10 Baby Shower Gifts That Are Practical, Adorable, and Budget-Friendly
Introduction
A baby shower is a special celebration to honor the parents-to-be and "shower" them with gifts to help welcome their new bundle of joy.
Selecting the perfect gift for an expectant parent can be challenging, as there are so many needs to consider as they prepare for baby's arrival.
The purpose of this article is to provide a range of fun, practical, and personalized baby shower gift ideas to make gift-giving easier for the shower guests. Whether you want a unique present or a traditional favorite, there are many thoughtful options to choose from. Read on for top picks across all price points, including clothing, nursery items, books, feeding supplies, and more. With this gift guide's suggestions, you're sure to find just the right way to congratulate and support the growing family at their pre-baby celebration.
Gifts for Parents
One of the best baby shower gifts you can give new parents is something they will need for their baby's daily care and activities. Cribs, strollers, and car seats are essentials that parents will use every day.
A gift certificates for a cribs, strollers, and car seats are a great option. This allows parents to choose the specific products they want after researching important safety features. Gift cards for baby stores that sell these big-ticket items are another idea.
If you know the exact products the parents desire, buying those as gifts takes the stress off them. Make sure to keep any gift receipts in case they need to exchange sizes or models. Assemble the items so they are ready for baby's arrival.
Some top crib, stroller, and car seat gifts include:
Convertible cribs that can later become toddler beds
Jogging strollers with all-terrain wheels
Infant car seats that click in and out of a stroller frame
Lightweight umbrellas strollers for travel
All-in-one travel systems with a car seat, stroller frame, and base
Focus on durability, safety ratings, and flexibility when choosing these items. Useful features are adjustable heights, one-hand folding, and machine-washable fabrics. Go for trusted brands known for high quality.
Cribs, strollers, and car seats are gifts new parents will appreciate. Make the first days home from the hospital easier by providing safe essentials for baby's sleep and transportation.
Clothing and Accessories
Choosing clothes and accessories for a new baby is one of the most fun parts of shopping for a baby shower gift. While babies grow quickly, especially in the first few months, having some essential pieces ready will help the new parents feel prepared. Consider these clothing and accessory options that make great baby shower gifts:
Onesies
Onesies are a baby wardrobe staple. Look for onesies made from soft, natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo. Choose onesies in newborn or 0-3 month sizes, as these will get the most use right away. Opt for simple solid colors or sweet patterns and prints. Stay away from harsh dyes or scratchy embellishments. A package of 5-6 onesies in varying prints makes a perfect gift.
Hats
Baby's head needs protection from the elements. A soft cotton hat is a must-have accessory. Choose a baseball cap style, a bucket hat with a chin strap, or a warm knit beanie for colder weather. Make sure any ties or straps are designed for safety. Pick a print or color that matches some of the onesies you select.
Bibs
Bibs help keep baby's clothes clean during feeding time. Bibs also make great burp cloths. Look for soft terrycloth, cotton, or microfiber bibs that are absorbent and gentle on baby's skin. Buy 5-10 bibs so parents have spares when others are dirty. Opt for bibs with snaps at the neck for easy on and off.
Socks
Babies need tiny socks to keep their feet warm. Choose socks made of cotton, wool, or bamboo. Seek out socks with grips on the bottom to help keep them on baby's feet. Select a multi-pair pack that includes both knit socks and booties. Socks make great fillers for gift baskets.
Bathing and Grooming
A new baby means lots of baths! Help the new parents stock up on bath time essentials that will keep baby clean, safe, and comfortable.
Hooded Towels
Hooded towels are soft, absorbent and provide head and neck coverage after bath time to keep baby warm and cozy. Look for hooded towel sets in soft cotton or bamboo material. Stay away from stiff terrycloth. Consider towels with fun patterns like animals, or go for classic solid colors like white, gray or green that will match any nursery décor.
Baby Wash and Shampoo
New parents will go through baby wash and shampoo quickly! Give gentle cleansers free of dyes, fragrance, parabens and sulfates designed specifically for baby's sensitive skin.
Hair and Body Brush
A soft hair and body brush is a bath time essential for keeping baby's skin and scalp healthy. Look for brushes with rounded plastic bristles set in a gentle rubber base. The soft bristles massage the skin to increase circulation. The brush can also be used to gently clean the cradle cap from baby's scalp.
Nail Care Set
Newborn nails are delicate and grow quickly. Give parents a nail care set so they can safely trim those tiny nails. Look for clippers designed specifically for baby with rounded tips. Pair that with an emery board, cuticle stick, and nipper set for complete nail care.
Nursery Décor
Decorating the nursery is one of the most exciting parts of preparing for a new baby. Gift givers can help new parents design a stylish, soothing, and safe space for their little one to sleep and play. Focus on nursery décor gifts that are beautiful yet functional.
Wall Art
Wall art adds personality to the nursery and gives baby something lovely to gaze at. Consider framed art prints or canvas pieces in soft colors and patterns. For a more personalized gift, create a gallery wall showcasing photos of the parents, baby scans, and family. Wood or felt hangings spelling the baby's name also make sweet keepsakes.
Mobiles
Mesmerizing mobiles entertain and soothe fussy babies. Opt for mobiles with contrasting black and white or grayscale patterns appropriate for a newborn's vision. Those with music, lights, and gentle motion are especially calming. For safety, choose a crib mobile with removable parts rather than permanent installation overhead.
Night Lights
Night lights provide comfort and allow parents to check on baby without fully brightening the nursery. Seek out night lights that emit a soft, warm glow. Ones that project images like stars, moons, and clouds create a tranquil atmosphere. For convenience, look for night lights that are sensor-activated, portable, have auto shut-off timers, or double as sound machines.
Books
Board books and classic children's titles make wonderful baby shower gifts that parents will treasure for years. Choose sturdy board books with simple stories and bright pictures for babies to chew on and enjoy. Select titles like Goodnight Moon, Pat the Bunny, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other classics that have been loved by generations.
Go with hardcover editions of books like The Giving Tree, Winnie the Pooh, Make Way for Ducklings and other timeless favorites to start baby's library. Look for beautiful illustrated editions of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and poetry collections. For parents who want to share their childhood favorites, gifts like Anne of Green Gables, Paddington Bear and Peter Rabbit are always cherished.
Of course, giving books at a baby shower encourages language development and fosters a love of reading right from the start. With so many wonderful options, a beautifully wrapped book is one of the best gifts to give new parents.
Feeding Supplies
Make mealtime easier for parents with useful feeding essentials. Bottles are a must-have for bottle feeding babies. Opt for a set with multiple bottles in different sizes that will grow with baby. Look for BPA-free models with vented designs to prevent colic and easy-to-clean wide openings. Burp cloths will come in handy during and after feeding. Bibs help keep baby's clothes clean when the inevitable mess occurs. Dishes and utensils designed for little hands make starting solids simpler. Divided plates, soft-tip spoons, sippy cups with handles, and more help set baby up for self-feeding success. Consider an all-in-one set or choose individual pieces to build a collection.
Developmental Toys
Toys that stimulate baby's development are always appreciated gifts for new parents. Choose toys that engage different senses and motor skills to aid cognitive growth.
Rattles
Rattles allow baby to practice coordination by shaking to create sounds. They also introduce cause and effect, as baby learns that their actions create the rattle noise. Look for rattles with bright colors, patterns, and textures to stimulate vision and touch. Rattles with varied materials like wood, plastic, and cloth make different sounds to engage hearing. Opt for larger lightweight rattles that are easy for little hands to grasp and shake.
Stuffed Animals
Stuffed animals make sweet first toys to cuddle. Look for soft plush animals with safe embroidered eyes. Varying textures like a silky ear or fuzzy muzzle add sensory interest. Stuffed toys help baby practice grasping. Babies often find them soothing, enjoying cuddling them while drifting off to sleep.
Baby Gyms
Baby gyms create an activity center with toys dangling overhead to bat at and grasp. The mat gives baby a place to lay comfortably while interacting with the hanging toys. Look for gyms with a variety of textures, bright colors, noises, and activities to stimulate vision, hearing, touch, and dexterity. Baby gyms with arches adjust as baby grows bigger and more mobile. They give baby a safe place to practice reaching, kicking, batting, and grasping.
Keepsakes
One of the best baby shower gift ideas is a special keepsake that the parents can cherish for years to come. Keepsakes are thoughtful gifts that capture the new baby's precious first moments and allow parents to always remember just how tiny their bundle of joy once was.
Popular keepsake gifts include handprint/footprint kits, jewelry, and photo albums. A handprint/footprint kit allows parents to ink their baby's hands and feet and press them onto a keepsake card or ornament. This preserves their delicate little hand and foot prints while they are still so tiny. Many kits come with multiple cards so parents can capture prints over time as the baby grows.
Jewelry like lockets, bracelets, and rings that can be engraved with the baby's name, birth date, or initials also make wonderful keepsakes. Whenever the parent wears the jewelry, they'll be reminded of their child. Beautiful engraved jewelry gifts can become family heirlooms.
High quality photo albums are great for preserving all those precious baby photos. Choose an album made of archival-safe materials that will protect the images for generations. Leather or cloth cover albums with thick, acid-free pages work best for long-term storage. A monogrammed album makes the gift more personal.
Keepsake gifts like these let parents capture the baby's first days, months, and years. They'll always cherish these meaningful gifts and the memories they hold.
Gift Cards
Gift cards are some of the most practical and appreciated baby shower gifts for expectant parents. If you're not sure exactly what items the parents-to-be need or want for their new baby, gift cards allow them to shop for necessities and nursery items themselves.
Recommend gift cards to popular baby stores. That way, parents can purchase items like clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, toys, books, strollers, car seats - anything they end up needing. Gift cards to clothing stores are great too, for picking up onesies, socks, and other baby outfits.
Gift cards to grocery stores, restaurants, and meal delivery services are also handy for new parents. After baby arrives, there's little time for cooking or going out to eat. Let the family order takeout or prepared meals using your gift card contribution. Gift cards for house cleaning services are another thoughtful gift, giving parents a hand with chores during the busy newborn phase.
Opt for gift cards that don't expire, so parents can use them when it's most convenient. Include gift receipts too, allowing for easy returns or exchanges on baby items. Then the new parents can get exactly what they want and need for their little one.
PHOTOGRAPHY GIFT CARD
A gift a photography session, can be a gift that will be treasured forever. Parents can choose whether to do a newborn family session, or wait until their baby is a little older.
It gives the opportunity to get beautiful professional photos of their family that will be treasured forever.
I would always recommend buying a voucher with as much value as you can afford so they have as many photos included as possible. There will always be more photos than that love that they will be able to use the gift card towards.
