Category: Gifts & Celebrations

Baby gift baskets are an assortment of useful items for newborns and their parents. They are beautifully decorated and can even be personalised.

Newborn baby hampers are one of the most popular gifts for baby showers. For a good reason, it’s a guaranteed home-run. You can be sure at least one thing in it is going to be useful to the baby. Plus it’s a perfect group gift as you can make it as small or as big as you want.

There are so many baby hampers out there, with so many different composition. It can be difficult to choose what to put in yours.

I have gathered here some of the best options I offered to my expecting friends. Hopefully this little guide will help you out!

Don’t have the time or creativity to make your own hamper? Jump straight onto our favourite ready-made baby gift baskets, there are some for every budget.

DIY Baby Hampers: Compose your own

One of the best presents are the ones you put your heart and soul into. So why not just DIY a baby hamper basket? It’s easy! Especially if you’re into crafts.

You can buy the items separately, mix and match them and create unique baby hampers.

Here are some of my favourite items to put into by gift baskets:

The Hamper basket

A cute basket is the element that ties the gifts together and make it aesthetic. You need to have a good idea of how many items you want to put in the hamper to be able to assess the size of basket you need.

There are typical three sizes: small medium and large. Whatever size you choose, make sure the height of the basket is under 20cm otherwise it will overpower the aesthetic and you won’t be able to see the gifts inside.

I’d stick to the traditional wood, willow or wicker for the basket. Woodluv is my favourite brand of willow baskets, they are well finished, use good quality wicker or willow and they already come with a lining and ribbon.

Small baskets

Medium Baskets

Large Baskets

The Decoration

In general I try to get my basket super cute so I don’t need to add too much decoration and I focus on the gift to put in it. But if you feel really creative you can add a lot of lovely personal touches to your basket to make it even more unique.

Personalised lining

You can add a new lining and even embroider the name of the baby on it. You can choose the colour and texture. The downside is that it requires quite a lot of work and customisation to fit it to the basket.

Ribbon

If you choose a wicker or willow basket a little ribbon is the little touch that brigs all the elegance. Since it’s already quite a rustic item you don’t want one of these shinning satin ribbon but a more rough fabric like linen.

Shredded paper

It’s a great tip to fill the empty space in your basket making it look fuller. Perfect trick if your basket is slightly too big for the gifts you bought. I tend to like more minimalist hamper design. But I’ve seen really lovely hampers that were filled of shredded paper to add some contrast and colour to the hamper (especially if the basket is white).

Wooden Heart

It’s a great personalised touch where you can engrave or paint either the name of the baby or a nice quote. I put one on all my hampers. I usually make them personalised but you can also buy them already made.

Cellophane Gift Wrap

I’m not a huge fan of that trend as I’m not a great packer but there are some lovely cellophane wrap with really cute pattern that you can use to finish your hamper.

What to put in it?

You can put whatever you dim useful in your hamper. The only rule is to try to make the colours match so it looks like a unity. I’d advise you to keep it simple, do not mix more than two or three colours (including white).

How many items should you put in your baskets? It’s completely up to you and your budget, however I would always make sure you have at least 3-4 items in it.

I have gathered here the usual items I mix in my baskets. I made sure to offer you options for boys, girls and also unisex.

If it’s not your first time reading our articles, you’ll know I’m a sucker for Peter Rabbit So I’ve also included my favourite Peter Rabbit hamper gifts

Muslin squares

You can never have enough of these. Go for those with a nice print as they give the baby hamper more personality. There are plenty of handmade ones to be found online.

Bodysuits

Just like with muslin squares, the more the better. There are plenty of budget-friendly ones to choose from.

Cotton hats

If it’s a winter baby, a cotton hat will come very handy, especially since babies tend to lose them easily.

Assorted Set

Bathing Products & Accessories

They don’t need to be expensive, just be sure they are good quality.

Socks

Who can’t resist a cute little socks? Maybe you can even knit them!

A Teether

Of all the toys you can choose for a newborn, this is the only one that will actually be used.

A Soft Toy

Great to fill some empty space in your basket.

Ready-made Newborn Baby Hampers

Budget Unisex Baby Hampers

There are plenty of affordable baby hampers to be found online and in stores. Interestingly, they tend to be more practical than those on the more expensive side. Here are some I recommend.

Luxury Baby Hampers

If you’re not on a budget, you can afford to buy a baby hamper that is either filled with more items, or which items are a bit more extravagant. These can also be great shared gifts. Here are some of the unisex baby hampers I like:

I hope I help you make your choice for your baby hamper! What would you choose to put in it? Let me know in the comments and share with us the picture of your own baby hampers!

And if you’re looking for other baby shower gifts or just something to give to a mum-to-be, I’ve got you covered, too!

A child’s 1st birthday is a special moment for the entire family to celebrate. Maybe you’re the proud auntie, uncle, or grandparent getting ready to honour that little bundle of joy’s first birthday and you want to find the perfect gift. So, what exactly should you get that one-year-old in your life? Are there certain 1^st birthday gifts for boys that maybe won’t be liked by girls?  What will they really want? There are so many questions that make shopping for munchkins very challenging.

Purchasing gifts for a one year old usually stays within the boundaries of these three categories:

• Things they need
• Items that are educational and fun
• Memorable 1st birthday presents

Think about what your favorite one-year-old enjoys doing or items they tend to gravitate towards. Are they really into farm animals, playing in the kitchen while mum cooks, or is there a specific TV character they love? Whether you want to go for the toy, clothing, books, or something else entirely, here are a few perfect first birthday gift for the little in your life that fit into the three main categories.

Gifts the one-year-old may need

One route you can take with your 1-year-old birthday gift is necessities that they will use! You can never go wrong with some cozy jammies or a cute outfit. This one-year-olds needs may differ depending on the time of year of the birthday.

Cute Jumpsuits are guaranteed to be a brilliant gift.

Wellies are cute, practical and easy to clean. They will keep their feet warm and dry.

If your budget allows it an animal towel is a very cute and useful gift

Gifts of Education & Entertainment

When seeking the gift to stimulate physical and mental development, consider gifts that increase large and fine motor skills, vocabulary, or language. These types of presents are some of the most fun for the child. A few examples include:

1. Books

For long car rides, plane travelling, or even wind down time at home, a toddler activity book is the best gift. These books will keep baby focused on a quiet and fun activity while they practice their fine motor and memory skills.

2. Rocking & riding toys

Rocking or riding toys help build core strength and balance and usually come in the form of a rocking horse or a motorcycle. Most 1-year-olds have a blast zooming around on their very own set of wheels, but aren’t ready to pedal a tricycle. Having to roll around the house using their feet helps them builds muscle tone, coordination, and body awareness. These two toys from JoJo Maman Bebe Ltd, are some great options if you are looking for this type of gift:

3. Toys to improve their motor skills

Organizing, matching, and building toys help children develop fine motor skills.  Shape sorters, blocks and stacking toys allow little ones to practice recognizing shapes, matching colors, and manipulating small objects. These two suggestions are a sure hit, as well as the Pepa Pig Shape Sorter from Next.

4. Make believe Gifts

Creative and make believe first birthday gifts allow children to learn how to use their growing imagination.

Make believe, or role playing toys, can enhance imaginative play.

Gifts that provide Lifelong Memories

Personalized gifts are very special, and can be kept for a lifetime. Next offer a large variety of personalized gifts, which can be found here. Having a book made or a pillow stitched with the child’s name on it, or gifting a soothing snuggly stuffed animal are both memorable 1^st birthday gifts. Most children will hold on to that stuffed animal for many years to come.

While nighttime rituals vary from family to family, most parents still read their little one books before bedtime. Books are a great gift as children love to listen to stories.  Choose a book with real life pictures, or one they can interact with.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas and you found the gift you were looking for.At the end of the day you want to make sure the first birthday gift will be enjoyed for months, or even years, to come.

I’d love to hear if you have any other great gifts for 1 year old babies. Leave a comment and I’ll make sure to check it out and add the best ideas in the article.

What to buy as baby shower gifts can sometimes be a hard question… Even more so if you are not a parent yourself. But finding the perfect baby shower presents can actually be super easy! There are plenty of amazing baby shower gift ideas online.

As a mum myself, let me tell you about the things that come in handy during the first few months of having a baby.

I’ve gathered my best baby shower gift ideas with all the things I used or I wish I had with me. The range goes from budget-friendly gifts to lavishing baby shower baskets!

Baby Shower Gifts Under £20

Baby Shower Gifts Between £20 and £50

If you’re considering buying a baby bouncer, but this one is not the one, I have an entire guide on what are the best bouncers and swings.

Baby Shower Gifts Over £50

Perfect ideas for a group gift or if you’re a close member of the family.

Want more breast pump choice? Head over our article reviewing of the best breast pumps.

Gift Card – An easy solution for every budgets

Still puzzled about what to buy for a baby shower? Why not treat the mum-to-be with a gift card that you will put in a nice envelope along with a personal note from you? Although it seems to be not the most intimate baby shower gift, you’re giving the freedom of choice.

My favourite shops to get a gift cards from are John Lewis and Next, they both have a great choice of various good quality items. Not just useful things for the baby but also very cute deco items.

Did you find your perfect baby gift?

I hope this article helped you find the perfect gift to bring to the baby shower. And whatever you do, please keep away from stuffed animals!

If you have other good present ideas, I want to hear from you! Leave a comment below and share your gifts ideas with us.

Another idea for a baby shower gift is to offer a present for the mum to be. If you want to pamper her and make her feel like a princess we have the perfect gifts for your expecting friend here.

As your friends begin to have children, christenings can become mightily frequent occurrences in your calendar. And let’s be honest, finding the perfect gift can be challenging.

What can you buy as a christening gift? Have you left it too late to get a personalised gift? You may have even spent late nights trawling through Amazon in hopes of finding the perfect present.

But whether you’re a close friend of the family or a passing acquaintance, we’ve got you covered.

Here is our top 14 present ideas for a christening gathered in 5 categories.

Idea 1 – A Money box

When it comes to christening presents, this could well be one of the best.

People often like to give money as a gift, but are put off from doing so because they think it’s a very impersonal choice. The truth is, most people would prefer to be given money to put towards something they truly want, rather than being stuck with an impractical or unwanted gift.

That’s why a money box as a christening gift and putting a little money inside is a great idea. Plus, there’s a whole range of money boxes on the market, to suit all budgets.

Idea 2 – A Keepsake box

This choice is a gift for the parents as well as the child when they reach maturity. It’s a very thoughtful present, because it becomes something they can use to look back at their childhood.

Again there are different options available, to suit a variety of tastes. The box can be plain for general use – i.e the contents can be decided by the parent or older child – or it can be specialised, for example to hold photos, first shoes or baby teeth.

Idea 3 – Jewellery

While you might not immediately think of jewellery as a good christening gift, it definitely is! It has longevity and becomes something that the child can keep as a trinket well into adulthood.

Plus, as long as the baby isn’t particularly fidgety, they could even wear it during their christening ceremony – which is an added bonus!

If you set to offer jewellery, the options are vast. Some of the most common options include bangles, necklaces and pendants.

In any cases, jewellery as a christening gift is a precious gift that the christened child is bound to cherish for years to come.

Idea 4 – First cutlery set

Whether the cutlery is put to use or just for show, we believe this is a great gift. After all, many grown-ups have cutlery that is only for display or “for best”!

This is a present that can either be super practical or have a cute sentimental value as the child gets older.

Not to mention, the best thing about these cutlery sets is that they often come in a stylish presentation box or case. It will give a professional, polished finish to your gift no matter what end of the budget you have chosen.

Idea 5 – Shawl or blanket

Another highly practical gift. The baby could even potentially be wrapped in this item on the day of their christening. Plus, these items often become keepsakes, and as an adult they can marvel at how they were ever so small!

Options range from more traditional and ornate shawls to soft fleece material blankets that the baby can be cuddled up in.

I hope you enjoyed browsing through my selection of christening gifts – and hopefully they gave you some ideas on what to buy!

If you have further great christening present ideas please share them with us in the comments. I’d love to add new original ideas in my list.

You’re one of the Godparents? I’ve made a very special selection of christening gift ideas for goddaughters and godsons.