OccasionUpdated 3 October 2026

A gift for the new big brother or big sister

When a new baby comes home, the visits, the presents and the attention all head for the crib. The older child is left figuring out a brand-new job title, often with mixed feelings. A gift that belongs to them alone helps. Our idea: their own coloring book, made from family photos and the baby's first pictures. They find themselves on the pages, color in their new brother or sister, and hold a book that's about them as much as the newborn. Further down, more ideas sorted by age.

A few examples that work for this case

What to get the older sibling when the new baby arrives

A good big brother or big sister gift answers a question the child never says out loud: do I still have my place? Some fit in the hospital bag, others work better a few weeks later, once the excitement fades and the older child starts to feel the days getting long.

1.A coloring book starring the family and the baby
Every photo becomes a page in color and the same scene in line art, ready to color. The older child sees themselves with their parents, with the baby, and as a baby. Allow 5 to 7 business days before it ships, so plan a little ahead or give it once you're home rather than at the hospital. Under 3, it gets scribbled more than colored.
2.A gift from the baby
A small toy tucked into the bassinet that the newborn 'gives' to the older sibling at their first meeting. Kids aged 2 to 4 happily go along with it, and the relationship starts on a good note. Pick something they really wanted, not a baby-care item.
3.A baby doll of their own
A doll with a bottle, a diaper or a little carrier lets the older child copy what they see their parents doing. It works best between 2 and 4.
4.A picture book about becoming a sibling
Books about life as a big brother or big sister help put words to jealousy or impatience. Read it before the birth if you can, then again once the baby is home.
5.Something engraved with their new title
A bracelet, necklace or water bottle that says big brother or big sister goes over best from about age 5, when kids are proud of the promotion.
6.One-on-one time with a parent
A trip to the playground, a movie, cookies baked together while the baby naps. You can't wrap it, but it's often what the older child asks for most in the first weeks.

Big brother or big sister gift ideas by age

Between 18 months and 3, the older child doesn't fully grasp what's happening. They need something concrete to hold and do: a doll, a board book, chunky crayons. A coloring book appeals to them first for the pictures of their family. The coloring comes later, and the book can wait on a shelf until then.

From 3 to 6, jealousy shows more and coloring becomes a real pleasure. That's when the book makes the most sense: the child colors their family, shows the pages to visitors who came to see the baby, and gets a bit of the spotlight back. From 7 up, give them a job. They can pick the photos for their own book, or help you put together one for the baby.

What works less well at any age: a gift that's really about the baby (an 'I'm the big brother' T-shirt is as much about the newborn as about them), or a gift so big it outshines the baby's presents and restarts the comparison game. If grandparents or friends are bringing something for the newborn, drop them a hint to bring a small something for the older child too.

Making a great coloring book for the older sibling

The photos do the heavy lifting. Look for shots where the older child is sharp and fairly large in the frame: their face should fill a good part of the picture to give clean lines. Photos taken from far away, against the light or in a dim hospital room convert poorly. Better to wait a few days and take two or three in the living room, near a window.

Tell a little story in order: the older child as a baby, the older child now, mom's belly, the first meeting, the baby asleep, the two kids together. A 4-year-old follows that thread easily and will retell it in their own words. If you have a cat or a dog, it deserves a page too.

You choose the cover title, the occasion, a dedication printed on its own page, and the 'from' line. The older child's first name goes on the title page. Before anything is printed, you see every page and can ask for a redo if a drawing doesn't look right.

When to give it: the announcement, the hospital or back home?

There are three good moments. When you announce the pregnancy, to make the new role official: the book then uses photos of the older child and the family, plus an ultrasound if it's clear. At the hospital, on the first visit, so the older child doesn't leave empty-handed. Or a few weeks after coming home, when the attention drops off and the first bouts of jealousy show up.

For a book that includes the baby, the easiest route is ordering in the days after the birth, as soon as you have two or three good photos. Allow 5 to 7 business days between order and shipping, then delivery. If a relative is the one giving it (grandparents, a godparent, an aunt), a gift card can be handed over at the hospital right away, and the parents choose the photos when they have a minute.

The printed book costs €29.99 to €64.99 depending on the size.

Our tip for the older sibling's book

Put the older child at the center, not the baby. In a six-photo book, make sure they appear on at least half the pages: their own newborn photo, a picture with mom and dad before the baby came, the moment they first held the baby or grabbed a tiny hand. Add one or two photos of the newborn alone so they get to color the baby too. Address the dedication to them by name, and sign it from the baby if you like, since the 'from' line is free text. Leave out shots where they were crying or sulking: they'll be coloring those pages for years. For the cover title, something like 'Big Sister Maya' will mean more to them than a title about the baby.

Recommended format

12-page book, €29.99

Softcover

6 scenes make a book a 2 to 6-year-old actually finishes, without losing interest halfway through.

Create the big sibling's book

How we make your book

Printed on demand by our print partner, close to your delivery address. Square 21.6 cm format, 90 gsm uncoated inner paper that holds pencils and water-based markers well, hardcover on the 12 and 24-photo formats (saddle-stitched on the 6-photo format).

21.6 cmsquare format: Stays flat when open on the table, the right size for coloring.
90 gsmmatte uncoated paper: A grain that grips colored pencils and won't bleed with markers.
Soft or hardcover: Softcover for the 6 photo format, rigid hardcover for the 12 / 24.
5 to 7days to ship: Printed as a single copy by a professional printer, then shipped with tracking.

Frequently asked questions

Should you give the older sibling a gift when the baby is born?

You don't have to, but it's a common habit and a sensible one. The baby gets plenty of presents and visitors. A small gift just for the older child reminds them they still matter. It doesn't need to cost much. What counts is that it's about them, not only about their new role as the baby's big brother or sister.

What's a good big sister or big brother gift for a 2-year-old?

At 2, think concrete: a baby doll to cuddle, a board book about a new baby, chunky crayons. A personalized coloring book works if you see it as a picture book of the family that will get a few scribbles. The color pages can be enjoyed right away, and the coloring comes as they grow. The 6-photo size is plenty.

Should the older sibling's gift come from the baby or from the parents?

Both are common. Many families present it as a gift from the baby, handed over at the first meeting in the hospital: between 2 and 5, the older child buys it, and the first contact gets off to a good start. Others prefer a gift from mom and dad, which is easier to explain to a 6 or 7-year-old. In the book, the 'from' line takes whatever wording you like.

Which photos should go in a big brother or big sister coloring book?

Mostly photos where the older child appears: their own birth, moments with their parents, the pregnancy if they put a hand on the belly, the first meeting with the baby, then the two kids together. Keep one or two of the baby alone. Choose sharp, well-lit pictures where faces are large enough to turn into lines that are easy to color.

How long does it take to receive the book?

Allow 5 to 7 business days between the order and shipping, the time it takes to prepare, check and print every page, plus the carrier's delivery time. To get the baby's first photos in the book, order in the week after the birth. If a relative wants something to give on the day at the hospital, the gift card is available immediately.

What if there's more than one older sibling?

Two options. One book each, with different photos, so nobody feels shortchanged: often the calmest choice between siblings. Or a single shared book in the 12-photo size, where each older child has their own pages with the baby. The second option works better when the kids are close in age and already color together.