When it comes to Christmas, it is very difficult to think of gifts for people something they will really like or something they actually need. Today we are such a consumer society and even though things are fairly tight financially for many people, they still are able to buy many of the small things they want or need; it doesn’t leave friends or families many things left to buy as gifts.

One of the most difficult presents I have always thought was baby gifts, the child is at an age when they can’t tell you what they like and hasn’t shown any interest in any hobby or music. Most babies receive many presents when they are born it is hard to think of something they haven’t got. Clothes are a practical choice and because babies grow so fast it means they always need the next size up of the clothing.

Another great baby gift is a book or set of books, I think you can never have too many books and it is great to give a classic collection of something like Winnie the Pooh or Brambley Hedge something they will want to keep all of their lives.

Other ideas for baby gifts would be to buy a practical item like a travel wrap or contribute to an item like a new buggy or a high chair, this is not strictly for the baby, more for the parents, but at such a young age I’m sure the baby won’t mind!

If you want a more original idea and something that is a bit more practical to give as a baby gift, why not get something that is more of an investment in the future of the child you could give them money to put in the bank or buy them premium bonds or shares. This gift will hopefully grow in time so that they can use it in the future to put towards college, car or a house deposit. I think parents are often grateful for this type of present as it means they have less stuff around the house and it is something they can also contribute to as well as other people to make a bigger investment as the years go by. I know that even though my children are older, I still get them to put half of their Christmas or birthday money in their bank.

A lovely idea that someone mentioned to me that would make a really unusual baby gift is to give them a tree to plant. It will grow with the child and would be a lovely reminder of the special event in years to come.

Whatever baby gift you buy for a baby for Christmas, remember that it’s the thought that counts and although the baby will not know it at the time, the item you will be remembered by the family and they will tell the child when they are older that they very special to you.