It’s most suitable for babies ages 0 to 6 months and can be fastened and unfastened easily for quick diaper changes and removing the baby.
Community Feedback
Burt’s Bees Baby Trial Set
Best Bath Gift
If you want to gift something that you know the baby will use, consider this bath set. It comes with trial-sized bottles of shampoo/baby wash, lotion, rash cream, baby oil, and soap.
The items are pediatrician tested and tear-free, so you know you’re getting some quality products. We appreciate the small bottles, which are perfect for trying but not having to commit to. They’re also ideal for travel.
Community Feedback
Amazing Baby Transitional Swaddle Sack
For the Tiny Baby
The swaddle sack is made of 100% cotton. The fabric is super stretchy and can fit babies from 0 to 3 months old.
Best of all? There’s no Velcro or snaps with this swaddle option, which means ultimate comfort for the babes.
Community Feedback
Dodo Babies Pacifier Clip & Teether
A Baby Must Have
This pacifier clip and teether combo is another good option if you want to gift something to help with teething. It includes several animal-shaped teethers in pale pink, gray, and blue colors.
It includes a convenient clip, so parents can attach it to their baby’s clothing or car seat, making it great for outdoor activities.
Community Feedback
Noggin Stick Rattle
Baby’s First Sensory Toy
Many parents consider this one the “ultimate sensory toy.” It has high-contrasting colors, and it lights up. This is beneficial for a baby’s developing eyesight.
It has different textures for the baby to feel, a mirror on the bottom, and makes a rattling noise when shaken. This toy is sure to keep the baby’s attention and make tummy time much more fun.
This toy also comes with a booklet to give parents tips on using it in a developmentally appropriate way.
Community Feedback
Nursery Night Light
Keep the Monsters Away
This night light comes in three modes and lights up with different colors just by tapping on the silicone surface. It makes the perfect night light for a baby’s room. It’s not so bright as to interfere with sleep, but the dim glow allows a parent to check on their baby in the night without waking them.
The lamp is made out of non-toxic washable silicone. There’s a built-in battery for portable use, and the lamp can be charged via the micro USB port.
Community Feedback
How to Choose Newborn Baby Gifts
Let’s cut to the chase: babies are expensive. As much as the parents-to-be may say they don’t want anything, everyone needs some must-haves. These are some of the best options we consider for newborn baby gifts:
What to Avoid When Choosing Newborn Gifts
There is such a thing as a bad baby gift. And nobody wants to be the one who gifts the parents-to-be something inconvenient or distasteful. Here are some gifts we recommend avoiding.
- Baby sleepers with buttons: This may not seem like a big deal, but it will when mom or dad are trying to change a poopy diaper in the middle of the night.
- Formula: This may be a well-meaning gift, but baby formula shouldn’t be given unless the parents have explicitly asked for it, as some parents don’t use baby formula, and if they do, they often require a specific brand.
- Elaborate outfits: They’re adorable, don’t get us wrong, but chances are the baby will outgrow it before they have a chance to wear it.
- Anything that goes against the parents’ interests or values: This can include religious-themed gifts or clothing with suggestive wording the parents may be uncomfortable with.
- Newborn-sized clothing: If you want to gift something the baby can wear right away, we suggest sticking to size 0-3 months. Based on experience, this size will last a little longer. And if the baby is long at birth, they may not fit newborn sizes.
- Unsafe materials: If you want to give something like a teether or rattle, make sure they don’t contain anything that can be toxic to babies. Look out for labels that mention things like “non-toxic,” “BPA-free,” “no parabens,” etc.
- Teething jewelry: The Food and Drug Administration recommends using teething toys rather than teething jewelry for relief. Teething jewelry can come with risks like choking or strangulation.