Gifts for new grandparents, and the rest of the family a new baby promotes

Updated
A newborn baby's tiny fist resting in a grandmother's open hand, above a cream knitted blanket on a green sofa.

A new baby promotes the whole family at once. The simplest gift for new grandparents is one that names the promotion: a mug that reads Promoted to Nanny or Promoted to Grandad, with the baby's name beneath and the date of birth if you want it. The same idea works for the great-grandparents, the aunties and uncles, the older sister or brother and the godparents, so nobody is left out.

In short:

Every mug below is an 11oz white ceramic mug with the design printed on both sides, dishwasher and microwave safe. Apart from the godparents' mug, each takes a title from a list, the baby's name (up to 15 characters) and, if you like, the date of birth. The whole range for new arrivals is in our New Baby collection.

Promoted to Nanny, Nan, Nana or Granny

Every family has its own word for her, and the Personalised Promoted to Nanny Mug lets you pick it: Nanny, Nan, Nana or Granny. Promoted to sits in small capitals at the top, the title is set large in our serif beneath it, and the baby's name follows in italic, with the date in small capitals at the base.

Ask her what she wants to be called before you order. She will read the title every time she makes a cup of tea.

Promoted to Grandad, Grandpa, Gramps or Pops

The Personalised Promoted to Grandad Mug is the matching mug for him, with Grandad, Grandpa, Gramps or Pops as the title, laid out in the same way. If he is already a grandad from an older grandchild, the new baby's name and date make it a new mug rather than a repeat.

Given together, the two make a tidy pair to open at the same time. Both are in our Gifts for Grandparents collection.

Great-grandparents count too

A new baby can make a great-grandmother as well, and a mug with the baby's name puts the baby in her kitchen before she has had the chance to visit. The Personalised Promoted to Great Grandma Mug offers Great Grandma, Great Nanny, Great Nan or Great Granny, and the title is set a little smaller to fit the longer words. There is a matching Promoted to Great Grandad Mug too, with Great Grandad, Great Grandpa or Great Gramps.

For the auntie

The Personalised Promoted to Auntie Mug comes with Auntie, Aunty or Aunt, so you can match the spelling the family already uses. It suits a sister or sister-in-law, or a close friend who is an auntie in everything but blood. From the new parents, it also makes a kind thank-you for the help in those first few weeks.

For the uncle and the great uncle

The Personalised Promoted to Uncle Mug gives a choice of Uncle or Great Uncle. Great Uncle is for the uncle whose niece or nephew has just had a baby of their own. The mug can come from the new parents, from the grandparents, or from the uncle himself.

For the older sister or brother

The older child has a big day too. The Personalised Promoted to Sister or Brother Mug reads Promoted to Sister or Promoted to Brother, with the new baby's name in italic beneath. It is a good size for hot chocolate. Give it on the day the baby comes home, so the older child has something of their own to hold.

For the godparents

If you are asking someone to be a godparent, a mug can do the asking. The Personalised Godmother or Godfather Mug works a little differently from the others: choose Godmother, Godfather or Godparents, add the child's name (up to 20 characters) and, if you like, the christening or naming date. Hand it over with the question, or keep it for the day itself as a thank-you.

Using a mug to share the news

Any Promoted to mug in this guide can tell the news for you. For the grandparents, start with the Promoted to Nanny Mug and its Grandad partner, handed over with a cup of tea in it.

  • After the birth. Add the baby's name and date of birth, and hand it over with the first photograph.
  • Before the birth. The baby's name is required, so use Baby and the surname, such as Baby Patel, or the name you have been calling the bump. The date line takes up to 20 characters, so it can carry the due month instead, such as Due May 2027.

For an announcement, it is simpler to have the mug sent to you and hand it over in person. If you post it to them, read the gift question on our FAQ first: we cannot include a gift message, and the parcel does not say who it is from.

The first Christmas as grandparents

If this is the first grandchild and the baby arrives this year, this Christmas is the first one as grandparents, and the Personalised New Grandparents' First Christmas Ornament marks it on the tree. It is a round ceramic ornament 7.5 cm across, with First Christmas as across the top above a small bear and two stars, then the title, the baby's name in terracotta italic and the year at the base. Choose Nanny & Grandad, Grandma & Grandad, Nana & Grandpa or Granny & Grandpa, or a single Grandma, Grandad or Nanny. The name takes up to 30 characters, so a middle name fits. The same design is printed on both sides, and it comes with a red ribbon for hanging. It is a decoration, not a toy.

For the baby's own keepsakes, see our guide to baby's first Christmas, and for presents from older grandchildren, Christmas gifts for grandparents. The last order dates are on our Christmas order deadlines page.

Getting the names and dates right

  • Ask the parents how the name is spelt, and check it against something written down.
  • Use the title the family actually says. Nanny is not Nan, and Grandpa is not Pops.
  • Write the date as you want it to read, such as 3 May 2026. The date line is printed in capitals.

We print your wording as you spell it, and we do not send proofs, so read every line before you pay. Our FAQ explains how personalisation works, and our Delivery page has delivery times and charges.

New grandparent gift questions

What is a good gift for new grandparents?

Something that names the promotion, such as a Promoted to Nanny or Promoted to Grandad mug with the baby's name and date of birth. If the baby arrives this year, the New Grandparents' First Christmas Ornament adds something for the tree.

Is there a Promoted to mug for the new parents?

Yes. The Promoted to Mummy Mug offers Mummy, Mum or Mama, and the Promoted to Daddy Mug offers Daddy, Dad or Papa.

Do I have to add the date of birth?

No. The date is optional on every Promoted to mug. Leave it blank if the baby has not arrived yet, or use the date line for the due month.

Can you send it straight to the grandparents?

Yes. Enter their address as the delivery address. We cannot include a gift message, and the parcel does not say who it is from, so read the gift question on our FAQ before you order.

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