Gift Ideas for A Newborn Baby: Family-owned and Instagram-friendly Businesses Edition

Everyone seems to be getting pregnant these days, don't they? And you have just found out your friend joined the gang too. The quarantine baby boom seems like a thing more than ever all of a sudden. It's almost like a whole new generation is about to make their entrance into this strange pandemic world. Yet another reason to think 2020 is a true game-changer in terms of shaping the future of the whole planet (especially since babies are the future in quite a literal sense), huh?

Now, since it all feels so extra special, the new more conscious and mindful you that 2020 turned you into would love to do something nice for your friend and gift the unborn bundle of joy with the perfect present this holiday season. But how to do that?

Rack your brains no longer. If you're out of ideas, all you need to do is switch that conscious mind of yours on and simply hear the baby herself/himself out:

"I don't really need many things. To be honest, I don't even know what 'things' are yet. Well, I don't know much about anything to do with the outside world, as a matter of fact, so everything will be fascinate me a lot. And, you know, I have no grasp of money whatsoever either which means you really do not have to splurge on me at all. I am big on feeling cosy and warm though - that's why I'm such a big fan of snuggling in the womb all day long while my momma goes around her day gently rocking me inside. And the muffled rhythmic noises of her body I get to listen to are great too!

In fact, it's so wonderful in here that I'm a bit scared what life on the outside is going to be like. So if you could get me anything that reminds me of this cosy place, I would absolutely love it. I might even honour you with one of my first tiny smiles in return you know. "

With all that in mind, here's a list of what to get that newborn baby if you want you look at the world through their eyes and address their needs:

Mind you, there's a bonus to this list too. All the items come from wonderful family-owned UK businesses, and what better way to introduce a new human being to the life outside the womb than by gifting them with things made with love? Not to mention you're doing your share in supporting those who have been hit with financial trouble more than others during this crazy year.

Baby sling

A creation of a struggling first-time mum from London, this baby wrap sling seems to satisfy most of the needs of a newborn.

It's not without a reason that the first three months outside the womb have been dubbed 'the fourth trimester'. This period is when both babies and their mothers slowly adjust to their new life, and it has been observed they do that best when the little one stays as close to their mum's warm body and the familiar sound of their heartbeat as possible. Not to mention the added benefit of constant rocking as the mum moves around while having both of her hands free.

This sling that honours the company owner's African and Indian ancestry, where baby wearing has been around for ages, does just that. And the choice of colours and designs is as wide as the range of benefits it provides.

Brand name: Amawrap

Price: £49.99 - £35.99

Swaddle blankets

Hail to those who came up with the idea of baby swaddling! It seems that snuggly wrapping in a piece of cloth that provides warm confined space imitating the womb is something that newborns absolutely love. And even if the particular baby you're getting the gifts for turns out to be an exception to the rule, I'm sure these beautiful 100% natural bamboo squares will still come in handy in many an occasion. They're a full time NHS midwife's brainchild too so you can rest assured your thoughtful present in trendy colours is completely safe for the little one.

Brand name: Swaddle UK

Price: £15.00

In the spirit of cosy and warm things, as well as beautiful colours and designs, this Little Blue Nest quilt blanket is a great pick too. Made with 4 layers of soft organic cotton muslin and featuring unique hand illustrations, it may even stay with the baby as a keepsake for years to come.

Brand name: Little Blue Nest

Price: £58.00

Clothes

Though outgrowing clothes very quickly, a newborn baby may still require lots of outfits given the number of the messy burps and blowouts that can happen during a single day, thus not leaving much time for the laundry. Some universal good quality pieces enriching the tiny human's wardrobe are fairly sure to be a hit for that exact reason.

'A dirty child = a happy child' they say, but let's be honest: dirty and wet clothes are likely to make the little one cold, and cold is not something they like.

Coming from a brand new 2020 mama-owned company, these beautiful sets will suit any baby. The knotted gowns are made from soft jersey fabric, come in gentle unisex colours, and thanks to their innovative design, you don't need to worry whether or not they will fit the newborn even if you have no idea how big they will turn out to be once born. Rest assured, the baby will have enough wiggle room there without the clothing piece looking like it's too big either.

And aren't they just the cutest with those matching knot hats?

Brand name: Moon and Bear

Price: £24.99

Little Dinkers is a small company that combines the happiest colourful patterns with simple and very practical solutions. Featuring virtually every hue of the rainbow, if not more, these affordable pieces belong to the infamous family of baby grows, which is probably the best baby clothing design out there. Think about it: just one thing that does the job of dressing the whole of that tiny body - easier job for the new mom, and better for the baby too, as quicker changes mean less time being exposed to the cold. And this particular brand is a whole step further ahead in the game: fold-over hand and feet covers and a quick double zipper instead of those infamous time-consuming poppers.

Last but not least, the fact that each colour and pattern version has its own unique name deserves some credit too. Just to name a few: Apple Of My Eye, Berry Nice, Green and Bear It, Moose-t Be Love, No Fox Given, One In a Melon. I mean, with so much thought put into all these details, it really is a brand creating things with love.

Brand name: Little Dinkers

Price: £12.50

Toys

While little babies' exceptionally curious brains will be fascinated by virtually everything, it would be a fair bet to say you'd rather give them an actual toy rather than, say, a wooden kitchen utensil as a gift. Fortunately, there is a wide choice of those to cater for your needs.

Soft, cuddly, adorable, great quality, good brand ethics - does anything more need to be said?

Brand name: Bambino Store

Price: £24.99

The Wood Cove's pieces just seem to be screaming 'Buy Me!'. Their great selection of beautiful durable wooden toys is something not to be missed, especially if you're looking for eco-friendly alternatives to the ever-present cheap plastic.

Not only are you getting a toy made from natural materials, but you're also planting trees with each purchase you make.

What's more, these toys seem to be ones that grow with the child. An adorable abacus from The Wood Cove is a perfect rattle and teether for the small baby, and a great tool to aid learning to count once the little one becomes a toddler.

Brand name: The Wood Cove

Price: £24.99

'Traditional African fabrics merged with modern European styles to create heritage children's products' is what the brand's website says. Created by Kady and Lafia - two sisters with African roots born and raised in Poland who now live in London - this black-owned business' baby products like this cuddly elephant are just prefect for introducing compassion into a baby's life early on.

Brand name: Muffin Sisters

Price: £14.00

Bonus

The brand's story: an expecting mum reading upon baby development and in search for toys that can aid it best but failing to find what she wanted.

Result: black and white baby board developmental books.

The science behind it: newborn babies coming to this world have spent months only knowing the difference between dark and light, and when they are born, their vision is still highly underdeveloped. All they can see is a blurry world of contrasts and not many colours. Black and white do provide great contrast though, which stimulates the brain best and aids efficient baby development as a result.

Brand name: The Little Black & White Book Project

Price: £7.50