Nursery time: perfect and useful Irish gifts for a new baby

Struggling to find the right thing to buy for your friend’s newborn? Forget the baby-grows, a present for the nursery will bring joy for years to come.  

It’s always an exciting time when a loved one is having a baby, and it usually means getting the new arrival a present. As someone who loves teeny-tiny baby clothes as much as the next person, I absolutely understand the impulse to go out and purchase miniature outfits, complete with tiny socks, tiny hats, and maybe even tiny and frankly, pointless, shoes.

The thing is, new babies are often bombarded with these adorable outfits. So many in fact, that friends of mine have told me that their baby didn’t even get to wear all of them, growing faster than their extensive wardrobe rotation could handle.

Look then, to something a little more evergreen when choosing a gift for a friend’s newborn. While there are many options out there, home accessories are a great choice, as not only will they help the baby’s room feel lovely and welcoming, they are more likely to remain a part of their lives for years to come. While they can cost more than you planned to spend, it’s also nice to get something like this between a few friends.  Here are some suggestions of baby-grow alternatives.

This Irish Elk will look lovely on a nursery shelf while the baby is little, and serves as a toy when they start crawling around, coming apart in several pieces, like a simple 3D jigsaw. Handcrafted from sustainable Irish beech wood by father and daughter team Edward and Iseult O’Clery, it would make a really special gift. Giant Irish Elk, €35, Saturday Workshop.

A quality baby blanket can be a present that lasts for years – I still use the one my granny knitted me on chilly evenings. If however, like me, your knitting skills leave much to be desired, leave it to the professionals and go for a classic design like this one from Ekotree. Based in the Burren, they use Merino wool for its softness, breathability and moisture-resistance. Baby blanket, €85, Irish Design Shop.

A cute addition to any nursery, this friendly polar bear clock is handmade from Irish wood and finished in beeswax. It can be hung on a wall or rest on a shelf, and will make learning to tell the time all the more fun. Polar bear clock, €50, Sam agus Nessa.

A storage basket is always useful, whether it’s used to put away toys or hide that never-ending pile of laundry. They’re not usually so fun, though, which is why I’d have no reservations about giving this cute pear design as a gift. Pear braided basket, €78, Lamb Design.

The great thing about a baby’s room is that there’s no excuse not to go for the cute version of everything, although I’ll admit I didn’t know that this extended to adorable wall hooks. I stand corrected.  Ida Rabbit wall hook, €13, Barn.

This Scandi-style dreamcatcher will look gorgeous hung above a crib as a mobile, and isn’t too babyish for when they get bigger. Who knows, it may even ward off some nightmares. Mustard dreamcatcher, €27, The Little Wooden Peg.

Featured image: Katie Scott Animals wallpaper, €95 per roll, Ferm Living.   

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