The Baby Gifts Aussie parents should skip this Christmas
Baby shoes and soft toys are the gifts new parents most regret receiving, while small practical buys like nipple cream, nail trimmers and gift cards are the ones they value most, according to a new analysis of parent conversations by Australian baby clothing brand Bowy Made.
Bowy Made looked at 1,875 public comments across 10 online parenting discussions about baby registries and baby shower gift ideas. Every product mentioned was recorded as valued, regretted, or wanted but never received. Items named by at least 10 different parents across at least three discussions were then ranked, creating what Bowy Made is calling the ‘Unofficial Newborn Registry Rulebook’.
Baby shoes topped the regret list, with 100% of parents' views negative. Soft toys were regretted in 89.1% of views and toys in 78.1%. Toys were named by 71 different parents, more than any other item in the study.
Clothing told a more nuanced story. Holiday, novelty and dress-up outfits were regretted in 85.7% of views, with parents describing Christmas outfits in the wrong size and summer pieces for winter babies. Everyday clothing, on the other hand, did far better: sleepers were valued in 88.9% of views, burp cloths in 69.7%, bodysuits in 64.5% and pyjamas in 64.3%.
Chelsea Singer, Bowy Made co-founder and mother of 3.
Bowy Made co-founder Chelsea Singer says most clothing regrets come down to size and season, rather than the clothes themselves.
"The gifting mistake I see again and again is buying for the wrong season. Someone buys a gorgeous summer outfit in newborn size for a baby who's due in the middle of winter. It sounds simple, but it didn't really click for me until I had my own babies. Once they grow out of a size, that's it."
"Sizing was a big one for me, too. I received so many beautiful onesies when my daughter was born, which I loved, but most of them were far too big, even in newborn size. That's a big part of why we designed our own newborn sizing to actually fit from birth."
The most valued gifts were small and practical. Nipple cream and nail trimmers were rated positively in 100% of views, followed by wipe holders (88.9%) and gift cards (84.2%).
Parents' wish lists pointed to practical help over presents. Meal delivery was named as wanted but never received in 36.8% of views, and spare cot sheets in 33.3%.
Play items, such as soft toys and swings, had the highest regret rate of any category, with more than half of all views (53.3%) negative. Services such as meal delivery and cleaning had the lowest, at just 4.0%.
Top 5 most valued gifts
Share of expressed views, among items named by at least 10 people across three discussions.
| Rank | Item | Valued | Regretted | Parents who named it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nipple cream | 100.0% | 0.0% | 13 |
| 2 | Nail trimmer | 100.0% | 0.0% | 12 |
| 3 | Sleeper | 88.9% | 7.4% | 28 |
| 4 | Wipe holder | 88.9% | 0.0% | 12 |
| 5 | Sleeping bag | 87.2% | 5.1% | 42 |
Top 5 most wanted but not received gifts
Share of expressed views, among items named by at least 10 people across three discussions.
| Rank | Item | Wanted, not received | Parents who named it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Formula | 55.6% | 10 |
| 2 | Meal delivery | 36.8% | 18 |
| 3 | Cot sheet | 33.3% | 10 |
| 4 | Medicine | 22.2% | 10 |
| 5 | Nasal aspirator | 21.4% | 35 |
The Unofficial Newborn Registry Rulebook
1. Leave the shoes in the shop. Every one of the 13 views on baby shoes was negative. Parents described pairs "sitting in the drawer" and shoes that never fit.
2. One soft toy is plenty. Soft toys were regretted in 89.1% of views. Parents described baskets, totes and spare rooms filling up with stuffed animals their baby never touched.
3. Think twice about big, noisy toys. Toys were regretted in 78.1% of views. Parents singled out loud, flashing and bulky toys that took up space or were years too old for their baby.
4. Dress them for everyday wear. Holiday and dress-up outfits were regretted in 85.7% of views, but everyday sleepers were valued in 88.9%. Soft, practical pieces get worn on repeat.
5. Buy for the size and season they'll actually be in. Clothing in the wrong size or the wrong season was one of the most common complaints in the comments.
6. One special blanket beats five. Most blanket complaints were about quantity, not quality. Parents described drawers full of them, but still treasured the one that was handmade, personalised or chosen with care.
7. Small and practical beats big and impressive. Nipple cream and nail trimmers were valued by every parent who rated them. Wipe holders were close behind at 88.9%.
8. A gift card is not a cop-out. Gift cards were valued in 84.2% of views and regretted in just 5.3%.
9. Feed the parents. Meal delivery was never regretted, and 36.8% of views named it as something parents wished they had received. That is the second-largest gap between wanted and received in the study.
Chelsea's advice for choosing a newborn gift
On the most regretted gifts, Singer says taste is the common thread.
"Most of the items on that list come down to personal taste. Unless you know exactly what the mum likes, it's a gamble. The simplest fix is to ask her, or buy from her registry. Most mums have one these days, and it takes the guesswork out completely."
She isn't surprised to see nipple cream take the top spot.
"Most new mums will need it at some point, and it's something you don't always think of before the baby arrives. It also makes a lovely little add-on to a bigger gift. Nappies are the same. They might seem a bit boring, but they will always get used."
For gift-givers who still want to give clothing, Singer recommends keeping it simple.
"Patterns can be a really personal preference, so neutral, solid tones are usually a win with most mums. They also work whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Our Ribbed Cotton Onesies with matching beanies and blankets are the pieces people come back to buy as gifts again and again. Everyone loves a matching set."
As for budget, she says there's no need to overspend.
"It really depends on the person, but anywhere up to around $100 is plenty for a newborn or baby shower gift."
Shop the newborn gifts people come back for
Looking for a newborn or baby shower gift that won't end up in the donation pile? Our Signature Ribbed Cotton Sets and SoftLuv Bamboo Baby onesies, beanies and blankets come in soft, neutral tones that suit any baby, with newborn sizing designed to fit from birth. Matching sets make an easy, considered gift, and most pieces sit well within the $100 gifting budget Chelsea recommends.
Shop newborn gift ideas at bowymade.com.
