Buying a More Helpful Baby Gift

Obviously, the best gifts at a baby shower or to one of your mom friends are those that the mother has registered for. This is what the mom really wants, so you should try to make sure she gets what is on her registry! However, for the baby showers where there is not a registry or when it is for another baby in the family, consider the following alternatives for gifts!

Instead of buying tiny clothes, buy bigger sizes.

We received some of the cutest newborn clothes, never to be worn because we had way too many small sizes. Everyone wants to buy the cute, little newborn or 0-3 month outfits, which is great, but you end up with way too many. Unless you are changing outfits 10 times a day, you’ll never be able to use it all. Instead, buy a bigger size. Some of the best gifts we received at our showers were 12 and 18-month outfits or pajamas that could be used any time of the year. Just be careful with the season issue. For girls, you can’t go wrong with a dress that can be layered with a long sleeve onesie, cardigan or tights, or cotton shirts and pants that can be for any season. For boys, think T-shirts and pants instead of shorts and jackets.

Instead of buying big toys, buy blocks or duplos.

Some people just do not have room in their homes for large toys. Before you buy one, ask the mother if it is something she wants. If she says no, get some blocks or duplos that baby can grow into playing with. My daughter still spends hours building houses, trains and towers with her duplos and blocks.

Instead of buying a wipe warmer, buy diapers and wipes.

To me, a wipe warmer for a baby is like a towel warmer for an adult. They’re really nice, but just not needed. Instead, buy something you cannot go wrong with—diapers and wipes. Just make sure you check to see if the mom will be using disposables or cloth and if she has a brand preference!

Instead of dropping off dinner, give a coupon book to the new mother.

Dropping off dinner is great, but there is still a house to be cleaned, a baby to be fed, and sleep to be found. Offer a coupon book to the mom with offers such as a day of house cleaning, a few hours of uninterrupted sleep in the middle of the night or during the day where you watch and feed baby so mom can sleep, or offer to take the older kids for the day so mom can focus on baby. You can also include some gift cards to her favorite restaurants that have delivery and carry-out.

Instead of buying blankets, buy white onesies.

The one pack of blankets we registered for have been used for swaddles and nursing covers. They are now my daughter’s comfort objects that she takes to bed. The majority of the rest of the blankets we were given have never been used. The ones we kept were the handmade ones, including one of our favorites: a look and find quilt with different letters, numbers and pictures on it. Go the white onesie route instead of the blanket route. We loved onesies and put them with every outfit until our daughter was about 18 months old!                  

Instead of buying stuffed animals, buy books.

Yes, they’re soft, cuddly and cute, but baby doesn’t need more than a few. We continue to receive stuffed animals for gifts, and they either get rotated out or donated. Books, on the other hand, we cannot get enough of, and help baby with learning words, colors, and objects. The host of our baby shower asked guests to bring a book instead of a card, so we received a lot of books this way too.

Instead of giving cash, buy experience gifts.

This can be in the form of an aquarium, zoo or pool pass. Yes, cash is great so mom can buy whatever she wants, but having an annual pass somewhere may be something she cherishes so she can get out of the house and walk around with her new baby. And if you have the same pass, you and your kids can meet your friend there for play dates!

What were the most helpful baby shower gifts you received?