Whether you know someone who’s about to be a parent or has just become one, our gift guide for new parents is sure to make life a little easier.
When you’re a parent, life isn’t easy. As a maxim, that’s essentially true of most things, but as a parent, it can feel doubly true.
Parents are permanently exhausted and permanently on guard, always needing to be aware of what their child is doing just in case something isn’t right.
So if you’re buying for someone who is a parent now, whether they’re new to the parenting world or have been doing this for some time, here are some gift ideas that could make life a little easier all around.
Soon-to-be parents
We’ll start with those are about to be parents. If you’re buying for someone who is planning on becoming a mum or dad in the very near future, here are a few gadgets that will help them and why.
Oricom Aroma Diffuser Night Light
Price: $99
Baby rooms don’t always smell the nicest when babies come around, but beforehand, they’re fine. You can probably guess why, but you can also go on the defensive ahead of time with a scent diffuser made for a little nursery, complete with a nightlight inside.
The technology here isn’t hefty — it’s an oil diffuser useful for essential oils and a nightlight inside light — but dealing with a nappy bin typically requires some forward thinking, whether it’s a high tech odour neutraliser or something that uses eucalyptus or lavender oil.
Braun Thermoscan 7 Ear Thermometer
Price: $149
Parents will need something to check temperatures, because a baby can get sick and this is the fastest way to check what’s happening.
There are infrared options, but checking at the ear is consistent and reliable, as well as being more accurate than most. The latest generation in Braun’s Thermoscan is the 7, which includes a night-safe mode, a colour light to let you know when something is a risky fever, and an age guide to put all of the information in perspective.
Grab an ear thermometer for an easy and accurate check, and help soon-to-be-parents know you care.
Cubo AI Plus Baby Camera Kit
Price: $499
A baby camera is a must have for any parent, but after going through several over the years, we can tell you that these aren’t created equal.
Netgear’s Arlo used to offer a fantastic option, but it has since disappeared. Meanwhile, Uniden has some options that include a remote baby monitor of sorts.
Our favourite in the past few years has to be the CuboAI Plus, a camera from relative newcomer Cubo that sits inside of a bird-shaped shell, and comes with a clever stand kit that uses water pouches to hold itself to the floor and look over the crib.
The best thing isn’t the stand, but the camera setup. CuboAI not only includes decent notifications, but also turns an iPhone or Android into a background monitor to hear your baby while you use your phone, or even are lying in bed.
Newborn parents
After you’ve had a baby, things get a little different. You’re on the clock all the time, and you probably need to work out a way to settle the child throughout.
There’s no obvious experts guide to being a parent with technology — you’re probably going to just have to muddle your way through like most people — but we have some gadget ideas that could make life that little bit easier.
Nodiee Sleep Assist-On-The-Go
Price: $79
White noise is a great way to keep children calm and settled, but how do you do it while you have them in the pram?
While some kids settle with the movement of the pram, the bump bump bump of the path beneath, not every child will. Consider a portable white noise generator that can click to the pram, playing the sound of something simple to lull them into slumber.
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock
Price: $119
You’ve probably never considered a smart speaker as a solution for a baby’s room, but they have some real benefits. For starters, you can trigger white noise by simply asking for it — Hey Alexa, play rain sounds on loop — and you can also do the same with music.
But you can also have all of these things occur with a programmed routine. Stack commands together and trigger them at times, such as having the rain sounds turn on, a smart light lower, and maybe a connected air conditioner or internet-connected fan switch on all at the same time: right when the child is due for a nap.
The Echo Dot with Clock can handle all of this with ease, and even remind you how late it is when you stumble in at an ungodly hour to rock the little one back to sleep.
Infalurt System
Price: $379
Parents will need to drive their kids around, and depending on the child, that can even be a great calming strategy. However, cars also bring inherent risk due to the possibility of accidentally leaving your child in the back.
There will very likely be a little voice in the back of your head reminding you to check the back and bring your child, but just in case, technology to the rescue.
An Australian concept, the Infalurt uses a combination of a seat sensor and key fob to offer a reminder of whether a child is still in the seat when you walk away.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Price: from $1799
A phone is understandably a big holiday purchase, but given that we rely on our phones as our cameras these days, it’s one that actually makes a lot of sense.
You see when you become a parent, you’re going to want to take all the photos you can of your little bundle of joy. You don’t get those moments back, and you’re going to want the best camera you can get to recollect those moments for as long as possible.
We’ve written previously about the importance of a good phone camera when you’re a new parent, because there are so many fantastic photo opportunities: smiles and silly moments and adorable outfits and more. You need to be always ready, and have the best camera on you at all times.
These days, that’s probably going to be your phone, and in 2024, the iPhone 16 Pro is definitely one of the best options out there.
