Baby showers are as exciting as they are confusing – at least for the guests. With so many cute baby products in stores, it’s difficult to settle on just a couple of things. And how can you be sure that parents will appreciate the gift you bought and it won’t end up in a drawer?
If you’re also a parent, then you are familiar with what parents really need in the first months after the baby is born and you will try to buy the same things you wanted, but while your intentions may be good, not all parents have the same needs. In general, the rule of thumb is to try to follow the baby shower registry as much as possible, because all those gift ideas are there for a reason. But, if there is no registry or you want your gift to stand out in the pile, here are some clever ideas that are great for both parents and the little one.
Nursery gift ideas
Nursery items are some of the most welcome gifts because setting up a cute room for the child is quite expensive and parents need all the help they can get. If you want to get a gift from this category, our recommendation is to avoid decorations or very specific items, unless you know the future parents very well and are familiar with their nursery preferences. Otherwise, these are some of the items you can’t go wrong with:
- Baby monitor – to help parents supervise their baby at all times
- A quality rocking chair and a nursing pillow
- A set of crib sheets, because you can never have too many
- A toy basket for organization
- Ceiling nightlights for a soothing sleep
Baby clothes: what to buy and what to avoid
The huge variety of adorable baby clothes is without a doubt the best part of shopping for a baby shower. From cute animal prints to fluffy fabrics, it’s an absolute joy to browse the aisles of baby stores, but some clothes are more useful than others. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping a baby clothing sale:
- You can never go wrong with onesies. In the first weeks of the newborn’s life, they will wear more onesies than dresses, pants or T-shirts. Make sure you buy onesies with openings, because they’re easier to take off and allow the parents to change the diapers more easily.
- No-scratch mittens are essential in the first few months
- Avoid buying shoes for a baby shower, because babies don’t need to wear shoes until they start to learn how to walk. Also, don’t buy large clothes that the baby will only be able to wear after one year – most people do this, leaving parents with an entire drawer of baby clothes that they can’t use. Stick to baby clothes for maximum 12 months.
Feeding essentials
Unless you know for sure that the mom will not be breastfeeding, don’t buy baby formula as a gift. Instead, consider these feeding essentials:
- Baby bottles in all sizes available
- Pacifiers
- Burp cloths
- Feeding spoons and bowls created especially for babies – these are made of silicon and prevent the little one from getting hurt while learning how to eat
Bedding, diapers and wipes
As much as you may want to offer a bright, cute and colorful gift, sometimes the best ideas are the practical ones. Many guests who attend baby showers bring lovely things that turn heads, but that aren’t exactly useful. But what about those unglamorous items that no parent loves buying, but that is absolutely essential? Case in point: bedding, diapers and wipes. They’re not fun to buy, but babies need them in large quantities and any parent who receives a few months’ worth of these supplies will be grateful for the financial help. If you do not have a child, you’ll be surprised to learn that diapers are actually quite expensive and babies go through a whole pack really quickly, so you might want to check for different baby deals on Giving Assistant to get multipack bundles.
Baby gear
Whether you’re really close to the parents-to-be, or you just want to allocate a larger budget for the baby shower, baby gear is a good idea. Consider buying a stroller (if the parents don’t already have one), an infant carrier, or a portable baby car seat. A good idea for a gift that the baby can’t use right away, but that definitely comes in handy, is a high chair or a booster seat.
Bath & health
Last, but definitely not least, bath and health gifts are welcome by all parents. Here are a few ideas that always work:
- A baby thermometer
- A small baby bathtub for safe and comfortable washing
- Hypoallergenic bath sponges and shower lotions
- Baby bath toys
- A first aid kit created especially for babies
