Plush Pick
“If you want to do something nice but not spend a fortune, I highly recommend these Angel Dear lovies. Go crazy and get it monogrammed. My favorites are the duck, the frog, and the lamb. The fabric is some sort of super soft, spun-from-fairy-eyelashes material, and the blankies are the perfect size for a baby.” —Elizabeth Passarella, contributing editor
To buy: From $13, amazon.com.
A Timeless Accessory
“I always give a Briar handmade bonnet because it's just so sweet and timeless, and it captures the baby-ness of those first few months. Plus, everyone loves taking pictures of their babies, and this is the perfect photo op accessory.” —Sarah Copeland, food director
To buy: $34, noblecarriage.com.
Initial Impression
“I love giving personalized gifts, so a few weeks after the newborn arrives, I buy Love Letters in the baby’s initials or name, customized with photos of the family from those early days. It’s a unique way to capture the milestone and looks great in the nursery.” —Sydney Hershman, home assistant
To buy: $33 for three letters, loveletters.etsy.com.
Luxe Touch
“I stock my new mom friends’ changing tables, diaper bags, and purses with baby-friendly beauty products. A favorite is the natural, hypoallergenic Baby Bundle set by Yes To—it includes a shampoo and body wash, face and nose wipes, and baby lotion. It’s one less thing new moms have to think about picking up; plus, these products are made with gentle ingredients (think vitamin E and organic carrots) so you can feel good about using them on a new baby.” —Heather Muir, beauty director
To buy: $22, yestocarrots.com.
Story Collection
“My go-to baby gift is a set of books that were family favorites from when I was little: Rumble in the Jungle, Are You My Mother?, Peef the Christmas Bear, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Real Mother Goose Treasury, and Love You Forever. I like knowing that those same stories will be enjoyed all over again.” —Kaitlyn Pirie, reporter/researcher
To buy: Rumble in the Jungle, $7; Are You My Mother?, $2, Peef the Christmas Bear, $17, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, $4; The Real Mother Goose Treasury, $11; and Love You Forever, $6; all at barnesandnoble.com.
Special Delivery
“We love to give an empty pizza box filled with money and take-out menus! A friend gave this to us as a baby gift and it was the most useful gift in the world.” —Westry Green, research chief
Classic Keepsakes
“I have two gifts that I always give. The first is the Goose Waddle Baby Blanket—it comes in pink, white, or blue, it’s machine-washable, and it’s the softest blanket I've ever encountered. The second is the Snowy Day Doll with Ezra Jack Keats’ Snowy Day book. Everyone loves the book but few know the doll is for sale too.” —Jacklyn Monk, deputy managing editor
To buy: Goose Waddle Baby Blanket, $65; Snowy Day Doll, $16; and Snowy Day Book, $13; all at amazon.com.
Subscription Service
“I love sending Bluum boxes: Each month, the new parents receive a custom selection of toys specific to the child’s age and personal preferences.” —Flavia Nunez, fashion assistant
To buy: $39 per month, bluum.com. (Enter the code REALSIMPLE to receive 50 percent off the first month)
Home Cooking
“Our friends and family were kind enough to gift us with homemade, freezer-friendly dinners. It was so nice to be able to enjoy a home-cooked meal on nights when we were starving/sick of takeout/too tired to cook for ourselves.” —Brenda Dargan-Levy, managing editor, RealSimple.com
A Soft Stuffed Animal
“Hazel Village stuffed animals are so much more than your standard bunny. There are so many cute options to choose from—Nicholas Bear, Gwendolyn Raccoon, Flora Fox, and more—and each is incredibly soft. Plus, they can be personalized with a hand-threaded monogram or name inside of a heart.” —Brigitt Earley, senior editor, RealSimple.com
To buy: from $42, hazelvillage.com.
