LittleList’s Big Baby Trend Report 2024

While the needs of babies have stayed pretty straightforward since time began - they feed, they sleep, they cry and they poo, sometimes all at the same time - the needs of parents are evolving all the time.

You only have to raise the topic of parenting with your in-laws to realise that, when it comes to trends in everything from baby clothes to childcare, things change fast.

The good news is, if you’re expecting a baby in 2024, LittleList have got your back. Our team is beyond clued-up when it comes to all things baby, whether you’re wondering about the coolest threads or loveliest baby names.

“Instead of throwing all their money at big-ticket items, new parents are getting more savvy with space and storage, and looking for products that can grow with their baby,” she says. “Of course, this is better for families ecologically as well as economically. We can’t stop babies from producing a fair bit of waste, but we can minimise the amount we bring into and throw out of our homes! This is why, at LittleList, we encourage expectant parents compiling their wish lists to welcome preloved items from friends and family, rather than buying everything new.”

So, if you’re expecting in 2024, get stuck into our big baby trend report for a glimpse into what your lives might look like very soon…

Baby Clothing Trends for 2024

Sustainable and organic materials

With eco-conscious living becoming increasingly mainstream, sustainable and organic baby fashion isn’t just for hippies. From high street stores to small indies to designer labels, every baby brand on the planet is now keen to show off their eco credentials. 

Gender neutral designs 

Gone are the days of blue for boys and pink for girls, emblazoned with slogans about superheroes and princesses - 2024 baby fashion is a lot more neutral. And that doesn’t just mean 50 shades of monochrome - muted pastels and cool citrus shades are versatile and bang on trend.

Matching family outfits

Influencer culture has a lot to answer for! More brands are releasing coordinating outfits for the whole family… the tricky bit is, of course, persuading the whole family to join in on the photoshoot action. Cheesy? Sure! But the memories you’ll make are priceless.

Retro revival

Vintage-inspired baby fashion, featuring nostalgic prints and styles from past decades, is likely to make a comeback. Think retro patterns, classic knits, and timeless designs.

The rise of the “robo-baby”!

With the rapid rise of smart technology, baby clothing incorporating tech features such as temperature monitoring, UV protection, or even interactive elements are becoming more mainstream. Are you ready for your robo-baby? 

Interiors and Nursery Trends for 2024

Biophilic design

Bringing nature indoors is a big, beautiful trend in interior design. Expect nurseries to incorporate more natural elements, such as plant-inspired decor, wooden furniture, and earthy colour schemes.

Multifunctional furniture

The cost of living crisis means that space efficiency and multifunctional furniture are crucial, so that nursery furniture can adapt to the baby’s changing needs as they grow up. Convertible cribs and changing tables with storage options are getting ever more popular. 

Personalised spaces

Customisation continues to be a significant trend in nursery design - think personalised wall art, monogrammed bedding and customised furniture to create a unique and special space for your unique and special little one.

Soft and earthy 

Soft pastel colours and earthy tones are starting to dominate nursery colour palettes. These calming shades create a soothing environment for both babies and parents. Will it help them sleep? The jury’s out - but it might make you feel more chilled while you comfort them into the wee small hours…

Global influences

Inspired by diverse cultures and global aesthetics, nursery decor featuring items from different parts of the world is a big trend. From books to rugs, this trend reflects a desire to create a worldly and culturally rich environment for babies from the word go.

Baby Tech Trends for 2024

Smarter than ever baby monitors

These get more advanced every year! Features like high-definition video streaming, AI-powered sleep analysis, and integrated sensors for monitoring vital signs make smart baby monitors a top trend. Machine learning algorithms can even offer personalised insights into a baby's sleep patterns and behaviour. Basically, it’s AI-parenting! 

Smart nursery devices

Beyond monitors, smart nursery gadgets like humidifiers, temperature-controlled devices, and intelligent lighting systems create optimal sleep environments for babies at the flick of a switch. Of course, “optimal” doesn’t mean a guaranteed 12 (our four!) hours sleep, but it’s worth a try. 

AI-Powered parental assistants

AI-driven parental assistants provide parents with personalised recommendations based on their baby's behavior and needs. You get insights into sleep patterns, feeding schedules, and developmental milestones, without needing to hire a professional. 

Virtual medical consultations

When you first become a parent, you lose a lot of hours to googling all things baby health. But now, you can access proper information (not mum forum scare-mongering…) around the clock, with the trend for virtual medical care. If you’re lucky enough to get this as part of a corporate package, it won’t even cost you anything. 

Baby Travel Trends for 2024

Smart buggies 

Smart features such as built-in GPS tracking, temperature sensors, and connectivity to mobile apps are beginning to become more common in strollers and buggies. 

Collapsible and compact designs

Buggies that are easy to fold, lightweight, and compact for storage and travel convenience will continue to be a key trend, especially if parents are worried about cluttering their homes. 

Eco-friendly sustainable fabrics

An ever-growing trend in baby travel gear is eco-friendly and sustainable materials. Buggies and car seats made from recycled fabrics, organic textiles, and materials with a reduced environmental impact are soaring. 

Modular and convertible systems

Busy parents want a seamless transition from car to buggy and vice versa, and there are a lot of designs growing in popularity that nail it. 

Advanced safety features

Car seats are getting safer than ever, and new parents don’t scrimp when it comes to investing in the most advanced baby safety tech for cars, like side-impact airbags and improved energy absorption systems.

Stylish aesthetics 

It’s hard to make buggies and car seats truly aesthetically pleasing, since they tend to involve lots of practical plastic, but many designers are getting there - think trendy colour palettes, sleek lines and customisable features.

Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Trends for 2024

Virtual antenatal classes

These, naturally, soared in lockdown, but their popularity continues. Expectant parents can now gen up on all things baby from the comfort of their sofas. Plus it’s possible to find your niche more easily - from attachment parenting and hypnobithing specialists to classes that take in different cultural elements. 

More inclusion

Classes that take in different family structures and cultural backgrounds are growing, particularly in more diverse urban areas.

Birth storytelling

Everyone loves a birth story, and now parents are being encouraged to share theirs at antenatal classes. It’s all about empowering parents to provide a range of experiences - and not just the horror stories you read online!

Baby Name Trends for 2024

Nature inspired names

Think River, Willow and Sky - your way of showing you love tranquil calm and a connection to the outside world.

Vintage names 

Traditional baby names from the early 20th century continue to make a comeback. Classic names like Emma, Henry, and Alice are having a moment - again!

Gender neutral names

For forward-thinking families who want to be inclusive, gender-neutral names - think Ronnie, Taylor, Robyn - are popular. Plus they sound pretty cool. As well as names that are fully neutral, some that are skewed more towards one gender are being rebranded -  John Legend and Chrissy Teigan have a baby son called Wren, typically a more popular name for girls, while influencer Emily Clarkson named her daughter Arlo, which has been a trendy boys’ names for the past decade.

Disney names

Molly-Mae’s Bambi and Stacey Dooley’s Minnie illustrate a growing trend for Disney-inspired names - Aurora and Ariel are both coming through, along with Barbie-inspired names, and not just the characters but the cast too - there are lots of little Margots out there, with many more expected to come in 2024. 

“Ai” names

Don’t worry, we don’t mean artificial intelligence babies, but the letters “ai” are having a moment, with names like Khai, Ozai and Lorelai (woo, Gilmore Girls!) all growing in popularity. “Ai” names tend to have a multicultural appeal, translating well across different languages, as well as some going back to the Bible. 

If you're struggling to name your baby (and who can blame you - they're only going to have it for their entire life), we've got plenty of articles to give you some inspiration. Click here to give them a read.