At this time of year I often see so many questions relating to baby gifts. And it got me thinking that there are so many different businesses and ideas out there. So I have put together an incredible list of alternative ideas for Babies, Toddlers & Families this Christmas. And - all from small businesses so you're supporting other family focused businesses too whilst finding that perfect gift.
Baby Products
Baby Snug Rugs
Are you ready to discover the perfect blend of comfort and style for your little one? Susan at Baby Snug Rugs is an incredible seamstress based in Scotland with the most wonderful designs. From adorable baby star shaped blankets, wraps, personalised comforters and other beautifully created pieces which are lovingly crafted to bring joy to your family. These make wonderful gifts for Christmas and all year round.
You can shop with Susan here - Personalised Baby Blankets | Baby Snug Rugs
Rock & Roars Clothing
Multi-award winning beautiful handmade clothing from Edinburgh. Created with organic materials and gorgeous designs. And available up to age 6! Check out these stunning peices here - Instagram: www.instagram.com/rockandroars Etsy shop: rockandroars.etsy.com
Cribbs & Co - Premature Baby Clothes
If you know someone who has just had a baby much earlier than planned, Cribbs & Co specliase in premature baby clothes and they have an increidble range of personalised and Christmas designs. Made in the UK, 100% cotton and eco friendly packaging! Purchases also support Sands and Simpsons Special Care Babies.
You can shop these beautiful designs here.
Sensory Toys
Bibblyboo Bibs
View the collection of multi award winning dribble bibs for babies and children up to age 10 years. With 22 national awards so far! Specialising in bibs that last the day due to a waterproof backing and highly absorbent bamboo core, which combined with our unique shape to prevent dribble rashes. I wish we had these with my first born, he was a marathon dribbler!
You can purchase these here -
Baby Bamboo & Beyond
Sustainable Bamboo products - including cloths and cleansing rounds as well as mattress protectors! (Which I especially love) - The top layer is made from 100 % Bamboo which is moisture wicking, breathable and thermoregulating. This makes a great solution to perspiration and leaks. Perfect for a new baby arriving or a family who is looking for quality essentials at Christmas before baby comes along!
You can shop here - https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/994543081/
Beth's Bookshop
Books are so timeless, and make the perfect gift for babies and children of all ages - even adults! You can shop Beth's link here - https://linktr.ee/Beths_Bookshop
Worn in Wardrobe
Worn In Wardrobe gift cards make a fabulously thoughtful and unusual present, and are 100% feel-good and eco-friendly too! Pre-loved clothes and a wonderful collection of second-hand baby and childrens clothes - and with their gift cards you can share the joy of pre-loved shopping. They can ship across the whole of the UK and they can provide physical gift cards too.
Worn In Wardrobe links: Website www.worninwardrobe.com Gift Cards www.worninwardrobe.com/products/worn-in-wardrobe-gift-card
Block Sensory
As we learn as part of our parenting journey, a baby’s sight develops as they grow, with newborns only able to see about ten inches in front of them. They’re also only able to see black, white and grey at this point and it’s not until they reach five months that they’ll see a spectrum of colour. With this in mind and having read studies about black and white patterns visually stimulating a baby’s brain development, Becci was keen to find black and white items that would help her little one. And with this she has created beautiful items to help baby development.
Gifts for Mum
"Baby Daze" - Poems for Early Motherhood by Sarah Davis
This incredible book was featured in "Mother & Baby" Magazine as being listed as one of the "3 of the best funny books". This if course isn't for babies but it makes a great gift for an expecting mum!
You can buy this brilliant read from Amazon here.
Humming Tree Yoga
Louisa not only offers relaxing Yoga sessions for both during pregnancy and beyond - she offers Day and Weekend retreats for women. I personally couldn't think of anything better and I hope Santa has that on my list this year! She also offers beautiful journals, affirmation cards and self-heating eye masks for ultimate relaxation!
You can shop with her here - https://www.hummingtreeyoga.co.uk/shop and Gift Vouchers are also available here - https://www.hummingtreeyoga.co.uk/gift-card
Boob Bling
Their beautiful keepsakes are all created by hand by a team of talented jewellers. A piece of Boob Bling jewellery is the perfect gift for a breastfeeding mum. It's a piece of jewellery to celebrate your breastfeeding journey, the highs and the lows, the love that goes into every drop and the massive achievement that breastfeeding is.
You can find out more about how it works here: https://www.boobbling.co.uk/pages/how-it-works
Hayley Merrick - Womb to Wise
Hayley is The Womb Wise Woman® an accredited hypnotherapist, womb healer, natural health practitioner, menstrual coach and ex.nurse.
You can find her Amazon store and her lovely tracker journals here!
Mum Essentials
The hardesr thing to find during pregnancy - is good quality leggings!!!! Jade here sells maternity leggings designed for comfort, style and of the highest quality! At Mum Essentials, they prioritize quality over trends. Their timeless pieces are curated to last and build on each other to create a high-performing wardrobe that will take you through pregnancy and beyond.
You can shop the looks here - https://www.mumessentials.co.uk
Mini First Aid
Lyndsey and her team not only run incredible First Aid Classes aimed at little ones, but they also stock their own lovely first aid kits and essentials! For Gift Vouchers - you can email her directly at lyndsey@minifirstaid.co.uk
Experiences & Services
The Gift of Sleep - Jade Sleep Nanny
Jade is a mother of two kids - and fully qualified in Infant & Child Sleep. With years of experience specialising on bespoke, holisitic solutions to sleep challenges. I know only too well that sleep is often at the forefront of our minds! With 1-1 services and online programs - there is sleep support for everyone here this Christmas.
And what better gift than the gift of Sleep? Knowing you have sleep support to bring calm and contented nights for your own little one or for a close friend/family.
Or it might be you know an expectant mum and you that giving someone a Gift Voucher for establishing great sleep techniques is invaluable!
You can buy Gift Vouchers here whether it is for you or someone else with this customised voucher!
If you are looking for focus on your own family's sleep, the "Exhausted to Thriving" Program offer includes bespoke call support!
Family Photos -
Karolina Russel Photography
"I promise a stress-free experience, an all inclusive service and natural, relaxed portraits, which capture spontaneous moments, joy and authentic emotion within your family.
Simple, minimalistic setups and timeless photography is especially designed to take you right back and remind you of your baby’s newborn smell, the first smiles, and that wonderful feeling of snuggling them up as they slept." You can also contact Karolina direct for vouchers - she created the most beautiful gift voicher box for my own mum and it was a wonderful gift to receive.
Anneleen Photography
Creative storytelling photography by award-winning photographer Anneleen Lindsay. There are many stages in the ever-evolving journey of family life and all have their own beauty.
My style is relaxed and observational; capturing the individuality of your story. I love to observe and celebrate the relationships between siblings, children with parents and grandparents, couples and friendships. A portrait session can also be a great gift for mums, whether during pregnancy or as an opportunity to have some space and do something fun! We can make portraits suitable for professional use or a more creative styled shoot. We can do the session at a location of your choice - being out in nature often helps children to relax, or I can come to your home. Get in touch at anneleenlindsay@gmail.com
Revive - Beauty, Birth & Baby
As Edinburgh's only one stop shop for beauty/pregnancy treatments, hypnobirthing antenatal prep courses and baby massage classes we have you covered!
Baby massage classes are small, cosy and completly baby led. We cover how to help different ailments such as colic and reflux. Its the perfect way to bond with your baby and to meet other mums!
Email revivebeautybirthbaby@gmail.com or visit the website www.revivebeautybirthbaby.com
Kids Rule Interiors
Give the gift of space and creativity for a family or your own this Christmas! Domique is incredible at what she does with her design skills - I know an experience like this is something my eldest would love to be a part of!
Little Posh People - Party Hire
Throw your little ones & family friends an incredible party this year! This business have moved strength to strength and book out fast, but they are fantastic at what they do and great for a special occassion. Beautiful soft play pieces and more included - definitely take a look!
Post-Partum Doula Services
Jenny Smith-Nicol offers wondeful monetary vouchers for her services including yoga, where people can how much they like with no set spend - https://www.yogalinks.co.uk/buy/gift-doula-sessions
Julia Iddir - Antenatal & Baby - Doula
"I'm Julia, a birth and postnatal doula, which means that I provide support in pregnancy, birth or in the early weeks, and everything I do is catered around the needs of each family. You could gift a friend anything from a few hours of birth preparation, or club together for the baby shower and treat them to the full package. What better gift than ongoing individualised support at one of the most transformative times of their life?!"
Grow+Gather
"Grow+Gather is run by midwives, Hannah and Hailey. As practicing midwives with years of experience, we understand how exciting, and also daunting, pregnancy and parenthood can be. We offer awesome antenatal classes that are filled with reliable, up-to-date information with plenty of time to get to know others. We also run active birth classes using our backgrounds in yoga (Hailey) and hypnobirthing (Hannah). Fellow midwife Laura, runs our infant first aid workshops and we also offer breastfeeding support once baby is here. Come and join us! We would love to meet you."
Baby Classes
Sing & Sign Baby Classes - Edinburgh & The Lothians Zsuzsa and her team run incredible classes and helping little ones communicate through songs and signing so enable that "talk" before speech!
Acorn to Oak with Love
From Acorn to Oak with Love HQ and their first ever franchisee FATOWL Edinburgh South provide classes for 0-5 year olds in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Join us for Baby Massage, Bond with Baby, FATOWL Beats or FATOWL Grooves. A voucher for a term of our classes is not just for Christmas - it's a gift of memories, laughter, and shared moments that last a lifetime.
Buy here: https://www.fatowl.uk/giftvouchers/
KukucsBox -
So unique and such a fantastic business! Ildiko runs a Hungarian bilingual subscription box with a fantastic Christmas offer. You can find her website for more info: www.kukucsbox.com She also runs a toddlers/playgroup on the Saturdays in Dunfermline.
I hope these have been helpful in alternative ideas and supporting local businesses. And even if these aren't close to you - hopefully it inspires you to seek another small business near you this Christmas!
Jade Sleep Nanny
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