Please—No More Blankets!
From clothing to obnoxiously loud toys, some baby gifts just aren’t cute. Quit veering from the registry and grab those new parents something they can really use.
1. Diapers
While some new parents adore getting diapers, it’s pretty hard to pinpoint their exact needs. Unless they’ve specifically asked for anything, it’s better not to eyeball sizes or go with brands they don’t trust.
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2. Clothing
As adorable as baby clothing is, everyone else has the same idea—which leaves new parents buried under onesies. We know those little overalls are cute, but you should probably put them back.
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3. Blankets
Blankets, blankets, blankets! New parents are often trapped in the neverending nightmare of gifted ones, all of which take up space and half of which won’t even see the light of day.
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4. Stuffed Animals
On the surface, these seem like a great gift—and that’s exactly why everyone buys them. Next thing you know, those poor parents are up to their ears in fuzzy bears and stuffed giraffes. Like any toy, children are far more enamored with the box than its contents, so that generous gift is likely an unfortunate choice.
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5. Anything Too Fancy
For new parents, it’s simplicity over luxury. Don’t shell out hundreds of dollars on a new crib or some hoity-toity gadget (unless it was on the registry). Chances are those fancy gifts don’t hold a candle to simple items like gift cards and baby wipes.
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6. Diaper Bags
Diaper bags make a great gift—when they’re on the registry. Don't even think about grabbing one if you don’t see it anywhere though. The happy couple probably has one already and even if they don’t, there’s no need for eight of them.
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7. Loud Toys
We know they’re funny on the surface, but loud toys are the last thing new parents need. Between 3:00 a.m. feedings and the stress of newborns, try not to make parents’ lives any harder.
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8. Bath Toys
Speaking of toys, you can also skip out on the rubber duckies. New parents likely have a boatload already and won’t need more in their pile.
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9. Large Bouncers
Unless it was on the registry, refrain from grabbing huge bouncers. Parents have their hands full with a new baby, clothing, and toys—they don’t need bouncers that eat their entire living room.
10. Baby Shoes
Shoes technically fall into clothing, yet plenty of people treat them like different categories. So, we say again! Babies quickly grow out of onesies and shoes alike, which is why you shouldn’t grab any clothing not listed on the registry.
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However, if you’re stuck on what to get new parents, some gifts never go out of style.
1. Baby Wellness Items
Children tend to get sick pretty often, so wellness items like baby aspirin and snot suckers go a long way. It’s one less thing new parents have to worry about—and they’ll be grateful to have those items at the first sniffle.
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2. Gift Cards
Who said gift cards are tacky? They’re amazing gifts if affordable registry items are already gone or you’re wondering what to get new parents. Amazon and food delivery are often the best options since parents can either grab what they want or not have to worry about cooking.
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3. Bibs
Babies are learning the ropes, which means food on their chin…and the floor…and their high chairs. You can make things a little easier with silicone bibs or handy burping clothes.
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4. Children’s Books
It’s honestly never too early to introduce the joy of reading. Baby books make terrific gifts for kids of all ages, including buns fresh out of the oven.
5. Travel Changing Pad
Not every bathroom comes with changing stations, so travel pads get new parents out of a smelly jam. They’re fairly inexpensive and are one of the more simplistic gifts that have a big impact.
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6. Baby Manicure Set
Babies get excited about everything! However, in the middle of those infectious giggles comes the risk of scratching brought on by their fingernails and poor muscle control. Manicure sets ensure newborns don’t hurt themselves.
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7. Subscriptions
Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Crave—with so many streaming services available, why not handle the costs for a month or two? Picking up the tab takes one more thing off of parents’ plates and gives them a chance to play uninterrupted educational videos.
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8. Teething Toys
Babies likely won’t start teething for a couple of months, but those silicone rings might help ease the pain. There’s no shame in grabbing beneficial toys ahead of time, especially when they take the load off.
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9. Diaper Rash Cream
With so much time spent in diapers, babies often suffer from irritable rashes. Soothe their cries and their parents’ worries with diaper rash cream, which is not only affordable but incredibly helpful.
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10. Baby Wipes
Newborns burn through wipes, making them the perfect gift to nab in bulk. You’d be surprised just how far those little wipes go—not just on babies but even around the house.
