In this article
The most useful gift for new parents makes the first months easier for the adults, not just the baby. Before you buy, try to find out three things: how they plan to feed the baby, whether they already have a carrier, and whether they have a registry. Then choose by budget from the ideas below. Prices are in CAD.
Quick picks by budget
| Budget | Gift | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25 | Matter Company Cooling Spray for Mom ($20.99), Medela Easy Pour storage bags ($21.99), Earth Mama's Belly Jelly ($18.99) | The parent who gave birth, a parent who pumps, a parent-to-be |
| $25 to $75 | Baby Brezza reusable storage bags ($33.95), Nest Designs nursing tee or bra ($48.95), Stanley Quencher 30 oz ($51.99) | A nursing or pumping parent, either parent |
| $75 to $150 | Snuggle Me Organic Feeding Support ($91.99), BabyBjörn Winter Cover ($139.95) | Feeding at home, winter walks |
| Over $150 | BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Hold ($249.95), Ergobaby Omni Deluxe Mesh ($298.99) | Both parents, from the newborn weeks |
| Any amount | baby enRoute gift card | Parents who want to choose for themselves |
For the parent who gave birth
Gifts that are just for them are easy to overlook when everyone is focused on the baby.
- Something for recovery. The Matter Company Cooling Spray for Mom ($20.99) is a 120 mL spray made for the postpartum weeks, with witch hazel, organic aloe vera, calendula and peppermint oil. Our postpartum recovery guide covers other recovery basics.
- Clothes that work for nursing. If they plan to breastfeed, the Nest Designs Long Sleeve Nursing Tee ($48.95) has a draped neckline for feeding and a stretchy bamboo-cotton blend, and the Nest Designs Crossover Nursing Bra ($48.95) pulls aside for feeds. Both are designed to fit your pre-pregnancy size, which makes choosing a size easier for a gift giver.
- For a parent-to-be. Earth Mama's Belly Jelly ($18.99) is a plant-oil balm for the bump, with lavender and evening primrose oil.
Feeding help, once you know the plan
Feeding gifts are only useful if they match how the baby is fed, so ask first.
- For a parent who pumps. Medela Easy Pour storage bags ($21.99 for 100) have measurement markings and a pour spout. Baby Brezza reusable storage bags ($33.95 for 10, with a funnel) stand up on their own for filling, close with a double zipper and go on the top rack of the dishwasher. The Medela Hands Free Pumping Bustier ($47.99) holds the pump's breast shields so both hands are free. Our breast pump and storage guide has more.
- A feeding pillow. The Snuggle Me Organic Feeding Support ($91.99) has an organic cotton cover and works for breastfeeding or bottle feeding. It's for feeds only: Health Canada lists infant and adult pillows among the products that shouldn't be where a baby sleeps, so if the baby dozes off, move them to their crib or bassinet.
- A big drink within reach. Parents spend a lot of time sitting down to feed. The Stanley Quencher H2.0 30 oz ($51.99) has a handle, a straw lid and a base that fits most car cup holders, and Stanley says it keeps water cold for 9 hours.
- Bottles. Hold off unless the parents have already chosen a bottle. Bottle systems differ in their nipples, vents and parts, as our bottle comparison shows.
A carrier both parents can share
A carrier gives the parent who isn't feeding an easy way to take a turn, and it frees both hands. Look for one that adjusts to more than one adult:
- BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Hold ($249.95). It goes on like a jacket, and it adjusts the baby's fit separately from the wearer's fit, for most wearers from XS to XXL. It's for babies from 3.2 to 13.5 kg (7 to 30 lb), facing in from newborn and facing out from around 5 months.
- Ergobaby Omni Deluxe Mesh ($298.99). It has four carry positions, including on the back, for babies from 3.2 to 20.4 kg (7 to 45 lb), and Ergobaby designed it to fit a broad range of caregiver body types.
- For a winter baby. The BabyBjörn Winter Cover ($139.95) fits all BabyBjörn carriers, from newborn to about 2 years. It's water-repellent, not waterproof. Our guide to babywearing in winter compares a cover with a babywearing coat.
- For parents of an older baby. The Ergobaby Upsie ($78.99) is a small sling for quick ups and downs, for babies 6 to 48 months old and 7.7 to 20.4 kg (17 to 45 lb).
Carriers fit people differently, so a carrier is a good gift to choose together, or to try on in store first. Our carrier buying guide explains what to compare.
A gift card, or a gift that isn't a thing
Big items such as a car seat or a stroller depend on the parents' car and routine, so they usually want to pick these themselves. A baby enRoute gift card lets them do that, and it can be used online or in our stores.
Some of the best gifts aren't things at all: a cooked meal, a load of laundry, or an afternoon out with an older sibling. If your gift is a visit, wash your hands when you arrive. HealthLink BC suggests asking visitors to wash their hands, and keeping a baby away from large crowds in the first weeks.
What to skip
- Crib extras. Health Canada doesn't recommend sleep positioners, warns that babies can suffocate against bumper pads, and says comforters, quilts and pillows shouldn't be in a baby's sleeping area. However pretty, leave them off the list.
- A used car seat. Unless you know its full history, don't pass one on. Our guide to used car seats in Canada explains what to check.
- Gear the parents haven't chosen. A stroller, car seat or bottle system the parents didn't pick may not suit their car or routine. Ask, check the registry, or give a gift card.
Shopping for the baby too?
Our first Christmas gift guide covers babies from 6 to 12 months, and our stocking stuffers under $25 list has small extras for the whole family.
Prices were current when we wrote this. Gift cards are available online and at our Richmond, Burnaby and Ottawa stores. If you'd like to try a carrier before you buy, call the store ahead of your visit to ask which ones are on display.
