Best Gifts for New Parents

“I bought this when a dermatologist I interviewed told me that cotton pillowcases are thirsty and drink up everything, including the cream I spend way too much on for my face,” says Joanne Chen, CR’s former deputy home editor, who has spent 15 years digging into health trends, including the quest for better sleep. And while less expensive satin or silk pillowcases are available, Chen knew she had to splurge on this one the moment she saw it. 

“I love fluffing up my pillow [I have the CR Recommended Sleep Number ComfortFit Ultimate] each night before bed, admiring the swirls of stars, which never fail to put me in a more blissful state,” she says.

Sometimes something as simple as a little boost to the olfactory system can help you relax before bed. In fact, a 2015 study conducted on college students with self-reported sleep issues found that inhaled lavender essential oils combined with sleep hygiene improved their quality of sleep. Cue scented pillow sprays.

“While it’s a combination of lavender, vetivert, and wild chamomile, the lavender is the strongest scent—though not cloyingly so; just one whiff and I feel like I can breathe easier and deeper," says Mary Beth Quirk, CR’s shopping editor. Spray it lightly on pillows and sheets before jumping into bed for a soothing snooze.

For more options: Best Products for a Good Night’s Sleep

Haptic Lab creates a wide array of inventive and ethically produced soft goods, but their quilts have long been my top pick for special people on special occasions, says Jen Bekman, founder of the online art company 20x200. "The space-themed ones are particularly out of this world, and what better way to welcome a new baby than with a custom-monogrammed constellation quilt."

Is there anything more luxurious than snoozing with a soft silk mask? Crafted from delicate silk, it comes in a variety of colors, including a bold navy, a graceful ballet pink, and an opulent gold. (There are also prints on the company’s Amazon page featuring lipstick smooches, paisley, and an embroidered “rosé all day.”) It has a scrunchy backstrap that stretches rather than adjusts, which allows for a more seamless look (but perhaps an imperfect fit).

For more options: Best Sleep Masks

This small plug-and-play sound machine from Magicteam is sized just right—like a deck of cards if cards were square. It delivers good sound quality and variety, packing in 20 sounds, including nature sounds and even the sound of a freight train. The controls, just five buttons, are intuitive to use, although one evaluator said they were quite small and a bit difficult to see in low light. And it has a timer in case you don’t want it playing all night.

The weighted Gravity blanket comes with its own matching “micro-plush” duvet cover. It indeed felt soft to the touch, according to a staffer who tried it at home—similar to velour. She also noted that its ties, buttons, and zipper keep the comforter particularly secure. Gravity says the cover is machine-washable in cold water and can be tumble-dried on low. The inner weighted blanket, which includes glass beads, is hand-washable and should be air-dried only. (But we did run it through one wash cycle because it seems unwieldy to hand-wash something so large and heavy—it turned out fine.)

Somewhere between all the late-night feedings and spending 24/7 with a newborn, a little change of scenery can be a welcomed sight. This book from Taschen explores dreamy destinations and hidden gems along the Mediterranean with vivid photos and wanderlust-inducing words to boot.

The next best thing to a garden full of flowers might just be this dreamy scene from Piecework. The 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle depicts an ethereal table setting, reminiscent of the Dutch Masters, that will delight the anthophile in your life. Bonus points for pairing this one with an equally vibrant bouquet of flowers.

For parents who don’t shy away from matching outfits, Baby Cats of California is the place to go, according to Jennie Lennick, founder of the creative accessories and apparel brand Jenny Lemons. Prime for all ages and available in a variety of patterns, “each product is screen-printed by hand and high quality, making it a great gift idea,” she said. “I’m loving the Cat Cloud Sweatshirt print. It’s adorable!”

For the one whose idea of a nightcap looks more like a piping hot cup of tea, this festive discovery set from Palais des Thés is not to be missed. Featuring an assortment of the brand’s best-selling teas, each box comes with nine varied blends (for a total of 54 teabags). Green tea with notes of rose and citrus, a rich South African rooibos with almond and marigold petals, and a warming combo of oolong tea with lemon and maple syrup are just a few of the popular flavors you’ll be able to sample.

"After eating, sleeping, and cuddling, I spent most of my time of the first few months of my daughter’s life reading to her," says CR managing editor Ginger Cowles. "I wanted to instill a love of reading in her right away, and now at age 4, she wants to read books all the time. This collection of Eric Carle books, which includes the classic ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ is a respectable addition to a baby’s first books."

Pro tip: Be sure to get board books for the little ones, says Cowles, because babies can tear regular paper pretty easily, or worse, get paper cuts.

Here’s one way to keep the little one occupied while you attempt a little R&R. The Lovevery play gym is pricey—but its variety, aesthetics, materials, and wide age range make it worth the money. Tall, smooth wooden arches give the play gym a stylish look. Each flap offers a different way to engage: One has little pillows with different noisemakers inside, while another has strips of fabric in varied textures. Our evaluators found this play gym to be engaging, with sturdy construction, and easy to clean.

A reliable carrier that can help parents function hands-free is a must. Among the six carriers we evaluated, the LÍLLÉbaby Complete 6-in-1 All Seasons can be worn four ways: in front while facing in, in front while facing out, or on the back or hip (its website lists six positions, but the additional two refer to how the seat can be adjusted to be narrow or wide to suit your baby’s age and weight). The carrier’s zip-down front panel reveals mesh, but you can also zip it up. This carrier is designed with storage compartments and a removable sun hood and has been rated hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

This bag is sleek and modern-looking, though it’s heavier than others we’ve tried. It comes with multiple add-ons, including several removable pouches plus a changing pad, stroller clips, detachable key leashes, and a washable zipper bag. All these extras make it an excellent all-inclusive choice for parents. 

But there are two notable drawbacks. The oversized zippers are really stiff and don’t easily open, especially with one hand (and do parents ever have more than one hand available?). The small size also means it may be hard to fit all the essentials in the bag.

The BabyBjörn earned the highest marks in our evaluation of the best play yards. Unlike play yards that are elevated, the BabyBjörn sits flat on the ground—a plus for when your kid gets bigger because it means there’s no upper weight limit. Setup and takedown were easy, and having instructions on the bottom of the play yard is a handy plus.

Users appreciated the ease with which they were able to use and travel with this play yard. It’s the lightest play yard we evaluated, weighing in at 13 pounds, and the cot fabric and mattress cover are also machine washable.

Unlike other models that have only one warming method to warm bottles, Baby Brezza’s bottle warmer gives you the option to select a warm water bath or steam. Regardless of the warming method you select, you’ll want to keep your eye on this warmer’s program end time and open the lid as soon as it is done. Both methods showed overheating in our evaluations less than 10 minutes after a warming program ended. 

The Baby Brezza was the easiest bottle warmer to use overall in a recent evaluation and had the best instructional material with large, clear text and graphics that were easy to search through. But the buttons to select setting options are not as intuitive as they could be. The company recommends waiting until the device is cool before emptying and drying, and descaling with white vinegar every four weeks.

For anyone who loves a cold coffee but dislikes the flavor when ice waters it down, consider this a fix. Fill two of the HyperChiller’s three separate inner chambers with water, freeze, then pour hot coffee into the third for non-watery cold coffee 60 seconds later. Read our full evaluation of the HyperChiller.

Give them the gift of a better vessel for their morning brew. According to Bernie Deitrick, a CR test engineer, compact mugs with multiple small servings (rather than one big pour) can optimize the flavor and retain the heat of coffee. These Huskee cups are up to the task, says Yeekai Lim, founder of Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters, a chain of coffee shops in the Los Angeles area, and they’re aesthetically pleasing to boot.

For more options: Best Coffee Mugs for Keeping a Brew Warm

When it comes to cooking essentials, good olive oil almost always comes out on top. This olive oil from Wonder Valley was a standout in our evaluation. It boasts a fruity flavor balanced with pepperiness and bitterness. Its strong taste would make it good for drizzling on foods and added to salad dressings.