What should I include in a baby shower gift? (mom's what did you really like?)?

Question

I want to really do a good job in finding a practical but unique gift. I have heard that getting a baby bath tub and filling it with the essentials are one of the favorites among new mom's. What should I include? I thought about doing the full bath tub but I really don't want to have a duplicate gift. (this gift being something that is recommended on a LOT of websites) The mom is having her first child and doesn't know the sex. I have a pretty strong feeling that most of the guests are going to be super excited about buying baby clothes (because lets face it, its so much fun) but I wanted to buy something practical and useful because in buying clothes you are guarateeing not much use because babies grow SOOO fast. She is due the first part of May. The shower is the 18th, any ideas?

I want to spend under 50 bucks. Preferably closer to 30. THANKS!

Answer 1

what about a session with a professional photographer for when the baby is born. You can pay the sitting fee and they can pay for the photo's to be developed.
Every first time mum wants heaps of photo's of their bubs
The other idea is a gift voucher for a pregnancy massage for the mum to be, a girlfriend of mine had her baby 4 years ago and still talks about it.

I WOULD AVOID the gift baskets, i got so many of these and I ended up giving away most of the stuff because I prefer the body shop stuff for my baby and got pretty much all johnson & johnson stuff. I wouldn't bother about nappies either, i had already brought a fair few nappies before my baby shower and i would rather something a bit better than nappies, it's like getting toilet paper for christmas, yeah it's practical but do you really want it as a gift or is it something that you would just go out and buy!

Answer 2

First and foremost, get a travel cot. It folds into a nice duffel bag and can be used not only for traveling but also you can use it for a playpen. Some of the best gifts are the smallest ones. A Mommy Bear was very useful. Tell her to take it with her to the hospital and start using it there. It has the sounds of the womb and helps them sleep. When the baby is older you take out the sound box and you have a teddy bear. Buy diapers in all sizes, that way down the road if she thinks she is ready for the next size she will have them to try out and see if they still too big. Remember the smaller the diaper size, the more you get in a pack for better money. Also if you have her info, call Kimberely Clark (huggies) and Pampers. They send awesome coupons!! I prefer A&D ointment. My daughter gets wind burn and a little dab of A&D and the windburn is gone like magic. I also prefered corn starch baby powder to regular baby powder. Baby shampoo lotions and oils are also very helpful. A new bag of cotton balls and cotton swabs will be needed especially for the umbilical cord cleaning and if she has a boy she will need gauze pads if he has been circumsized. Also a bottle sterilizer and a bottle rack, a bottle brush,and different sized nipples for newborn and up. A boppy pillow is so VERY useful. She can use it to sit on, then it helps with feeding the baby and then helping the baby to learn to sit up. Also one other very nice mommy present...a multiple gift certificate. First off for babysitting, then to her favourite salon to get her nails and or hair done, and her favorite place to eat. Mommys do need a break once in a blue. If you can afford it, hire her the babysitter and go with her!

Answer 3

What I really appreciated were things that I used on a daily or very frequent basis....it saved me on many trips to the store when I was so sleep deprived from feedings every 2 - 3 hours and being up all night.

I really like the bathtub idea and filling it up or you could get a small toddler-sized wicker laundry basket and fill it up with the following

1. Newborn size diapers or size 1 diapers (diaper rash cream also...I suggest A&D ointment)
2. Newborn gentle or sensitive skin baby wipes
3. Mylecon Gas Drops (HUGE lifesaver to have on hand especially at 2:00a.m. and the baby has gas and there's no store that is open!)
4. Infant Tylenol drops
5. Nasal aspirator, even though the new Mom will be sent home with one an extra is nice to have in the diaper bag
6. Little trial size bottle of 50+ SPF sunblock as yes, babies can get burned even in the car with the sun shining in and summer is just around the corner
7. Car Sunshade for the passenger rear window
8. Infant nail clippers
9. Teething Rings
10. Baby shampoo
11. Baby Bath (I recommend Huggies Extra Sensitive for newborns)
12. Baby Lotion
13. Infant washcloths
14. Hooded Towels (I personally never had enough!)
15. Newborn or 0 - 3 size white socks (those puppies get lost so easily in the wash due to their size....you can never have enough)
16. Burp Cloths
17. Lap Pads (these are a lifesaver for when you hold a newborn so you don't get your lap soaked due to a leaky diaper)
18. Bibs
19. Q-tips
20. Receiving blankets

Answer 4

If you ar set on the tub idea then I would fill it with a baby bath robe or a baby towel with a hood (my daughter recieved one that was a big plush towel with a wash cloth sewn on the top at the halfway point and the top of the wash cloth was sewn in half to make a hood), baby soap/shampoo, desitine, tylenol, gas drops, teething tabs, a wash mit, baby q-tips, baby oils and lotions (night time ones are my favorite), some alcohol to cleanse the cord. Stay away from clothes since you don't know the sex and the parents might want to stay away from say Barney or Dora as a example (these are ones my child doesn't get anything in). Get some sticky decals for their bath tub if they don't have any since it won't take long for baby to outgrow the tub, and something I wish I would have gotten is some tub toys for baby. It doesn't matter if mom gets a million bottles of baby lotion, she will use it all sooner or later. Practical stuff is much better than cute stuff. Put a hat and sunscreen for baby in there since it is going to be summer soon (yes I know that you aren't suppose to use it on babys skin but they do make a lotion for baby that has spf protection).

Answer 5

I think the bathtub is a cute idea. Depending on the price, because I know you said you wanted to stick to a certain range, I would definitely get her a hooded towel (a lifesaver for a cold, crying baby) and LOTS of baby washcloths. I love those, because they can even go in the diaper bag for various reasons. And, an astonishing truth? I've found tha tI like the cheaper ones better. They're a little thinner, and a little softer than the thick expensive ones. My best friend got me a couple packs from Walmart, and they're awesome.

Also, I had the same problem as one of the other women who answered...everyone assumes you'll get tons of diapers at your shower, so, no one brings them, and then you have none! I would definitely put at least 1 package of diapers in there, maybe 2 if your budget can swing it. That should, all together bring you to around $30.00, maybe closer to $40.00.

Answer 6

I loved the cute little outfits but neither one of my kids even wore half of the clothes they got. The things that are the most practical and useful are bottles, diapers, wipes, baby shampoo & lotion, maybe some sleepers(the first month that's what the baby is going to wear most). Throw some baby wash rags in and a few hooded towels and you'll have the perfect baby shower gift. I know I would have loved to get something like that for my shower.

Answer 7

Hello!! I make diaper cakes and I think a diaper cake is a GREAT way to give a new mom all the neccesities she needs for the new baby. Find out what type of diapers she is going with....and then have the cake made from that brand!! Fill the cake with pacifiers, bath products, teether toys, bath toys, pacifiers, thermometer, diapering gear, booties, and a plush animal topper!! ADORABLE AND BEAUTIFUL AND MEMORABLE!!

I make diaper cakes...check out my website and see if this is your type of thing. I do two different styles of cake....BLANKETS AS ICING and DIAPERS AS ICING. One may suit your taste more than the other.

I work quickly....if you are on the East Coast we could get your cake shipped out to you tomorrow (Friday) in time to arrive next Friday for the shower!!

I put my link below!

Answer 8

alot of ppl will get diapers but get at least one pack the thing most ppl forget is wet wipes and moms need alot of those just get one normal plastic box then refills also i think that pacifiers are a good idea since they are so easy to use and the little baby socks those disappear all over the place you can never have too many and also dont forget to include something for mom since she will probably be left out and wont get anything....like a nice body wash set or a new robe anything would be appreciated its nice when ppl notice the woman as something other than just a new mom at this point

Answer 9

A good friend of mine had a baby and I included in the gift a coupon for a free night out (babysitting coupon). Her husband thought that was a great gift. A great gift would be anything you made if you are artsy/crafty--quilted blanket, or something like that. I received some blankets from my aunts that mean alot to me because they made them. I used to pad and cover photo albums and cross stitch something on the front and people always liked those. Have fun shopping for the baby!

Answer 10

Is she going to be breast feeding the baby? If she is a terrific gift is the hooter hider, it's a tent like shade that will help conceal a nursing baby in public and still allow mommy and baby to see each other. They are $35.00 but Ebay has knock off ones for $12. And a good breast feeding book by Le Leche League.

One thing that I got for myself is a carrier called my baby nest. The woman who designed it lived in my neighborhood in NYC and she let me use one for a few days before I purchased it and let me tell you it was the most wonderful thing ever! And you can use it until the babies 35 lbs. It's $45.00

I did they bath tub thing for my cousin and I ended up sending $70.