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The 11 Best Gifts for First-Time Parents

When freelance writer Adele Chapin isn't tracking dining trends and fun things to do in her hometown of Washington, D.C. for work, she's planning out every meal possible for her next vacation. Her beats include food, travel, fashion, shopping, and event planning, and Adele's stories have appeared in the Washington Post, Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bravo, Racked, Refinery29, BizBash, and more.

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First-time parents need all the help they can get when it comes to bringing up baby. During a time when it’s not easy for families to get together, helping mom and dad fill their nursery is a way to show you care — and these products will make life a bit easier for new parents. Here’s a few baby gift options that span the gamut from practical to adorable, ringing in at a variety of price points too. 

A Hip Diaper Bag

This is a diaper bag that doesn’t necessarily scream “I’m a diaper bag.” In fact, it looks just like the normal version of Herschel Supply Co.’s popular backpack — except this backpack is equipped with a changing mat that slides into a side pocket parents can get to easily. Plus, there’s storage space inside for everything from diapers to wipes to water bottles.

The Cadillac of Baby Monitors

Conquer new parent nerves with a very high-tech baby monitor from the brand Nanit. The camera hovers over the crib recording every sneeze and sigh, and parents can tune in to the feed right from their smartphones. This gadget can give you data on everything from the temperature and humidity in the baby’s room to sleep-tracking stats (including time-lapse videos showing just how baby’s nightly sleep went). 

A Magnetic Onesie

Dressing wiggly babies gets way easier when you forget snaps and buttons and switch to magnet closures. This organic cotton newborn sack gown makes late night diaper changes way easier for sleep-deprived parents, plus each outfit comes in very fun prints — and every sleep sack is paired with an adorable matching hat. 

Travel Board Books

Instill the travel bug very early with the Little Traveler Board Book Set, a four-pack of globe-trotting baby books made of mostly recycled paper. Each vibrantly-colored book is filled with illustrations of landmarks from around the world like the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal, while others show off global cuisines and animals from abroad.

A Magical Pair of PJs

When it comes to getting more sleep with a newborn, a little magic can’t hurt. This Magic Sleepsuit is designed by a pediatric physical therapist and fellow parent, based on the idea that a pair of pajamas can mimic a swaddle and help make little ones feel cozy and calm. Plus, babies look adorable wearing this fleece flightsuit-esque getup.

Cute Baby Socks

Little socks are always falling off and disappearing under the couch, so help new parents stock up on baby socks with the cutest woodland creature-themed pair from Uniqlo.

A Travel Crib That’s Good to Go 

This travel crib from Guava Family can be a place to play and sleep both at home and on the road. The 13-pound crib pops up and folds down with ease, and then slides into a backpack carrying case so you can take it on vacation or to visit friends and family. For parents who struggle to put together Ikea nursery furniture, the fact that the Lotus Crib requires no assembly at all will be appreciated.

A Sleek Diaper Changing Pad

It’s a dirty job, so why not make a diaper changing station as attractive as possible? Bumbo’s version comes in a variety of cheery colors, with an ergonomic design that’s meant to be comfortable for babies. It’s also lightweight (in case you want to tote it around the house), and most importantly, the soft foam wipes clean easily for inevitable accidents.

A Does-It-All Grooming Set

Parents swear by the NoseFrida the SnotSucker, a gross-sounding but effective product that can help babies who have stuffy noses. The brand packages up that best-seller and more essentials in a health and grooming baby set that contains all the little things new parents will need for an infant, like teeny tiny nail clippers, a baby thermometer, and more.

A Space-Saving Infant Bathtub

This is a baby bathtub for the mom or dad who is allergic to clutter. The foldable BPA-free mat fits right over a standard sink and then hangs flat to dry, making it super convenient to throw in a suitcase for travel as well. Grips on the bottom of the tub keeps it from sliding around, because bathing a newborn is intimidating enough on its own.

Baby Milestone Blocks

Kids grow up so fast: keep track in photos with these Buddy & Bee blocks that spell out baby milestones in days, weeks, months, holidays, and grades. The blocks themselves are made with eco-friendly natural grain wood and non-toxic paint. If the baby already has social media handles at birth, this might be just the perfect present.  

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