With all the pregnant bellies around chances are you will find yourself at baby shower at some point this year. Don’t wait until last minute to get your gift. Make it quirky or make it practical – or just make it yourself. Either way your new mamma friend will love your thoughtfulness and feel special you thought of her.
But what if you are stuck on ideas for that awesome baby shower gift. The one that will be opened in front of a room full of people watching intently to see how much mamma likes your gift. Or even knows what it is. Yea, we’ve all been there, or have witnessed it happen.
Mamma unwraps gift. Mamma’s eyes widen a bit. Mamma thinks she knows what she just opened. Oh sh#@, people are watching me. Mamma puts on a big smile and holds up the butt paste for a picture. “Thank you, I’m sure this will help with my hemorrhoids after baby comes.” (Note: please don’t use butt paste on your hemorrhoids – it’s for baby’s butt).
So what do we get a new mamma that will genuinely make her smile and be useful.
Honestly – I think butt paste is the perfect gift. It’s practical, and after a little explanation, mamma will appreciate it too. But if you’re looking for something with a little more crowd appeal, here are my top favorites.
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A Baby Book.
A new mamma friend of mine recently had her baby shower and asked for baby books instead of cards. I loved this idea. I never give cards anyway (what a waste of mo
ney – well unless all you are giving is money, then you need something pretty to put it in). The book idea, however, is so practical. You can write a little note to baby or mamma and it goes on their bookshelf for years to come, instead of directly in the trash. And what’s more, you are contributing to baby’s life long love of reading, right from the start. -
Diapers.
While not as fun as some of the other baby items out there, this one will make mamma happy once she realizes how much diapers cost and how many she will go through in just the first month. With my last baby I managed to go almost 4 months on baby shower diapers alone; what a budget saver. And if diapers aren’t cutesy enough for you, offer to make the baby shower diaper cake. Yea, that’s a thing.
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WubbaNub Infant Pacifier.
I love the WubbaNub pacifiers. They are the soothie brand pacifier with a small stuffed animal attached. Such a great combo. You get the one piece silicon pacifier, which is perfect for cleaning and doesn’t get as gunky as other pacifier styles. And then the stuffed animal helps keep the paci in place for newborns and also makes the pacifier harder to loose. When it gets dirty, you just toss the whole thing in the wash machine gentle cycle.
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Cute Outfit.
There’s really no way you can go wrong with a cut
e outfit. Newborns go through clothes like crazy, so mamma will appreciate the options. I myself, however, prefer the simple white onsie and fun pants. I find dresses on newborn girls to be impractical for everyday use, but boy if they’re not adorable. Whatever you decide on, just keep the season in mind for whatever size clothing you end of getting. -
Bathtub.
Every newborn will need a bath (in about 7-10 days). And there is nothing more daunting for a new sleep deprived mamma, then to figure out how to get a slippery newborn in an out the bath tub. There are no shortages of baby bath tubs on the market, but my favorites are the spongy type pads, like Blooming Bath, that you put in your kitchen or bathroom sink to transform into a comfy bath for baby.
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Stroller.
If you’re looking for a big ticket item to help out your new mamma, she will most likely be in need of a stroller. My favorite is the B.O.B Jogging Stroller. I’ve had mine for 9 years now and it has pushed around four kids from newborn to 4 years old. Even if your mamma’s not a runner, it’s still a great option for getting around the city, or the country, rough terrain, or lots of curbs. We’ve even taken this thing on an airplane, so it also makes a great travel stroller.
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Monogrammed Bibs and Burp Clothes.
Add a personal touch to an item of necessity and you’ve got a heartfelt gift for the new mamma. You an monogram the babies initials or go with the full name. Mamma hasn’t shared the name yet? Then use their last name or come up with your own fun quote to make them laugh. My favorite bib of all time said “These fools put my cape on backwards.” It was perfect for this superhero
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The Happiest Baby on the Block.
I love giving this book to my new mamma friends. It helped me and my husband tremendously when we had our first baby. The tips and techniques that the author teaches on swaddling, shushing and soothing a newborn baby really work and I love sharing these techniques with others.
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A Newborn Portrait Session.
Looking for a truly unique gift that is sure to impress. Give
mamma a gift certificate to your favorite newborn portrait boutique. New mom’s rarely have the time to or energy to look into newborn portraits once baby comes. And since newborns are best photographed within the first 5-10 days after birth mammas often miss this window with all the chaos of motherhood. Help them capture those memories with the precious gift of professional newborn portraiture. -
A Handmade Knitted Bonnet.
Or cap, or blanket, or appropriately themed seasonal prop, perfect for above mentioned portrait session. Want to immortalize your gift in family memories for years to come? Package it with a portrait session gift certificate and mention how much you would love to see baby in a portrait with your beautifully hand knitted, one of a kind, blanket, bonnet, cap, etc. Don’t know how to knit? No worries, because we do! (Well, we know someone who does). Little Evie Prop Shop is my go to gal for all things newborn and knit.
Still not sure you’ve found the perfect idea for your new mamma friend’s baby shower, or want to add a little bit more. Most parent’s register at a store or two once they find out they are pregnant. Find out where your mamma is registered and use her carefully tailored list to get her what she needs most.
Happy Baby Shopping!
