Rock- a- buy Baby ..

Hearing the happy news that a friend has had her eagerly awaited baby is cause for much celebration and...serious retail therapy.

I absolutely love browsing the internet for newborn gifts, and have whiled away many an hour cooing over potential presents.   If you are struggling to decide then here are a few tips & inspiration:-

When my first son was born I was given a lot of 'newborn' or 0-3 months clothes & in particular babygros, which were wonderful, but meant that by the time my son was 3-6 months his wardrobe was seriously lacking. so i always give clothes that are '3-6 months' size.

Remember when buying clothes that are for months ahead you bear in mind the season - so don't go buying summer stuff for 3 months time when winter will be here.

Cardigans are a winner & often get over looked by baby-gros. The White Company do a gorgeous white knitted one at £26 (machine washable)so do Boden who do this jolly number. Both companies always seem to have money off offers and free delivery.

Boden £18-£22

Baby blankets to match the gender of the new arrival are really useful and pretty.  You can't have enough blankets as they need washing a lot, and as an expectant mummy you often buy white so it can be passed onto the next baby. John Lewis has a great selection and at a reasonable price too.  I love these vibrant colours they are a refreshing take on the traditional pastels

Knitted Star Blankets £16 John Lewis

Decorative accessories for the nursery are different and make a lasting impression.  For example bunting is a lovely gift and brightens up the baby's room - you can even get personalised bunting with the baby's name too which is a lovely touch. I can thoroughly vouch for Zig Zag Bunting. They have a massive range to choose from and when I wanted motorcycle bunting for my son they took the trouble to source fabric from the States!

New Mums - often the new & tired mummy gets overlooked so it's lovely and unexpected when you receive a gift.  Flowers are gorgeous, but I tend to give something pampering.  Neals Yard have a fab range of organic treats for new mothers and babies for that matter,

£14.75

  

I gave this Burt's Bees body oil recently

£10.95 from John Lewis

Changing mats that can be taken out and about once the baby gets a bit bigger and you don't need to carry around a humungous changing bag are a life saver.  Jo Jo Maman Bebe  has good value & fun designs (from £9-£15) and definitely worth checking out are Skip Hop which offer funky and luxurious ones which would be a practical and very welcome present. 



£35 from John Lewis

Last but not least, I defy anyone to resist these adorable snuggly soft toys from British brand, Jelly Cat.  Choose from bunnies, dog, bears, you name it they have it...