Last month, Warburtons and 3Gem Research and Insights asked 2000 parents of primary-school children about ‘lunchbox guilt’ — the pressure parents feel to make perfect-looking packed lunches for their kids.

60% of the parents said that they feel this pressure, and 45% said they feel guilty that their children’s lunches don’t look good enough.

Two thirds of the parents agreed that there are unspoken social rules about what a child’s lunchbox should look like, with social media and parenting influencer content contributing to this sense of pressure around impossibly beautiful meals.

This pressure is even bleeding into some parents’ financial choices, with 38% admitting to spending more than £15 on products to improve the appearance of their children’s packed lunches.

Easy packed-lunch recipes to take the pressure off

Helen Skelton, a former Blue Peter presenter and mum of three, has teamed up with Warburtons to release two of her go-to packed lunch recipes, to show that it's more about what's in a lunchbox than what it looks like.

“When you’re parenting it can feel like there’s a constant expectation to get it all 'right'," Helen says. "It's so easy to feel overwhelmed by the seemingly endless parade of meticulously crafted bento boxes, themed snacks, and home-baked delights, but for me, the most important thing is that the kids actually eat and enjoy what is packed for them.

“A simple, tasty sandwich, made with a bit of love, is all they need. I want to remind parents that we need to cut ourselves some slack and remember that a happy, well-fed child is far more important than a 'gram-worthy' lunchbox!"

Cream cheese, pesto, and chicken sandwich

What you’ll need: 2 slices of Warburtons half and half loaf, 1 tbsp cream cheese, 2 tsp red pesto, 90g cooked chicken

How to make it: Spread a layer of cream cheese on both slices of bread, and a layer of red pesto on one slice. Assemble the sandwich with the chicken inside and add lettuce or tomatoes if you’d like.

“As this is quite a simple sandwich, I sometimes mix it up to keep it interesting by cutting it into star shapes. You can get star-shaped cutters cheaply online, and they can make lunchboxes more fun,” Helen says.

The ‘Skelton’ club sandwich

What you’ll need: 2 slices of Warburtons half and half loaf OR a Warburtons plain bagel OR Warburtons wholemeal pitta, 2 slices of ham, 2 tbsp cream cheese, lettuce, 1 big tomato

How to make it: Spread a layer of cream cheese on your bread/bagel/pitta, then layer the ham, lettuce, and tomato slices between the bread layers.

Helen loves this sandwich because “it ticks all the nutritional boxes including protein, fibre and lots of wonderful vitamins from the tomatoes and lettuce,” she says. “If I’ve got more time at the weekend, I’ll replace the ham with bacon as a special treat for the kids.”

Read more:

• 10 of the best school lunch boxes, lunch bags and bento boxes for kids
• Lunchbox ideas and recipes
• Free school meals to be expanded to all families on Universal Credit from 2026

New data from baby registry site MyCrib reveals that UK parents-to-be are now building baby wishlists worth an average of £800, with 22 items spanning more than 10 brands. And while the pram might be the most expensive thing on your list, it’s not the item most parents are asking for.

The latest data – based on a full year of real baby wishlist activity – reveals a shift in priorities. Parents are increasingly choosing practical, everyday heroes over high-end gear, with affordable, functional products taking centre stage.

From clever sleep solutions to compact healthcare kits, the most-added wishlist items of 2025 give a real glimpse into what families value most as they prepare for a new arrival.

Whether you're still browsing or deep into second-trimester prep, these are the standout products parents are turning to – and they might just help you shape your own wishlist with more confidence.

Top 10 baby products UK parents are adding to their wishlists

1. Angelcare Baby Bath

This baby bath is ideal for your newborn. Made of soft TPE material that warms to the water temperature, and including a water level indicator for safety and non-slip body rest with groin support, it will keep your baby comfortable and safe from slipping.

Read more on MyCrib.

2. Tommee Tippee Healthcare Kit

This handy healthcare kit has essential grooming and healthcare items for babies including a digital oral thermometer, nasal aspirator, baby nail scissors and more. It's compact and easy to carry during travel and completely designed with baby's safety and comfort in mind.

Read more on MyCrib.

3. Mamas & Papas Sit & Play Baby Floor Seat

This simple-design Sit & Play Baby Floor Seat is made with super soft fur fabrics, has a detachable play tray with interactive features, and includes a cute penguin character toy.

Read more on MyCrib.

4. Love To Dream Swaddle Up

This swaddle is sweet, stylish and brilliant at aiding your child's natural sleep. It has a certified 'hip healthy' design that allows your child to maintain the recommended flexion of their hips and legs. Plus, there is just a single layer of breathable fabric to prevent overheating and a convenient double zip for easy nappy changes.

Read more on MyCrib.

5. Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Digital Room Thermometer

The Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Digital Room Thermometer is great for its innovative design and practical features. The egg comes with a colour-changing system to indicate room temperature as well as a permanently-lit LED readout with 3 adjustable nightlight levels. The egg has a soft feel thanks to its silicone dome and a fresh, modern look suitable for any nursery.

Read more on MyCrib.

6. Rockit rechargeable baby pram rocker

This fun rocket-shaped pram rocker fits on all makes of strollers and prams. Simply attach it to your child's stroller, and a gentle 60-minute rocking cycle will begin. You can customise the speed, and the quiet motor means your little one will go undisturbed.

Read more on MyCrib.

7. Tommee Tippee Newborn Anti-Colic Baby Bottle Starter Kit

This anti-colic starter kit features 2x 150ml and 2x 260ml Advanced Anti-Colic bottles with slow flow teats, 2x 0-6m night-time soothers and 1x bottle and teat brush. The bottles come with a breast-like shape for a natural latch and guaranteed acceptance, plus they're BPA and phthalate free.

Read more on MyCrib.

8. Tommee Tippee Twist and Click Advanced Nappy Bin Starter Set

Want an easy and hygienic way to dispose of soiled nappies? This Tommee Tippee bin set has a simple twist-and-click system to lock in odours and keep your nursery smelling fresh.

Read more on MyCrib.

9. Sweet Dreamers, Ewan Deluxe with Shush

This cuddly friend emits 10 sleep-inducing sounds to mimic the comforting noise of the womb, including a gentle shushing, white noise and heartbeats. It can also glow a soft red to help produce melatonin, plus it can be easily attached to a crib or stroller for convenience.

Read more on MyCrib.

10. Nuby Penguin-shaped baby bath Digital thermometer

This 2-in-1 thermometer is suitable from birth and works both in the bathroom and your future child's bedroom. The LCD screen makes the numbers easy to read, and the light flashes red when the water is too hot, so keeping an eye on the bathwater has never been easier!

Read more on MyCrib.

What baby shower products are trending right now?

Alongside the most-added items, MyCrib has revealed the current trending products for parents making their baby wish lists in 2025.

• Dunelm 13l ribbed storage box, £3-£6
• BabyBjörn Baby Bouncer Bliss, £209.90 £177.99
• Avery Row Nappy Caddy, £44
• Boots Baby fragranced nappy bags, 85p
• Milton Sterilising Tablets, £5.79
• Mothercare Elephant Cuddle and Dry Hooded Towels, £14
• Mamas & Papas Teddy Bear Bibs, £13 £9.75
• Anti-Allergy Quilted Cotbed Mattress Protector, £25 £18.75
• Moby 3 Stage Baby Bath, £59.99 £52
• Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair, £268 £190
• Liewood Ellis Sippy Cup, £17 £11.05

Drawn from a year’s worth of real MyCrib registry data, these trending wish list favourites show that parents in 2025 are prioritising value, practicality and comfort over high-end gear.

Whether you're prepping for your own baby shower or helping a friend, this data-led list offers a smart and realistic starting point. Looking to create your baby registry? Start your list on MyCrib for free.

Read more: 

• What is a baby registry?
• Best thermometers for babies and children in 2025
• Best travel cots 2025
• Best first pedal bikes
• Viral hack actually help babies sleep

While there's no doubt baby showers are a great way of celebrating your upcoming newborn with the ones you love, not all of us enjoy standing under a spotlight. Plus, what if it's your second baby and you don't want to do that planning all over again?

That's where baby sprinkles come in. These smaller, more intimate affairs are bound to suit those who just want a bit of time with close family and friends before the baby comes. They don't put as much of an emphasis on games, and gifts are far less essential,  although still encouraged!

Below, we've put together a guide to what you can expect from a baby sprinkle, as well as answering your questions, like what to ask for and who to invite.

To help us help you, we've also partnered with baby registry platform MyCrib. This site is a great, fuss-free way of assembling your dream wish list before sending it out to family and friends.

You can pull items from the platform's handy curated recommendations, or paste URLs from any external site, which means there really is no limit to what you can get for your new baby.

For more details, check out our guide to what a baby registry is, plus the best baby shower gifts.

• What is a baby sprinkle? 
• What is the difference between a baby sprinkle and a baby shower? 
• Who should you invite to a baby sprinkle? 
• What should a baby sprinkle wish list look like? 

What is a baby sprinkle? 

A baby sprinkle is a much smaller, more intimate version of a baby shower, often designed for the arrival of a second (or third, or fourth...) baby.

For parents who like less of a fuss, or consider themselves seasoned professionals, a sprinkle is far more relaxed and quiet, relying less on games and structure and more on gentle, supportive vibes. 

A sprinkle usually takes place around the third trimester, and there's also a much smaller emphasis on gifts. Like the name suggests, first-time parents are "showered" with presents like buggies and highchairs, but for any further additions to your brood, you likely already have the essentials, so you're merely "sprinkled" with them.

For a baby sprinkle, you can use MyCrib to find more cute and aesthetic pieces, like an updated wardrobe, new toys or nursery decorations, and assemble them into a registry.

Set up a baby registry with MyCrib

What is the difference between a baby sprinkle and a baby shower? 

Baby Shower

A baby shower is often a more formal gathering. It features a larger guest list, a theme with decorations, and a range of games and quizzes. Parents-to-be also require a longer wish list with more big-ticket items like prams, cribs and car seats.

Baby Sprinkle 

A baby sprinkle is a small, relaxed gathering with a reduced guest list. You can still play games and quizzes, but overall, it has a gentler feel with plenty of chit chat. Gifts also tend to be smaller and less expensive, like baby clothes and cuddly toys.

Who should you invite to a baby sprinkle? 

The guest list is entirely up to you, but most tend to invite a smaller crowd to a baby sprinkle, so close friends and immediate family. If you're looking for numbers, we'd say around 5-15.

The important thing is that once you have your guest list, you can send them your MyCrib registry by simply popping the link in a group chat or email chain.

Set up a baby registry with MyCrib

What should a baby sprinkle wish list look like? 

As we've said, a baby sprinkle wish list is normally smaller and full of nice-to-have items rather than the essentials. The good thing about MyCrib is you can pull in items from any third-party site like Zara, H&M and John Lewis.

Here's an idea of what you could list for a baby shower vs a baby sprinkle, or you can take a look at MyCrib's baby sprinkle example list.

Baby Shower Wish List

• Airo Pushchair
• Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller
• Snüz SnüzPod 4 Bedside Crib
• Mamas & Papas Born to be Wild Cot Mobile
• Mamas & Papas Turtle Bibs
• Nanobebe Baby Soothers 0-3 Month
• Comfy Cubs Muslin Cloths
• Mamas & Papas Snax Highchair
• Tommee Tippee Natural Start Baby Bottle Newborn Starter Kit

Baby Sprinkle Wish List

• John Lewis Organic Cotton Bodysuits
• Truly Baby Faux Fur Lined Snowsuit
• Olli Ella Nyla Baby Changing Basket
• SnüzCloud Sleep Aid
• H&M Teddy storage basket
• H&M Round Lion rug

Need more inspiration? MyCrib shows you what expecting parents are adding to their wishlists. See the trending product here.

Set up a baby registry with MyCrib

Read more:

• Best thermometers for babies and children in 2025
• Best travel cots 2025
• Best first pedal bikes

Just like any party, a theme can help give you direction for everything from decorations to games and gifts.

When it comes to baby shower planning, MyCrib makes for a fantastic companion. The modern baby registry that makes gift-giving easier, more personal, and completely stress-free, helping families avoid duplicates, share their essentials effortlessly, and get exactly what they need – from practical must-haves to meaningful extras.

Beyond just building a baby registry, you can also send out invites to the baby shower using your MyCrib account, making the planning process that bit easier. They also have a range of guides available on their website to give you even more inspiration for your baby shower, as well as a range of great baby shower print-out games you can use to get started as well as an article dedicated to the best baby shower games.

For more tips and ideas, check out our guide on how to throw a baby shower, where we break down everything you'll need to consider. You can also find our guide to the best baby shower gifts for mum and baby in 2025 if you're looking for ideas for presents.

Most popular baby shower themes in 2025

1. Neutral colours

If you've seen the parenting section of any department store over the past few years or scrolled through #parenting on TikTok, you'll know that neutral colours are all the rage. Whether that's 'champagne' or 'taupe', these neutral, warm tones are everywhere, and it's easy to see why. There's a minimalist elegance to the neutral colour palette that will lend your baby shower a sense of simple sophistication. It's also gender neutral, making it an ideal pick if the mum-to-be doesn't yet know the gender of their baby.

What decorations do you need?

Classic decorations like balloons, bunting and simple table dressing are great picks for an elegant neutral baby shower. Look for warmer whites, off-whites, browns and greens and then use an accent colour like gold to add an extra pop of elegance to proceedings.

2. Maximalist colours

On the other end of the colour spectrum is the maximalist style, which embraces bright colours and elaborate displays. Inspired by the 'dopamine dressing' trend that swept TikTok, this theme is ideal if you're looking to wow the mum-to-be with something truly special. Ideal for summer or for maximalist mums, here understated elegance gives way to bright pops of colour that draw the eye, putting a smile on your face in the process.

What decorations do you need?

This is an ideal theme for creatives as it involves matching various bright colours to create a harmonious sense of over-the-top fun. Lean on floral displays here by bringing in a florist to craft some bright centrepieces and photo-ops that'll help elevate the vibe for all your guests.

3. Classic Storybook Theme

If you're looking for a timeless, easy and nostalgic baby shower theme, then look no further than the classic storybook theme. Bring children's books to life with your decorations, including books and vintage paper, to add that extra sense of storybook magic to the experience.

Start by selecting the books you want to spotlight, for example, a 'Winnie the Pooh' theme could include lots of bright yellows, reds and, of course, tons of honey-flavoured snacks. Incorporating reading time into the baby shower could be a really nice way to bring the magic of storytelling to life, especially if your guests will be bringing children.

What decorations do you need?

Books, books and more books. This could be a great opportunity to get your guests to chip in by bringing along their favourite storybooks from their childhood. You can use book covers for the stories you choose to lead the colour scheme, and you could even try recreating the cover as a cake. Balloon arrangements are also a great shout here. Pull the colours out of the books you've chosen to create a simple and show-stopping decoration that can instantly transform and fill a space.

4. Woodland Wonder

Is the mum-to-be a big fan of the outdoors? Or maybe you're looking for a nice, cute and cosy theme for an autumn baby shower. Either way, a woodland theme is a great, versatile pick for a baby shower, working for both a boy or a girl.

Greens, browns and rustic elements are your friend here. Look to the autumn season and classic woodland animals like foxes, hedgehogs and rabbits for inspiration. A crafting station makes for a great activity at a woodland-themed baby shower (or any baby shower, really), especially if you've got children coming along.

What decorations do you need?

Faux leaves are a great way to add texture to a space without breaking the bank, especially as they come in a range of warm, autumnal colours. You might also want to look at dried flowers as well as wood, gold and copper accents for things like invitations, picture frames and themed signage.

5. Afternoon Tea

You could take the tea party theme in several directions. You could go down the Alice in Wonderland route and throw a Mad Hatter's tea party. You could also go for a vintage Bridgerton vibe complete with cups and saucers, beautiful floral centrepieces and string quartet covers of Taylor Swift.

Whatever approach you take, a classic tea party theme is always a guaranteed winner. Tea tasting with flavours and varieties from around the world makes for a great activity here, especially if you're holding an alcohol-free baby shower before baby is born.

What decorations do you need?

Fine china, vintage table runners, classic floral bouquets paired with classic scones and finger sandwiches arranged on that cake stand your grandmother has had for decades. Lean into pastel tones for this theme to create a sophisticated and elegant setting.

Read more:

• Best thermometers for babies and children in 2025
• Best travel cots 2025
• Best first pedal bikes

We've pulled together some top ideas for fun Christmas bakes with children, featuring everything from penguins to reindeer to hanging gingerbread stars, cheesy stars and melted snowman cookies. They're all surprisingly easy to make – so much so that older children can attempt many of them on their own and there's loads that younger children can lend an icing-smudged hand with.

Annabel Karmel's Gingerbread Stars | Good Food Christmas Pudding Rice Krispie Cakes | Annabel Karmel's Chilly Penguin Cupcakes | Good Food Reindeer & Snowman Chocolate Bark | Annabel Karmel's Melting Snowman Cookies | Good Food Cheese Stars | Annabel Karmel's Reindeer Cookies | Good Food Reindeer Cake Pops | Good Food Jolly Marshmallow Snowman | Good Food Christmas Rocky Road | Annabel Karmel's Hot Choc Snowmen

Here's our pick of the best recipes for Christmas baking with kids

1. Annabel Karmel's Gingerbread Stars

These spiced snowflake biscuit stars can be baked with a hole to let hang them on your Christmas tree. Packaged up in tissue paper, they make great edible presents, too. The child-friendly recipe is easy for older children to mix and bake themselves, and younger ones will enjoy stamping out the stars, threading ribbons though the holes and, if you're brave enough, 'helping' with the icing.

2. Good Food Christmas Pudding Rice Krispie Cakes

Kids will have great fun helping you make these fun Christmas Pudding Rice Cakes that are topped with white chocolate and festive holly icing.

3. Annabel Karmel's Chilly Penguin Cupcakes

With the genius use of Oreos and frosting-covered teacakes, you can turn chocolate cupcakes into jolly Christmas penguins. Top off with fondant scarves and cute orange M&M's noses.

4. Good Food Reindeer & Snowman Chocolate Bark

This fabulously festive chocolate bark is covered is super tasty and works well as a gift idea too.

5. Annabel Karmel's Melting Snowman Cookies

A stunningly simple idea for Christmassing-up a classic butter biscuit. Small children will love plonking on the marshmallow and spooning on the melted snowman icing body

6. Good Food Cheese Stars

Get your kids involved with making the party food this Christmas with these tasty, easy cheesy stars.

7. Annabel Karmel's Reindeer Cookies

This idea allows you to bring Rudolph, Dancer, Prancer and the rest of Santa's reindeer team to life in spicy, cinammony biscuit form.

8. Good Food Reindeer Cake Pops

Have fun making these reindeer-themed cake pops this year — they're decorated with pretzels, jelly sweets and icing.

9. Good Food Jolly Marshmallow Snowman

These sweet marshmallow treats are decorated with liquorice, chocolate and icing decorations to create some jolly snowmen!

10. Good Food Christmas Rocky Road

This rocky road is perfect for making with the kids before Christmas, or after using up leftover sweets and biscuits.

And just as a fun extra (no baking needed): Annabel Karmel's Hot Choc Snowmen

After all that baking, we reckon you and your mini helpers deserve a congratulatory mug of hot chocolate – with, of course, a Frosty-shaped twist. You heat the milk while the kids assemble the snowmen toppers with marshmallows and Pretzel sticks.

Read more:

• Easy Christmas craft ideas for kids
• Festive Puff Pastry Pizzas
• Annabel Karmel's Mini Turkey Balls
• Best Christmas finger food ideas for baby-led weaning

You'll need a rolling pin, 2 baking sheets, lined with greaseproof paper or baking parchment, and 2 heart-shape cutters, 1 about 6cm in diameter and the other a centimetre or so smaller – like these ones from Selecto Bake.

Whether it's the traditional Pancake Day lemon and sugar pan-flipper or a US-style buttermilk and maple syrup stacker, whether it's mini-size pancakes for baby-size hands, gluten-free pancakes or pancakes stuffed with savoury fillings, we have some really simple but totally delicious pancake recipes for babies, older children and adults.

Here's our pick of the best pancake recipes

1. Traditional pancakes with lemon

Sometimes only plain and simple – with a squeeze of lemon – will do. Suitable for babies from 6 months.

2. Gluten-free banana pancakes  

These banana pancakes are flour-free, super-tasty and designed to be stacked with strawberries and Nutella. Suitable for babies from 6 months – you can omit the almonds and skip the chocolate spread, if you prefer.

3. American buttermilk pancakes

Lovely thick US-style pancakes, served with fruit and drizzles of maple syrup. If you don't have buttermilk, you can substitute whole milk. Suitable for babies from 6 months (without the maple syrup).

4. Chinese-style pancakes

Give your pancakes a savoury Chinese twist by wrapping them round lightly spiced, stir-fried veg. Makes a great family main meal. Suitable for babies who can manage chunks well.

5. Annabel Karmel's banana, apple and yoghurt pancakes

Downsized for baby hands, these finger-food pancakes use ripe bananas for a little natural sweetness. Suitable for babies from 6 months.

6. Gluten-free buttermilk pancakes

For those who don't eat gluten, here's a delicious variation of the US-style buttermilk pancake made with rice flour and xanthan gum. Not suitable for babies.

7. Mini pancakes with summer berry yoghurt

These mini versions of a traditional pancake are served with yoghurt, blended with raspberries and blueberries. Suitable for babies from 8 months.

8. Sweet potato pancakes

Another finger-food twist – this time with sweet potato as the main ingredient. Suitable for babies from 10 months.

9. Chicken and mushroom pancakes

A big-flavoured, finger-food savoury option that older babies, children and grown-ups can all tuck into together. Suitable for babies from 11 months.

Read more:.

• Best vegetable recipes for babies
• Best curry recipes for babies
• Annabel Karmel's banana and blueberry loaf cake

Or you can try one of the following variations:

• Blueberry compote: Cook down 150g ripe blueberries with 2 tbsp water and serve as a compote alongside.
• Cinnamon & banana: Add 1 tsp ground cinnamon to the flour. Once you have poured the batter into the pan, thinly slice half a banana and arrange it on top of the pancake, then cook as directed, below.
• Southern-style: Replace 150g self-raising flour with fine polenta or cornmeal.