Baby showers are simply a given, and although I am a mother, I sometimes have no idea what I should gift the expectant mom. Frankly, I have forgotten what items I loved during the newborn stage, and as time moves on, it’s hard to keep up with the latest baby gadgets that new moms may need in order to make their lives easier.
By all means, default to your friend or loved one’s baby registry, but if you need some additional baby shower gifts, here are a few items and retailers that today’s mamas may find useful!
Shop Local for Baby
Bazzle Baby: Home of bandana bibs, bibs with teethers, silicone bibs, and any bib to meet every need from eating, drooling, to being on the go. Plus, teething mitts, pacifier clips, and gift bundles.
Bay & Bee: Bay & Bee is a local online retailer full of quality infant accessories and tried-and-true Montessori-inspired toys. Bonus: They offer door delivery right here in Jax!
Sheep Dreamzzz Blankets: These handmade baby blankets are so soft and beautiful and are a perfect size. Bonus: Each purchase helps a mother in Nicaragua feed her family. Under the non-profit Sheep Not Goats umbrella, ran by St. Augustine mom Sandy Jacoby.
More Must-Haves for New Moms
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump: For nursing mothers, this is literally a vital item. It can be used as a pump when engorged, a milk saver to catch milk during letdown when nursing a baby, and it has a suctioned bottom to keep it safe on a table. Genius! $16, Amazon
Muslin Swaddles: Muslin swaddles are great to have for providing a breastfeeding cover, stroller blanket, burp cloth, or used as a makeshift shade when baby falls asleep in the stroller. These blankets can also double as a shield in light rain, a playmat, changing mat, picnic blanket, or even an emergency towel for baby when you forget to pack a towel for the beach or pool. The uses are endless.
Velcro Swaddles: Not everyone will master the art of wrapping a baby like a burrito! Save your friend the hassle and give her a few velcro swaddles.
My Brest Friend Pillow: While the Boppy continues to be very popular, I found My Brest Friend Pillow to be more supportive as it naturally encourages better posture while also alleviating any potential strains on the back, neck, and arms. Nursing neck is literally a pain in the neck. It also has a handy pouch for stashing necessary supplies like nipple cream. $35, Amazon
NoseFrida: Yes, the crazy snot sucker. I know, I actually said before kids I would never use that — but guess what? It ended up being a lifesaver when the kids were congested and didn’t master the art of blowing their noses yet. $15, Amazon
Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer: After the fragile newborn stage when the temperature check in the bum is no longer required, I loved the Kinsa. It has an app that comes with it which makes it easy to keep track of temps and when you last checked. It is also great to show the doctor’s office if you end up going in for a sick visit. $40, Amazon
Cute Pacifier or Teething Toy Clips: My kids never took a pacifier, but for those who do, I understand pacifier and teething toy clips to be invaluable so they don’t get dropped on the ground over and over again.
Peepee Teepees: These are extremely cost-effective and great for keeping boy moms dry during diaper changes. $10, Amazon
Bandana Bibs: These are always a go-to favorite choice instead of the traditional and sometimes oh-so-boring cloth bib. They’re so soft and are great for spit-up and drool — and they can make a plain old white onesie look super cute!
Baby Wrap: A basic soft wrap of sorts like the Baby K’tan would be a great gift as this is one thing that I couldn’t live without in the early days.
Diaper Subscription Service: Maybe consider going in on this gift with friends. Think of this as a gift that keeps giving, and it’s easy to change the sizes as they grow.
Keepsake Boxes for Kid Stuff: This is a great idea to help mama organize kids’ paperwork, school work, pictures and all of the memories separated by years from preschool through 12th grade.
Books for First-Time Moms: Try Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy — the humor makes it easy to read! We also love the short stories in Mom Babble: The Messy Truth About Motherhood by Mary Katherine Backstrom.
Puracy Natural Laundry Stain Remover: I seriously don’t know how I did it before discovering this. It literally gets almost anything out including breast milk and blood. It works on clothes, linens, bedding, car seats, cloth diapers, and so much more. $12, Amazon
Cloud B Sleep Sheep Sound Soother: This is a great gender-neutral gift that Mom most likely wouldn’t buy for herself but will end up using it everyday. This has an easy hook and loop fastener for attachment to the baby’s crib, stroller, or car seat. Makes a great portable sound machine on the go! $25, Amazon
Breastfeeding Care Package: Consider making a breastfeeding care package with boobie ice packs, breast pads, nipple cream, milk storage bags, a quality water bottle for mom, shelf-stable snacks that are easy to eat one-handed while nursing, etc. The best thing of all is that it’s all stuff a new nursing mom ends up really needing and wouldn’t have thought to buy.
Mom-Centered Care Package: Think face masks, foot peels, bath bombs, a nice blanket for the millions of times she’s gonna be up at night, and maybe a little basket of snacks for the baby’s room or wherever she’s going to be with baby throughout the night, a new pair of house slippers, coffee (and gift cards to favorite local coffee spots), help with laundry, or consider a housecleaning service, so they don’t have to worry about it themselves. Offer babysitting time, even if it’s just to sit in their house for a day while Mom sleeps and showers without having to worry about the baby.
Meals: Consider a meal subscription, leave some frozen homecooked meals that can be warmed up, bring meals or even better yet, volunteer to start a meal train after the baby arrives.
Basket Full of Infant Goodies: Infant Tylenol, Camilia teething drops, Gripe Water, teething tablets, diaper cream, and all the things that she may need in the middle of the night.
What are your go-to items for baby shower gifts?
