The Worst Baby Gifts

If you're a parent and you've received some rubbish baby gifts, you're not alone. If you're close to parents-to-be, read this article to avoid giving one of the worst baby gifts out there.

The blunder

Even though every gift comes from a good place, mistakes can happen. This one is to be avoided at all costs: giving a personalised gift with a spelling mistake, or the wrong date of birth. Giving a piece of jewellery with the newborn's name misspelt is likely to upset the parents. One thing to do to avoid this fatal mistake: make sure you have the right spelling of the name and the right date of birth. Check with the parents!

Useless gifts

DIY dad The list of useless gifts is a long one. Let’s talk about the categories of baby gifts to avoid. First of all, there are bulky items. We mean oversized soft toys, nursery decorations that are hard to move or furniture that is almost impossible to assemble. The arrival of a baby turns the household’s daily life upside down, so there’s no need to make things even harder for the parents. Noisy items are also best avoided. Don’t give a soft toy or night light that automatically starts singing at the slightest movement. After hearing the tune a few times, the parents will only want one thing: to throw it as far away as possible. Finally, in case you’re still unsure about your next baby gift, whatever you do, don’t buy gadgets that only come out once a year. And then, think practical for the newborn. So no, a chocolate fountain is not a good idea: you don't use it every day, let alone in baby's first days.

As for buying a comforter or another cute cuddly toy, the intention is good but most of the time it's pointless. A comforter is a gift that turns up several times with every birth. Parents don't need to end up under a mountain of comforters. If you don't know what to buy for the newborn, ask the parents what they need, and you'll be sure not to get it wrong.

Not-so-glamorous gifts

We'd rather warn you: there are other baby gifts best avoided, because they are unsuitable or may embarrass the new parents. These include cleaning accessories, stretch mark creams and other equally personal accessories and cosmetics. These are not gifts to give, especially if you are not close to the mum. We also strongly advise against giving things that don't match what the parents-to-be want. For example, don't buy a breast pump if the mum isn't planning to breastfeed. The same goes for other accessories such as baby slings. As you can imagine, one could well stay in the cupboard for the many parents who prefer a pushchair or a car seat. So if this isn't the first baby in the family, try to remember the parents' habits: they will probably stick with them for the next baby.

Clothes, yes, but not those!

You may not share the same taste as the parents-to-be. And there's no arguing about taste. So we recommend buying simple clothes in plain colours, which everyone will like. There's no point taking risks by buying fancy clothes with frills, sequins or big patterns. Pay attention to the material of the clothes you give. Knitting an outfit for the newborn is very sweet, but wool can irritate some babies' skin because of its very rough texture. Likewise, clothes made from synthetic materials (polyester, acrylic…) are best avoided because they don't let baby's skin breathe properly. The best fabric for babies is cotton, free from any substance that could be harmful to their skin. Finding it hard to choose? Labels can help. Look for the GOTS and Oeko-Tex labels, which guarantee these standards are met for all fabrics. At Premiers Moments, all our baby clothes are made from fabrics certified by both of these labels. You can choose your baby gift from our range with your eyes closed!

So, if you're about to buy a baby gift, you now have all the keys to avoid that fatal mistake or fashion faux pas. And to be sure of pleasing the parents, why not read our article: Which gift to choose for a loved one's new baby?

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.