BABY ROBES

BABY ROBES – Hooded towel or baby robe? There are divine hooded towels for babies and baby robes available on loads of websites (here are a few examples of the ones available on barefootgiraffe.ie) from newborn stage to older and when to use either or both is really up to the individual mom’s preference.

When my babies were very small I preferred to use a soft and cosy hooded towel or a wrap to snuggle them in after their baby bath or after their first mommy and baby swim classes but as they became a little older and became aware of their surroundings and started noticing things they loved when I made a big fuss of making them feel ‘cosy’ and ‘special’ by snuggling them up in their cute baby robes! They absolutely adored them!

A baby robe or a baby bathrobe is such a gorgeous item for a toddler to have, particularly at the beach (especially in cooler climates – like a typical beach day in Ireland!) Even though the summers are getting warmer the sea can still be quite cold so after a swim a baby robe is super! My two loved when they were changed out of their wet swim gear to have a gorgeous soft cute baby robe to snuggle in while eating their picnic. Baby robes are also very handy if the weather changes and becomes a little cooler but you want to stay a little longer on the beach (perhaps to finish your picnic!) they can wear them over their dry clothes to be extra warm and cosy especially when they can put up a hood to block any wind or chills or if it rains suddenly while you make a mad dash to the car!

If you have a toddler and a small baby to change at a swimming pool it is very handy to be able to wrap your toddler quickly in a baby robe that ties up to the neck so that it can’t slip off onto the ground like a towel might, keeping your toddler from catching a chill while waiting for you to change their baby sibling first!

The baby robes or baby bathrobes on our website have a push button at the top to help prevent if from falling off and what’s extra handy about them is that the belt is attached to the back so that it can’t fall off onto the wet changing room floor or end up being dragged along the ground which your toddler or someone else could potentially trip on.

They are really beautiful baby robes in soft terry made from 100% Organic Cotton, perfect to snuggle in after a bath or at the beach.

These soft and gorgeous baby robes with cute rabbit ears are GOTS certified, making sure you have chosen the best for your baby.

They come in 3 different gorgeous colours to choose from and are available in the size;- 18-24 months so would make an ideal first birthday or christening gift!

A really beautiful piece of clothing for infants that is also sustainable making it the perfect luxury baby gift!

BABY BLANKETS FOR NEWBORNS

Struggling with the vast choice of BABY BLANKETS FOR NEWBORNS available?

There are so many different types of beautiful baby blankets for newborns available it can be a difficult task to choose the right one!

I have listed a few baby blanket options that are available but as you can imagine the list could be endless!

Baby blanket for your baby’s cot

Baby blanket for your baby’s car seat

Baby blanket for your baby to use while out in their buggy

Baby blanket comforter

Baby swaddling blanket

Ultimately I think it is important not to get too bogged down with all the different types of baby blankets on offer and which baby blanket it best and try to base your decision on what you need the particular blanket for (you could try to choose one that will cover a multiple of uses!) while also of course bearing in mind your baby’s delicate skin!

A newborn baby’s skin is extra sensitive as it is still developing and it is much thinner and more sensitive than an adults so it will need extra care as they adapt to the new world around them. Sometimes a newborn baby’s skin can be prone to skin irritations and dryness so the type of material you choose for your baby blankets for newborns is very important as you will want to make sure that it doesn’t cause further irritation to your baby’s skin.

Ensure you use a non-biological detergent when washing your baby’s clothes and baby blankets as they do not contain any enzymes that might possibly irritate your baby’s skin.

Make certain any products you use to moisturise or wash your baby are hypoallergenic products that are free from perfume, colours or alcohol.

It is important to bear in mind that baby clothes and baby blankets for newborns should be made from a breathable fabric preferably made from 100% organic cotton that’s free from chemicals with minimal risk of irritation for your baby’s sensitive skin. If you are looking for baby blanket for newborns that adheres to this criteria you could check out the baby blankets available on our website as we have a beautiful selection of luxuriously soft baby blankets that are all made from GOTS certified 100% Organic Cotton to choose from. With the GOTS certification you can rest assured that you are buying the very best for your baby.

The colourful Pompom baby blanket can be purchased on it’s own or there is a wide range of gorgeous baby blankets for newborns in our wide selection of really unique luxury baby hampers and stunning baby gift sets.

All the baby blankets available from barefootgiraffe.ie are ethically sourced and eco friendly making them a gorgeous option to choose for baby gifts that are sustainable!

BABY GIFTS – How to choose the right baby gifts

There are so many factors to consider when buying a gift for a new baby especially with so many choices available everywhere!

Baby Nests & Baby Toys

I personally love to find baby gifts that have a bit of a wow factor!  Either a gift that has that special something that might make it a treasured keepsake (see the lovely comforters in the baby nursery section of barefootgiraffe.ie) or an item that a new mom using it might wonder how on earth she would have managed without it!  Like perhaps a baby nest bed – perfect for carrying around to different rooms for a supervised nap or play time while you get your jobs done.

One of the factors to take into consideration when buying a baby gift is how old the baby will be by the time you get to give the gift to the mom. Newborn babies grow so quickly, and often only very close friends and family will be given the opportunity to see the baby during the hectic first few weeks! So, if that is the case and your baby gift is more suited to a newborn baby make sure that you organise to get it delivered before the baby has outgrown it or you could choose something more suited to a slightly older baby. There are so many newborn baby gift ideas out there for you to choose from or you could check out our Swaddle sets for newborns or one of our really unique luxury baby hampers or organic cotton soft towelling robes.

A hugely important thing to consider regarding the age of the baby receiving the gift is of course the safety factor.  There are baby sleeping bags available for babies that are younger than 3 months and I am by no means an expert on how safe they are especially with relation to SIDS but personally if it were my own baby I would not feel comfortable using a baby sleeping bag until my baby was a little older as babies can burrow down inside them if they don’t fit perfectly and of course if I wouldn’t risk them for my own baby I would never consider buying one as a baby gift as I would be afraid to take the risk and would rather err on the side of caution but I must stress that this is just my personal opinion. All all the sleeping bags for babies available on barefoot giraffe are size 3-12 months.

Another thing to consider is should you spend a little extra to make sure your baby gifts are sustainable? This is also a very personal choice and I have written a previous blog about it if you wish to consider it further. (See blog: Sustainable Baby Gifts) We have so many organic cotton luxurious soft baby products that are sustainable. Here are a few examples of some of the sustainable baby gifts available on our website:

Finally – BOY OR GIRL?!! Loads of parents decide to find out the sex of their baby before the birth and Gender Reveal parties are becoming increasingly popular. For the births of both our babies my husband and I chose not to find out in advance as we both compared the thrill of the surprise in the delivery room to being like the thrill of Christmas mornings when we still believed in Santa!  However, the decision to find out or not to find out is a very personal choice and everyone will of course choose to do what’s feels right for them! 

However, if you are aware of the sex of the baby in advance there are loads of options everywhere (see our baby hampers girl or baby hampers boy section) or if you don’t know the sex of the baby and you wish to buy a baby gift in advance or if you are looking for a baby shower gift then there are beautiful unisex gifts available on loads of different websites or check out our Baby Hampers-Neutral section and baby gifts section for some really beautiful and unique options with plenty of wow factor!

Here are a few that I particularly love: