Top 10 Gift Ideas for Newborns

Many friends ask me "What is a good gift for a newborn?" and ,of course, I go ahead and answer that question with a true enthusiasm instead of doing never-ending house chores or trying to make my hair look like it's hair, but not a nest. Reality is, it's a fascinating question - and it is a smart move of a "questioner" to ask that, especially if he/she doesn't have kids.
I had no idea about those gifts before I had my little mover!!! Right now, I feel like I know it all after conducting tons of research, talking to other moms, and just seeing how my little girl reacts to toys/apparel/etc.

 Most ratings are based on things ( I wish I could use other word) my baby used or my mom friends did...with a success. I purchased most things at my favorite baby store near my house called Hello Sunshine

TOP 10 USEFUL GIFTS FOR A NEWBORN

1. BPA-free Teether I bought Eli a Lifefactory Teether, which served not only as a teether, but as a toy and "calming" object in cases of brutal distress (as in "mommy, strollers are horrible, hold me all the time" hehe).

2. Wee Gallery Stickers and Cards Those things are amazing!!! Eli loved and loves those a lot. We have both stickers, that we used as wall decor, and cards, which Eli loved(es) with passion. She made friends with sea creatures on the cards, and a fox sticker became her dear friend.

3. 3-6 month and up clothing In most cases, parents of a newbie will be stocked with 0-3month clothing. Therefore, 3-6 month will be just great. Remember though - season appropriate. Onesies, t-shirts, long sleeve light shirts, leggings style pants would make an excellent gift. 
As well, a superb gift would be a pair of Robeez soft leather shoes size 6m+, before that they are purely decorative. We received those as a gift and I am still very thankful for this super thoughtful present.
My baby store clothing picks: Baby Gap (usually true to size), H&M (those are usually bigger then regular size), Janie&Jack, and apparel sold at privately owned baby boutiques

4. Baby Board Books You can never have enough of books, let me tell you! Look for small books about color, shapes, animals, animal sounds, names of objects, books with fabric inserts to stimulate senses, etc. Long story books (eg. Cinderella) are not age appropriate. Well, they are great for listening, but baby likes to interact with a book and learn from it. Just imagine you are baby - you've got a World to learn! :)

5. Feeding Supplies I'd go for a BPA-free bowls, plastic (chemical free) bibs, sippy cup (ask Sales Associate for a best one, if she/he is knowledgeable of course) and nice wooden spoons. I got a very cool grass by Boon for drying Eli's feeding dishware [excellent gift!] Usually, a baby starts her cereals at around 4 month, so that would be a great gift that mommy wouldn't have to get herself. I love the Skip Hop bowls we have.

6. Wooden or Activity Baby Toys As I mentioned, contrary to the epic images of neutral toys in the movies, babies love contrast toys. Toys with bright colors, different materials, and the ones that produce sounds.

7. Night Buddy I love the idea of this gift! Something that would keep the room a little light during the night when a little rascal wakes up :)

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8. Aden and Anais Muslin Swaddle Pack (4) I, who did zero research on good baby gear, didn't have those. However, I saw 85% of moms have those lightweight swaddle blankies.I find them super useful, since they can be used as a swaddle, light blankie, stroller cover-up from bugs or sun, and even a little toga for a hot day :)

9. Bath Toys Ducks, ducks, ducks!!! And not only. These usually are sold at Chapters or any other baby store. Elizabeth loves her little toys and especially the sounds they make. (Picture shows a range of Boon toys)

10. Photo Frame (baby/parents related) This is probably 1 of the top 5 things that parents REALLY want to do, but never get their hands on! I strongly believe such gift will be majorly appreciated.

 Moreover [Oh God, more pressure!], dear newbie visitor, don't forget about the woman who made it all happen - the mother of the baby. Her greatest gift would be home cooked (but be careful if she's breastfeeding) meals or help around the house.

FEW TIPS

• Include a Gift Receipt - The reason is - different stores offer different sizing. Plus, babies come in different shapes and sizes - as weird as it sounds ( I feel like I've discovered America with my statement) :) My example: I got a stunning basket with some onesies, toys and brushes [which I'd totally pick up too at the time when I had absolutely no idea about "babies' world"]. Onesies that were suppose to be 3-6m could barely fit my 2month old at that time, and she was an average baby girl. The hair brushes could be my feet sole scubbers, and a plush toy had a few seconds of success with miss E. Thus, it's not you - it's the manufacturer, who just produces items without babies' statistics and care. Honest fact: I probably exchanged only 2%  of Eli's gifts, because 1) it was all super cute, 2) I felt very thankful to people who took their time to shop for my darling E.

• No plush toys [until the baby is at least 1 year of age] - Babies couldn't care less about soft teddy bears no matter how cute they look. Movies always portray nurseries full of useless dust &space collectors teddy bears, but that's not reality. A baby, who is over 6 month might like a giant bear as a hug object, but not as much as she/he will love Sophie or just a regular kitchen utensil or their own socks :). I will get later on the right toys.

• Season Appropriate When buying apparel for babies a couple month in advance of her/his age, think of the season. This especially goes for summer dresses, rompers, sun hats, bathing suits, and warm apparel (which can be quite pricey). Also, don't buy too much in advance (eg. baby is 6 month - you gift them something for a 2year old). It's just hard to arrange all the little clothing, that it might get lost and forgotten :(