Great Baby Shower Gifts

Finding a unique baby shower gift can be a challenge. Should you get something cute? Something practical? Something for mom and dad? Something for the new baby? Here are a few ideas to help simplify the process.

Clothes

From my own experiences as a mother, I know that one problem with baby shower gifts is the fact that parents often receive more than enough clothes to cover the baby for the first six months, after that they’re left to fend for themselves. One thing to consider is buying a really cute outfit or two in a slightly larger size. Buying items that are size 6 – 12 months will be appreciated when the couple begins to realize that they have nothing in their child’s wardrobe. With my own children I recall being sad because many outfits went unworn in the first six months.

Another thing to consider when buying clothes for the new baby is what other people might buy. If you hop into your local Target or Wal-Mart you are likely going to see quite a few items from the same company. Usually this would be fine but with baby clothes, often the same brand means the same image placed in different ways. Essentially baby will be left with several outfits that vary little in design. To amend this problem, try to shop in baby boutiques or online. The variety will be a lot better and the outfits received from these locations are more likely to be worn outside of the house.

Gift Baskets

One of the best coverall options is a gift basket. Let the parent’s style determine what to load your basket with. Are they a fun and funky couple? Aside from cute bibs, cozy blankets and a plethora of diapers, add a fun “Mysterio Predicts” onesie or parenting guide. Throw in a wheel of responsibility. When baby cries you spin the wheel to decide whether mom or dad has to deal with it. All these things can be found at www.wrybaby.com.

If the parent’s are more artistic try incorporating some attractive and bold onsies from 1girl1boy. The designs are all hand printed and sewn onto high quality, American Apparel, shirts. The designs were featured on the Martha Stewart show and are a necessary staple for any artsy baby.

Maybe the parents are highly practical or simply need a lot of items. Try a diaper gift bag from Bumkins. Choose a reversible diaper bag in either pink or blue (the reverse is black so dad won’t be embarrassed to take the kiddo out). Inside are waterproof bibs, cute burp clothes and quality receiving blankets.

Don’t forget to add a personal touch when compiling a gift basket. Add things that you have heard rave reviews about or a product that you found particularly useful. These items don’t even have to be baby oriented. Personally, I thrived on eye drops to remove red eye on many of those sleepless nights in the first few months after baby was born. Little additions like that will offer a laugh and a story. Other ideas include a special diaper cream, breast treatments for breast feeding moms or a favorite brand of diapers. The only thing I suggest not adding is baby formula. If the mother plans on breast feeding, having formula in the house can be damning to the process. Unless you know that the mother will be using formula it’s best to leave it out.

Gifts for Baby

While many gifts given at a baby shower are really given to ease the parent’s burden, there are still some gifts you can buy that any baby is sure to love. One of my favorite items is the vibrating chair. They are not overly expensive but most babies love them. Baby swings are another great option but usually run at a higher price. Whenever a little one gets fussy and there is no known cause, plop them down in one of these chairs and they’ll usually nod off or enjoy playing with the toys that dangle off the chair in front of them.

Don’t shy away from the toy section. More and more companies are marketing baby items meant to increase brain growth. Items like singing and counting worms, and Mozart playing mobiles can fun and potentially helpful for the baby. Even very young children can enjoy these items. However, I do suggest reading all age suggestions. If the packaging claims the toy is good for ages 0+ you know it will be safe for the child. If the toy claims to be appropriate for ages 3+, shy away. Items for children over the age of 3 can include removable parts that may be choking hazards.

Lastly, if all else fails, there is always the gift card. Give the parents to be a gift certificate to a grocery store or a store featuring baby items. This will allow the parents to supplement their baby supplies with anything they may still need. No matter how prepared a parent is to meet their baby they are sure to forget a few items and a gift certificate becomes a life saver in these instances.