Buying gifts for those that you love can be fun as long as you know what they like. If you are not sure what someone would like to get, or if they are too small to have any sort of preference, it can be a bit harder to get the right thing. When you buy gifts for babies, you can either ask the parents what they need for the baby, or you can go on your own to get what you like. Either way, there are some guidelines that can make shopping for a baby easier. Parents will love that you thought to get something, but there are things that they simply do not need.
There are two things that people always think of getting when they go to get gifts for babies. One would be clothes and the other is toys. Clothes are almost always a great idea, but you should stop before you buy. You may see something cute, but is that outfit something that the baby will ever really wear? If so, go ahead and get it. If not, look for something else. Remember that babies grow out of sizes in the first year very quickly, so perhaps your best bet for clothing for babies is to get something that is too big. They will grow into it quickly enough, and the parents will be grateful for the head start on the next size up.
When it comes to toys, you should be very careful. Many families end up with too many toys and the baby never plays with any of them. Babies under six months of age play with very few toys. The ones they may like are the ones they can hold in their hands like rattles, keys, or simple baby-safe blocks. Other than that, toys are pretty much useless. If they are at an age when gifts for babies would include toys, don't buy a bunch of small things. Get one really nice toy that is sturdy in design and that will last. This will be most appreciated.
Gifts for babies do not have to be toys or clothing items. You can also invest in their future if you wish by starting or adding to a savings or college fund. Talk to the parents about this one for sure, as you don't want to upset them by suggesting they need something they have yet to start. Instead, say that you like to give a donation of money towards a savings account with any babies you know, and that you would like to do the same with their baby. You can then gift the money to them. Hopefully, that is where the money goes.
There are other types of gifts for babies that you can buy that all parents will appreciate. You can get diapers and lotions, powders, or wipes. These are all things that parents go through very quickly and always appreciate as a gift. Just like with clothing, babies will go through diaper sizes quickly, so feel free to buy a size in diaper that you think is too big. They will be used soon enough. If you opt for lotions and shampoo, find out what type they use, or go with a sensitive formula just to be on the safe side.