# Fortieth-day gifts: what to give when a Turkish baby “completes the forty”

> The fortieth day is a baby’s first threshold in Türkiye — the first bath ritual, the first proper visits, the mother’s first outing. Here is what the custom means, when to visit, and which gifts belong to this moment.

- Page: https://mesgalem.com.tr/en/inspiration/gifts/fortieth-day-gift
- Language: en-GB
- Updated: 2026-09-29

## In short

- For the fortieth day, think keepsake: a soft cloud cushion with the baby’s name, named baby shoes, or an announcement set bearing their name.
- It’s the mother’s forty too, so add something small for her, like a rest kit or a warm note, beside the baby’s gift.
- Visit after the fortieth day, as some families quietly frown on earlier visits; if you’re unsure, simply ask.
- Keep the visit short, don’t pass the baby around or come if you’re unwell, and follow the family’s lead on evil-eye beads and red ribbons.

Across much of Türkiye, a baby’s first forty days are treated as a time apart. Mother and baby stay in, visitors are kept few, and on the fortieth day the family marks **kırk çıkarma** — “completing the forty”. Traditionally the baby is bathed with water into which forty spoonfuls have been counted, prayers are said, and the mother steps out of the house for the first time with an easy heart. Details differ from family to family, but the forty is always a threshold — and thresholds call for gifts.

## When to visit

Usually after the fortieth day. In some families, visiting before the forty is complete is quietly frowned upon; if you are unsure, simply ask. In several regions the visitor is given a small token in return — a pastry, a handkerchief, a pair of socks — so it is customary not to arrive empty-handed either.

## The spirit of a fortieth-day gift

A newborn gift says “welcome”; a fortieth-day gift says “you crossed the first threshold”. That is why gifts for the forty lean towards keepsakes:

- **A plush cloud cushion with the baby’s name.** It finds a soft spot beside the cot or reading corner, a little memento that stays in the room.
- **A pair of named baby shoes.** The same name appears on both, adding a personal detail to family photos and a keepsake to tuck away once they’re outgrown.
- **A baby announcement gift set.** The name on the bodysuit and socks meets the good-news message you choose for someone close to the family.

## For the mother

The fortieth day is the mother’s forty too. The most exhausting stretch — the longest nights — is just ending. Adding something small for her beside the baby’s gift, a rest kit or a warm note, doubles the gift.

## Small courtesies

Don’t pass the baby around too much, don’t visit if you are unwell, don’t stay long. Leave the gift beside the baby with the card attached. Beliefs about protecting the newborn (an evil-eye bead, a red ribbon) vary by family; follow their lead rather than bringing your own.

## Keepsakes that fit this occasion

- [Personalised Plush Cloud Cushion](https://mesgalem.com.tr/en/products/personalised-plush-cloud-cushion): A wide, cuddly cloud cushion with closed sleepy eyes, a tiny smile and their name stitched across the front. It settles into the cot corner, the nursing chair or the reading nook and stays long after the first lullabies. Six soft colours, from white and blush to peach and baby blue.
- [Personalised Fringed Baby Shoes](https://mesgalem.com.tr/en/products/personalised-fringed-baby-shoes): A pair of fringed baby shoes in a moccasin style, with tied bows and the same name on both toes. A lovely detail for a family photograph, and a pair to keep long after that little outfit has been outgrown. Available in tan, navy and sand.
- [Personalised Baby Announcement Gift Set](https://mesgalem.com.tr/en/products/baby-announcement-gift-set): A personalised baby announcement gift set: one white baby bodysuit and one pair of socks, with the same name on the bodysuit and both socks, plus a message for the dad, grandparent, aunt or uncle you want to surprise. A little name and a big piece of family news, ready to become keepsakes of that first delighted smile.