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From journals to teething rattles and dressing gowns, treat them to something special from our round-up
Babies, and their respective parents, are often showered with gifts to celebrate new life… and rightly so, as creating offspring is one of life’s most notable moments.
Finding an honourable gift is no easy feat, but if you go down the personalisation route your efforts cannot be denied. Not only have you been paying attention to the baby’s credentials, you’ve purchased a superbly bespoke gift and not added to the pile of duplicate muslin squares.
The personalisation world is also growing by the day, with demanding gift givers looking for something special to placate. But personalisation isn’t just for blankets and bibs, you’ll also find plenty of practical gifts too, and if it’s a present for a first baby rest assured the parents will thank you for any helpful products.
While of course the main criteria we were looking to fulfil is personalisation (this can be in the shape of a child’s name, initials or date of birth), we also considered quality; if a product is bespoke you want is to stand the test of time as it’s expected to be treasured.
Naturally, we also took budget into account – it’s likely you’ll have to pay a little extra for a personalised piece but as the service has got more common, prices needed to reflect that.
We’ve tested a whole host of personalised gifts out, all unique in their own way; from early life practical products to investment pieces that will be cherished for years.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Just when you thought a Jellycat toy couldn’t become any more loveable, you can team your snuggly plush toy up with British personalisation company, That’s Mine, for a truly unique gift. The little white jumper can be embroidered in a choice of grey, pink, blue or beige thread colour with the recipient’s name. Your fluffy friend will come with its own personalised gift bag too.
If you’re looking to gift something extra special, then let us introduce you to The Travel Wrap Company. With a dedicated my “little travel wrap” collection, there’s a range of irresistible cashmere wraps for baby and child to choose from. Our favourite? The “cygnet”, which has been lovingly handmade in Scotland using the finest 28 count cashmere yarn. Knitted in two-ply cashmere, the softness is unrivalled. Each wrap is accompanied by a cotton backpack to take good care of it, and exquisitely presented in a gift box.
Go the extra mile with the brand’s monogramming service, which offers classically beautiful lettering in a variety of colours and fonts. You can even add the baby’s birth date to make this blanket as unique as the little person cuddling it. A luxury gift like this doesn’t come cheap, with each initial costing £20, but there’s no denying this will be truly cherished.
London-based brand Chewie Cat has created a wonderful line of teething toys. Lovingly handmade, this cute giraffe crochet teething rattle has a little bell inside, keeping baby well and truly entertained in between nibbles. Made from organic cotton and beech wood, these can be personalised with up to nine letters, but work best with shorter names so that it’s not too big for babies to hold. The product is durable and beautifully made, ready for hours of chewing and rattling.
A baby’s first year flies by, so why not capture all the special moments in this personalised baby journal? A gift for both baby and parents, you can personalise it with the little one’s name, date of birth and weight, choosing from gold, silver and rose gold lettering. Available in A5 and A4, choose from six colour options for this luxury wire-bound book. Inside you’ll find plenty of space to jot down details of the birth, stick in pictures throughout and note important milestones, there is also a clear pocket at the back for extra keepsakes. This is such a precious present that’ll be treasured for years to come. The gift that keeps on giving.
Bring the outdoors in with this beautifully detailed woodland-inspired artwork. Featuring mini woodland creatures and spelling any name up to 11 letters long, this is sure to be a focal point of any nursery. You can choose from three gorgeous colour schemes, and there’s also the option to add further personalisation like a date or a special message. Framed using a quality matte white wood, it comes with the back sealed and picture cord attached ready for hanging – now just to decide what wall it looks best on!
Available in a range of sizes from newborn to 18 months, this adorable two-piece set from the baby specialists at JoJo Maman Bebe can be personalised with up to nine characters at no additional cost. Featuring a reversible popper velour jacket, this layers up perfectly with the matching floral sleepsuit which has been crafted from 100 percent cotton and features built-in scratch cuffs on smaller sizes. You’ll certainly want to snuggle up with them in this cosy suit.
As pretty as it is practical, this clever sleeping bag was created to give little ones the safest and best sleep. Mori has been helping babies sleep since its launch in 2015 and the lever sleeping bag does just that; using its signature organic cotton and bamboo fabric which is breathable, thermoregulating and sustainably sourced. With the option to personalise, this makes the perfect gift – plus it can be used from 4kgs up to two-years-old, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
It’s impossible to carry out a personalised baby gift review and not include the hugely popular My 1st Years. A brand made famous after Prince George wore one of its personalised robes when meeting Barack Obama back in 2016, parents and children alike go wild for its personalised dressing gowns. Add some foxy fun to bedtime with this one, available in sizes 0-6 months to four-years-old. You can personalise it for free with up to nine characters for something truly bespoke.
This really is a gift for both parent and baby, so everyone’s a winner. Founded by two mums back in 2006, Cuddledry is a baby towel that attaches to the parent just like an apron; this means the parent stays dry and their hands are free to lift and wrap your baby both swiftly and easily out of the bath. There’s now the option to personalise this miracle product on the hood of the towel with up to 15 characters (including spaces), in a lovely cursive font making it a wonderfully bespoke gift. Made with super soft bamboo and cotton, post bath time cuddles have never felt so good.
Available in teeny tiny sizes up to 18 months, you’ll struggle to find anything quite as cosy as this personalised bear pramsuit. In a gorgeous pink colour, it’s made from oh-so-soft fleece with a 100 per cent cotton grey-striped lining so it’s delicate on little one’s skin. The little bear ears on the hood are just adorable, and sizes under 12 months come with feet built in for an extra snug fit.
Previously known as a Sleepyhead of Sweden, the heavily-instagrammed baby pod is sure to be on every parents’ wish list. Renamed the DockATot, there’s now an option to personalise this loveable cocoon with a baby’s name, initials, birth date or nickname on its pristine white Deluxe+ dock. The perfect place for babies – aged newborn to eight months – to enjoy a spot of lounging, playing and of course plenty of cuddling!
For cuteness, creativity and cuddle-factor at a good price, we completely fell in love with That’s Mine’s personalised Jellycat bashful piglet soft toy, making a fabulous personalised baby gift. If budget is no question and you’re looking for a luxury item, choose The Travel Wrap Company.
