30+ of the Most Useful & Practical Baby Shower Gifts
11th July 2024
Finding the perfect baby shower gift can be tricky, but there are so many fantastic options for you to consider. In this blog, we’re letting you know about some of the most useful and practical baby shower gifts that you can organise.
Finding the perfect baby shower gift
Baby showers are a lovely way to bring together all of the parents’ closest people to celebrate the pregnancy and the upcoming birth of the little one. They are often held over an afternoon and are full of fun games too.
A baby shower is the perfect time to spoil an expecting mother, make her smile, and give her advice. Many baby showers have games such as guessing the baby’s weight, gender (if not known), and name.
Useful baby shower gift ideas
As a guest, we’re sure you want to help make the baby shower the best ever. Part of this might start before the special day when you’re trying to find the perfect gift. The last thing you want is to turn up and everyone else has bought the same gift as you or the gift you have bought won’t be used.
Don’t worry! We’re here to help you and show you some of the most useful baby shower gifts you could ever find.
Practical gifts for baby care
Nappies
Babies will ALWAYS need nappies, so they’re usually a safe option for a baby shower gift. You know they will be used, and they will definitely come in handy. It might be worth asking the expectant parents if they have a particular brand in mind. Some parents might like to try cloth nappies.
Clothes
Babies grow out of their clothes very quickly, but they definitely need plenty. Many babies will have multiple outfit changes every day! There are so many lovely places to buy baby clothes. You could buy more simple items, such as baby grows or get a few bits and make an outfit!
Teddy or comforter
Most babies have a teddy or comforter from when they were younger, which has stayed with them throughout their lives. Teddies and comforters can be great for soothing little ones throughout the day. You never know—your comforter might be the one they keep forever!
Practical gifts that parents will love
MyBump2Baby On Demand – one of the best baby shower gifts!
Are you looking for the ultimate parenting gift? Look no further than MyBump2Baby On Demand. This is essentially parenting experts in your pocket, available 24/7 on any device!
We understand the hecticness of parenthood and have designed this parenting platform to be easy to use with categories and the ability to ‘favourite’ different elements. We’ve also included checklists and trackers to help make the parenting journey a little more organised.
Parents can access advice on fertility, maternity leave planning, birth preparation, sleep, weaning, development, finances and much more! With this new platform, parents will have experts on hand with just a couple of taps! This is the ultimate baby shower gift to help parents with their new adventure.
Gift card for the parents to be
If you’re not sure what to get the expectant parents but want to get them something useful, consider a gift card. There are so many options for where to use gift cards. Think about some of their favourite things and choose. Perhaps they’d like a day out, a clothes voucher or even a food delivery voucher. Food delivery vouchers can come in very handy for busy parents with a newborn!
Spa gift set for the mum-to-be
Everyone loves to relax, and as a new parent, the opportunities may not be too frequent. Why not purchase or put together your own spa set for your friend or family member? This is an extremely thoughtful and useful gift that might really lift their mood when they need it. Why not put everything in a pretty baby shower gift basket?
A few hours of babysitting – a unique baby shower gift
Life becomes so busy with a baby, and parents might long for an hour or so to clean the kitchen or have a little nap. You can help! Why not offer your friend or family member a few hours of babysitting when the little one arrives? You’d be surprised how much this gift might mean to them.
Alternatively, you could offer to help them out with the chores while they continue caring for the little one. See which option suits them best, and they’ll definitely appreciate your time. This is a very thoughtful baby shower gift for those with a new baby.
Practical gifts that babies will love
Playmats
A baby play mat is a great gift to keep the little one busy! Playmats often have many colours, sounds, and textures, which can help the baby develop. These mats are also great for tummy time!
Baby books
Books are a fantastic way for babies to learn new things and have experiences. There are so many great books out there that have different sounds and textures for babies. Why not purchase a couple of teddies to go with the book to help tell the story even better? The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Peter Rabbit are classics!
Handheld rattles
Babies tend to love things that make a noise, and a rattle is certainly a classic gift. You can get many rattle designs, so it might be worth seeing if the baby’s nursery has a theme. Some rattles can even be attached to prams, making days out even more exciting for the baby.
Useful gifts for baby sleep
Baby mobile
A baby mobile is a great gift idea! Before you go to purchase one, check in with the parents that they don’t already have one. If they don’t, try to find out what theme they plan on using for the baby’s nursery.
Swaddle blankets
Swaddle blankets are a popular gift idea, as many babies love them. One of the main reasons why babies love these blankets is because they are reminded of being in the womb. You can usually buy swaddle blankets in packs with different designs.
Noise Machine with soothing sounds
Sometimes, babies can struggle to sleep, but a noise machine can help them. Noise machines often have relaxing sounds on, such as waves or white noise. These are a practical baby shower gift that many parents will use regularly.
Practical gifts to help with baby feeding
Bibs
A new parent can never have too many bibs! Bibs come in very handy and are used multiple times a day. Again, bibs will usually come in packs of a few, and there are many sweet designs out there. See if the expectant parents have a theme for their baby’s items and see if you can match it. If not, we’re sure they’ll be grateful anyway!
Bottles
Similar to bibs, bottles will definitely be a useful gift for the expecting parents. Some babies are fed breast milk, to begin with, but others may be moved straight onto formula or a combination of the two. Again, it might be worth talking to the parents to see if they have any preference for the bottle brands.
Bottle steriliser
A bottle steriliser is a key piece of baby feeding equipment, and it will definitely make the new parents’ lives easier! A steriliser helps to keep bottles clean and free from bacteria. If you’re planning on buying this gift, check in with the parents to see if they have one in mind already.
Useful baby shower gifts from multiple people
Remember that you don’t need to spend loads of money on a baby shower gift for the mum-to-be. These ideas are perfect if you want to team up with people and all contribute to a gift. This allows you to purchase a more significant gift without breaking the bank!
Prams
Many parents are very specific about their prams, and if you’re spending a fair bit on it, you should ask if they have any preference. A pram is definitely a useful gift, as it will be used very frequently as the baby gets older. This is a perfect gift from a group of people!
Car seats
Before you buy a car seat, check with the parents to make sure it will fit their vehicle and is what they want. Again, a car seat is sure to come in handy for lots of family days out where they can make precious memories!
These items are more on the expensive side. If they are more than your budget, why not give the parents money with the idea of them using it to purchase one of these items? This is very thoughtful as it shows you have put effort into trying to find the best gift.
Other unique baby shower gifts
- Baby blanket to keep the baby warm – organic cotton may be a good idea for the baby’s skin!
- Baby food
- Baby wipes for sensitive skin – just in case!
- Baby food maker – a practical gift for when baby is ready for solid foods
- Baby carrier
- Baby seat
- A super soft dressing gown for baby or mum-to-be – why not drop a couple of hair masks and some essential oils into the pocket for mum?
- Muslin cloths/burp cloths
- Decor for the baby’s room – a very thoughtful present!
- Bottle warmer
- Bath thermometer – a very practical baby shower present
- Bath toys
- Baby monitor
We hope this blog has been helpful regarding practical baby shower gifts. There are so many fantastic options to choose from. Enjoy celebrating at the baby shower!
Abigail holds a First Class Degree in Marketing and a BTEC in Children’s Play, Learning, and Development. As an established author and expert in baby names, she has spent over four years alongside industry experts blogging about pregnancy, babies, and family-related topics, including quotes and puns, with a special focus on name ideas. Her well-researched articles are thoughtfully crafted to guide parents through early parenthood, making her work an invaluable resource for families.
