Hello,
Today we’re going to talk babies and, above all, ethical and chic gift ideas for little ones. As you might know, my sister is expecting a baby girl in the coming weeks and she would really like to prioritise everything eco-friendly, ethical and Montessori for her little girl. So, I’ve been looking into children’s gifts over the last few months, in order to prepare a big baby gift box for my beloved sister who lives abroad. It turns out that baby shopping can be a nightmare when you don’t know anything about it, as there is so much choice when it comes to shops and specialised things, some of which are useful and others useless. There are so many colours, prices and styles including super cute, overly kitsch, truly ugly, trendy yet extortionate, and hippy (not so) chic. Essentially, it’s hard to know where to start after hours on the net.
So now that I’m an (almost) expert on the subject, I want to share my selection of gift ideas & shops for kids, with lots of cute, eco-friendly gems which are perfect for a baby shower, a birth gift, a one month birthday or simply preparing for the arrival of your mini me. The list is non-exhaustive, of course, but it’s a good place to start. There is something for every price point and I have included my favourites.
1 / Developmental toys ..
A stimulating play board @Max&Léa..
This is the perfect gift idea. It’s made in France, 100% green and affordable, plus it will get a lot of use as it’s suitable for 1 to 6 year olds. I came across this cute brand while browsing online. It offers different children’s toys made of natural and eco-responsible wood.
We got the playboard for my little niece’s baby box as it’s a super comprehensive and versatile toy which allows the child to have fun while learning. It stimulates baby’s alertness, concentration, autonomy and dexterity so I bought it in a heartbeat, and my sister is a fan too. Another nice thing about this pretty eco-friendly brand is that it plants one tree for every tablet bought. What’s not to love about Max & Léa ?
A Montessori grip ball @ Les petits raffineurs ..
This organic cotton ball is a super important object, which was near the top of my list for baby. This educational toy is suitable for children from their birth until two years old. It allows the child to develop the coordination of his or her movements, sensual awareness (notably sight and touch) and motor skills. So, it’s a useful, pretty and affordable present which makes a great addition to any baby box.
Eco-friendly Mega Bloks @ »Peek A Blocks, friendly forest «
These 70 woodland blocks, which are colourful and made of all natural materials, are perfect for little ones as they help develop creativity and stimulate learning and motor skills.
We added them to the box for my nieces as blocks are a must-have for kids anyway, and when they’re green it’s even better.
2/ Baby skincare …
The baby skincare gift set @Aurélia probiotics skincare ..
I love it, it’s beautiful and it smells so good when you open it !!! It’s a brand that I know well, and which has been part of my skincare routine for a while. I’m a fan of their skincare products, which are super nice and effective.
For the little Aurélia range, the brand has prioritised natural and gentle ingredients like calendula, aloe vera, shea butter, lavender, camomile, borage and calming essential oils, all of which are not tested on animals – of course. This gift box contains the 7 essentials for a natural skincare routine for baby : a cleansing gel, moisturising cream, an oil for the body, a Comfort & Calm balm, a pillow mist, a natural Konjac sponge and a book of Sleep Time tales. All of this comes in a Little Aurelia suitcase. Depending on your budget, you can also buy just the suitcase and fill it up with the products or objects of your choice.
3/ Baby’s room decor ..
A cosy basket, mattress & liner @Petit léon store..
I love the bohemian chic vibe of this pretty, eco-friendly shop. I basically wanted to buy everything on the website, which offers an on-point selection of cute things for kids right from birth. You’ll find cute brands in simple and organic materials as well as a Handmade collection, in limited edition. Everything is gorgeous, and if I had a baby I would buy everything in the shop, which is perfect for a birth list.
I put quite a few Petit Léon things in my niece’s baby box, including this basket ensemble, which I think is gorgeous. The mattress and sheets are made in France & the basket is handmade by artisans in Morocco. As for the stand, it’s bought as an extra, and can also be transformed into an awakening portico (link here). I also added a pacifier clip , and a packet of organic swaddle cloths in my gift box, a must for babies (link here).
Cloud hangers @ le petit souk ..
Adorable additions to the baby box. Ok, they are not technically green but I made a little exception (with my sister’s blessing) as these are just too cute. I often gift these to girlfriends who have children (and I’ll admit that I also got some for myself – I love them a lot). They are sold in packs of 5 and I found them in the children’s section of one of my fav shop for kids : Le Petit Souk .
A scandi chair @ Fritz Hansen ..
I went for a mini version of the Series 7 chair by Fritz Hansen in pink, which is suitable for children, making it an original gift for the long term. The chair is available in white, dark blue, lavender blue, black or sweet pink, my favorite.
4/ Accessoiries & other cute things..
A baby swaddle cloth set @Petit léon store..
For those on a budget, you can put together a selection, with one or several cloth squares, a cute stuffed toy or a baby accessory (organic pacifier & clip for ex) . You can’t go wrong! I went for tie dye beige and taupe but there are lots of different colors.
A sound toy @Les petits raffineurs ..
Another original and affordable gift idea. I couldn’t resist the mini whale, but there are also other models. It’s a really soft toy which imitates soothing sounds like a stream of water, heartbeats or piano music. It starts automatically when the baby cries and it’s so pretty!
Baby blanket @Elodiedetails
Just like swaddle clothes, a beautiful blanket is a sure-fire success which all parents need right from birth. I chose a white knitted wool one for my sister, which is super cute and cosy.
Set food @elodiedetails..
Bamboo diner set, napkins , spoons, bibs , pacifiers & clip , Such a great gift idea! You can put together a special food set with plate, bowl & cup & bamboo spoons, and I also added a few pretty bibs in a boho chic, bandana style, some cute rabbit napkins and a pacifier along with its own adorable pacifier string. All of that makes a pretty gift selection.
>> All of these are available in different colours and come from @Elodie details , a super cute Swedish brand where you can find everything you need for toddlers & kids.
Mummy specials ..
Bolas, rattles & more @Ilado ..
The bola is a soft and poetic pregnancy necklace which emits gentle vibrations to relax both mom and baby in utero. My favorite brand in this field is definitely @Ilado , a beautiful and hight end shop which offers all kinds of pregnancy necklace bolas, as well as cute rattles, accessories & cuddly toy bolas … This is another store where I could buy everything!
>> I gave a bola to my sister, as well as a small crochet angel caller rattle & the angle caller girafe lovey for after the birth… I love them! In ancestral tradition, young mothers used to sew their Pregnancy Bola into their child’s cuddly toy so as to keep soothing them with a familiar melody, as well as calling on the protection of the child’s guardian angel. I love this idea and you can’t go wrong with this gift!
A baby changing bag @Petit Léon Store ..
This is a super practical gift idea. I have learnt that there are tonnes of accessories which need to be carried on for the maternity clinic and when on-the-go for an afternoon or a weekend with the baby so a changing bag is a must-have for all moms & moms to be! This one is quite cool and, most importantly, quite spacious, with lots of compartments for storing clean diapers, a toiletry bag and toys…it also has a little changing mat and a coolbag.
>> Basically, it’s a super gift for parents and, depending on your budget, you can fill it up with things like diapers, comforters, skincare products & other accessories… I got the beige one for my sister, but it’s available in several different colours.
An adorable mom & baby box @Iziloo shop
This is a gorgeous online store, with a great range for children and babies & pretty gift sets which are affordable, cute and useful. My favorite gift set features a baby rattle and a nursing necklace for the mother, all made of food-grade silicone beads and handmade by a French designer. I fell for the pink version with the little horse rattle but there is a green one with a little whale rattle too.
First months baby cards ..
It is a thoughtful idea to slip into the gift box which will charm all mothers. I love the one I got from @ Iziloo or the baby steps cards @Monoprix 🙂
Gift set ideas for bb
Most of these stores offer packages or gift cards at their e-shops but you can also make up up your gift box yourself, by getting inspired by the ideas above.
That’s it for this baby shopping selection, I hope you liked it and it helped ;p)
xxx
Translation @Hanna Ikins
Photos @Peter Soubbotnik
