The best practical baby gifts that are still cool

We’ve spent a lot of time talking to new parents and curating the best practical baby gifts, knowing they had to fit our high standards: They should be legitimately practical baby gifts, of course. But they also have to feel gifty and cool. (Always cool!) Like you don’t need us to tell you that parents need the big box store jumbo pack of wipes and butt cream, right? So we don’t.

In other words, these are the gifts that new parents will love to get…and that you’ll also love to give because you’ll be helping them a ton.

Hey, new parents need all the help they can get!

Updated for 2023.
See more favorite baby gifts here:

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The best feminist baby gifts
The best baby gifts under $10
10 unique baby gift ideas

All gifts have been editorially determined by our staff. Just the stuff we love! We’ve included gifts from a range of stores, but as always, we urge you to consider independent retailers and support small businesses. This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission from certain purchases to help support the work we do at no additional cost to you.

The Best Practical Baby Gifts: 15 Ideas We Love

A DIY Postpartum Recovery Kit

A blissfully practical baby gift idea. Get creative! Splurge or get thrifty. Give her one item, or put together a whole basket of care-taking goodies. Here are a few starters:

Other ideas: Maxi pads, nipple cream, nursing pads, a good water bottle, Kit Kats. (Just us?)

The Diaper Bag We Swear By

JuJuBe Be Right Back Diaper Backpack | $175, JuJuBe
After 10 years of trying them out, props to this thoughtfully designed diaper backpack with all the pockets, padding, and features you need. Choose a smart solid fabric or a funky print from Disney, Harry Potter, or Toki Doki.

Diapers and Wipes. Lots of Them. The Good Kind.

Diaper and wipes subscription | $81/4 week supply with auto-renewals, Coterie
(Add a 4-pack of wipes for $23)
Parents are raving about this new brand offering a daytime/nighttime diaper that prevents leaks and blowouts, stays drier, longer, and are made to be hypoallergenic and free of fragrance, bleach and dyes.Whoa.

You might also check out the cute prints in the diaper and wipes subscription from Honest Co.

Better Sleep, Ahhh

Hatch Rest+ Baby Sound Machine, Night Light and Soother | $89.99, Amazon
App-enabled, Alexa compatible, helps your baby sleep better…and it eventually trains a toddler to sleep in a few years? Yes please!

Meals They Don’t Have to Make Themselves

There is nothing more practical than knowing you have food when you’re hungry — GOOD food — and it’s prepared and ready to go.

Our suggestions:
–A week (or month) of homemade meals from a group of you.
– Delivery from a service like Ipsa in NYC (above) which delivers ready-made gourmet meals
– A Meal Kit delivery service (Here we’ve compared some of the top options)
-A gift card to a delivery service or their favorite local spot (Hint: New moms miss sushi!)

See more unique baby gift ideas like this one, here

A Top-Rated Travel System

Chicco Mini Bravo Sport Travel System | $329, Amazon
Spoiler alert: You don’t have to spend thousands to get a terrific travel system.
Oh, and our sponsor Chicco didn’t tell us to pick this — tons of parents and top parent magazine editors did.

Two Free Hands

Bandolier Crossbody Designer Phone Case | $00 on sale, Amazon
Since moms always wish we had more hands, our favorite wearable phone case at least lets you use the ones you’ve already got.

A Diaper Pail That Doesn’t Stink

Diaper Dekor Plus | $54.99, Magic Beans
Sleek, sophisticated, and basically smell-proof. To be extra thoughtful, add some diaper bag refills.

A Super Speedy Touchless Thermometer

Fridababy 3-in-1 Thermometer | $49.95 on sale, Amazon
A one-second temperature read. Yes, one second! Because when your baby is sick, even that feels like forever.

A Back-Saving Baby Carrier

Lillebaby COMPLETE 6-in-1 Baby and Toddler Carrier | $93 on sale, Amazon
The baby carrier we actually use has amazing back support and the ability to grow with your baby from infant to the toddler years. Perfect for moms, dads, sitters, and very very generous grandparents.

A Baby Bottle to Take the Stress out of Baby Bottles

Chicco Duo Hybrid Bottle | $19.98/2-pack, Amazon

We know new parents will be so relieved to find the new Chicco Duo. This brand new hybrid bottle has all the benefits of a glass bottle (no odors, no chemicals to leach into milk or formula, dishwasher-safe), coupled with the lightweight, durable benefits of plastic. So…you don’t have to choose. So smart.

A Humidifier That Does A Little Extra

Babymoov Hygro + 3-in-1 Humidifier | $79.99, Amazon
It humidifies, it lights, it diffuses essential oils…the only thing it doesn’t do is rock the baby to sleep.

The Gift of Silence

Cushy Closer Door Silencer | $9.95 or $26.50/set of 3, Cushy Closer
Because nothing is more frustrating than waking a baby up when they finally get to sleep.

A DIY Baby Food Maker

Baby Brezza Glass One-Step Baby Food Maker | $129, Amazon
Great price on this model from the cult fave baby food makers. It automatically steams and blends in one step, one bowl, with one hand. Yes!

Coooooffffeeeeeee…

Black Queen Coffee Mug | $18.95, Hot Print
Bodum French Press | $29.49, Amazon
BLK&BOLD Dark Roast | $14/12 oz, BLK and BOLD

Put together a DIY coffee gift pack for new parents. They’ll be THRILLED! An encouraging new mug should definitely be part of the mix.

A Sterilizer for…Everything

Verilux CleanWave Portable Sterilizing Wand | $59 on sale, Amazon
As if new parents weren’t already germophobes before 2020.

This guide contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission from certain purchases to help support the work we do, at no additional cost to you.