The Best Gender Neutral Newborn Gifts

Shopping for a new baby when you don't know if they're having a boy or girl? Or maybe the parents have deliberately chosen not to find out. Either way, you're not alone in finding this surprisingly difficult.

I've lost count of how many times I've stood in a baby shop, staring at racks of tiny clothes, wondering what on earth to buy. The good news is that gender neutral gifts have become much easier to find — and honestly, they're often the most sensible choice anyway.

Why Neutral Makes Sense

There's a reason these gifts have taken off. Parents can use them for second or third babies regardless of gender. Hand-me-downs actually get handed down. And let's be honest, not everyone wants their nursery looking like it's been decorated by a box of Crayola markers.

Neutrals also age better. That cream cardigan or grey blanket won't look dated in six months when the next trend rolls through Instagram. Plus, if parents haven't announced the gender (or don't know yet), you're not going to be the person who accidentally spoils the surprise by turning up with a frilly pink dress.

Modern nurseries tend to lean towards softer palettes anyway — think warm creams, sage greens, terracotta, natural wood. A neutral gift just fits.

What Actually Gets Used

Everyday Basics (The Boring Stuff That's Secretly Brilliant)

New parents burn through basics at an alarming rate. You genuinely cannot have too many vests, sleepsuits, or muslins. But here's the thing: they appreciate nice basics.

Skip the scratchy polyester. Look for organic cotton, bamboo, or merino. Breathable fabrics matter more than you'd think with newborns who can't regulate their own temperature yet.

For clothes, aim for 0-3 months or 3-6 months. Loads of babies are already too big for "newborn" size within a fortnight. Footless leggings with a bit of stretch are brilliant because they work whatever the weather. Same with simple cardigans in oatmeal or soft grey — they go with everything and don't date.

If you want something a bit special, a cashmere baby cardigan hits the sweet spot between practical and indulgent. Willow & Cole do a lovely one that doesn't feel too precious to actually use. Consider something like this neutral cashmere baby cardigan — it's the kind of thing that gets worn constantly then saved for the next baby.

Blankets are another safe bet. A really good neutral blanket in cashmere or merino gets used daily, whether it's in the pram, over the car seat, or for tummy time. This luxury neutral baby blanket in soft ivory or stone is the sort you'll still see around years later.

Toys (The Understated Ones)

Not all baby toys need to light up and play eighteen different tunes. In fact, plenty of parents actively prefer toys that don't.

Simple wooden rattles, soft toys in muted tones, textured sensory items — these work beautifully and don't assault your senses at 6am. A well-made soft toy becomes a companion rather than clutter. Willow & Cole's neutral baby soft toy is a good example — it's gentle, safe from birth, and looks right at home on a nursery shelf.

Keepsakes Worth Keeping

Here's where you can get a bit more creative. Personalised items work brilliantly if they're done with restraint. A blanket with the baby's name embroidered in a simple font, for instance, rather than something covered in cartoons and glitter.

Wooden items have a lovely timeless quality. An olivewood baby brush is genuinely useful (babies get cradle cap) and beautiful enough to leave out. This one gets used daily but also looks special.

Memory boxes in natural wood, milestone cards without cartoon characters, simple photo frames — these are the things that stick around.

The Eco-Conscious Angle

If the parents are into sustainability (and many are these days), natural materials are your friend. Organic cotton, merino wool, wooden toys over plastic. Not only are these better environmentally, they're usually gentler on newborn skin too.

Natural fibres breathe better, they're less likely to irritate, and they genuinely last. I've seen organic cotton muslins survive three children and still come out of the wash looking decent.

Quick Buying Checklist

Before you commit, run through these:

• Fabric: Natural and breathable beats synthetic every time
• Safety: No small bits that could come off, no nasty dyes
• Size: When in doubt, go bigger — babies grow absurdly fast
• Longevity: Will this still be useful in three months? Six?

The gifts people remember are the ones they actually use.

What to Spend

You don't need to remortgage the house, but you do get what you pay for with baby items.

£20-£40 gets a nice soft toy, or a wooden natural baby hairbrush. Perfectly respectable and very useful.

£50-£100 stretches to a beautiful knitted cardigan, a brush and toy set, or a really lovely blanket.

£100+ is luxury territory — cashmere blankets, curated gift boxes with several pieces. Willow & Cole's gender-neutral baby gift sets sit here, and they're genuinely thoughtful rather than just expensive for the sake of it.

Presentation Matters 

Honestly, you don't need to go mad with ribbons and bows. Simple is usually better.

A kraft box or soft-toned wrapping paper, maybe a bit of cotton ribbon, definitely a handwritten card. That's it. The card is often what parents keep, so put some thought into what you write.

Neutral wrapping keeps the focus where it should be — on the gift itself.

The Bottom Line

The best gender neutral gifts are the ones that get pulled out of the drawer week after week. Quality over quantity. Comfort over cuteness. Things that work with real life, not just Instagram photoshoots.

If you want a starting point, Willow & Cole's gender-neutral collection does this particularly well — natural materials, considered design, nothing too fussy. The kind of things that look as good at six months as they do at six days.

And if you're still stuck? A really excellent blanket never goes amiss.