Newborn gift packing ideas: a baby basket that looks special

Basket, box or bag?

The simplest way to pack a baby clothes gift is to fold each outfit as a set on tissue, lay the sets in a basket or box the parents can reuse, and put the most special piece and a handwritten card on top. Leave the tags on, slip the bill into an envelope, and keep pins, glitter and loose filler out, so the gift is as safe to unpack beside a baby as it is lovely to open.

Which container to choose depends on how the gift will travel:

• A basket for a visit. A shallow cane or wicker basket from the bazaar shows everything at once, and later becomes a home for nappies, muslins or tiny socks.
• A sturdy box for a courier or a suitcase. It stops knits and collars being crushed, and a lidded box can become the baby’s memory box.
• A cloth tote for a crowded family gathering, where a big basket only gets in the way.
• A muslin or a baby blanket as the wrapping itself, knotted at the top, so even the wrapping is useful.

Arranging the clothes

A basket looks generous when the pieces stand up and show their colours, rather than lying in a flat pile. A few ways to get there:

• Keep each outfit together: fold the top over the joggers so the set is seen as one.
• Roll plain pieces, such as bodysuits, loosely and stand them on end like a box of sweets. Fold anything with embroidery, a collar or an appliqué flat instead, so it doesn’t crease.
• Fold a footed sleepsuit in thirds with the feet tucked behind, leaving the front detail on show.
• Lay a muslin or a folded blanket in the bottom first. It lifts the clothes and is a useful gift in its own right.
• Arrange by size, smallest at the front, and add a paper tag to each: “0–3M, for now” or “3–6M, for the winter”.
• Pack mithai, dry fruit or cake in a separate box, never in the same basket as the clothes.

What goes on top

The piece on top is the one that gets photographed and talked about, so put your most special item there. If one outfit has the baby’s name embroidered on it, that is the obvious choice; name embroidery at Zoha starts from Rs 500. Otherwise, pick the piece with the most detail, such as the Sky Blue Striped Elephant Footed Sleepsuit, where a little grey elephant reaches for gold embroidered stars.

Add a handwritten card rather than a printed one. Say who it’s from, which sizes are inside and roughly when each will fit, and, if you like, a line for the baby to read when they are older. If there is an older brother or sister at home, a small wrapped gift for them at the side of the basket goes a long way.

Keep it exchangeable

However beautiful the presentation, the gift should still be exchangeable if a size is wrong. At Zoha, unused pieces in their original condition can be exchanged within 7 days of receiving them, with the original bill, so give the gift soon after it arrives; the full terms are on our delivery and returns page. In practice, that means:

• Tags left on every piece, so the parents can see the size and the piece is clearly unused.
• The bill in a sealed envelope, taped to the underside of the lid or the bottom of the basket, never to the clothes.
• No washing, ironing or perfume before you give it.
• Clothes laid in loosely, not stitched, glued or tied to the basket, so they lift out and refold without a mark.

Baby-safe packing

A gift basket is usually opened in a room with the baby in it, often with toddlers and cousins helping. Anything that comes loose ends up on the floor, and from there in a small hand or mouth. Leave these out:

• Pins and staples, on the clothes or holding the card.
• Glitter, confetti and loose sequins scattered for decoration. They cling to clothes and are almost impossible to clear from a rug.
• Shredded paper filler, unless it sits under a sheet of card where it can’t reach the clothes.
• Long, loose ribbon. Tie it around the outside of the basket, trim the ends short, and take it off once the gift is opened.
• Charms, beads or small toppers glued or tied to the clothes themselves.
• Balloons, and plastic film or bags left lying about after unwrapping; gather them up and put them out of reach straight away.

Basket ideas for a boy, a girl or a surprise

Choosing a colour story makes a basket look planned, and it doesn’t have to be pink or blue. For which pieces to include, our post on building a baby clothes gift bundle has a simple formula, and you can browse colours across our baby range. Four ideas:

• Sky and white, for a boy or a surprise: a striped footed sleepsuit, white muslins and a grey layer for going out.
• Night sky: the Navy Moon & Stars Henley & Jogger Set in 3–6 months, with a pale blue sleepsuit and a navy muslin.
• Rose and sage, for a girl who won’t only be dressed in pink; our post on baby girl gifts beyond pink has more ideas.
• All neutral, before the baby arrives: oatmeal, ivory and grey, which suit any baby.

Quick answers