Can you support a local business in Dorset when you buy a gift for a newborn or baby?
Even before the impact of Covid-19 our high street was on the decline. I struggled to find unique handmade top 10 gifts for newborns and babies in Dorset. There was a closure of well known high street shops such as Mothercare and Mamas and Papas. My fear is many small business owners here in Dorset have also been hit by this pandemic. In particular, those in the infancy of their business.
The massive economic impact of the pandemic will only become clear in the coming months. We can’t prevent this economic slump, but we can choose to where to spend our money. As a local mum in Dorset I am urging you to give other small businesses a fighting chance to survive. Remember, behind every local business is a friend, a neighbour or a parent. Someone who often makes a life long contribution to your local community.
The benefits of supporting your neighbours business even extend beyond times of crises. Now is a time to try and buy locally first. The question therefore is from who?
Precious Memories Keepsakes top gifts for newborns and babies
Precious Memories run by mum of two who has run the business for 16 years. The studio offers a stuning range of handcrafted gifts for newborns and babies. The range consists of
Time passes quickly and so do the memories. If you can capture them whilst your baby is small it is a very unique reminder over the years to come. Gift vouchers can be purchased to use once the studio is open after Corona-19.
Jewellery can be created in the comfort of your own home. So if you have a special birthday coming up this could be the gift to make that special day magical!
Little Bean Organic Clothing Top gifts for newborns and babies
The Little Beans Organic Clothing Company in Dorset. came from the desire to provide ethical, organic products for babies. They are both stylish but also soft and comforting. The LBOCC team designs each item with love and a story behind it, from a few of us mums with experience. Each garment is hand-sewn by their resident seamstresses using our signature organic fabric.
Owner, Sebrina is mum to four, with her youngest only three weeks old. Her favourite favourite muslin cloth is definitely the oversized one. She has used it to
- cover up feeding
- to swaddle
- as a burp cloth
- to drape over the side of the pram to create shade
It is so versatile, once you have one you won’t know what you did without it!
The collection also consists of blankets, bibs, leggings, reusable wipes, headbands. Visit the website www.thelittlebeansorgancicclothingcompany.co.uk
Pepper Print Shop gift ideas for babies and newborns
From our family to your family. Thoughtful and original handmade pieces of personalised art.
Established in 2012 and run by husband and wife team Dean & Mel. Pepperprintshop is a small creative family business in Poole. We make beautiful and original pieces of personalised art. With a background in the fine art and design industry.
Becoming parents inspired us to create artwork to brighten up our childrens’ bedrooms. Our prints became popular with friends and family. So, this inspired us to keep on creating and expand our range. We offer personalised prints to engraved wooden plaques and height charts.
Inspired by our surroundings of the sea, we have a love for bold colours. As well as, graphics, typography, print and pattern.
Every single one of our products is handmade to order and produced with lots of care and attention.
To see more of our work visit www.pepperprintshop.com
Stitchwork Memories top gifts for newborns and babies
Stitchwork Memories provides the perfect way to keep your child’s treasured clothes and the memories the clothes hold (instead of just stored in boxes!). There are over 40 different animals for you to choose from, each with their own character and unique to you. The first stage is to choose your favourite keepsake. Then enjoy picking your child’s clothing. Finally send them to me and I do the rest!
You can also have your keepsake personalised. Add an embroided name, date of birth, weight etc.
The bears can also be weighted to the same as your child’s birth weight.
Using fond family members clothes is a great way to upcyle. It is also a unique family keepsake and will be a special reminder of them.
Gift vouchers are available for family or friends. Or what about for a parent-to-be ready for them to use as their little one out grows their 1st clothes?
For more details visit the website www.stitchworkmemories.co.uk
Owl and Brolly gifts for newborns and babies
Sue illustrates and prints all her own nursery wall stickers. This is to help inspire children’s imaginations. She prints on a removable and reusable fabric sticker instead of using a thin single use PVC vinyl. She also uses ‘Green Guard’ quality inks too.
“Every wall sticker scene starts with a sketch, and flows from there”
A huge range of topics are covered including large animal world maps. Filled with lots of animals, and is a great addition to any nursery room as little ones grow and learn new things. The beauty of Owl and Brolly stickers too is they can be re-used. Ideal for redecorating, moving rooms, or just re-applying.
For a chat or more information about Sue’s wall stickers visit https://www.owlandbrolly.com
or you can visit her on Facebook
Stardust and Starlight gift ideas for newborns and babies
Nat, owner of Stardust and Starlight is a mum to four children between the ages of 5 and 14. She first started sewing after the birth of her third child. Nat has a keen interest in zero waste, so wanted to use cloth nappies. But, she found there to be limited clothes that would accommodate a bigger bum!
When her son came along, she found the range of clothing aimed at boys to be quite boring. Very gender specific, and not always very comfortable. She resolved to do something about that for him! Funky harem trousers, leggings and shorts, paired with a bright top made great outfits!
Nat likes to use organic fabrics. Leftover fabric scraps from her clothing are used to make reusable wipes. Other items now include:-
- clutch wallets
- reusable sanitary products,
- including wetbags for CSP or nappies,
- jersey baby blankets, backed with soft fleece
Products are at the independent shop Loving By Nature in Dorchester. Other places include Facebook and Etsy.
Coastal Path Creations gifts for newborns and babies
In July 2013, Coastal Path Creations was born. Thirteen months after the birth of the owner’s eldest daughter. This was due to not wanting to put her daughter in to childcare. Nor did she relish the idea of working for someone else. So needed an idea to work around her family lifestyle. Coupled with this was a need to buy a teething necklace, problem faced was there wasn’t much on the market. Indeed, nothing suited her particualar style or budget. So Coastal Path Creations began to design and make her own necklaces. The aim being so that mums could wear them whilst nursing their newborns. So began the launch of Teething and nursing necklaces and accessories. Alongside this she has a passion to support breastfeeding. This is clearly reflected in the creation of the badges and keyrings.
Prices are very competitive to make them affordable for mums to buy for themselves. Being a parent is tough, and Mums deserve to treat themselves! So go ahead and pick something for yourself, guilt free – you deserve it!
Check us out at: www.coastalpathcreations.co.uk
Lobi Creative gifts for newborns and babies
Becci owner of LOBI creative started her business in 2017. Although previous to this, she has been painting and illustrating for years. It is a huge passion of hers.
If you are wondering where LOBI creative comes from, Lobi was and still is her nickname, and has been for years now. So what better name for her business, than her own.
Personalised Prints are a great gift idea for newborns and babies. Lobi Creations offers a variety. Furthermore, if you don’t see anything on the webiste. You can get in touch for a special commission. You may have seen some of her work in the form of children lamp shades in B&Q and education boards at Lulworth, Dorset. If it is variety you are after, Lobi Creatives will definitely offer that.
To see more of this amazing work visit https://www.lobicreative.co.uk
Crochet Creations by Maria for newborns and babies
“Hello, i am Maria from ‘Crochet Creations by Maria’, I am passionate about what I do and here is where I began…
Many years ago as a young teenager, I learnt to crochet with my nan. Being left-handed required patience but we got there! So my addiction to crochet began.
As a teenager, my mum used to order wool for her knitting. I used to love the textures and colours. After convincing my mum to let me order and pay weekly with my pocket money – my creations started to evolve. From manatee jackets for babies. To delicate adult evening shawls that glisten with fine-spun thread.
Over the years I have crocheted for my children, family and friends. It’s lovely to see all my grandchildren wrapped in their very first baby shawls crocheted by me.
I love planning and working with each client to create stunning bespoke pieces. I actually prefer to make only a few items the same so that they can be a little unique or personalised. With that in mind, if I can help you create a special gift – get in touch. Each piece may take me several hours.
Featured products…..Our favourite top picks include these homemade gorgeous booties. They are comfortable for little feet and toes and come in all sizes and colours. Our other favourite are these cute toys! To keep up to date follow me on my Facebook page
Jessali Handmade gifts for babies and newborns
Jessalli Handmade is a personalised gift business in North Dorset. Using Free Motion embroidery, Sophia draws with thread and creates playful handmade pieces. These include cards, wall hangings and stuffed hearts. All personalised for the perfect gift. Sophia loves to work on commissions so she can make your ideas and wants into real family treasures!
Alongside this, she recently opened up a Sewing School in Blandford. So why not go and visit and learn a new skill or craft.
Cheeky Bandits gifts for newborns and babies
Out of Small Beginnings, Big Dreams Grow…
My husband John is an Engineer, and I am a Graphic Designer. Long before we had our son Elijah we had a dream. One day we could make wooden signs for people’s homes to liven up living spaces. Having Elijah was actually the catalyst that made us put our dreams into reality (lots of very long nights spent designing, varnishing and painting!). Our first wooden plaque design was for our friend’s little girl’s dedication. She loved it. Seeing the joy it brought to her made us want to do it again!
There is no feeling like making something from start to finish and seeing how happy it makes people. We are inspired by precious little ones. We create all our designs from scratch. With them in mind, we handcraft and assemble each bespoke piece for them which makes it all the more special. We also create bespoke, custom orders too so if you have something in mind, drop us a message!
Baby Boom after lockdown will see a surge for gifts for newborns and babies
According to The Times:
With this in mind, demand for gifts will be on the increase. Since I started Precious Memories, I have seen so many faces light up when they receive a gift created by me. There is something special about a handmade product to celebrate the birth of a newborn. I have listed some amazing local businesses who create gifts for newborns and babies. Each is handmade and unique and not someting you can get on the high street.
So if you are a new parent looking for something special. Or you want to buy a beautiful handmade gift. I hope I have given you some fresh and unqiue ideas that are right on your doorstep!
Let me know what you think.
Glenda
