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In this guide
A baby's first Christmas is mostly for the grown-ups: babies won't remember the presents, but the photos, the tiny outfit and the ornament with the year on it get brought out every December after. Here are the gifts that are worth it, by budget and by who you're buying for.
For everything in one place, see our Baby's first Christmas shop. Prices are compared across UK shops and checked every morning.
A first Christmas outfit
The most popular first Christmas gift is something to wear on the day: a festive sleepsuit, a knitted jumper or a "My first Christmas" bodysuit. Two tips:
- Go a size up. A baby can grow out of a size between November and the 25th. Buy for the size they'll be on Christmas Day, not today.
- Think about the year. A dated "first Christmas" design makes a lovely keepsake. For a baby due close to Christmas, an undated one is safer.
Stockings and sacks
A personalised stocking or Santa sack gets used every year, which makes it one of the best-value gifts on the list. Look for one with room to add a name, and keep it hung up away from the cot: stockings and long ribbons don't belong in a baby's sleep space.
Books for the first Christmas
Board books and touch-and-feel books are made to be chewed, and a Christmas story becomes part of the family's December from then on. Story speakers with Christmas songs and carols are popular with older babies and toddlers.
Stocking fillers under £10
Small, safe and useful wins here: a festive bib, socks, a soft rattle or a little board book. Check anything you buy is marked as suitable for their age, as small parts and some decorations are choking hazards for babies.
Keepsakes to keep
A "baby's first Christmas" ornament, a photo frame or a keepsake box is often the gift parents remember most. Ornaments with the baby's name and the year are a family favourite, and get hung on the tree every year after.
Gifts for the whole family
Matching family Christmas pyjamas are a big hit for photos on Christmas morning. For new parents, something for them is always welcome too: snacks for the long nights, a good hot drink and a cosy pair of socks go a long way in the first winter.
Keeping a first Christmas safe
- Decorations up high. Tinsel, baubles, fairy lights and their cables are choking and strangling hazards for babies who can reach or crawl.
- Nothing extra in the cot. Festive blankets, hats and soft toys stay out of the sleep space. Babies sleep safest on their back, in a clear cot, in a sleeping bag of the right TOG.
- Watch the heating. Busy, warm rooms full of visitors can make babies too hot. The Lullaby Trust advises keeping the room a baby sleeps in at 16–20°C.
- Food and wrapping. Keep chocolates, nuts and small wrapping bits out of reach.
On a gift list?
If the parents have a NuaNest list, check it first: you'll see what's still needed and the best price for each item, and reserving it means nobody else buys the same thing.
Questions parents ask
What do you buy a baby for their first Christmas?
A first Christmas outfit, a personalised stocking, a Christmas board book and a keepsake ornament with the year on it are the most popular gifts. Useful presents like sleepsuits in a bigger size are always welcome too.
Do babies need Christmas presents?
Babies won’t remember them, so many families keep it small: a book, an outfit for the day and a keepsake. Gifts that get used every year, like a stocking, are good value.
When should I buy a baby’s Christmas outfit?
November is a good time, before the popular sizes sell out. Buy the size the baby will be on Christmas Day, not the size they are now.
