The New Baby Flower Guide: What to Send a Newborn (and the New Parents)

A new baby is one of the happiest reasons to send flowers — and one of the easiest to get slightly wrong, between hospital rules and the question of who the gift is really for. After years of helping people send new-baby flowers, here’s how I’d do it so the welcome lands beautifully.

Soft and gentle wins

Newborn flowers traditionally lean soft — pinks for a girl, blues for a boy, or creamy whites and pastels for a gender-neutral welcome. Gentle, cheerful and not too fragrant is the sweet spot. Browse our baby girl and baby boy designs for the classic palettes.

Sending to the hospital? Check first

Many maternity wards welcome flowers, but some restrict them for hygiene or space reasons — and a busy maternity room has very little spare surface. A compact arrangement in its own container travels best, needs no vase, and is easy to take home. A quick call to the ward confirms what’s allowed.

Don’t forget the new mum

Amid all the focus on the baby, a bouquet chosen just for the new mum is a lovely, thoughtful touch — a quiet “we’re thinking of you too.” Our flowers for a new mum are elegant and restful, exactly right for the moment.

A gift that lasts longer

New parents are busy, so a low-maintenance gift can be especially welcome. A potted plant keeps going long after cut flowers fade — see our new baby plants — and a combined design with a soft toy adds a keepsake for the little one.

A quick cheat sheet:

• For a girl — soft pinks and blushes.
• For a boy — cool blues, whites and bright touches.
• Gender-neutral — creamy whites and gentle pastels.
• For the hospital — a compact arrangement, no vase needed.
• For the new mum — an elegant bouquet just for her.
• For something lasting — a potted plant or a flowers-and-toy gift.

The sweetest new-baby orders I see are the ones that remember the mum. The baby won’t recall the flowers — but she’ll never forget that someone thought of her too.

Sending your welcome

Order before 2pm on a weekday and a florist in our nationwide network will arrange and deliver the same day to every major city and most towns, flat $9.90. Browse the full new baby collection to find the right welcome.