Baby's First Christmas Gift Ideas in Australia

A baby's first Christmas only happens once, and here in Australia it usually happens in the heat. So forget the snow scenes and the fleece onesies. The best first Christmas gifts are soft, light, useful now and lovely to keep later.

These are the ideas I come back to every year when people ask me what to send.

My favourite: build the hamper yourself

If you're not sure what the family already has, let the gift be yours from start to finish. With our Build Your Own baby hampers you pick the pieces and I put it all together for you.

• Rainbow Baby Hamper: choose at least 3 pieces and they go inside a rainbow keepsake case, made to be kept long after the gifts are used.
• Premium Baby Hamper: choose at least 5 pieces for a more generous gift.

You choose from soft toys, muslins, baby essentials and keepsakes. I arrange everything, wrap it, and write your message by hand on the card inside.

Add their name

A name turns a gift into a keepsake, and there's more than one way to do it.

• Engraved hair brush: pick our Baby Soft Wool Hair Brush as one of your hamper pieces, add name engraving for $14.90, and I'll laser-engrave the baby's name into the wooden handle.
• Acrylic name tag: our Personalised Baby Welcome Tag ($19.90) carries the word Welcome and the baby's name, with a ribbon to tie it on the hamper or hang it in the nursery. I cut and make each one here in Brisbane.

Neither one slows anything down. Personalised pieces are made the moment your order comes in and leave with the same dispatch. Just double-check the spelling, because they can't be changed once they're made.

Think summer, not snow

Chunky knits and heavy blankets are made for northern winters. For an Australian Christmas, light muslins, soft cotton and a cuddly toy make more sense. Keepsakes work in any weather, and they're the gifts parents still have when the baby starts school.

A little extra this Christmas

From October until the end of December, every order of $130 or more comes with a free pair of Christmas baby socks, tucked in with your gift. Tiny, festive and perfect for that first Christmas photo. It's the same amount that gets you free standard shipping, so it's a good number to aim for.

When to order

Order before 12pm, Monday to Friday, and your gift leaves the same day, personalisation included.

• Australia-wide: we ship with Australia Post. Standard shipping is free on orders of $130 or more, and Express is $19.95. Australia Post releases its Christmas cut-off dates each year, and I'll add them here as soon as they're out. In December, earlier is always better.
• Brisbane inner west: local delivery is free on orders of $70 or more. See our delivery page for the suburbs we cover.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy for a baby's first Christmas?

Something light and useful for summer, plus one piece worth keeping. A build your own hamper lets you mix both.

Can I personalise a first Christmas gift?

Yes, in a few ways. I can engrave the baby's name on the wooden handle of the hair brush, or make an acrylic tag with their name, and both leave the same day. I'm also preparing Christmas personalisations for this season, and I'll add them here as soon as they're ready.

Will it arrive before Christmas?

It depends on where it's going and when you order. Orders placed before 12pm on weekdays leave the same day, and I'll post Australia Post's Christmas cut-off dates here as soon as they're announced.