Baby Girl Gift Ideas for Australia

A baby girl gift has two jobs. It has to look lovely when the paper comes off, and it has to still be in the wash on an ordinary Tuesday three months later. Most gifts only manage the first.

The baby girl gifts that manage both are soft cotton pieces with one special detail, such as a ruffle collar, a scalloped trim or a floral print, bought a size ahead of where she is now. For a newborn, that means a zip-up one piece or a wrap-style bodysuit with a knot hat. From three months, a jersey dress with leggings or tights, plus a cardigan. For a toddler, a dress she can move in or a matching set. If you don't know her size, choose one-size pieces like bibs and muslin squares, or buy ahead and check the measurements.

Everything named below is in the Yes Mila baby girl range or the girls' range that follows it.

Gifts for a newborn baby girl (0 to 3 months)

In the first weeks, clothes go on and off many times a day. Raising Children Network suggests newborn clothes that are easy to get on, like jumpsuits that fasten at the front, tops with envelope necks and jumpsuits with zips. It also recommends cotton, because it keeps babies cooler in hot weather than synthetic fibres and is gentle on sensitive skin. Their guide to dressing a newborn is worth two minutes before you buy.

A zip one piece. The Pointelle Long Sleeve One Piece in Candy Floss and the Ribbed Long Sleeve One Piece in Shell Pink both have a two-way zip with a zipper cover at the neckline. Pointelle has a delicate open-knit texture that feels special in the box. Ribbed is plainer.

A bodysuit that doesn't go over her head. The Pointelle Crossover Bodysuit in Ecru has a kimono-style fastening, so it wraps on rather than pulling over. In the first few weeks, that is a genuinely useful detail.

One pretty piece. The Ruffle Long Sleeve Bodysuit in Ecru or Blush has a soft jersey ruffle collar and snaps at the back of the neck. It is the dressy gift that still works under a cardigan on a normal day.

The small add-ons. A Baby Knot Hat in soft ribbed cotton, and the Muslins 2 Pack in Petal Paws, which gives one floral square and one plain. Both sit in baby girl accessories, along with bibs, socks and tights.

Baby girl gifts from 3 to 12 months

This is where dresses come in. Dresses in the baby girl dresses and skirts range start from 3-6M, which is a fair hint that a dress suits a baby who is sitting up more than one who is mostly lying down.

A dress at this age works best with something underneath, so think in outfits:

• For warmer days: the Baby Sleeveless Jersey Dress in Floral Bloom with Printed Bloomers in the same print. The dress is soft cotton jersey with a keyhole button at the back of the neck, and the bloomers have an elasticated waist and legs.
• For everyday: the Baby Short Sleeve Jersey Dress in Daisy Chain with Baby Ribbed Leggings in Blush or Candy Floss. The leggings are a cotton blend.
• For an occasion: the Baby Woven Dress in Autumn Harvest Rosehip, a long sleeve dress in organic cotton muslin with a ruffled yoke and scalloped patch pockets. Pair it with Baby Ribbed Tights for the cooler months.

Then add a cardigan, which earns its place all year: cool mornings, the car, the café with the air conditioning turned right up. The Baby Ruffle Cardigan in Ecru or Blush has a ruffle collar and mother-of-pearl buttons. The Baby Cotton Cardigan in Sage, Ecru or Toasted Peach is a chunky garter stitch made for layering all year round.

Baby girl gifts for the toddler years

The baby girl range runs up to 2Y, and the girls' range starts at 2Y and runs to 8Y. For a first or second birthday, it is worth looking in both.

By now she is walking and climbing, so choose clothes that move.

Matching sets. The Baby Printed Sweatshirt and Baby Printed Sweatpants in Citrus are made to be worn together, in lightweight loopback cotton. A set looks considered, and each half works with what she already owns.

Room to grow. From 2Y, the Corduroy Pinafore Dress in Plum Jam is organic cotton wide-wale corduroy with adjustable straps, made to grow with her. Under 2Y, the Corduroy Overalls in Clay or Balsam have the same adjustable straps, plus concealed domes for nappy changes.

Something for summer. The Muslin Top and Muslin Skirt in Poppy Field are designed as a pair, both in printed organic cotton muslin, and the skirt has an elasticated waist. The Muslin Ruffle Sleeve Dress in the same print has a lined bodice and a button back.

A jacket. The Quilted Jacket in Blush is lightly padded with dome fastenings, sized up to 2Y.

Fabric that's kind to new skin

Muslin is a light, open cotton weave. It suits an Australian summer because it is airy rather than heavy.

The fabric section on each Yes Mila product page lists exactly what a piece is made from, and the organic muslin pieces say 100% organic cotton. The 100% organic muslin range includes several girl-specific pieces:

• Muslin Ruffle Romper in Petal Paws, pictured above, with ruffle straps and scalloped embroidery.
• Baby Ruffle Muslin Dress in Petal Paws, with a tiered skirt and shirred elastic at the back.
• Baby Sleeveless Muslin Dress in Light Green Stripe, with a fully lined upper body.
• Baby Bucket Hat in Lemons, which is reversible, with lemon print on one side and shell pink on the other.

How to pick a size when you don't know hers

Ask. A quick message to a parent is worth more than any guide.

Read the label for what it is. Australian labels often use 000 and 00, and Raising Children Network describes 000 as 0 to 3 months and 00 as 3 to 6 months. Yes Mila labels by age instead: 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-12M, 1Y and 2Y. Raising Children Network also points out that sizes vary between types of clothes and between brands, so it is better to compare with something she already wears than to trust the number alone. Every Yes Mila product page has a size guide in centimetres. Our baby clothing sizes guide has more detail.

Buy ahead, and think about the season. Babies grow fast. A baby born in October is likely to be in 3-6M from January into autumn, then 6-12M through winter. So short sleeves and muslin suit the smaller size, and long sleeves and a cardigan suit the bigger one.

Go one-size. Bibs, muslin squares and the Baby Ribbed Beanie in Ecru come in one size. The Bandana Bibs 3 Pack in Autumn Harvest Ecru is cotton muslin with a terry towelling reverse, and it cannot be the wrong size.

Know the fallback. Yes Mila accepts returns within 30 days of delivery, for store credit or a refund, so it helps to give the gift soon after it arrives. If you would rather not guess at all, Yes Mila gift cards are emailed to you or the recipient and never expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good gift for a newborn girl?

A zip-up one piece or a wrap-style bodysuit in soft cotton, with a knot hat or muslin squares to finish it. If you want one special piece, choose a ruffle-collar bodysuit she can wear on ordinary days too.

What size should I buy for a baby girl gift?

Buy a size ahead of her age. For a newborn, 3-6M is a safe choice. For a baby of four or five months, choose 6-12M. For a first birthday, 1Y or 2Y. Check the size guide in centimetres on each product page rather than relying on age alone.

Are clothes a good baby gift?

Yes, when they are easy to put on, easy to wash and in a size she will grow into. Clothes that get worn are the gifts parents notice most.

What can I buy if I don't know her size?

One-size pieces: bandana bibs, muslin squares or a ribbed beanie. A gift card is the other option if you would rather leave the choice to the parents.

Browse the baby girl range to find a gift that looks lovely on the day and still gets worn on a Tuesday.