Gift Ideas

Overview

Recently invited to a baby shower? Not sure what to do? We can help.
A baby shower is often organized by a friend or family member of an expectant mother. The idea is to celebrate the upcoming birth and help mom prepare with essentials like diapers, toys and furniture as well as stress-relieving activities like a trip to the spa.
Looking for ideas around infant and toddler birthdays? Click here.

Before you get too worried about what to buy, check to see if the mom-to-be has registered anywhere. Registries simplify the process significantly, but if that’s not an option, here are some ideas to get you started…
- Gift cards
  - If you’re stuck for ideas or in a hurry, you can’t go wrong with a gift card. Whether it’s for baby stuff (eg: books, toys, furniture) or something for mom (eg: spa, restaurant, clothing), it will always be appreciated.
- Essentials
  - Consider giving diapers and clothing that are a bit larger than newborn size to make the transition easier as her baby grows.
    - Diapers and related items (eg: cream, wipes, diaper pail, diaper bag, portable changing mat)
    - Cloths, towels, blanket
    - Teether (eg: rings, Sophie the Giraffe), pacifier
    - Clothes (eg: pajamas, booties, hats, onesies, socks, shoes), don’t forget about baby clothes hangers
    - Bath/wash accessories (eg: shampoo, soap, detergent)
- Toys/educational
  - Books – consider giving one that you remember reading as a kid or something for the parents to read like tips on helping the baby sleep.
  - Stuffed animal, toys with lots of textures and sounds
  - Rattle
  - Activity mat/play mat/baby gym
  - Stackable items (eg: cups, blocks)
  - Simple puzzles
  - Bath toys
- Food basics
  - Bottles, utensils, dishes, bottle warmer, placemat, bibs…
  - Food processor for making baby food, trays to freeze the food
  - Offer to make a meal for the family to give the parents a break
- Safety/hygiene items
  - Gates for the stairs
  - First aid items (thermometer, bandages, antibiotic ointment, pediatric ibuprofen, etc)
  - Baby monitor
  - Outlet covers
  - Nail trimmers, nasal aspirator, soft brush,
- Sleep
  - White noise maker sound machine for babies
  - Baby music/lullabies
  - Nightlight
  - Mobile
  - Humidifier
- Making memories
  - Growth chart to hang on the wall
  - Photography session (either through a professional or, if you have the eye for it, offer to take some newborn photos yourself)
  - Photo album, scrapbook, picture frame
  - Engraved or monogrammed items, large block letters with the child’s name on them
  - Photography props (eg: floor mats showing the baby’s age)
  - Handprint/footprint kit
- Furniture/larger items
  - For these items, it’s always best to find out what is needed and which brands are preferred before buying anything
    - Crib (possibly one that converts to a toddler bed), travel crib, bedding, bassinet, pillow
    - Car seat – always buy these new. It’s unsafe to buy a used car seat if you don’t know it’s history.
    - Change table
    - High chair
    - Stroller
    - Jumpers, swings, bouncy seats
    - Slings, carriers
    - Toy chest, basket, storage boxes, shelves
    - Playhouse – these can range from elaborate outdoor options to self-assembled cardboard ones.
- For the mother-to-be
  - Don’t forget about mom in the process. It’s nice to recognize that she’ll need some stress relief and pampering in the hectic, sleep-deprived times to come.
    - A gift card or homemade “coupon” to give her some much needed free time. You can use this for a lot of activities including:
      - A night of babysitting
      - A home cooked meal
      - House cleaning (professional or done by you)
      - Her favourite restaurant
      - The local spa (massage, manicure, pedicure)
      - A night in a hotel
      - A night nurse/nanny
      - A grocery card
    - Breastfeeding items like a pump, nursing top/cover, lanolin ointment
    - Jewelry (eg: with the child’s birthstone or even engraved with their actual heartbeat recorded at birth)
    - Give her a box of small individually wrapped gifts with each gift intended for a specific purpose. Eg: “open me when you feel stressed” – bubble bath, “open me when you need a pick me up” – coffee gift card, “open me when you need a laugh” – funny picture of the two of you, etc)
    - Slow cooker – to simplify meals
- On a budget?
  - If you’re crafty, try knitting a blanket or hat for the new arrival.
  - Offer to babysit for a night or two to give her a break.
  - Give the mom-to-be a pedicure at home.
You can keep the theme simple and just present gifts around the mom-to-be and baby-to-come or you can incorporate other themes. For instance:
- If you’re buying a stuffed animal or animal themed bath towel consider our Animal Lover theme.
- If the mom-to-be is going to use cloth diapers or you’re giving gifts made of recycled products, try incorporating our Recycler/Eco-friendly theme.
Have a suggestion for a baby shower gift we haven’t covered here? Let us know and we’ll try to add it onto the list.

Wrapping

Wrap the gift in a baby blanket or onesie instead of wrapping paper
Tie a small item (eg: stuffed animal, balloons, pacifier, etc) into the ribbon around the gift.
Use a diaper pin or clothespin to attach baby socks to the outside of the gift.
Have a child put hand or footprints on the wrapping paper or search online for pictures of footprints and print them instead.
Put quotes or baby wishes on the wrapping paper
Have your kids decorate the wrapping paper themselves
Wrap a gift card in a baby sock or inside a bottle
Make a diaper cake or pick up one that’s ready-made
Wrap the gift as an oversized block letter (with letters and/or numbers on all six sides). You can simply use brown craft paper and draw on it with a marker to keep things simple.
For smaller gifts, add a unique touch by making your own box.

Presentation

A quick online search for baby shower games will give you a tonne of options. While most of them are fairly groan-worthy, there may be a few that get your attention. Try incorporating one into your presentation. For instance, put together a playlist that has every song you can think of with baby in the title. Play snippets of each and get the mom-to-be to guess what song it is. If she gets it right, she can open another gift.
Use quotes or phrases about babies when you present the gifts or in your card. For example:
- “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart” ~Winnie the Pooh
- “A baby fills a place in your heart you never knew was empty” ~Unknown
- “Babies are such a nice way to start people” ~ Don Herold