Many people are delighted to hear that a close friend or family member has had a baby, but then realise that they have the problem of what to buy for a new baby. If you don’t have children or yours kids have grown up, the task can be a bit daunting, there are so many products to choose from and it is hard to know what is appropriate. You can wander around the shops looking for hours and it may be easier to browse the internet first, however you might find that there is too much to choose from.

There are a number of things to consider when you are deciding what to buy for a new baby, how much do you want to spend, how well do you know the people you are buying for. Is it for a special event like a Christening or naming ceremony or just a newborn gift?

Deciding what to spend very much depends on how well you know the people, if they are close family or friends you may decide you want to spend a bit more. If you don’t know them so well it may be just a card with a token gift. Buying for a special event can sometimes be easier because there are products that are made specifically for things like christenings, special mugs and photo albums saying, ‘for babies christening.’ This means you know you are on the right lines, although you may want to be more practical.

When you are thinking about what to buy for a new baby, it is worth thinking about what sort of things the parents like. Are they very practical and would like useful presents or do they prefer keepsakes and pretty things, maybe with the child’s name embroidered or engraved on the gift that they will keep for the child when they are grown up.

Practical items could include blankets, clothes, equipment or just some money for the parents to put into savings for the child’s future. Keepsakes could be teddy bears, ornaments, photo albums or silver trinkets. Obviously there are thousands of other products in the shops or online, they are the ones that spring to mind.

If you are really struggling to decide what to buy for a new baby there are two other options that you could consider, you could ask the parents of the child what they would like, that way you know it will be right and they can decide whether they want a keepsake or practical gift or you could buy them gift vouchers and let them choose something themselves at a later date.

Remember that the most important thing when you are deciding what to buy for a new baby is that whatever you buy, it’s the thought that counts and as long as you spend a bit of time on it, the recipients, I’m sure, will be delighted.