What to give a new baby, and their parents

New parents are given a lot of things in the first month, and they remember very few of them. The ones that stay are either useful in the first week or personal enough that they could not have bought them for themselves.

Gifts that get used

• Something for the baby to wear. A name bodysuit is easy to choose and is worn straight away. Pick 3 to 6 months if you are unsure. Newborn sizes are outgrown fast.
• A blanket. A name blanket goes in the pram and onto the sofa, and later onto the floor for play.
• A gift for the parents. A mug is small, and a very good use of lukewarm tea.

Gifts that last

• A birth stats print. The birth stats print holds the details parents say they will always remember, and then forget within a month.
• A storybook. A book with their name in it is something a toddler will ask for again and again.

Gifts that go wrong

Large toys, because there is nowhere to put them. Newborn-size clothes in bulk. Anything that needs batteries or a plug. Anything with a strong smell. And duplicate versions of what the parents already bought. If you can, ask what they are missing.

When you are not sure

A gift set takes the guesswork out, because everything in it matches. If you do not know the baby's name yet, or you want to let the parents choose, a gift voucher arrives by email within minutes.