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Not many things in life compare to the excitement when soon-to-be parents find out they are expecting, knowing that they are about to embark on one of life’s greatest journeys. I can still remember sharing the news with darling hubby and the rest of the family.
Once we found out that we were expecting a girl, we immediately rushed out to buy that very special first outfit and then the preparations started: Decorating the baby’s nursery, shopping for a good quality car seat, comparing diapers and bottles, making a baby shower and preparing all these thank you baby shower presents with excitement etc.
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Preparing for the Baby
Within the first few months, everything was ready. I even had my hospital bag packed at 20 weeks! Of course, I packed and repacked it several times afterward… but aside from the birth itself, I was really looking forward to the baby shower! I wanted it to be perfect!
Now I have to admit; I had pre-set ideas on what the décor and cake should look like, who should be there and of course, the type of gifts I wanted for our perfect, little unborn girl. In fact, I planned it all in my head! The problem with this, of course, is that a baby shower is supposed to be a surprise and the expecting mom and dad should not be involved in any of the planning at all!
In the end, I do think that things worked out perfectly and I actually had a lovely time at the baby shower even though I had nothing to do with the planning (I did, however, sneak a picture of the cake I wanted to all of my friends and they were kind enough to get that cake for me!).
In all honesty, the baby shower was probably a lot better than the one I had imagined. I received the most beautiful baby gear and soft clothes – most of which our little girl only got to wear once due to babies growing up so fast, and a ton of baby products such as baby shusher, sleep sack, baby socks and clothes, powders, creams, teether (even nipple cream and stretch marks cream), and some unique baby shower gifts that were very thoughtful.
I also received a few gifts that I deemed rather boring such as diapers, eating utensils (seriously, the baby will be few months old before it even starts to eat) and clothing for 1-year-olds and older. Funny enough, even though I didn’t think much of these as a thoughtful gift at the time, they ended up being the items that I needed and cherished the most once the baby arrived!
The List
So I’ve put together a list of which are probably the best baby shower gifts and the most boring ones in the history of baby showers… BUT they contain items that I’ve appreciated and valued the most or items I wish someone had given us once our little one was born!
New Moms First Aid Kit
So it’s not technically a First Aid kit but a kit that contains similar items and yes, it a perfect gift to receive. What I’m referring to, are items such as a digital thermometer, medicine dispensers, something to bring down a fever (For some unexplained reason, our kids always get sick in the middle of the night), a nebulizer, or a baby vac.
I suppose the reason why we didn’t purchase any of these items ourselves beforehand is probably that no soon-to-be parents like to even think of the idea of their little one getting sick, but the reality is that they do and these items often cost an arm or a leg. I love the digital thermometer that we received and still use it to this day!
Vouchers
Why not give the soon-to-be parents the great gift of choice? Okay, so it is a little boring when someone opens a gift voucher, especially compared to those unique baby clothes and the tiniest baby socks you have ever seen but I’ve found that most of the time, you get so many adorable little clothes and your little one hardly even gets to wear it because they outgrow them so quickly.
By giving new parents a voucher, they can actually buy something they really need or want or perhaps contribute it towards those more expensive items such as newborn loungers, strollers, or car seats. Most vouchers only expire after a year which also gives the new parents some time to figure out what they really need even after the baby is born.
Diapers and Wipes
Again, probably one of the most boring gifts one can possibly give at a baby shower…yet it is the one item new parents are bound to need… and plenty of it! Try buying a bigger size seeing that most parents tend to stock up on the small sizes early on.
By the time the baby is 8 or 9 months old, the novelty of a new baby has probably worn off, gifts for the little one will become less and they as parents will be thankful for that bigger size diapers stacked in the cupboard.
The good news is that there are so many creative ideas on Pinterest these days on how to DIY baby shower gifts like how present diapers, ranging from the traditional diaper cake to a beautiful bouquet of diapers. Keep in mind though that some new parents these days are opting for more eco-friendly options like cloth diapers so be sure to find out their preferences in advance.
Baby Monitor
A baby monitor can be fairly expensive but can also be considered a life-saving tool these days thanks to new technology. We received an Angelcare movement and sound monitor as a baby shower gift from my parents that includes a movement pad put under the mattress.
Should there be no movement for 20 seconds, an alarm will sound. As first-time parents, this really puts our minds at ease when it came to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Diaper Bag
So I’m not actually referring to your average diaper bag here. The chances are that the expectant parents have already bought one and they bought one that suits their specific needs. What I’m referring to here is an “Oh crap diaper bag”.
Yes, it’s an additional diaper bag, but it is filled only with a few essentials such as one or two baby grows, a blanket, wipes, a few diapers, a pacifier, a diaper rash cream, bath oils, and baby shampoo, etc. that, parents, can keep in the back of their car.
Sometimes you end up visiting friends at the spur of the moment, and you find that you are unprepared as you end up staying for dinner. The idea is to whip out the bag without having any worries simply. This also comes in handy in emergencies.
Clothing
Unfortunately, I’m not referring to those darn cute baby clothes that make everyone go “oooh” and “ahh”. I’m talking about buying clothes for one year and older. Once the little one has reached the age of one year, the chances are that they aren’t getting much clothing as gifts anymore.
Parents will be happy to have a cupboard filled with clothing that they can actually use for more than one month, and while they are still spending a lot of money on items such as diapers and formula milk, they will be happy not having to stock up on clothing as well.
A First Aid Course
A little unconventional, I know but my husband and I were discussing how to perform CPR on an infant the other day, and we ended up talking about how nice it would have been to receive a First Aid course as the gift.
They provide parents with real tools and skills that they hope never to have to use but should they ever need to; they will never regret having taken this course. These skills can also be used at kids’ parties, school outings, and vacations, so it’s not just for your own children.
Baby-proofing Equipment
Baby-proofing one’s home can be a costly but necessary exercise. Let’s face it, some of these items such as electrical outlet covers aren’t so expensive when purchased on their own, but try buying ten outlet covers, six-door covers, and 20 edge and corner guards at one time!
It becomes expensive, and for that reason alone, baby-proofing is often neglected. We as parents often only baby-proof our homes after an incident occurs. Rather help parents to be pro-active in this aspect.
A little something for mom, a little something for dad… and don’t forget other siblings if there are any!
Of course, the baby shower is meant to be for the baby, but a small gift for the new mom, dad, and other siblings will go a long way and is often truly appreciated. When I was pregnant, my mother gave me a hamper filled with my favorite body butter and bubble bath, and I loved it! It was nice to have a little “me-time” and to spoil myself before the baby arrived.
I’m also a big fan of getting the new dad a “survival kit” filled with silly items such as energy drinks, sweets, a diaper or two, and headache tablets. It involves and prepares the father for what lies ahead and it is nice to have something to giggle about!
I also had a great appreciation for anyone that gave a little gift to our two-year-old daughter while I was expecting our second child. It can be a trying and confusing time for them as well, especially if they are still young, and making other siblings feel loved and appreciated during the excitement of a new baby really helps with the adjustment.
FAQ’s About Baby Showers
There is usually not just one answer to that, as it is always depending on how close with the parents you are, whether you are going to buy it alone or with other friends, whether the expectant mom has a list of items she wants and so on. But always make sure you create a budget that will allow you to pick something creative and useful that the new parents would really need.
Usually, baby showers are made for firstborns whereas baby sprinkles for your next baby/s. However, in recent times it’s acceptable to have more baby showers as every bundle of joy should be celebrated. Another difference between these two is that baby sprinkles are gift-free parties and parents don’t initiate them.
Anyone from your family or close friend can throw you a gender-reveal party and they will have to cover the expenses for it. Now, sometimes it can be two or more people behind it, but the more important part is that it needs to be a surprise party and that the mom should not know anything related to the design or activities of it.
If you are planning on a traditional baby shower, then this party should be no-men attending, however, in recent years men and women attending baby showers have become more popular because dads also need to celebrate the new life they are expecting.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it: My extremely boring list of 9 gifts for new parents. I get it, no one wants to buy new parents a boring baby shower gift but I can almost guarantee you that they will thank you for it. Perhaps not at the baby shower but certainly a few months down the line! Give a gift that will be appreciated and cherished long after the baby is born!
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