20 Practical Baby Shower Gifts Mom & Baby Will Love
Your favorite lady is having a baby! Awesome! The baby shower is quickly approaching and you want to make sure that you get her some of the most useful baby gifts possible. But what happens if her baby registry is looking a little sparse? Or maybe she’s a second time mom and only lists diapers and wipes as shower gift ideas (I am totally guilty of this, ha!)
First of all, just let me go ahead and thank you on behalf of your friend. You’re awesome for caring so much for her needs.
Choosing practical baby shower gifts can be tough. You want to get something that is functional, yet looks great. Something unique, yet extremely useful. Don’t worry. That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this post.
Below are just a few of the most useful gifts for baby that I’ve received as a new mom. These are some incredible but easily forgotten baby shower gifts that every mom needs…she just doesn’t know it yet.
Trust me, these gifts will make you a hero in her book!
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This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.
Useful Baby Shower Gifts For Baby
When you go to a baby shower, you’re essentially purchasing gifts for two very different people. Let’s look at the practical baby shower gifts for baby first and then we can tackle mom’s needs.
Sound Machine
If you’re a last gen parent, you’re probably scratching your head at this new trend. I don’t blame you. A white noise machine wasn’t even on my radar during pregnancy. In fact, I thought the whole idea was a little weird.
Motherhood taught me the error in my ways.
White noise machines project a gentle sound that dulls any surrounding background noise. For the exhausted mom, this machine is a godsend when the Amazon delivery man rings the doorbell, the family dog starts barking, or if she just wants to watch a late-night movie.
There are plenty of sound machines on the market, but she’ll probably get the most use out of the Hatch sound machine. It’s a nightlight/sound machine/alarm hybrid that is wirelessly controlled by your mommy friend’s smartphone.
Personalized Baby Blanket
A personalized blanket is a functional yet unique baby shower gift both mom and baby will appreciate.
Babies naturally require a lot of blankets, whether for sleeping, swaddling, or a makeshift diaper changing station. A personalized blanket will eventually turn into a treasured gift.
My favorite place to shop for personalized blankets is Zazzle. The blanket pictured above is well-priced and endlessly customizable.
Baby Bath Care Basket
If you’re looking for inexpensive yet practical baby shower gifts, a baby bath soap bundle is a great option. Even if your mom-to-be receive two or three of these sets, it will always be much appreciated and well-used.
I love the Aveeno bundle in particular. Not only is it the #1 pediatrician recommended brand, but their products are free of parabens and other chemicals that can irritate a baby’s skin. This set also includes products for both mom and baby, such as the baby shampoo/soap, baby lotion, baby bath wash, and body wash and lotion for mom.
Baby Car Mirror
Mirrors have become an important accessory in family cars. These nifty, inexpensive inventions allow parents to check on their baby’s health and reassure them through a few well-timed silly faces. Right now, your mom-to-be probably hasn’t thought to put this item on her gift registry, but I can almost guarantee that she will want one later.
Ideally, you’ll want to find a backseat mirror that provides a clear, shatterproof reflection.
Hello Bell Diaper and Wipes Bundle
Do you know Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd? Anna from Frozen?
They created an affordable eco-friendly diaper that really changed the game for me. The liner of Hello Bello diapers is made from plant-based, bio-degradable fibers. Hello Bello diapers don’t contain artificial perfumes, parabens, chlorine, lotions, and latex, making them a fantastic options for babies with sensitive skin.
The best part? Hello Bello is totally affordable. The diapers range from $.20-$35 per diaper, depending on size and quantity. If you have an environmentally-conscious mom-to-be on your hands, Hello Bello is a must!
The diaper and wipes bundle is a great value.
With the bundle you’ll get:
- 7 packs of diapers
- 3 packs of baby wipes (water-based!)
- 1 Bonus Goodie
You can either gift your mom friend with a monthly subscription or buy her a single bundle for $65.99. Just to sweeten the deal, right now you can get 25% off your bundle when you use the code HELLO25.
RELATED POST: Hello Bello Diaper Review + Coupon 2021
Fridababy Bitty Bundle of Joy
Frida is a baby health products brand that makes a rather unique product: the Frida Baby SnotSucker. In my experience, there is no other aspirator that clears up a newborn’s nose like the SnotSucker.
This giftset includes the SnotSucker as well as other essentials your mommy-to-be friend will need during her newborn’s first year of life. Some of these items include, the Windi gas passer, a set of nail clippers, and, for mom, a perineal washer (which will definitely not be on her baby registry, but she’ll definitely need).
Bottle Sterilizers
Look, your mom friend doesn’t know she needs this yet…but I promise she does. I did not have a bottle sterilizer for my firstborn. I suffered. I washed my pump supplies and her bottles endlessly…I cringe just thinking about it.
Bottle sterilizers are often overlooked because of the importance of other gift registry items. With that said, bottle sterilizers are downright luxurious tools that can save new moms tons of time.
Ideally, a bottle sterilizers will be able to sanitize bottles, pacifiers, teething toys, and nipples. Personally, I love this sterilizer because it serves as a bottle and food warmer as well.
Baby Detergent
This baby shower gift might not be glamorous, but your mom-to-be will thank you for it later.
From birth to about 12 months, a baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive. Regular laundry detergents contain chemicals that can irritate a baby’s skin, causing eczema and allergic reactions. Baby detergents, on the other hand, are free from these chemicals, often focusing on plant-based ingredients. However, new moms do a lot of laundry, making baby detergent quite expensive.
When searching for the right baby detergent, keep in mind that they should read hypoallergenic and high-efficiency washer capable. Personally, I loved the Dreft brand because they were affordable and gentle on my daughter’s skin.
Miracle Blanket
The Miracle Blanket is the swaddle to end all swaddles.
I, like so many other moms, ordered several traditional swaddle blankets. After several Youtube tutorials and failed attempts, I finally swaddled my baby…only to discover that she could break out of any swaddle I wrapped around her.
That’s when the the Miracle Blanket saved the day. Unlike regular blankets, the Miracle Blanket requires no fancy swaddling techniques and it’s basically Houdini Baby-proof.
Children’s Books
Research has shown that reading to babies and toddlers can give them a big jump start developmentally. Not only that, but books given by someone special often become lifelong keepsakes.
SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT!
Baby Rocker
Baby rockers are practical baby shower gifts that are completely necessary for a new mom’s survival.My mother-in-law purchased my first baby rocker. This rocker kept my baby safe and content while I cleaned, showered, cooked, and everything in between.
If you want to give your mom-to-be the gift of freedom, check out my post on automatic baby rockers. I’ve narrowed down your selection to only best models listed for the best prices.
RELATED POST: The Best Baby Rockers to Soothe Your Baby
Practical Baby Shower Gifts For Mom
With all the hype surrounding babies, it’s easy for most guests to overlook a new mom’s needs at a baby shower. In fact, many new moms forget their own needs. Luckily, you’re an awesome friend.
The gifts below are perfect baby showers gifts for mom only not baby. OVer the next few weeks, she’ll be so thankful you thought of her.
Pregnancy Box
What’s unique and immediately says “Girl, I love you?” Pregnancy boxes!
Lifestyle boxes are seriously trending. My favorite pregnancy box is, hands-down, the “Oh, Baby Box.” This box includes fun and extremely useful items for your girl’s pregnancy and postpartum. Things she’ll never think she’ll need like nipple balm, morning sickness tea (this truly works), and pregnancy skin care products. Once again, you can purchase her 3 or 6 months worth of subscriptions or just one box for $39.99.
Nursing Clothes
If your mom-to-be is planning on nursing, the best thing practical baby shower gift you could buy her is a quality nursing top. (Extra brownie points if it doubles as a maternity top).
As a nursing mom myself, I can personally attest that the more nursing shirts, the better! Whether by me or my baby, my nursing tops consistently got dirty, requiring multiple change-outs a day.
A good nursing top is soft, stylishish, supportive, and easily works well with nursing bras. You can find nursing tops almost anywhere these days, but I love Undercover Mama.
Undercover Mama nursing tops actually clip directly onto the nursing nursing bra, allowing mom to uncover herself in one movement. Super convenient!
Postpartum Belly Wrap
After months of constant tugging, a woman’s abdominal muscles are stretched to the max. A postpartum belly wrap helps pull those muscles back together and reduce her baby bump. When you’re searching for the perfect postpartum belly wrap, focus on a brand with great reviews that is breathable, comfortable, and applies proper support.
Nursing Cover
When baby asks for a treat during a social event, many women feel uncomfortable baring themselves in front of others. A good nursing cover will give your mommy friend the privacy she needs and baby a cozy environment to eat in.
There are several types of nursing covers you can purchase, such as a nursing apron, canopy/nursing scarf, or infinity scarf. My favorite by far was this nursing apron. It was breathable, inexpensive, and provided the most privacy.
Pregnancy Planner
Most pregnancy planners contain typical daily, weekly, or monthly calendars, as well as helpful organization sheets for pregnancy-related events.
My favorite pregnancy planner includes trimester checklists, provider questionnaires, birth plan templates, hospital and baby checklists, and so many more goodies. It’s a printable planner so I can print it anywhere, anytime, or use it digitally.
Ideally a pregnancy planner will serve two functions: help new moms stay organized and capture her thoughts as her pregnancy continues. Once her baby is born, it will become a keepsake that she’ll never throw away.
Pregnancy Pillow
As a budget-conscious new mom, I thought that I could get away with clumping a few pillows together. Boy, was I wrong! If your mom-to-be hasn’t treated herself to this gift, she will really thank you for it later.
As her baby grows, she’ll struggle more and more with back pain and insomnia. A pregnancy pillow is an U or C-shaped body pillow that will support her back and alleviate some of that pressure.
Nursing Pillow
If you know that your mom-to-be will be nursing and a nursing pillow isn’t on her list, get her one. Without it, she will either hunch over or raise her baby to her breast, resulting in tired arms and an aching back.
A breastfeeding pillow curves around mom’s waist and raises baby to her breast, allowing her to nurse with great posture and convenience.
I’ve experimented with a few nursing pillows and the Boppy is, by far, my favorite. The pillow itself is firm yet comfortable. Plus, it offers the largest variety of cover patterns.
Baby Care Books
New moms need all the help they can get. From infant sleep to newborn care to mental development, baby care books can give her the knowledge and facts she needs to walk through early motherhood confidently.
The most helpful books I recommend are:
- The Wonder Weeks (Baby development and activities)
- On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep (Sleep and schedules)
- Secrets of a Baby Whisperer (Sleep and schedules)
- The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems (Sleep, schedules, and common baby/toddler struggles)
- The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
- The Happiest Baby on the Block
Postpartum Care Kit
Between the needs of her newborn and the trauma her own body has just experienced, the first 6 weeks postpartum are some of the most harrowing trials a new mom can experience. A postpartum care kit includes the essentials she will need to survive and thrive during this period (no pun intended).
To create a DIY postpartum care kit, you’ll need these materials:
- XL pads
- Maternity underwear
- Incontinence pad
- Perineal spray
- Epsom salt
- Breast pads
- Witchhazel pads
- A cute basket
Stroller Organizer
A stroller organizer alleviates the frustration of cramming all her baby essentials into whatever tiny compartment her stroller contains. It basically substitutes a diaper bag, containing her diapers, wipes, toys, breastfeeding supplies, drinks, and more.
RELATED POST: The Baby Charm Stroller Organizer Review
Breastfeeding Essentials Kit
Breastfeeding is difficult for any mom, new or experienced. To help your mom-to-be start off on the right foot, you can create a breastfeeding essentials kit. It’s so, so easy to do! The key ingredients are:
- Breast Pads
- Mother’s Milk Tea
- Water Bottle
- Burp Cloths
- Nipple Butter
- Heating Pads
- Water Bottle
Still Need More Ideas for Unique Baby Shower Gifts?
Your mommy-to-be friend is lucky to have someone that cares enough to buy practical baby shower gifts. Hopefully by now you feel confident that whichever of the gifts above you choose, she will love it for months, even years, to come.
However, if you’re still looking for ideas, feel free to browse around the blog. We have plenty of posts that go over the most essential products for mom.
In the meantime, if this post helped you make your decision, I would love to hear from you. In fact, I’d love to know what you got your mom-to-be friend. Let me know in the comments below!
Good luck!
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