Turkish Gifts for a New Baby and New Parents: 9 Ideas With a Welcome in Turkish

A baby in the family is one of the happiest reasons to send a gift, and in Turkish families it comes with its own words. People say Hoş geldin bebek, "welcome, baby", and Hayırlı olsun, "may it be a blessing", and they often add Nazar değmesin, "may the evil eye not touch her". This guide shares nine ideas for a new baby and for the parents who will be tired and happy for a while. Each idea links to a Roots & Talks design with a Turkish phrase or one of our lesson characters, and it tells you what the product page says so you can choose with confidence.

Start with the baby

New babies grow fast, so pick something that works in the first weeks or something the baby can grow into. Check the size on the product page before you order, because sizes differ between a blanket and a bodysuit. The shipping cost for your country is shown at checkout, and customs duties and import taxes, where they apply, are paid by the buyer. Our shipping policy has the full details.

1. A soft fleece blanket. A blanket works from the first day and stays useful in the stroller, the crib and the car seat. The Nazar Değmesin soft fleece baby blanket is 30 × 40 in (76.2 × 101.6 cm) and made of 100% polyester. The fabric is microfiber, so small colored dots can appear at first, and a cold wash and tumble drying can reduce them.

2. A jersey swaddle blanket. If you prefer a thinner, stretchy fabric, the Nazar Değmesin baby swaddle blanket is a soft jersey blanket in the same 30 × 40 in size, washed in cold water and tumble dried. Look at the blankets and throws to see other designs.

3. A baby bodysuit to grow into. The Nazar Değmesin baby bodysuit is made of combed ring-spun cotton and lists baby sizes 12M to 24M, so it suits a baby who is about a year old or a gift to keep for later. The Sana Da baby bodysuit and the Bilingual & Proud baby bodysuit are two other designs, and the Turkish Baby Gifts collection shows the rest.

About the blue bead

Many Turkish families put a blue nazar boncuğu, an evil-eye bead, near a new baby, often on the clothes or the cradle, and some give a small gold gift to a newborn. A loose bead or a pin is not safe around a baby, so we suggest a printed design instead. The Nazar Değmesin blanket and bodysuit show the blue bead as a picture, with tulips, a crescent and a star, and the words "Nazar değmesin". If you want to know more about the bead, read What is a nazar boncuğu?

For the new dad and the new mom

The first weeks are mostly about night feeds, cold coffee and visitors. A gift that makes one small moment easier is often the best one.

4. A mug for the early morning. The Nazar Değmesin 11 oz mug holds a full cup of tea or coffee, and the Yemek Yedin Mi? mug asks "Have you eaten?", the question a Turkish parent asks first. It is a kind thing to put in front of a tired new dad. More styles are in the mugs collection.

5. An insulated tumbler. The Nazar Değmesin insulated tumbler holds 20 oz and is easy to carry from the nursery to the kitchen. See the other bottles in tumblers and bottles.

6. A tote bag for the baby things. A cotton tote bag takes a blanket, a bottle and a spare bodysuit to the park or the doctor. The Nazar Değmesin organic cotton tote bag is a simple choice, and the bags collection has larger bags.

For the big brother or sister

When a baby arrives, an older child may want a gift too. A small present for the sibling makes the visit feel friendly for everyone.

7. A toddler t-shirt. The Nazar Değmesin toddler t-shirt lets a toddler wear the same design as the baby. See more characters in Kids & Baby.

8. A bedtime audio story. Our audio stories are digital downloads for children ages 4 to 9, told in Turkish with gentle English help, so nothing is shipped. Ela and the Star That Flew to Grandma runs 4 minutes 34 seconds, and the Good Night, My Türkiye bundle has five stories. Read Turkish bedtime stories for ideas on how to use them.

For the card

9. A handwritten note. A pack of ten greeting cards gives you a card for the baby and spare cards for the thank-you notes later. Add one of these lines in Turkish:

• Hoş geldin bebek. Welcome, baby.
• Hayırlı olsun. May it be a blessing, said on happy news.
• Bebeğiniz sağlıkla büyüsün. May your baby grow up healthy.
• Nazar değmesin. May the evil eye not touch her.

If you are shopping for the grandparents too, see our guide to gifts for Turkish grandparents and the list of Turkish gifts for kids.

One more idea: a first Turkish word

The gift that lasts longest may be the first words a baby hears. Pick one phrase from the card, such as Hoş geldin, and say it every morning. The blanket or the bodysuit only gives the family a reason to begin. What the parents will remember is a grandparent or a friend saying the first Turkish sentence to the new baby.