IS there anything more delightful than shopping for a new baby? Everything is so little, so soft, or so cute. If you or someone you know is expecting the patter of tiny feet, why not look to Scottish suppliers to have them kitted out and entertained?
If “new baby” seems a bit impersonal, check out cards from the fabulously named brands Oh Jeezo and Gie It Laldy to welcome to wee one in Scottish style.
New baby card, £3.25, Oh Jeezo
New baby card, £2.60, Gie It Laldy
If the arrival is imminent they won’t be needing their winter woollies just yet (although this is Scotland, so you can never be sure), but a blanket is a must to keep a brand-new arrival cosy. Braw Wee Emporium has beautiful lightweight receiving blankets by Mini McGhee, and on Etsy the Erskine-based Ellie Belly Bees has soft and cosy fleece-backed blankets in a range of vibrant designs including our favourite with unicorns and swans.
Lace receiving baby blanket, £34, Braw Wee Emporium
Unicorn and swan blanket, £25, Ellie Belly Bees
The same two animals feature in beautiful cot mobiles by Livingston-based Wonder Fickle, which bring a sparkle of magic to any nursery.
Unicorn cot mobile, £40, Wonder Fickle
Back to summer knits: Woolly Wonder Knits of Glenborrodale in the Highlands has delicate summer baby bonnets in a lovely vintage style, hand knitted in a super-soft organic cotton yarn and available in beige, pink, green, yellow and duck egg blue. Meanwhile, Largs-based Pom Pom Bel hand-knits everything from hats with pom-pom ears (three sizes available in white, blue, pink and yellow) to lovely peachy-pink pinafore dresses.
Summer baby bonnet, £21, Woolly Wonder Knits
Knitted baby dress, £21.99, Pom Pom Bel
Hand-knitted baby hat, £10.99, Pom Pom Bel
If the baby isn’t due until later in the year, and you’re looking for something a little bit special, Johnston’s of Elgin have gorgeous cashmere Fair Isle baby mittens in three pastel shades, and for a tot aged one to two Linda’s Lullabys of Invergordon has a beautiful Arran jacket.
Fair Isle cashmere baby mittens, £30, Johnston's of Elgin
It’s never too early for a tartan party dress, and Glasgow-based Lili June hand-makes beautiful outfits in red Royal Stewart for babies and children from zero months up. If it’s just a splash of tartan you’re after, Ellie Belly Bees has bandana-style bibs available with cotton or fleece linings.
Red Royal Stewart tartan dress, £35-65, Lili June UK
Tartan baby bib, £4, Ellie Belly Bee
Of course, there’s more to baby life than just looking cute – there’s also the very important business of having fun.
Crieff-based Lakshmi Handicraft makes a range of quirky teething necklaces and play gyms with merino wool play mats. Perfect for keeping an active wriggler entertained. Crafted Pine Co of Dundee offers a wide range of customisable nursery decorations and toys, such as a Scottish pine push-along dinosaur and building blocks with themes including mermaids, dinosaurs and yes, you’ve guessed it, unicorns and swans.
Play gym and Merino wool mat, £155, Lakshmi Handicraft
Push-along dinosaur toy, £20, Crafted Pine Co
Last but not least, check out the range of adorable toys by Lily and Rose Crochet of Lossiemouth. From mermaids and ballerinas to bunnies, dinosaurs and even a narwhal, there’s a wee character for every wee person.
Crocheted bunny toy, £18, Lily and Rose Crochet
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