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Baby Shower Gift Ideas: What to Buy and What to Skip

Practical, thoughtful and budget-friendly baby shower gift ideas, plus gifts for the new mum and a list of baby products to avoid or check for safety.

Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.

The best baby shower gift is one that the parents will use. Before you buy, check whether there is a registry or wish list, and ask the host or the parents-to-be if you are unsure. If there is no list, the ideas below are almost always welcome.

Practical gifts that always get used

• Nappies (diapers) in a few sizes, not only newborn size, because babies outgrow the smallest size within weeks.
• Fragrance-free baby wipes and nappy cream.
• Muslin cloths or burp cloths. A new baby can get through many of them.
• Sleepsuits and vests in sizes from newborn up to six months. Soft, easy-to-fasten styles are the most useful.
• A baby sleeping bag or wearable blanket, which is a safe way to keep a baby warm at night.
• Soft towels, a baby bath thermometer and a gentle wash.
• A digital thermometer, nail scissors or clippers and a nasal aspirator.
• Bottles, a steriliser or a breastfeeding pillow, if the parents have said they would like them.

Gifts for the new mum

New mothers often get overlooked at a shower, yet recovering from birth and feeding a baby is demanding. Thoughtful gifts include:

• Comfortable loungewear, a dressing gown, slippers or a cosy blanket.
• A large water bottle, healthy snacks and nipple cream, if she plans to breastfeed.
• Meals for the freezer, a food delivery voucher or a promise to cook a meal after the birth.
• A voucher for a cleaning service or a few hours of help at home.
• A beautiful journal for early memories.

Keepsake gifts

• A book about the baby's first year, or a memory box.
• A photo frame or a set of milestone cards.
• A hand and footprint kit.
• A personalised blanket or soft toy for use outside the cot. Remember that loose items should not go in a baby's sleep space.
• A tree, a plant or a charity donation in the baby's name, if the parents would like it.

Gifts under a small budget

• A board book or a favourite childhood picture book with a handwritten note.
• A pack of muslins or a soft bath toy.
• A small bottle of unscented baby wash.
• A handmade card with an offer of help, such as babysitting or a home-cooked dinner.
• A group gift, where several guests chip in for something bigger like a pram, a car seat or a cot.

Gifts to avoid or think twice about

• Cot bumpers, pillows, duvets, soft toys and sleep positioners or wedges. Loose items in a baby's sleep space raise the risk of suffocation, and safe sleep guidance says to leave them out. In the US, crib bumpers and inclined sleepers were banned from sale in 2022.
• Second-hand car seats. A seat that has been in a crash, is past its expiry date or has missing parts may not protect a baby properly. Read our car seat safety guide before buying or accepting one.
• Baby walkers. Some countries, including Canada, have banned them because of the risk of falls and burns, and many paediatric groups advise against them.
• Strongly scented products, which can irritate newborn skin and bother a new mum.
• Lots of tiny newborn clothes. Babies grow fast, so size up.
• Anything with small parts, button batteries or long cords.
• Gifts that assume a sex or a name the parents have not shared.

Gift-giving tips

• Include a gift receipt so that the parents can exchange anything they already have.
• Buy from the registry first, and if it is already bought out, pick something consumable such as nappies.
• Write a short card with your good wishes. Our guide to baby shower card messages has examples.
• If you cannot attend, send the gift to the host or the parents ahead of time.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.