Pediatrician shares the baby gifts you should never give new parents… and the ones they’ll really appreciate

An emergency room pediatrician has revealed some of the best gifts that you can buy for a new baby – and which ones you should avoid. 

The information was shared to TikTok in a new video posted by Tampa-based Dr. Meghan Martin, who goes by the username @beachgem10.

In the clip, Dr. Martin spoke shared her favorite and most ‘functional’ gifts to give to new parents at baby showers, starting off with a classic: diapers and wipes.

‘Usually go with a size one diaper and an unscented baby wipe, you can just never have enough,’ she explained.

‘While you’re at it, grab a thing of diaper cream as well,’ the doctor continued.

She recommended Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, which is sold for less than $10 at major retailers.

On a similar note, Dr. Martin suggested gifting a thermometer and rectal acetaminophen for the new parents, since kids are often sick.

You will want to avoid any scented soaps or fancy products for a baby, as their skin tends to ‘react’ to a lot of different things.

‘We like to minimize the ingredients, dyes, and fragrances that are going to be in baby soaps and products,’ Dr. Martin said, before recommending brands like Aquaphor, Aveeno, and Dove.  

The pediatrician also explained that swaddles could be a good present, too.

‘Arms in swaddles are really good for newborns laying on their back,’ she shared. ‘It helps them not wake up when they have a startle reflex.’

And according to the doctor, you can save those fancy sheets and pillows for when the child gets older.

‘Babies don’t need much in the form of bedding, they need a firm crib mattress and just fitted crib sheets,’ she shared.

A book is also a good gift for a new baby, Dr. Martin said.

‘Babies of every age, newborn all the way up, benefit from people reading to them,’ she dished.

Last but not least, Dr. Martin proposed giving new parents some Pedialyte, which is an electrolyte hydration drink. 

It’s often given to kids when they’re sick with the stomach flu.

‘It’s also nice to have some Pedialyte around, babies of any age can take it to help encourage hydration,’ she said. 

In the comments section of Dr. Martin’s video, many parents shared the best gifts that they received when their children were newborns, and many of them echoed the doctor’s list.

‘The best gifts I’ve ever gotten were a Costco box of wipes (so much so that it was our first purchase for our newest) and a small sturdy laundry basket. Thing is almost 16 years old still going strong,’ one person wrote.

Another agreed, ‘Diapers don’t feel like a “fun” gift to give but as a parent it’s SO nice having extras in the closet.’

‘Pedialyte and gas drops have been some of my favorite gifts so far! It was so nice to just have it on hand when we needed it,’ someone else typed.