Like most parents, you probably have lots of little ones on your gift list: your own child, your niece or nephew, or your little one’s baby bestie from playgroup. But where can you find the most meaningful gifts? If you want to shop consciously and celebrate diversity this holiday season, consider gifts from Black-owned baby brands.
To get you in the spirit of giving, we’ve rounded up some fabulous gift ideas. From puzzles to pacifier holders, these carefully curated presents from Black-owned brands are sure to delight everyone on your list. And along with the joy of giving a thoughtful gift, you’ll feel good about supporting these hard-working entrepreneurs and their unique (and often underrepresented) brands.
Ade + Ayo
When Temiyado Adedokun began her search for baby clothes and nursery decor that reflected her roots, her efforts yielded disappointing results: expensive items, uncomfortable clothing, and less-than-authentic “safari” themes, to name a few. Thus began her mission to bring the joy of her beloved African cultures to today’s families.
As the founder of Ade + Ayo, Adedokun delivers gifts that are beautifully crafted yet practical, modern, and affordable. You can find a range of baby gifts, clothing, decor, and more, from colorful headbands and bibs to vibrantly patterned rompers, dresses, and sweaters. Looking for special toys? The artisan-crafted crochet animals and stuffed toys will be cherished for years to come.
Evergreen Baby
Founded by a resourceful pair of moms, Evergreen Baby is a one-stop shop for affordable, eco-friendly gifts for all the babies (and parents!) on your list. You’ll find a range of gifts crafted by Black artisans: adorable onesies, luxurious shea butter, and teethers, rattles, and paci clips crafted from wood and silicone.
Filled with tons of treasures (clothing, books, bibs, bowls, and more), the gift boxes and bundles are ideal for the holidays. We love the All Baby, All Black box, which features a onesie, teether, and bib along with the book “Woke Baby.” You can also add a personalized message, so sending these thoughtful gifts just takes a few clicks.
Healthy Roots: Beautiful Black Dolls
During college, Yelitsa Jean-Charles had a lofty goal: to redesign Rapunzel with curly hair and brown skin to show that princesses don’t just come in one color. “When I was growing up, I never saw a doll that looked like me,” Jean-Charles says. “Black girls can be princesses too.”
She succeeded–and then some! Jean-Charles went on to found Healthy Roots Dolls: a thriving startup with a line of adorably named Curlfriends dolls. These quality dolls inspire girls to care for, style, and love their own hair. Unlike the matted locks and rigid plastic bodies that some of today’s parents may remember, the Curlfriends dolls feature soft, malleable bodies and realistic hair. The curls can even be shampooed and styled with real products!
Along with the beautiful dolls, you can also pick up a Curl Power Kit with a spray bottle, styling brush, butterfly clips, and rollers. Style-savvy kids will enjoy trying their hand at box braids, puffs, bantu knots, and any other styles they can dream up.
Brave + Kind Bookshop
Inclusivity, diversity, and artfulness are priorities at this one-of-a-kind woman-owned bookshop. Founder Bunnie Hilliard launched the Georgia store with the goal of sharing diverse literature. While the bookshelf itself is a joy to visit, online shoppers across the country can still access the range of carefully curated books, toys, baby gifts, and more.
Looking for a literary gift? Check out the book bundles, which are tailored to kids and adults of all ages. You can also purchase a book-of-the-month club subscription. If you’re not sure which to pick, you can also send a gift card to a loved one for the holidays. One thing is certain: This meaningful gift will help stock your loved one’s bookshelves with high-quality literature.
Puzzle Huddle
Everybody loves puzzles. But putting together the pieces isn’t as much fun when the images depicted don’t represent your family. Dad, Matthew Goins ran into that exact issue–and even began printing pictures online and cutting them by hand to create his own puzzles. And in 2018, in a bid to spare other families the same frustration, he founded Puzzle Huddle.
Since then, the company has expanded to offer t-shirts, pillows, blankets, and more. But our favorite is still the puzzles. With a focus on values such as culture, education, and achievement, they depict a range of powerful scenes, such as a Black girl in a chemistry lab and a Black astronaut floating in space.
These inclusive images are sure to strike a chord with every kid on your gift list.
Just Like Me Book Box Subscription
Anyone who has ever received a monthly subscription box knows the joy and anticipation of checking the mail and unboxing a special present every month. But the Just Like Me Book Box Subscription goes beyond the typical boxes. Each month, your recipient will receive a themed gift box filled with children’s books featuring characters of color, as well as other fun swag.
After a childhood’s worth of reading books without many Black characters, founder and CEO Tamara McNeil launched the service in hopes of empowering children of color to see themselves in the stories, characters, and authors. The affordable boxes are for children from birth through 12. Each book is hand-picked, keeping in mind merit, educational value, and awards.
Brown Toy Box
Representation matters. That’s why Brown Toy Box is on a mission to ensure Black children see themselves represented positively in all the spaces they frequent–particularly the toy aisle. Founder and Principal of Play Terri-Nichelle Bradley founded her business as a STEAM kit subscription service. Since then, Brown Toy Box has grown to become a full-fledged company offering toys and experiences with a focus on Black children.
Choose from a wide range of constructor kits, games, puzzles, STEAM kits, books, and more for every budding scientist, inventor, and artist on your gift list. The offerings are unique–not items you’ll find just anywhere. We particularly love the marine biology STEAM kit, the beautiful puzzles featuring people of color, and the variety of constructor kits featuring culturally notable institutions, such as Alabama A&M College and Tuskegee University.
Greentop Gifts
The only thing more fun than buying holiday gifts is wrapping them for the ones you love. Greentop Gifts has got you covered–literally! Anyone accustomed to the typical holiday Santa-and-snowflake images will be thrilled to see gift wrap festooned with “Clarence Claus” (a jolly Black Santa) and beautiful Black angels.
Founder Jackie Rodgers created her signature “Clarence” character to bring diversity to celebrations, knowing Black families would appreciate seeing themselves in their gift wrap and decor. Along with the range of wrapping paper, Clarence Claus also makes multiple appearances on adorable sweatshirts, t-shirts, and pajamas. You may want to order early to get your jammies in time for those pre-holiday photo shoots!
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