One of the best parts of attending a baby shower is giving a gift to the mommy and baby-to-be. It’s also very interesting to see what other guests decide to give. There’s a lot of wisdom that comes from getting a bunch of moms together in a room. You can learn so much about things that can work well for your own babies from simply observing gifts at a baby shower. However, deciding on your own gift to give the mommy-to-be can be difficult. If you’re struggling to think of something to give at a baby shower, here are a few ideas.
1. Muslin Swaddle Blanket
The muslin swaddle blanket can be mom’s lifesaving superhero on a daily basis. Not only is it great for swaddling babies to sleep, but it can be used for so many other things. Forget your nursing cover? Need a place to change the baby? Need a cute way to wrap a baby up for newborn pictures? Did you have an unexpected blowout or spit-up mess? A swaddle blanket is perfect in all of these situations. It’s like the Swiss army knife of the diaper bag. If that all isn’t enough, muslin swaddles come in so many designs and colors you’re sure to find something that matches everyone’s tastes.
2. Board Book Classics
Books are easily one of the best things you can get for a new baby. Board books are even better. Board books offer something that’s easy for babies to hold and look at even if they aren’t old enough to read. The thick pages offer an opportunity for the baby to learn how to turn the pages without the problems that thin paper pages bring. These books are also a great addition to a diaper bag.
If you aren’t sure what books mom and dad might like, just grab a classic like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. For a special added touch, you can write a note to the new baby on the title page of the book. That way, when they get older, they’ll be able to read it and know who gave them the book.
3. Bottle Drying Rack
Babies can be picky about the kinds of bottles they will take. So, unless you’re sure, maybe steer clear of getting the new mom baby bottles. Instead, opt for a bottle drying rack. While air-drying items on a towel is fine, it can sometimes make a mess on the counter. A drying rack offers a great way for items to dry off while keeping counters looking pristine. If you aren’t sure if the mom-to-be will be using bottles, that’s okay. Even if the mom ends up not bottle feeding, these drying racks are great for drying other items like toys, pacifiers, or even breast pump parts.
4. Wearable Baby Blankets
Nighttime can be rough for new parents. They’re missing out on sleep and wondering if the baby is safe. This can be stressful. Wearable blankets might be able to help with both of these issues. Wearable blankets are blankets that have armholes for the baby’s arms and a little zipper so it zips up to their chest. It keeps them warm and secure so they can sleep longer. Wearable blankets are also much safer for sleep than loose blankets. So, the baby and parents can get a better night’s sleep. Find a pattern or colors that the parents will love, and you’ll have the perfect shower gift.
5. Footie Pajamas
When you have a newborn baby, the clothes are adorable. It’s so tempting to want to buy every little dress, suspendered pants and summer romper. However, tiny babies need to be kept warm and protected. Not to mention, complicated clothing items often don’t fit well on tiny babies. For the first few months, they’ll mostly be resting at home, anyway. The best clothing item you can get for any newborn (no matter what season they are born in) is footie pajamas. These pajamas are an all-in-one outfit, and you can never have too many of those. They’re great for sleeping, tummy time and just going out and about. In addition, they come in so many colors and patterns, that you’ll be able to find the perfect fit for your shower gift.
6. Developmental Toy
Another great gift idea is a developmental toy. These are items that teach baby colors, stacking, etc. Grab a set of sorting and stacking toys that will be useful as the baby grows into a toddler. If the mom-to-be isn’t a huge fan of plastics, you can always snag them a little wood pull-along toy! They’re super cute and they also make a great nursery decoration.
7. Baby Humidifiers
As fun as new babies can be, there are times that they get sick. Unfortunately, with little babies, there isn’t too much parents can do for them. One thing they can do when they get their first cold is to have a baby humidifier on hand. Humidifiers will help babies breathe more easily and recover quicker. This might not be as fun of a gift as a toy or clothes, but it’s important. By buying this as your gift, you’ll immensely help out the parents when the baby gets sick for the first time. They’ll be prepared and so grateful that they are.
8. Dream Sock
This is a more expensive gift that would be great as a group gift. The Owlet dream sock helps monitor the baby’s sleeping habits. It also monitors their heart rate and other useful information. All of this is delivered directly to the parent’s phone so you can help the baby get better quality sleep. Parents can also sleep better knowing that if they need to, they can review all of the baby’s data when they wake up.
Baby showers are so much fun, and seeing the look on a new mom’s face when she sees all of the support and love she has from her guests is really special. Help her get ready for one of the best, and most sleepless, parts of her life with a few helpful gifts at her baby shower.