Buying for a new parent is harder than it looks.

You want to get it right. You want it to feel thoughtful. And so you end up standing in a baby store wondering if they already have this, or whether it's too small, or whether you should just get a voucher.

Get the voucher. Or better yet — read this first.

This is what we'd actually tell a friend who asked. The gifts that genuinely made the early weeks easier, and the ones we're still grateful for long after the wrapping paper was gone.

What I'd tell my friends

Food delivery vouchers — we cannot stress this enough

We were lucky enough to be gifted vouchers for The Dinner Ladies, and it made the first two months SO much easier. We cannot overstate this. In the fog of early parenthood, the question of what's for dinner feels enormous. Having meals ready to heat and eat — that someone else bought, planned, and prepared — was one of the most genuinely useful things anyone gave us. If you're looking for a gift for a new parent right now, stop reading and go buy a food delivery voucher. Nothing else on this list comes close.

Nappies and wipes — the gift people underestimate

Here's something nobody tells you when you're buying a gift for a new parent: nappies and wipes are one of the most appreciated things you can bring. Not newborn size — babies move through those faster than you'd expect. Think size 2, 3, even 4. Stock them up for the weeks and months ahead. The person giving this gift might feel like it's not special enough. The person receiving it will genuinely want to hug you. Practical gifts are underrated by those giving them and deeply appreciated by those receiving them — and a box of nappies on the doorstep at 11pm when you've just run out is worth more than any beautifully wrapped keepsake.

Practical items that actually get used

The gifts that lasted were the practical ones. A good swaddle. A gift card to a baby store so parents can buy what they actually need in the moment. A soft carrier. Things that solve real problems in the early weeks rather than things that look lovely and sit in a drawer. If you're not sure what they need, ask — most new parents will be relieved you did.

Time and presence, not just things

Some of the most appreciated gifts weren't wrapped at all. A friend who came over and held the baby so the parents could nap. Someone who did a load of washing without being asked. A family member who showed up with groceries and didn't expect to stay for a visit. Your time and practical help in the early weeks is worth more than most things you can order online.

Something for the parent, not just the baby

Every gift tends to be for the baby. Which is lovely — but new parents are also people who have just been through something enormous. A nice candle, a good book, a voucher for a massage or a blow-dry once things settle. Something that says 'I see you too, not just the baby' lands differently than another tiny onesie. Think about the person you know, and what would make them feel cared for.

What I'd do again

• Point everyone who asks directly toward a food delivery service voucher — it's the honest answer
• Bring nappies in size 2 or above — skip the newborn size, they'll be out of them before you know it
• Accept all offers of practical help and stop feeling guilty about it
• Ask for something for myself on the gift list, not just baby items

What I'd skip

• Novelty baby gifts that are more about the giver than the recipient
• Anything that needs to be assembled, charged, or figured out in the first week home

You don't need to get everything right before your baby arrives. Most parents figure things out one decision at a time. The gifts that stayed with us were the ones that made daily life lighter — nappies on the doorstep, a meal in the fridge, a friend who showed up without being asked. Food delivery vouchers did that better than anything else. But honestly? So did a box of size 3 nappies.

Shopping for a new parent?

Browse our gift guide for ideas that actually help.