By Melissa H.
Baby showers have gotten more glamorous and crafty since Pinterest has become popular, but there is something about baby showers that never change. The gifts! It’s so fun to go shopping for someone else’s baby and find something small and cute, especially if you are done having children, or don’t have any of your own.
But how many of us stop and think about what the parents are actually wanting for their baby? What about the parents who are having a girl who don’t want a ton of pink? What about the parents who are having twins who don’t want them to wear matching clothes all the time? Maybe they shouldn’t be so greedy and just accept what you give them? Perhaps, but here are some tips to help you be the best gift giver.
Top 5 gifts for a baby shower:
{Go in on a group gift}
That way, the mom isn’t getting 20 different outfits and dresses in newborn size when the baby will only wear sleepers at that age anyway, and will likely grow out of them before wearing them.
Getting everyone to pitch in on a group gift or gift card will give the family a bigger, more expensive gift that they may not have been able to get otherwise. The Bumbleride Indie 4 is a great example of the perfect group gift! It will last for years, comes in so many different colors, and will easily turn into an everyday-use item for the family. Often, people will pitch in $10-$20 for a group gift and then bring a small outfit or toy separately, so to still be able to give something from the heart.
{Diapers}
It’s not that exciting, but giving diapers in size 1 or 2 is such a great idea! Babies are often in the newborn size diapers until about 9 pounds, and some babies are born bigger than that! Most parents will also agree that when you need to go up a size, there isn’t much warning. So having a few different sizes in the house is a great help.
{Books}
Babies can never have enough books! Board books will become the staple of their life for the next 3-4 years. I love baby showers that ask for a book instead of a card, because it starts a wonderful baby library, and instead of spending $4 on a card, guests can spend $6 and get a book for baby. Some of my favorite baby books are: Brown bear, Brown bear, What do you see by Eric Carle, Grumpy Bird by Jeffrey Tankard, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, and Indestructibles baby books.
{Something from the registry}
Some parents (especially first timers) will create a baby registry at a local baby store. Buying something from the registry ensures that they get something they will need for the baby. It shows them that you care about their needs and that you want them to be happy too. Chances are, the registry is full of items they are going to have to buy after the shower is over anyway, so you are saving them money, time, and a shopping trip.
{Nursery Must-Haves}
And if you really want to get something cute, go for one of these great wooden piggy banks from Pearhead. They come in many different animal shapes and colours. They will last for years, grow with the child, and can teach great money habits later in life.
The other thing that I love about these banks is that they are not ceramic, so if they get chucked across the room in a 2 year old tantrum, it might just get a dent or a scratch instead of shattering into a million pieces. And it’s not super heavy, so if the child wants to play with it when they are a bit older, it won’t crush their little toes either!
To learn more about Pearhead piggy banks or purchase it online go to the Oyaco website now.
{Helping a New Mom}
And one more tip for after baby is here that can be organized before baby arrives! Food. You can set up a meal train with friends, coworkers, and family. A meal train is where one person is set to bring a meal/snacks each day for a specified amount of time. Jane can sign up for Monday with Chicken tacos, Eve can sign up for Tuesday with lasagna, Joe can bring muffins and salad on Wednesday etc. The family (or organizer) sets up a delivery time range, puts in food allergies, dislikes, etc, and members can sign up and put what they are bringing. The family then knows what to expect and can plan for the day accordingly. It’s a great way to take stress of food and groceries off their plate.
Try to buy something that has a long term impact in the baby’s life. Even a change table pad will last longer than an outfit size 3 months. On the other hand, if your friend is having their second or third baby, they may have kept all the big items from previous babies (crib, stroller, diaper pail, clothes, etc) and they may need all the small stuff. Number one tip for being a great gift giver: Ask what they need before you go shopping! (And provide a receipt with the gift – not a gift receipt, an actual receipt)
{Giveaway!}
Oyaco products is helping you be the most loved friend at a baby shower with a Whale Wooden bank from Pearhead!
To enter, leave a comment telling us about the best gift you received from your baby shower. Then fill in the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway open to Canadian residents. Giveaway runs from June 9 – June 17, 2015. Void where prohibited.
We all bought the stroller/carseat combination which many gals by community center proceeded to go collectively to acquire. It survived us as a result of just about all 3 of our own toddlers! I believe that had been one of the most utilized bathe gift yet my personal favorite had been probably the fisher price bush tummy moment pad which my personal cousin bought me personally.
Handmade items were my favorite…..from wool slippers, bandana bids, blankets, and a bonnet!
My fav gift from my third babies baby shower was a bassinet from my mom and dad!
mine was a home made baby quilt
Looking forward to one soon:) Love giving lamps.
With my first, my favourite shower gift was a bassinet and with my second my favourite gift was a stroller. I didn’t have a shower for my 3rd, 4th or 5th children.
My favorites were the basics & consumables – Diapers, powder, shampoo, lotion ETC. because it’s practical and saves us money (B/C then we don’t have to buy them) We are pretty low-key Family so to get us the newest/hottest/most expensive baby gadgets is totally unnecessary 😛
My favorite baby shower gift was my full stash of cloth diapers from my parents!
I’d say handmade blankets are always special
Honestly, it’s boring but diapers. They were my favourite thing to receive,especially with my second, knowing the value of them. If I had the money I’d buy people Tulas though.
diapers
Most beautiful & sentimental, a handmade quilt from my mother-in-law.
I’m afraid that there was no such thing as a baby shower when I had my children – I was living in Europe at the time, maybe they have such events now but they didn’t in the 70s/80s and early 90s. I would have loved a stroller, a diaper cake, a crib, well anything really 🙂
My favourite was hand made extra large receiving blankets.
My fave gift was our City Select Stroller!
Personalized blankets
the high chair was my favourite
The diaper cake I received as it had lots of diapers and some other goodies for our little guy!
I would say diapers.
The best gift was the car seat and stroller combination!!
cloth diapers
My favourite was a basket full of Arbonne products.
One of my favourites was a wagon.
baby blanket (homemade)
I was very appreciative of the gift cards that I was able to use to buy my ‘travel system’. The receiving blankets were also extremely useful.
Infant to toddler chair
I like to give books at baby showers.
My favorite shower gift was a stroller. It was a neccessity that stayed in our family for many, many years. Thanks for sponsoring this baby giveaway and for the opportunity to participate.
I would have to say diapers.
Our best baby shower gift was a dozen cloth diapers with liners for a year.
For my first baby the best first we received were gift cards to a local big box store. We were able to use them to buy a baby swing which we could use for more than one kid.
The second baby, the best gifts were diapers and clothes for size 6-9 or 9-12 months.
We got a stroller/carseat combo that some ladies from church went together to buy. It lasted us through all 3 of our babies! I think that was probably the most used shower gift but my favourite was probably the fisher price jungle tummy time mat that my aunt got me.
I like to give some practical, mom-care stuff (nipple cream, nursing pads etc) for showers now as well as some stuff for baby (like clothes,books etc). Sometimes I find first time parents don’t necessarily know what they’ll need or want for baby and so their registry isn’t always helpful!
My favorite gift was a Year In Baby’s Life Calendar.Was so easy to record milestones big and small
Our best baby shower gift was a stroller. I was so great that friends and family went in on it for us because they are such a necessity and a big ticket item!
My favourite baby shower gift this time around was diapers. We already had lots of gear and clothes from our first, so the diapers were a really welcome necessity.