Dec 10, 2016 7:00 AM

14 Gift Ideas Every New Parent Would Love

You can't put sleep in a box, so try one of these instead.

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Stocking up on childrens books can be tricky from both ends. There are too many to sift through and the classics you...

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The new parent in your life just got a wonderful gift from the universe. There are a few strings attached, though: No sleep, not much downtime, and a financial dependent that will some day also slam doors in their face. To help ease the transition into mother or fatherhood, consider one of these presents—some for tots, some for grown-ups, but all with the shared goal of making it through the next few years in one piece.

Marpac
01
Marpac Dohm DS
A new parent needs sleep. Unfortunately, that’s usually the last thing on an infant’s priority list. To help their new addition slumber, give your favorite couple a [white noise machine](https://www.marpac.com/shop.html) that’s not too loud, not too fancy, and gets the job done with an electric motor and fan—none of this digital imitation. $50
The Picture Book Club
02
The Picture Book Club
Stocking up on children’s books can be tricky from both ends. There are too many to sift through, and the classics you keep returning to get old fast (sorry, *Corduroy*!). [The Picture Book Club](http://www.thepicturebookclub.com/) solves both of those problems. Founder YiLing Chen-Josephson reads hundreds of picture books each month, hand-selecting only the finest and freshest to ship to members.

Tinyme
03
Tinyme Amazing Alphabet
Speaking of picture books, stories where the alphabet come alive are U for Ubiquitous. Tinyme’s Amazing Alphabet stands out—or rather, stands up, thanks to an accompanying app that brings A to Z alive in an augmented reality frenzy. You can personalize stories with a kid’s name, but the fun comes from finding out that language really is alive. $30
Bright Cellars
04
Bright Cellars Subscription
“The Pandora for…” can be a tired construction. But wine is never boring! [This monthly subscription](https://www.brightcellars.com/gifts/home/) quizzes you on your flavor preferences, then ships you four bottles that match up based on a machine-learning algorithm that takes member ratings into account. The only downside? No way those four bottles last four weeks. Prices vary from $75 to $900.

Google
05
Google Chromecast Ultra
One of the joys of being a new parent, or at least one of the best rationalizations, is staying up all hours of the night for feeding and burping and colic and so on sessions. More time to binge-watch all those shows and movies they won’t be able to after the kid starts dictating all TV choices! Give them a [future-proof streaming device](https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_ultra) they can control with their phone, so they can watch anything they like while they still can, without having to dig up a remote. $69
The Land of Nod
06
Milestone Activity Cards
Keeping track of a baby journal sounds like a grand idea, but let’s be real: Those first few months and years are purse survival mode. Help your new- parent friends keep track of milestones fun and, importantly, easy with [these cute cards](http://www.landofnod.com/new-baby/new/milestone-activity-cards-set-of-30/s172237). Just write down the date of that zoo trip or bike ride and plop it in a shoebox somewhere. Parental duty accomplished. $24

The Land of Nod
07
Lego Storage Brick
Stepping on stray Lego bricks: bad. Sitting on a giant [Lego storage unit](http://www.landofnod.com/lego-storage-brick-8/f20956): also bad, probably. But as a place to stash all the stray dolls and toys and miscellany that comes with very young kids, you can’t go wrong with a solution that will also indoctrinate them into the world of tiny plastic building toys. $39
Jonathan adler
08
Jonathan Adler Crafted by Fisher-Price Sensory Gym
These playmats are terrific in general, a way to engage a tiny tot before they can crawl toward the nearest danger. Most of them are also pretty garish, though. Not so [this contribution](http://www.jonathanadler.com/decor-and-pillows/ja-baby/ja-crafted-by-fisher-price%C2%A0sensory%C2%A0gym/25765.html#start=5) by all-star designer Jonathan Adler, who gives this “sensory gym” just enough of a dash of style that it won’t feel totally out of place with their very fanciest ottoman. $119

Oioi
09
Oioi Satchel Diaper Bag
The new dad in your life is going to need a diaper bag, no question. That doesn’t mean everyone around him has to *know* it’s a diaper bag. The most non-obvious entrant to the field that we’ve found is [this satchel from Oioi](https://www.oioibabybags.com/mens-wax-canvas-satchel-diaper-bag-chocolate). It’s spacious, has plenty of pouches, a changing pad secreted inside, but also fits a laptop. They really can have it all. $50
Aiden and Anais
10
Aden + Anais Classic Easy Swaddle
A proper swaddle—wrapping an infant up snugly so they feel safe and sleep well—is an art. It also takes more time and patience than a lot of parents have readily at hand. Instead of a swaddling blanket, get them this [soft, adorable set](https://www.adenandanais.com/swaddles/easy-swaddles/) that snaps easily into place.

Boon
11
Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack
One thing a new parent often isn’t prepared for? You know, aside from… everything? The amount of cleaning-required. And since a lot of baby equipment isn’t dishwasher-safe, it mostly has to get done the old-fashioned way. At least the drying part is easy; they can just plop a bottle upside down on [this grass-inspired rack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032G9E0G/?tag=w050b-20&th=1) and let physics do the rest. It’s the best artificial turf since the Astrodome. $15
UncommonGoods
12
Space Pod Playhouse
It’ll be literal years before a new parent’s offspring will be able to play with this assembly-required [cardboard space pod playhouse](http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/space-pod-playhouse). But you know what? That just means it’ll be years until they have to share. This thing rules regardless of age, assuming you can squeeze inside. $80

Animi Causa
13
Breadly Made Bread Cutter
Parents have lots of responsibilities, but the most important is clearly being a breakfast hero. [These bread cutters](http://www.animicausa.com/shop/Bready-Made-Bread-Cutter/tpflypage.tpl.html) are really just simple stencils, but they make it easy to turn toast and eggs into a cat, a fish, a moose, and more. Start them off with this before they graduate to Mickey Mouse pancakes. $12
Gropener
14
Gropener One-Handed Bottle Opener
There are two keys to surviving those first few months of new parenthood. The first is efficiency. The second is beer. So [here you go](http://gropener.com/). (Please note that these two keys are not supported by science.)

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Brian Barrett is the executive editor of WIRED. Previously he was the editor in chief of the tech and culture site Gizmodo and was a business reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest daily newspaper. ... Read More

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