Personalised Ballerina Mice Baby's First Christmas sleepsuit from Cotton and Twigg, with a wreath of pink ballerina mice and the baby's name

Baby's First Christmas Gift Ideas They'll Treasure

There's nothing quite like a baby's first Christmas. They won't remember the day, and they'll probably be more interested in the wrapping paper than the presents, but you will remember it forever. That's why so many parents, grandparents, aunties and godparents look for a first Christmas gift that becomes a keepsake rather than something that's outgrown and forgotten by January.

We're Cotton and Twigg, a small family business. We design and print personalised baby clothes, kids' clothes and cards in our studio in the Essex countryside. Here are our favourite ideas for making a little one's first Christmas extra special, whether you're shopping for your own baby or for someone else's.

Why personalised gifts work so well for a first Christmas

A name on a sleepsuit or card turns an everyday item into something that's very clearly theirs. Years from now, a tiny vest with your baby's name and a festive design will mean far more than a generic outfit. It also makes a lovely photo prop for those first Christmas morning pictures.

If you're new to personalised gifts, our personalisation guide explains how to add names and wording. Our complete guide to personalised baby gifts and keepsakes has more ideas for every stage.

1. A personalised Christmas sleepsuit or vest

For a newborn or young baby, a festive outfit with their name on is the classic first Christmas gift. Our Ballerina Mice Baby's First Christmas sleepsuit, vest and bib features a pretty wreath of pink ballerina mice with "My First Christmas" and your baby's name printed in the artwork. It's printed with child-safe inks on 100% cotton, with no transfers or vinyl. The sleepsuit comes in sizes from newborn to 6–12 months and the vest from newborn to 12–18 months.

You can buy a single piece or a matching set: the sleepsuit is £11.99, the bib & vest £10.99, the bib & sleepsuit £14.99, and a set of all three is £21.99.

New for 2026, we've also added the Nutcracker Mice set, with a wreath of nutcracker mice and festive trees, and the Christmas Deer set, with a little deer beside a Christmas tree and a bold 2026. You'll find every design in our Christmas babywear collection.

Tip: if baby arrives close to Christmas, or is growing fast, go up a size. It's better to have it a little roomy on the day than too snug.

2. A cosy Christmas sweatshirt for older babies

If the baby in your life is already sitting up and crawling about, a personalised sweatshirt is a gorgeous choice. Our sweatshirts are £14.99 and start from 6–12 months:

Because they come in sizes right up to childhood, they're also a lovely way to start a "new Christmas jumper every year" tradition. There's more on that in our upcoming guide to matching sibling Christmas jumpers.

3. A baby's first Christmas card to keep

A card might sound like a small gift, but a personalised first Christmas card is often the thing that ends up in the memory box. All of our cards are £2.95. They measure 6 x 6 inches, are printed on 300gsm luxury linen card, are left blank inside for your own message, and are sent in a sturdy hard-backed envelope.

A few of our favourites for this year:

You can browse every design in our Christmas greeting cards collection.

4. Don't forget it's a first Christmas for the new parents too

A baby's first Christmas is also Mum and Dad's first Christmas as parents, and that's worth celebrating. These make a thoughtful extra gift, or a card "from" the baby:

For more ways to celebrate the whole family, have a look at our guide to personalised gifts for families with young children.

5. Personalised first Christmas wrapping paper

Here's one people often forget: the wrapping paper! Babies love the crinkle, and personalised paper makes the unwrapping part of the memory. Our Teddy Bear 1st Christmas wrapping paper shows a teddy in a Santa hat and reads "Happy 1st Christmas". You choose the relation (son, granddaughter, godson and more) and add the name at checkout. There are also blue and pink teddy versions.

Some families even save a sheet and frame it, or tuck it into the baby book.

Putting together a first Christmas gift bundle

If you'd like to give something a bit more substantial, try pairing items:

  • For a newborn: Ballerina Mice sleepsuit set + a baby's first Christmas card + a sheet of 1st Christmas wrapping paper.
  • For an older baby: a Lapland or Elf Believes sweatshirt + a matching first Christmas card.
  • From the grandparents: a card worded "Our Grandson" or "Our Granddaughter", plus a festive outfit wrapped in personalised paper.

Ordering in time for Christmas

Everything we make is printed to order. Each piece is made and dispatched within 1–3 working days. If you need an order by a particular date, please get in touch before you buy and we'll do our very best to help. Please double-check spellings when you add the name. We print exactly what you type!

Frequently asked questions

What sizes does the Ballerina Mice sleepsuit come in? The sleepsuit comes in sizes from newborn to 6–12 months, and the vest from newborn to 12–18 months. The bib is one size.

How much are your Christmas sweatshirts? Our personalised sweatshirts are £14.99.

Can I write my own message in the cards? Yes. The name and wording are printed on the front, and the inside is left blank for your own message.

How quickly will my order be dispatched? Every item is made to order and dispatched within 1–3 working days. If you need it by a specific date, please contact us before ordering.

Can I choose a card for a grandchild or great-grandchild? Yes. Many of our first Christmas cards include wording options for grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

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