# What kind of gift do you buy a newborn baby **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434 "2004-12-17T22:59:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/1 "2004-12-17T22:59:41Z")
My brothers daughter will be born soon and I dont know what to buy a 3 day old girl. What should you buy a newborn baby? ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/2 "2004-12-17T23:01:14Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > My brothers daughter will be born soon and I dont know what to buy a 3 day old girl. What should you buy a newborn baby? Diapers are generally a good bet. 🙂 If they’re going to bottle feed the kid, maybe bottle feeding supplies would be good. Or gift certs for deliverable food for the parents – they’ll probably be run ragged already. ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/3 "2004-12-17T23:10:40Z")
Or a silkie. I little security blanket for the kid, that doubles as a burp cloth for the mom. All the mothers I talk to love these things, they somehow stay pretty after washing, feel good, and give the child something to hold onto. The two brands I know are Little Giraffe and My Blankie, if that helps at all. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/4 "2004-12-17T23:18:39Z")
Diapers are a good practical gift for the parents. But consider something pretty and precious that she can enjoy as she grows up - music box or a pretty necklace. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but some princess gift from her uncle that will be treasured always - until it gets flushed down the toilet accidently. Security blankets are good, too. The ones with the satin strip on the edge feel so good when you’re sick and feverish. But if you get this, do mom and dad a favor and get three identical ones. That way, she’ll always have her binkie, even when one is being washed or got left at Grandma’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/5 "2004-12-17T23:21:57Z")
Remember, you aren’t really getting a present for the baby, you’re getting a present for the parents that they can use with the baby. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/6 "2004-12-17T23:23:31Z")
I got one of my nieces a stuffed toy that had a battery-powered heartbeat sound thingy inside it. It’s supposed to be calming because that’s the sound the baby hears in the womb. I understand that my niece responded well to it. I got it at Target. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/7 "2004-12-17T23:27:37Z")
One thing NOT to get is any “newborn” size clothing, diapers, etc.(unless she’s a preemie or something) because most babies grow out of those things within days. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/8 "2004-12-17T23:27:40Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Diapers are a good practical gift for the parents. But consider something pretty and precious that she can enjoy as she grows up - music box or a pretty necklace. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but some princess gift from her uncle that will be treasured always - until it gets flushed down the toilet accidently. > > Security blankets are good, too. The ones with the satin strip on the edge feel so good when you’re sick and feverish. But if you get this, do mom and dad a favor and get three identical ones. That way, she’ll always have her binkie, even when one is being washed or got left at Grandma’s house. Hey, yeah. Those security blankies with the strip are great – my grandma gave us some when we were tots. I think my mum still has my blue binkie. (Where does ‘binkie’ come from, anyway?) I had two, and I loved those to bits – literally. ---
**Author:** ![EmeraldGrue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@EmeraldGrue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmeraldGrue)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/9 "2004-12-17T23:37:42Z")
Diapers are practical, but you could also get her clothes that she’ll grow into. Or just ask the parents… ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/10 "2004-12-17T23:42:24Z")
> [@lizardling](#): > > (Where does ‘binkie’ come from, anyway?) That’s weird…we use “binkie” to refer to the pacifier and “blankie” to refer to the blanket. Huh. I would definitely second the food delivery gift certificates. During the first week home from the hospital, it was all my husband could do to manage a sandwich for me and breastfeeding, exhausted moms need food! If you want to get your niece something for her, I like the Gund [“Fluffles” lamb.](http://create.safeshopper.com/69/368.htm?511) He’s really, \*really \* soft a cuddly. My son would sit and rub his lamb on his face to fall asleep when he was really little. Security stuff is hard, though, because kids latch onto things that you wouldn’t think of. My brother picked a queen-sized, pink blanket as his “blankie”. My mom used to have to cart that thing everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/11 "2004-12-17T23:44:06Z")
I don’t know if it is true anymore, but one of the most popular gifts (especially in California) was a single share of Disney stock. Came with a nice certificate, suitable for framing and the idea being it might actually be worth a nice chunck of change by the time the kid went off to college. I think I read somewhere that almost half of Disney stock was owned by people owing one share, so it seems to have been something lots of people have done over the years. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/12 "2004-12-17T23:47:12Z")
Binkie is a corruption of the proper term, “blankie”. Anyway, blankets are good, as are bibs. A new mom can never have enough bibs. Nice thick absorbent ones with velcro closures. One of those little hooded towels for bathtime, maybe. (The ones with the little animal faces on the hood are especially cute.) If you’re feeling ambitious, go to a fabric store (Hancocks is my favorite) and get a yard of two coordinating fleeces. Ask the nice ladies that work there to help you pick something out if you need it. Go for something cute, but not especially babyish. Cut the fleece into large squares (36x36 if the cuts are nice and straight, smaller if needed) and lay them on top of one another. Cut strips 2-3 inches deep and 1 inch apart around all four edges, then tie the strips of one layer into knots with the strips of the other layer. Voila, in less than an hour you’ve got a sturdy, cozy play mat and blanket that she can use for many years. And it was handmade, so it’s extra special. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/13 "2004-12-17T23:47:33Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I don’t know if it is true anymore, but one of the most popular gifts (especially in California) was a single share of Disney stock. Came with a nice certificate, suitable for framing and the idea being it might actually be worth a nice chunck of change by the time the kid went off to college. > > I think I read somewhere that almost half of Disney stock was owned by people owing one share, so it seems to have been something lots of people have done over the years. Hmm…just noticed Disney share is worth a grand total of about $28 now, so I guess that answers any hopes of funding a year at Harvard…well, still a fun thing to frame and present at the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/14 "2004-12-17T23:50:59Z")
[This](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0152016392/103-9445564-6385422?v=glance) book is one of my family’s favorites. A nice inscription and a basket full of ‘pamper the mother’ products makes a perfect gift IMmotherlyO ---
**Author:** ![NajaSong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@NajaSong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaSong)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/15 "2004-12-17T23:54:22Z")
My family was always into savings bonds. Every year until I was eighteen, I got one at Christmas and my birthday. They came in very handy not too long ago. Also, maybe some books to start a baby library. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/16 "2004-12-17T23:58:12Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Binkie is a corruption of the proper term, “blankie”. > > Anyway, blankets are good, as are bibs. A new mom can never have enough bibs. Nice thick absorbent ones with velcro closures. One of those little hooded towels for bathtime, maybe. (The ones with the little animal faces on the hood are especially cute.) My mum used to make loads of bibs for my little brother who was a chubby, mean, saliva-producin’ machine as a tot. Tea towel, cut a circle centered between the sides about a few inches from one end. Sew a loop of that ribbed stuff they have at the fabric store for cuffs and collars into the tea towel, and hey presto. (My mum liked sewing a lot at that time, so sometimes she’d decorate it with a little sewed on applique on the front) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/17 "2004-12-18T00:11:28Z")
I gave my nephew a silver napkin ring, engraved with his initial. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/18 "2004-12-18T00:15:00Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Binkie is a corruption of the proper term, “blankie”. I used to think that, too! Binky is a brand of pacifiers made by Platex. Since becoming a mom, I have found that almost always blankie is blanket and binky is in reference to the pacifier. IMO, a nice gift would be a gift certificate for a restaurant (or bring food that can be frozen). Another would be a photo album (or film if they have a non-digital camera). If they are digital, maybe a gift certificate at Ofoto would be nice. Trust me, a TON of pictures are in the works… ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/19 "2004-12-18T00:20:20Z")
> [@Harleen Quinzel](#): > > My family was always into savings bonds. Every year until I was eighteen, I got one at Christmas and my birthday. They came in very handy not too long ago. I have to admit, that’s what I was thinking of. Even a $100 EE (50 bucks face) will add up over 18 years. (The ones my parents bought in my name when I was really young were the first things to be liquidated to pay for college.) Besides, the OP is the kid’s uncle. There’s plenty of time to get more immediate gifts (though I mostly got money, not in the form of savings bonds, from my extended family starting when I was ten or so.) ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434/20 "2004-12-18T00:20:36Z")
I always give books. (Well, unless I make a quilt.) Classic board books include: Goodnight Moon Runaway Bunny Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? Very hungry caterpillar Books with pictures of babies/baby stuff For long-lasting classics, I recommend the Mother Goose edition illustrated by Rosemary Wells, _My first Mother Goose_ or something like that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gift-do-you-buy-a-newborn-baby/280434.md?page=2)