Having a baby shower is one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy (right alongside that magical pregnancy glow, naturally). When else do you get to be surrounded by friends and family, all celebrating the new life you created?

Being a guest at a baby shower for someone you care about can be equally rewarding. You get to show them how much you love them and how excited you are to meet their little one! If you’re going to a baby shower, you can’t go empty-handed — you’ll need to bring a gift or two for the new parents.

If you want to bring the perfect gift but just don’t know what to get, you’ve come to the right place. Check out six baby shower gifts that will be the talk of the season:

Before we dig into all of our favorite baby shower gifts, it’s important to cover some basics. First, you’ll want to pay attention to what the mama-to-be says about her gift wishes. Many women put together a gift registry before their baby shower with a complete list of all the items they want or need. A gift registry can save time trying to read her mind or guess what she may need, so definitely use that if available.

It’s a good idea to consider your relationship with the new mom and what the expectations may be for a gift. Maybe she’s a coworker or mutual friend, and you can keep it to something small — a care package with body wash, lotion, and a cute onesie.

Or perhaps she’s your best friend in the whole world. In this case, you might want to get her a big-ticket item like the baby carrier she’s been eyeing for months.

And, of course, remember to attach a sweet card or thoughtful note to your gift so that she knows exactly who it’s coming from and what she means to you. 

So, let’s get into it! Here are our top six favorite baby shower gift ideas for new mothers.

Getting your gal pal some gifts to help with baby bathtime is a no-brainer. Bathtime supplies are something she’ll absolutely use, making it the perfect gift for someone who doesn’t have a registry or whom you don’t know quite as well.

Plus, putting together a gift basket is a great way to cover all of your bases with a sprinkle of luxury. 

You can stock bathtime gift baskets with baby bath towels, unperfumed baby bath soap, and bath toys. Instead of a gift box, slide them into a shower caddy tied up with a bow for a functional present. Just don’t forget the rubber duck. 

Or, you could take it in a different direction and get decadent bath items for HER. After all, no one could benefit more from a little R&R than a new mom! Get her some soothing body lotion, a mineral-rich bath soak, and a new set of nice, fluffy towels.

Bathtime is all about self-care — whether you end up putting together a gift basket for her or her baby, you can’t go wrong.

Similarly, you could put together a thoughtful gift basket to help baby (and mama) catch some much-needed ZZZs. A curated infant sleep registry might include a few adorable onesies, a board book for reading before bed, or a cute night light. 

Include a luxury fleece blanket in a precious baby-themed print that the new mom can use to snuggle her little one during feeding time. Consider getting a few items for baby and a few for mom, such as a swaddle that matches a brand-new designer robe for the mom-to-be.

Easy gender-neutral gifts geared to helping a newborn baby sleep include white noise machines. Forgo the wrapping paper and load up the sound machine or mobile into a diaper bag — two great gifts in one. 

Maybe she has nearly everything she could want on her registry but hasn’t thought about what she’ll bring to the hospital on her due date — she needs the luxury hospital bundle. It’s complete with all the hospital essentials to make her stay as comfortable as possible, even in a not-so-comfortable setting. We think it’s the absolute perfect baby shower gift.

Becoming a new parent can be a bit overwhelming. From picking out a baby name to baby-proofing the home and making a birth plan, trying to remember everything you have to take care of before baby arrives is certainly a task. 

One of the best ways to help the parents-to-be is by taking care of one of the larger items on the list, such as a crib, bassinet, or high chair.

When it comes to picking out furniture, pay as close attention to mama’s taste and style preferences as possible. If she has a baby registry put together, definitely use that to pick out the exact item you want.

Go for high-quality furniture, and do your research — any type of bed or high chair (or car seat) should meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

No matter what her parenting methods or personal style may be, every baby needs clothes, making this a super safe bet for any baby shower. There are so many high-quality brands of baby clothes out there; baby onesies are so cute that you might be tempted to go a little crazy picking out adorable outfits. 

Remember that babies grow fast! The most helpful gift might actually be a set of baby clothes — a newborn onesie, another onesie for months 3-6, another for months 6-9, and so on. (Baby apparel is sized by weight.)

Additionally, think about the baby’s size in relation to the season. For example, if the due date is in the winter, those faux sheepskin booties and insulated bodysuits shouldn’t be in a newborn size. 

Don’t be afraid to get some clothes for mama, too. Depending on when she throws her shower, she may have a whole trimester of wearing maternity clothes left. She’d likely appreciate nothing more than a gift card to her favorite maternity clothing brand (we might be biased, but we think HATCH is pretty great). Or perhaps she’s taking a babymoon and needs a new dress for that.

Whatever the case may be, baby showers are for celebrating both the new baby and the expecting mama — so don’t be afraid to get a gift focused on just her.

In the first year, babies can go through 2,500 to 3,000 diapers. You can make every diaper change a little less stressful if you give a diaper pail full of the diapering solution of choice (ask ahead of time). Rather than wrapping up the box, make a diaper cake: A diaper cake is a classic that’s part gift, part iconic decor. 

On a similar note, a changing table or changing pad are larger items that parents are sure to appreciate. 

A gift to help the new mom commemorate and remember this time in her life can be incredibly valuable and meaningful, especially coming from someone she cares about.

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Finally, no matter the parenting style or personal tastes of the mama you’re celebrating, there are a few baby essentials that every new parent will need. They’ll go through baby food and diapers like nobody’s business, and other essentials, like baby bottles and pacifiers, will be extremely useful too.

Not every family will use baby bottles or pacifiers. So, if you’re in doubt, the following are sure-fire winners:

Okay, so you’ve got the perfect gift picked out — what else do you need?

The final touches: add a handwritten card to the gift that lets the new mama know exactly how you feel about her. A gift is lovely, but it’s the intentions behind it that matter most. Other than that, all that’s left to do is pick out the perfect baby shower outfit and then show up and be there for her! 

Sources:

Bathing your baby | Ready Steady Baby | NHS

Crib Safety Tips | CPSC.gov

Here’s How Many Diapers Your Baby Really Needs | Parents

How to Make a Baby Shower Diaper Cake | Verywell Family