Pediatrician shares the baby gifts you should never give new parents… and the ones they’ll really appreciate
- ER pediatrician Dr. Meghan Martin has revealed the best and worst baby gifts
- She explained which products to avoid when gifting things to new parents
- READ MORE: Naturopathic doctor reveals three tips to help you poop
An emergency room pediatrician has revealed some of the best gifts to buy for a new baby — and which ones to avoid.
The information was shared with TikTok in a new video posted by Dr. Meghan Martin of Tampa, who goes by the username @beachgem10.
In the clip, Dr. shared. Martin shares her favorite and most ‘functional’ gifts to give to new parents at baby showers, starting with a classic: diapers and wipes.
“Usually use a size one diaper and an unscented baby wipe, you can never have enough,” she explained.
“While you’re at it, grab a jar of diaper cream,” the doctor continued.
She recommended Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, which sells for less than $10 at major retailers.
In the same sentence, Dr. Martin proposes to give the new parents a thermometer and rectal paracetamol as a gift, because children are often sick.
It’s best to avoid scented soaps or fancy products for babies, as their skin tends to ‘react’ to many different things.
An emergency room pediatrician revealed some of the best gifts to buy for a new baby — and which ones to avoid
“We want to minimize the ingredients, dyes and fragrances found in baby soaps and products,” said Dr. Martin, before recommending brands like Aquaphor, Aveeno and Dove.
The information was shared to TikTok in a new video posted by Dr. Meghan Martin of Tampa, who goes by the username @beachgem10.
The pediatrician also explained that swaddling could also be a good gift.
“Arms in swaddling are great for newborns lying on their backs,” she said. “It keeps them from waking up if they have a startle reflex.”
And according to the doctor, you can save those nice sheets and pillows for when the child gets older.
“Babies don’t need much in the way of bedding, they need a firm crib mattress and just appropriate crib sheets,” she shared.
A book also makes a good gift for a new baby, Dr. Martin said.
“Babies of all ages, from newborns to infancy, benefit from having people read to them,” she said.
Finally, Dr. Martin suggests giving new parents some Pedialyte, an electrolyte hydration drink.
Dr. Martin said you should avoid scented soaps or fancy products for babies because their skin tends to “react” to many different things
It is often given to children when they have stomach flu.
“It’s also nice to have some Pedialyte around, babies of any age can take it to promote hydration,” she said.
In the comments section of Dr.’s video. Martin, many parents shared the best gifts they received when their children were newborns, and many of them echoed the doctor’s list.
“The best gifts I ever received were a Costco box of wipes (so much so that it was our first purchase for our newest) and a small, sturdy laundry basket. The thing is almost 16 years old and still going strong,” one person wrote.
Another agreed: “Diapers don’t feel like a ‘nice’ gift to give, but as a parent it’s SO nice to have 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 available when we needed it,” someone else typed.