10 unique baby gifts | 2021 Baby Gift Guide

10 unique baby gift ideas that are still useful and cool | 2021 Baby Gift Guide Cool Mom Picks

When we look through lists of unique baby gifts we find a lot of, uh…weird stuff. We’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that if you’re looking for a unique baby gift, you still want something cool, something fun, something useful. Not just something bizarre.

Or worse, we find so-called unique baby gifts that aren’t really unique at all. Hmm. (Not calling you out by name, list that includes a stuffed bear and big brand baby booties you can find in any store in America.)

So we went to work!

While we hope that our entire 2021 baby gift guide is filled with unique baby gifts you’ll love, these ideas are particularly perfect for parents who have everything…or hate everything. Ha. No offense, stuffed bears.

 

See our entire list of the best baby gifts of 2021

The best practical baby gifts
The best personalized baby gifts
The best handmade baby gifts
The best funny baby gifts
The best baby gifts for dads
The best feminist baby gifts 
The best baby gifts under $10
10 unique baby gift ideas

 

Our guide is brought to you in part by Chicco, who makes the kinds of practical, affordable baby gifts
we’ve always included in our guides.

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.

 

10 Unique Baby Gift Ideas That Parents Will Actually Love

Unique baby gifts: Custom names/faces board book from Pinhole Press

A Custom Board Book of Names and Faces

Custom Baby Board Book | $39.99, Pinhole Press
One of our longtime favorite mom-and-pop companies offers such unique baby photo gift ideas, but we’re particular fans of this DIY board book. Their customizable templates let you make a book about ABCs, colors, numbers, toys or family members, all using your own photos.

Also see our list of the best personalized baby gifts of all kinds, in all price ranges.

Unique baby gifts: A gourmet snack box for new parents like this Mother Snacker box

Unique baby gifts: The ecreamery new baby collection of gourmet ice creams delivered nationwide

A Gourmet Snack Box…or a Whole Subscription

Mother Snacker Subscription Box | $52, Cratejoy  
She’ll get 5-7 hand-picked artisan treats each month, delivered with inspiration and humor. And it supports a small, mom-owned business too. The perfect unique gift when you are struggling for something cool…especially for moms on baby #2 (or beyond).

eCreamery New Baby Ice Cream Collections | $59.99 on sale, eCreamery
Order a completely personalized pint right down to the name and label, or stick with one of the delicious new baby ice cream collections. Everything they make is delicious…and it goes fast. Ask us how we know!

 

 

A Personalized Star Chart From Baby’s Birth Date

Personalized “On The Day You Were Born” Star Chart | $46+, Our Love Was Born
Wow, we love this idea so much.

Also, consider an original piece of art for the nursery, even if it’s not personalized. We love the charming, modern, baby-friendly selection from Marisa Ann Cummings at Creative Thursday or search for an artist in your own community.

Unique baby gift: Bilingual gifts like these Minilingo Mandarin-English matching cards from Worldwide Buddies

Unique baby gifts: Bilingual board books like Colors by Patty Rodriguez

  Unique baby gifts: ASL wooden blocks | Best Baby Shower Gifts 2021

A Bilingual Baby Gift

Minilingo Mandarin/Spanish/Greek-English Matching Cards | $14, Worldwide Buddies
Contando de Colores Board Book by Patty Rodriguez |  Amazon or Indiebound
ASL wooden blocks | $40, Uncommon Goods

Educational baby gifts are always wonderful, and hey, bilingual is the new… well, monolingual?

 

Unique baby gifts: Gift card toward a lactation consultant, baby nurse, or postpartum doula

A Gift Card For Something Besides Baby Gear

Gift card towards a baby nurse, lactation consultant, or postpartum doula | Care.com or search for a local service
New parents are so grateful for all kinds of gift cards. But for a more unique baby gift, chip in toward an expert caregiver or consultant that helps take some of the pressure off. Think about a sleep training consultant (perhaps by phone these days), or a baby nurse, lactation consultant…even a new mom coach.

Also see our list of practical but cool baby gifts, which includes more ideas like this one

 

Marlo Bea baby headwraps: Best baby shower gifts under $15

A Baby Gift Honoring Their Heritage

Baby Headwraps | $15, Marlo Bea
There’s something truly special about a baby gift that honors those who came before, and teaches them about their family’s heritage. We love Shun Moore’s beautiful handiwork, which she dedicates to both her children and her own great-grandmothers. Sniff.

For something extra thoughtful, put together a baby gift box with items that represent the many different cultures and countries in the family tree.

 

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About our sponsor

The ChiccoDUO is a revolutionary hybrid baby bottle that is break-proof, lightweight and importantly shields baby’s milk from plastic [sponsor]

You probably know Chicco as the maker of top-rated car seats, strollers and high chairs that parents love getting as baby gifts, but they also happen to make some wonderful baby feeding essentials designed for the ultimate combo of safety, function and style. That includes their brilliant new Chicco Duo Hybrid Baby Bottles.

Each one blends the convenience, durability and lightweight design of a plastic bottle, with best of a glass bottle — no odor, medical grade, dishwasher safe, and above all, no chemicals to leach into breast milk or formula.

Because you know what’s not funny? Totally stressing in front of the baby bottle aisle, trying to choose between plastic and glass. (Even if the parents will laugh about it later.)

And PS adding one of these cool convertible cup holder/bottle cages for a stroller can help make a registry staple like baby bottles just a little more unique.

Shop the whole line of Chicco Duo Baby Bottles. in various colors, sizes, and multi-packs at Buy Buy Baby

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Unique baby gifts: A subscription book boxes for kids like this one from The Little Feminist

A Children’s Book Subscription That Goes Beyond the Usual

Baby/Toddler Book Club Subscription | $18.95 month and up, Little Feminist
Books always make the best baby gifts, and this subscription is designed to help diversify a child’s bookshelf. I mean, you can only own so many copies of Goodnight Moon right?

See our list of 8 of the best book subscription boxes for children of all ages for even more ideas.

Unique baby gifts: Funky baby booties from Nununu | Best Baby Shower Gifts 2021

 

A Classic Baby Gift…With an Edge

Baby Skull Slippers $25 on sale, Nununu

If you’re that cool aunt, godmother, or just a cool friend, change up all that pink and blue gingham with something still practical…but just a wee bit more modern. It’s pretty satisfying when a new parent opens your gift and says, “this is so you!”

 

Unique baby gift ideas: Unexpected stroller accessories like these Warmmuffs from 7AM Enfant

Unique baby gifts: Petunia's Mickey Mouse Stroller Hook

Unique baby gifts: StrollAway over the door stroller hanger

A Unexpectedly Useful Stroller Accessory

Warmmuffs | $50, 7AM Enfant
Mickey Mouse Stroller Hook | $15, Nordstrom
DreamBaby StrollAway Over-the-Door Stroller Hanger | $24.99, Amazon

New parents may know to register for the stroller, the umbrella, and the rain cover, but there’s so much more! Here are just three of our team’s favorites — all of which happened to be designed by moms who’ve been there.

For more ideas like these, see our picks for the best practical baby gifts that are still pretty cool

Unique baby gift ideas: Tree by Kerri Lee Year of the Ox Chinese Zodiac keepsake box

A Chinese Zodiac Birth Year Gift

Year of the Ox Birth Year Box | $58, Tree by Kerri Lee
Kerri offers wonderful handmade keepsakes, from blocks to music boxes to this adorable keepsake box that our own kids have owned. You can even have it personalized for your strong, loyal, dependable little ox.

 

Thanks to our sponsor Chicco, who makes the kinds of practical, affordable baby gifts we’ve always included in our guides. All gifts in our guide 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 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.Â