There are some truly fabulous baby buys around at the moment. Almost (but not quite) enough to make you want another one. Here are five fantastic gifts for the smallest people in your lives.

 

LullaDoll is an ultra-cute new baby sleep aid by RoRo. It is a baby-safe doll with a real-life recording of a mother’s breathing and heartbeat that is activated by pressing the doll’s tummy and plays for up to eight hours. We were sent one to try and it’s really helped light sleeper Kitty, 4, to stay in bed at night (hurrah!), so it potentially has real longevity if you give it to a baby. The super-soft cotton absorbs scent, so can also work well as a comforter in case of separation anxiety and it’s machine washable (once you remove the sound unit), which is always a bonus. Lulla comes in her own cotton bag, so would make a lovely gift. LullaDoll Sleep Companion, £49.99, John Lewis.

I’m a big fan of milestone cards as, let’s face it, most new mums don’t have time to fill in an exquisite baby book (the dream), so they provide an excellent way of recording your baby’s different stages and changes. This ace idea from LuluJo combines 14 illustrated milestone cards (from one day to one year old) with that other newborn essential – an enormous muslin. This one is particularly gorgeous, printed with a landscape and the inpiring slogan ‘I Will Move Mountains’. The perfect backdrop for the obligatory Insta shots. LuluJo Baby’s First Year blanket and card set, £22.50, Jeu Jouet.

Teething is the bane of new parents’ (and babies’) lives, so a good teether is an absolute godsend. Matchstick Monkey is a cheeky little fellow, made from BPA-free, food grade silicone, dishwasher safe and freezer friendly for added relief. His clever shape enhances motor skills and the texture (he has bumpy bristles on the back of his head) will ensure that the sorest gums are soothed, plus he’s available in a rainbow of colours. Also, how could anyone resist that little face? £9.99, Matchstick Monkey.

Who doesn’t love an Orla Kiely print? and when it’s on a baby must-have a Grobag sleeping bag it’s all the more desirable. Grobags were one of my saving graces when Alfie and Kitty were babies – no waking because they’d kicked off blankets and sheets and no worrying about their temperature. I only wish Orla had been involve in the design process back then – this UFO pattern is amazing and there’s also a cool sausage dog print as well. Martian Grobag, from £34.99, The Gro Store.

Wooden building blocks are always a popular present, but can often result in bashed heads/hands/knees/parents. Korxx cork building blocks solve that problem by being made of cork, so still enable you to avoid plastic while preventing injuries. Obviously babies won’t be able to play with them until they are about one, but the blocks are soft, natural and less likely to slip, so reduced tears over fallen down towers – they also contain round and oval blocks that are really fun to balance. There are lots of sets available, but for a really special gift the Form Mix Colour contains 28 blocks and will become an heirloom, about £60, Korxx.