When looking for gift ideas for babies in Madrid, it can be difficult to find something truly original that someone else hasn’t already bought for them. As well as spoiling mum and baby, I also love to buy from small businesses (after all, when you support a small business, you’re supporting a dream!)
I’ve put together a few different gift ideas for both mum and the little one. They’re all available either in Madrid or online, so you can even shop from the comfort of your own home! We’ve even got a few discounts for you too.
Induzi Toys
Induzi Toys are ethical soft toys hand-made in Madrid. The company is run by a couple called Stuart and Katie who recently become new parents themselves (congratulations, guys!) The idea of the toys came about when they were looking for an original gift for a friend of theirs who had just given birth. Katie and her mother made the first giraffe.
The toys are in the shape of animals on the endangered species list (giraffes, penguins and rhinos (coming soon), and 5% from each purchase goes towards the preservation and conservation of their species. To make the toys, they use traditional shweshwe fabric sourced in South Africa which are coloured using natural dyes and they are stuffed using Spanish wool. They use organic, natural fabrics and the toys don’t contain any chemicals so they’re safe for babies to chew and suck on.
The toys are made by hand in Madrid. Currently Induzi Toys is partnering with an organisation called APRAMP, near Gran Vía. The organisation works with survivors of sex trafficking and abuse to teach them sewing skills. These toys really are ethical every step of the way!
You can find Induzi Toys in Nest Boutique in Malasaña, or else you can purchase them directly on their website (https://induzitoys.com/). If you use the code KIDSINMADRID you’ll get a 20% discount and free shipping in Madrid!
Joy and Joe Baby Wraps
I honestly don’t know how I would have survived being a new mum without slings! During the first weeks, it’s normal for a baby to just want to snuggle close to mum, so slings and wraps allow for this closeness while still giving mum some freedom to be hands-free. When I wore my wrap out of the house, I also felt much safer than having my baby in the pram and it meant that I didn’t have to worry about elevators and steps when taking the metro around Madrid.
I have a few carriers, but my favourite is definitely my SMP Bamboo Stretchy Wrap from Joy and Joe Baby. It’s made of a bamboo blend so it’s breathable even in the Madrid summer, and is really soft. It’s comfortable, easy to put on, and the colours are funky too! On their website they have loads of different designs and wraps to suit all price ranges and tastes, from stretchy wraps to ring slings and woven wraps too. If you’re interested in seeing their wraps in action, they have a Facebook group called Joy and Joe Wraps Chatter. It’s a really supportive group so if you have any questions you’ll definitely find your answers there! They’ve also got a discount code in the pinned post which changes from time to time, so it’s worth checking out if you decide to purchase from them.
Bownita Co
Bownita Co is a Madrid-based company run by an Irish lady called Joanna. She makes custom bows for little ones using beautiful fabrics of every colour you could imagine. Her prices are great and the bands that she uses are really soft so they’re comfortable even for little babies to wear. You can find her Etsy shop here and you can follow her on Instagram too.
natureZOO of Denmark Toys
NatureZOO is a Danish company that produces handmade toys. They use bamboo yarn which is super soft and delicate, and is also safe for babies to put in their mouths. They have a huge selection of gifts on their website, from rattlers to teddies and blankets, and pram and trolley toys. Their shipping is really fast and the quality of the toys is great. My little one has been sucking and chewing on them since day one, and they’re still in perfect condition.
SnoozeShade
I’ve mentioned the SnoozeShade before on our article on “How to keep your baby cool in the Madrid heat” but I have to give it another shout-out here! I honestly don’t know how I would have managed without ours during the summer, and now that the weather is cooler, I’m still using it to keep our little one sheltered from the breeze when she’s in the pram. Definitely a must-have for any new mum!
Handmade baby clothes
Since my baby was born, I dread to think of the number of hours that I’ve spent poring over pictures of handmade baby clothes from small businesses on Instagram and Facebook! I’ve ordered some pieces from a few different companies and I have fallen truly in love with them. They’re gorgeous quality and don’t compare to anything that you’d find in shops.
- Sal Bee Designs is based in Scotland but she has a few clients in Madrid. I’ve ordered a summer romper, a little pinafore dress and a hoodie from her site and I’ve been really pleased with the order time and the quality of the clothes. Keep an eye on her Instagram @salbee.designs for gorgeous photos and some great market-night deals!
- Barn Owl Babies (@barn.own.babies on Instagram) is based in Portugal, so they’re a little closer to home. They’ve also got some beautiful fabrics and often run deals and competitions over on their Instagram page. If you use the code FIA10 you’ll get a 10% discount on any order!
- Anion, Stitch and the Wardrobe (@anionstitchandthewardrobe) make custom dresses and rompers to order. If you are looking for a particular fabric, get in touch with Nichola either on Facebook or Instagram and she’ll find it for you! She has some really unique patterns, including loads for book nerds and science geeks. I told her I was looking for a woodland fabric for a dress and she came back to me with a huge selection that I was able to choose from.
- Kasbah Kidz (@kasbahkidz) have some awesome patterns if you’re looking for something really different. They use a mixture of new and pre-loved fabrics like t-shirts to create dresses, rompers, harem pants and bibs. If you’re looking for a particular style just let them know and they can help you to create the perfect outfit. Their band t-shirts make incredible rompers!
Newborn Photoshoot
One of the greatest gifts that we received was a newborn photoshoot in our home. We had a maternity shoot done with Julie Haley Photography while I was pregnant, and when Fía was 4 days old she came out to the house to take her photos. It was much nicer than a studio setting as we didn’t have to run around the city with a tiny baby and we could relax and just be ourselves. Julie is so friendly, and we laughed so much during the shoot “Y’all are so cute!”
Since then we’ve also gotten her to do a shoot with Fía and her grandparents, and a cake-smash shoot for our friends’ twin girls’ first birthday! It’s fantastic to have so many of these special moments captured forever. It’s not something that a lot of new parents will have thought of, so a photo session makes a beautiful gift.
Do you have any other unique gift ideas? We’d love to hear them! Visit our blog section for more things related to kids in Madrid! Also, take a look at our Facebook page!