Best Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Before I actually got pregnant, I had no ideas on what to give new moms.  In fact, I had a near panic attack the first time I walked into Babies R Us with a printed registry and tried to find specific items!  Now I can relay some ideas based on some of my favorite gifts.

• Anything off the registry is a great idea.  You know it's something the new mom wants/needs...and she has the ability to take it back and exchange it if it doesn't work out.  
• Here's a tip: When buying off a registry, I like to group things together and make little "sets."  For example, group together several bath items (hooded towel, wash cloths, toys, toy holder, bath kneeler, newborn bathtub, spout cover, etc.) or several feeding items (bibs, spoons, sippy cups, plates/bowls, snack holders, disposable placemats, etc.).  Putting together a gift of several coordinating items makes for something fun, and useful.

• Anything personalized (if you know the baby's name!).  Towels, bags, burp cloths, wall art, etc.  You can buy some personalized things online, or you can buy what you want and take it to an embroidery shop.

• A great diaper bag.  I loved the Vera Bradley bag I got!  It's big and stylish.

• Aden and Anais swaddle blanket set with a copy of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth.  Trust me. 

• A gift bag full of necessities.  These usually don't make it to a shower because they're not high on the "cute" factor, but any new mom will appreciate having these things on hand!  Fill a bag with things like: baby bath wash, baby lotion, vaseline, safety Q-Tips, teething gel, diaper rash cream, baby Tylenol, baby nail clippers, diapers and wipes. 

• Laundry basket (or cute bag, basket, or tin bucket) filled with clothes, hats, socks, bibs, blankets, etc. all clipped to a clothesline or a ribbon.  This is a cute and unexpected gift!  (Make sure you get clothes that are different sizes.  New babies tend to get a lot of clothes sized 0-3 months, outgrow them quickly, and then mom has to go back to the store!) 

• A gift just for the new mom.  Why didn't I think of this earlier?  One of my favorite gifts was a pink organic cotton nursing cami.  This was something I needed and a gift that said "I'm thinking of you."  I know it's always tempting to buy the cute baby stuff, but don't forget about pampering the new mom.  Maybe throw in a mani/pedi or a massage certificate, or a Starbucks card.  This could be something you could even make an outing with the mom-to-be and help distract her during those long weeks leading up to her due date (a good pedi may even spur on labor!) or could be a nice treat for her after the baby comes...and an excuse to get out of the house.  Again, this is a great idea for someone pregnant with a second or third baby.
  

• Basket of books.  As an English teacher, maybe I'm just partial to this, but I loved getting a big basket packed with some of my favorite childhood titles: Goodnight Moon, The Little Engine That Could, Curious George, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Dr. Seuss, etc.  Think about board books as well as children's books the baby can grow into.

• If you're crafty, a homemade gift is great.  Think about making a blanket, knit sweater, nursing wrap, burp cloths, etc.

• A diaper cake.  Again, you have to be crafty for this one, but they are super cute and much appreciated.  Once the cake is assembled, stick little teethers or plush toys in various places on the cake, or decorate with silk flowers or other decorative items.  Look for instructions online.  This instructional video is helpful, and so is this website.

• A scrapbook/photo album.  Moms have great intentions of making great little baby scrapbooks, but life gets in the way--especially if it's a second or third baby.  If this is your thing, put together a scrapbook that only requires mom to fill in the pictures.  It could be a plain book, or you could designate pages for specific events like holidays and other "firsts."  Some pages to consider: First bath, haircut, day at home, trip, smile, words, steps, teeth, friends, etc.  Or, you could do a page for each month that mom can fill in with an appropriate picture throughout the year.

• A baby "bouquet."  I got this idea from Martha Stewart, so I'll let her explain it.  You can watch the episode here.  Also, check out Etsy.com for some cute ideas on variations, including baby cupcakes and ice cream cones.  All are super cute!

• Nursing wrap and matching burp cloths.  Here's a pattern and instructions for a nursing wrap.  Then save some of the leftover fabric and sew it onto the edges of a cloth diaper for a fashionable matching burp cloth.