Creative Baby Shower Gift Ideas
Helpful presents for expectant mothers and fathers
First time parents are not always aware of all the things they need for their baby. Here are some suggestions for useful shower gifts.
Looking for a baby shower gift that an expectant mother and father will truly appreciate? You can always look on their registry, but sometimes new parents don't know exactly what they're going to need when the baby arrives. Here are a few creative gift suggestions that new parents may find helpful.
A swaddle blanket. Almost all newborns are comforted when they are swaddled tightly in a blanket. Unfortunately, learning to wrap a screaming baby tightly in a blanket can be an acrobatic challenge. A swaddle blanket wraps around a baby easily with strategically placed Velcro. These clever devices only cost about $10-$20.
A white noise machine. This is helpful for the same reason as the swaddle blanket: it helps baby sleep! As an added benefit, it can help exhausted parents sleep as well. White noise machines can run from $15 to $150. A cheap one will probably do the trick.
Onesies. If expectant parents have these cute little bodysuits on their registry, buy them. You can't have too many onesies, which come in both a long sleeve and a short sleeve version. They're comfortable, inexpensive, keep a baby's diaper in place, and can double as sleepwear on warm nights. For a creative touch, personalize a plain bodysuit with the baby's name.
Little cotton protective gloves. Newborns do not have control of their hands and scratch themselves at night, sometimes badly. Trimming the baby's nails can minimize this, but it's difficult to get those teeny tiny nails properly groomed. These little gloves cost next to nothing and stop the scratching. (Note: it's important to stop using the gloves once the baby can remove them, because they are a potential choking hazard.)
Crib shoes. These soft, colorful little shoes are for "prewalkers." They have two important functions: (1) on cold days, they keep the baby's socks on, and (2) they're easier to learn to walk in than shoes with hard soles. In addition, they're incredibly cute. The original brand that made these shoes is Robeez, and Robeez shoes run around $27. Good knockoffs are available for less.
A wearable blanket. Except for swaddling purposes, blankets are not recommended for newborns because they pose a SIDS risk. Wearable blankets are a great alternative. They're usually made out of warm fleece and zip onto baby like a nightgown with no arms. One popular name brand is the HALO Sleep Sack, which runs around $20. Carter's and other companies make less expensive versions.
A mesh bumper guard. When baby gets a little older and starts rolling around the crib, those cute but bulky crib bumpers can be a choking hazard. Later, they can be a climbing hazard. However, a bumper guard is still important because little arms and legs can get stuck. A breathable bumper guard is a great compromise because baby can roll up against it and breathe normally through the mesh. These cost around $20-$40.
A feeding pillow. These half-circle pillows are designed to fit on mom's lap to make nursing more comfortable. They work well with bottle feeding as well. Boppy makes the name brand feeding pillow, and knockoffs are available as well. Boppys cost around $25 and can be accessorized with washable (and cute) slipcovers that cost around $10-$15.
A Bumbo Seat. These little chairs are for babies who can hold up their heads but cannot sit yet. They're designed to sit babies upright and to help them develop the skills to sit on their own. Bumbo seats cost about $40.
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