It might feel a little early to be thinking about Christmas while the fans are still working overtime, but if you're the sort of person who likes to buy a present for a little one well before the festive rush sets in, or you're simply tired of scrambling through crowded shops in December, now is genuinely the sensible time to start looking. Presents for babies and kids in particular take a bit more thought than most gifts, since they need to be useful, gentle enough for sensitive skin, and ideally something a busy parent hasn't already got three of.
Here's how we'd go about choosing a present for the little ones in your life this year, along with a few ideas worth considering early.
What Actually Makes a Good Gift, Whatever Their Age
The best gifts for a baby or a child tend to share a few qualities, and none of them are about being flashy or expensive. Something soft against the skin matters enormously for a newborn, since a baby's skin is far more sensitive and absorbent than ours, and that same comfort still counts for an older child, who'll happily wear a soft, well made piece long after a scratchy or synthetic one has been shoved to the back of the drawer. Something genuinely useful matters too, at any age. Parents of a newborn or a school aged child are usually drowning in toys within a few months of a birthday, so a present that solves a real problem, whether that's a cosy sleepsuit for winter nights or a versatile outfit that works for more than one occasion, tends to get far more use than a decorative extra.
It's also worth thinking about longevity, since young children of any age seem to grow out of things within a season. A gift sized generously, or one designed to be worn a couple of different ways as they grow into it, will simply get more wear out of the same purchase, whether you're buying for a six month old or a six year old.
Sleepwear Makes a Wonderful, Practical Present
There's something quietly lovely about giving a family a beautifully soft set of sleepwear, since it's a gift that gets used almost every single night rather than sitting in a drawer waiting for a special occasion. For a newborn, our two way zip sleepsuits are a particular favourite: they open from both ends, so tired parents can manage a nappy change at three in the morning without wrestling a whole suit off a sleepy baby, and the soft organic cotton is gentle enough even for skin prone to eczema. For an older child, a proper pyjama set in one of our prints tends to become the pair they ask for by name, worn long past the point most parents expect.
Sizing a little ahead of where a child currently sits makes a particularly thoughtful gift too, whatever their age, since it means the family gets good use from it for months rather than weeks.
A Print They Won't Already Have
Part of what makes a gift feel properly thoughtful is knowing the recipient couldn't have simply grabbed the same thing off a shelf themselves. Every print we use is one we've chosen ourselves rather than bought in from a big supplier's catalogue, which means it's unlikely to turn up as one of three identical outfits opened under the tree that year, something that happens more often than you'd think with the bigger, mass market brands.
The fabric itself matters just as much as the print sitting on top of it. Our GOTS certified organic cotton is grown and processed without the synthetic chemicals used in conventional cotton farming, so it sits gently against skin that's still working out how to protect itself, which makes it a genuinely considerate choice whether you're buying for a newborn or a school aged child with eczema prone skin. A gift made from cloth like that says something about the care that's gone into it long before anyone even notices the print.
Gift Sets Take the Guesswork Out of Choosing
For anyone who isn't sure exactly what a family already has, a curated gift set is often the safest and most thoughtful route. Ours come wrapped and ready to give, without a scrap of unnecessary plastic in sight, and pairing a soft sleepsuit with a matching blanket or bib makes for a present that feels considered rather than last minute, even if it was bought in a hurry.
A gift set is also a lovely option for anyone buying for a family they don't know especially well, such as a colleague's new arrival, a friend of a friend's baby shower, or a child's birthday party where you're not entirely sure what they already own, since it takes away the pressure of guessing sizes or style preferences too precisely.
Buying Early Makes the Season Genuinely Easier
There's a real advantage to sorting out a baby gift well before December arrives. Shipping tends to slow right down as the season gets busier, sizes in the most popular prints sell through faster than you'd expect, and a present bought calmly in a quiet week is generally a far nicer thing to give than one grabbed in a last minute panic between wrapping paper and mince pies. If you know a baby due to arrive over the festive period, a toddler who'll be celebrating their first Christmas properly aware of what's going on, or an older child with a very particular wish list this year, getting ahead of the rush now means one less thing to think about later in the year.
A Few Ideas to Get You Started
A two way zip sleepsuit in a slightly larger size for a newborn, a proper pyjama set or a soft organic outfit in one of our exclusive prints for an older child, or a full gift set for a family you're buying for at a distance, all make genuinely lovely, useful presents that a family will actually reach for again and again rather than tuck away for best.
Have a browse through our gift sets or our full collection to see what might suit the child you're shopping for this year, whatever their age, and do get in touch if you'd like help choosing the right size or print for a special gift.