BABY SHOWER GIFT IDEAS
Baby shower gifts are a tradition dating back to the early
1900's where friends and family would throw a "shower" in much the same way they
would for a bridal shower; to "shower" the woman with gifts before her big day
(marriage or having a baby). In the early tradition, many of the gifts were made by the
guests. Umbrellas were a popular symbol of the event because the baby shower was
traditionally an afternoon event and the guests would use the umbrella to stay out of the
sun.
 Today, baby showers
are much different and not just for tea. Baby shower gifts run the gamut of everything
from practical to outlandish! Below we have listed some of the more popular baby shower
gifts as well as some creative gifts to get the parents-to-be.
Also visit also
baby shower store
and baby shower directory
for great baby shower gifts!
Remember you can always see
if the mommy-to-be registered for gifts before deciding what you want to get:
Baby Shower Gifts: The Essentials
The first type of baby shower gifts are the more practical
and immediate items that the parents-to-be can use as soon as their baby is born:
Picture
Frames
- There's no better way to remember the baby shower or your friends
first day with her baby by remembering the event through pictures. Visit
Babies First
Choice for a great selection of baby related picture frames and
other mementoes.
Clothing -
Sleepers, Receiving Blanket, Undershirts, Onesies, diapers. socks and hats. Make sure they
are easy to change since too many buttons or snaps may be difficult for new parents to
take on and off the baby. Buy cute clothes to go home from the hospital in and Waterproof
Lap Pads.
Health/Grooming Products
- Baby Powder, Lotion, Baby Wipes, Desitin,Q-Tips, Hydrogen Peroxide (for the umbilical
cord), baby safety pins, nail file, scissors, first aid kit, baby soaps and wash cloths,
Baby Thermometer, Diaper Bag.
 Feeding
- Bibs, bottles, bottle holders, baby formula (if not breast feeding), breast pump (if
going to be used), Nipples, Bottle Brush set (get multiple brushes of the same kind since
they will go through them pretty fast), Tipper Cup, Feeding Spoon, Baby Burp Towels, Baby
Dishes (plastic), and bathrobe.
In the Bath Products
- Towel with cute hood, wash cloths, baby lotion, shampoo, soap, baby brush, bath toys
(make sure they are age appropriate).
In the Crib/Bassinet Items
- Crib Fitted Sheets (a few orders of them), Comforter, Bumper Pads (not recommended by
all doctors and nurses due to the increase of SIDS), Mobile, Crib trim, Waterproof Crib
Pads, blanket to swaddle the infant.
For the Baby Room
- Stuffed Animals, Cute pictures for the wall, Gift Certificate for a Muralist to come
out, dresser, changing table, Cute Initials of the baby on some type of ceramic item
(i.e., toy blocks with his/her initials), Picture frame, Nursery Lamp,
Furniture, Boppy, Bouncey Seats and Piggy bank.
Toy Time -
Teething toys, colorful play matt, black and white play matt, Musical Toys and Plush/Stuffed
Animals always go over well at a baby shower!
Learning Time -
Baby Bach Video, Baby Einstein CD's (or really any learning CD's for the infant), classical music CD's,
Disney movies, Books for the Parents, baby books, Lamaze soft books and
story books.
For the Parents
- Pamper the parents-to-be with a gift certificate to a spa, book store, record store, or
a nice gift such as baby hand and foot imprinting plaster, Baby Bjorn or
other baby carrier Coupons for babysitting.
Click here for Gifts for Mom
and Dad!
More Expensive Practical Gifts
- These baby shower gifts are more expensive but very useful for the parents-to-be
including stroller, bassinet, baby dresser, baby changing table, baby car seat, baby car
seat attachment, high chair, baby swing (very helpful in most cases for sleeping and
entertainment), bouncy seat, sound monitor, video monitor (wireless), Potty Chair, Diaper
Genie (container), Safety Gate, Baby Scale, Breast Pump, Rocking Chair.
Unique Gifts -
Grow Chart, Gift for Siblings, Gift Certificate for baby pictures, U.S. Govt. Bonds for
the Baby, Silver Spoon or Rattle, Baby proofing the house.
Baby Shower
Coupons
- For those that want to give their time for their gift and
don't have much money, it is fun to be creative and make baby shower
coupons for the parents such as " 2- Hour Babysitting", "Cook for the
Mommy and Daddy two meals", etc. The parents to be will really
appreciate this baby shower coupon gift book, especially for first time parents who appreciate the help!
Gift of Saving a
Life - A fantastic baby shower gift is a gift certificate for
a private CPR class for the mommy and daddy to be and a few of their
selected family and friends who may become future babysitters. This idea
was given to us by a paramedic who stated people can contact their local
ambulance, hospital or Red Cross and set up a class for a nominal fee to
cover the instructor and manuals if applicable. As our paramedic friend
stated, "What better gift than life and the security to handle
emergencies."
Diapers,
Diapers, Diapers - A great gift that seems to always running
out for the mommy-to-be is to have everyone bring a few packages of
diapers. New mommies never have enough in the house so getting diapers
is a perfect baby shower gift. Thanks to our visitor Sanguine who stated
to us, "My sister bought 3 packs of diapers every 2 weeks for 6 months
(which is about 36 packs) and was out in less than 3 months. Diapers is
extremely helpful for a baby shower gift my friend. Diapers! Thanks for
your feedback Sanguine.
A very unique gift is the Diaper cake
which is made of diapers and decorated with all kinds of useful baby
goodies. Check this item out on our friend's site at
www.lilbabycakes.com
Useful Laundry
Basket Idea - Instead of spending the money on a gift bag
that is likely to get thrown away, use laundry basket, line it with a
baby blanket and put the gift inside and cover with tissue paper or
another blanket. Then the basket can be used for the extra laundry that
will be added or for toy storage. You can even get a small laundry
basket usually at Dollar Tree stores or any type of everything's $1
store if you are on a limited budget! Thanks to visitor Renee for this
great idea! This is a nice idea by one of our loyal visitors :)
Floating Ducky
- Take a silver mini wash tub (they are available everywhere and in
various shapes and sizes). Fill with water and float a rubber duck in
each one. Tie balloons to one of the handles. It's simple, but sweet.
You can also place various baby shower related items next to the wash
tub, like shampoo, lotion and such.
Laundry Basket
Goods - Purchase a laundry basket, baby laundry detergent,
you're favorite pre wash, stain remover, wipes to go, and some fabric
softener and place in the basket. If you're budget permits or you are
sharing the expense for the baby shower gift with some friends, you can
also get some hangers or an baby outfit. You can arrange all these small
items with tissue paper in the laundry basket, which will serve as
you're gift basket.
One of our visitors stated, "I like to
place a tag line on a piece of paper or a tag of some sort to the basket
written as " Have LOADS of fun with you're new baby." - Great baby
shower gift idea!
Baby Shower Baby
Books - Have each baby shower guest bring a baby book for the
new parents. Have each guest pre-write a sentiment or advice to the new
parent's on the first page of each book which is a great memento to
cherish for the baby growing up and the parents. Thanks to a baby shower
visitor for this idea!
Another idea is to have
each baby shower guest bring their favorite baby book that was read to
them. You can introduce this idea in the baby shower invitations that
state:
"The Baby Is Now On
The Way
I Want To Read Him/Her A Book A Day
What Book Touched You When A Child
That You Can Bring To Make Some Smiles
A book that touched you
as a child would be a great addition to my shower as I want him/her to
have the same great memories that you had since you are all special to
me."
Baby Plant/Tree - Buy a small tree that can be planted outside of the
parents-to-be home. Tie baby items to the branches (pacifiers, bottles,
nail clippers, etc.). The parent's to be can watch the tree and the baby
grow at the same time. You can do the same thing with a small indoor
plant. Thanks to Christa for this wonderful idea.
Fleece Baby
Blanket - A great and inexpensive baby shower gift is a
fleece baby blanket. You make these by taking two pieces of fleece and
putting them together, then cutting 3 in slits every 1 inch all the way
around the blanket and tie knots to keep the pieces together. Then just
roll the blanket up and tie it with a ribbon. Thanks to C.M. for this
great baby shower gift idea!
Keepsake Box
- Use a hat box and draw/paint/add personal touches to the box. Fill the
box with onsies, clothes, pacifiers, bottles, wipes, diapers, etc. You
can also include a pack of alphabet stickers so I could put the baby's
name and birthdate, weight and height on the box with the stickers once
he/she is born. This is a great idea as it can be used to collect
personal items for the baby, placing them in one box that you can
eventually pass on to the child!
Essential Wicker
Basket - purchase a wicker basket that is large enough to
hold the basics (lotion, wipes, diapers, Q tips, a soft toy) and line it
with white eyelet cotton, easily washed. The idea is to have all the
items needed for a diaper change in one container that can be taken from
room to room or even downstairs when needed. Thanks to Jeanne for a
great baby shower gift.
Baby Shower Gift
Basket - Purchase a nice basket or tub and decorate it with
baby type art. Purchase blank white envelopes that have a baby shower
theme on them or just plain envelopes. Place the basket or tub on the
table at the baby shower and have each baby shower guest fill out the
front of the envelope with their address. In each of the envelopes, give
them a little paper to write a message or advice for the mother to be.
Have each guest leave the envelopes unglued. At the end of the baby
shower, have the mommy-to-be select one envelope from the pile and give
out a baby shower gift!
This envelopes can later be used by the
mommy-to-be for writing thank you notes and saving her time. The tub or
basket can be used as well to store baby shower gifts, supplies,
bathroom stuff at a later time! Thanks to Patricia for this wonderful
idea!
Baby Shower
Blanket, Toy and present - Instead of using gift wrap for the
baby shower present, wrap the gift in a receiving blanket and place a
toy at the top so that mommy has extra items that she can use. Thanks to
Christy for this baby shower idea!
Baby Shower
Clothes Line Gift - Buy a bunch of clothes (onesies, bibs,
sleepers, caps, booties, receiving blanket, washcloths, lap pads, even
small items like binkies if they are in a cardboard holder) and pin them
with clothes pins to a clothes line. Buy a large hat box (easy to find
and cheap at Marshall's or Ross Clothing). Lay out the clothes line in
the hat box going around and around. When it comes time to open the baby
shower gifts, have someone (can be mommy-to-be) pull the string and walk
across the room so all the gift items are hanging. Thanks from one of
our fabulous baby shower visitors for this great baby shower gift idea!
Baby Shower Time
Capsule - In addition to bringing a baby shower gift, it
would be great to ask everyone to bring an item to place in a time
capsule. The item has to be a popular item found from this year. When
the baby turns 18, he/she gets the time capsule and reads advice from
the guests at the baby shower. Make sure the items are smaller so
everything can fit and to have everyone write some advice for the soon
to be 18 year old (as time goes by fast). Thanks to Amanda for this
wonderful baby shower gift idea!
Labor and
Delivery Survival Kit - Ask everyone (on an invite) to bring
one item to contribute to the "Labor and Delivery Survival Kit".
Examples are stop watch, slipper socks, headband, back massager, body
lotion, lip balm, lollipops, breath mints, disposable camera, bubblegum
cigars, a contact list & of course a tote or bag large enough for all
the goodies and a change of clothes. This is a great idea given to us by
baby shower guest Chrissy!
Baby Shower Gift
Photo Package - Go to a local photography company (there is
almost one in every mall in which most are professional) and get a gift
certificate or sign the "child" (under the parents name) up for a 1 year
membership where the parents can have unlimited sittings and with the
package receive a certain number of 8X10, 5X7, wallets, etc. free. To
present the gift place the certificate in a really nice 8X10 picture
frame. Thanks to Jenny for this awesome baby shower gift idea!
Economical Gifts - For those baby shower guests who don't
have a lot of money, especially during a recession, it is totally
appropriate and understandable to be creative and make something (cake,
dessert, etc) or offer a "friend coupon" such as "Free Babysitting",
"Free Friend Out Day", etc which will be just as special as purchasing
something. The important thing is that you are there supporting your
friend at the baby shower and when the baby comes!
Be sure to visit
and add to our new baby shower
Bulletin Boards!
It is important to keep your receipts and try and get a gift
receipt so the parents-to-be can return anything they have doubles of or if they do not
like the gift. This baby shower gift idea list above is not exhaustive, but does list the
most essential of the items you can purchase for the couple. If you have any great ideas,
feel free to email me at mommy@babyshower101.com.
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