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The 41 Best Baby Shower Gifts for Parents-to-Be

Getting ready to attend a baby shower or congratulate a couple who’s expecting? Need the perfect baby shower gift idea? We've got you covered.
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profile picture of Christin Perry
Updated May 8, 2023
friend arriving to baby shower with gifts and balloons
Image: Studio Firma
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When a friend or loved one shares the wonderful news that they’re becoming a parent, you’ll go through a range of emotions—there’ll be plenty of excitement,maybe even a few happy tears… and then the realization that you have to find a baby shower gift—one that’s awesome, thoughtful, unique and useful for your friend and baby. Tall task? Before you sound the alarm, we’re here to help make the baby shower gift-buying process as easy as shopping online for yourself. Keep scrolling for our top tips on baby shower gift hunting and spending etiquette, plus a specially-curated list of our top choices for the best baby shower gifts for expecting parents.

How to Pick a Good Baby Shower Gift

The simplest way to choose a baby shower gift is to pick something that looks interesting or fits your budget from the couple’s baby registry and call it a day—most baby shower invitations will have all the details you’ll need, like if there’s a theme, what baby’s gender is (if the parents know) and where to find the registry.

It may also tell you if there’s a wishing well, which is a fun addition to some baby showers where guests bring an extra small trinket or two (think baby socks or diaper cream to toss into it). Sometimes the wishing well has its own theme, like “baby’s library,” so you can bring a new baby book along with your main baby shower gift.

But when it comes to baby shower etiquette, there’s no rule that says you have to stick to the registry, and sometimes a unique baby shower gift is the most memorable. If you choose to look off-registry for a good baby shower gift, you’ll want to think about what the recipient would appreciate. Are they design-savvy? Eco-conscious? Funny? Sentimental? Is this their first baby? Do they have lots of space or do they live in a small apartment? The best baby shower gift ideas are tailored to the wants and needs of the new parents. Even if you don’t order from the baby registry, take a look at it to get an idea of the colors and styles they like, and use that as a jumping-off point for what to buy (or you can always DIY if you’re the crafty type!).

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How Much to Spend on Baby Shower Gifts

There’s no right or wrong amount to spend on a baby shower gift, so don’t feel pressured to hit a specific number. It comes down to how well you know the couple. If they’re a sibling or a close friend or family member, you might feel compelled to spend a bit more than you would on a baby shower gift for a coworker or more distant friend. But as long as your gift comes from the heart, you can be sure it’ll be the perfect present.

That being said, many shower guests see $50 as a natural spending threshold, after which you enter the more expensive items one might buy for a family member or particularly well-loved friend. To help you in your search, we’ve separated our recommended baby shower gifts into two spending categories, above and below this amount. Don’t be surprised if you find just the right baby shower gift off our list and add it to your shopping cart for instant checkout!

The Best Baby Shower Gifts Under $50

Hoping to keep your price point under $50? Below, we’ve listed our favorite baby shower gift ideas that won’t break the bank. Give them as a standalone gift and save some coin, or pair them with a baby shower gift basket or other item for a larger gift.

Teething ring toy

Teething ring toy
Image: Nordstrom
Buying Options
Nordstrom|$45.00

Even if you’re not a parent, you’re probably already acquainted with Sophie—this bestselling teether is dangling out of the mouths of every baby on the street. This gift set includes the must-have teething toy, along with a second teether with two handy rings for grasping. You can also buy the ring teether solo for an even less expensive option.

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Periodic table wooden blocks

Periodic table wooden blocks
Image: Uncommon Goods
Buying Options
Uncommon Goods|$40.00

Are one of the parents-to-be a teacher or a scientist? These wooden blocks are the ultimate unique baby shower gift to introduce a curious baby to the wonders of the universe. The colorful handcrafted set represents all 118 elements on the Periodic Table and is sure to make nerdy new parents smile.

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Swaddle blanket gift set

Swaddle blanket gift set
Image: Burt's Bees

Muslin swaddle blankets are possibly the most versatile baby essentials ever invented, making them some of the best baby shower gift ideas around. These super soft, lightweight swaddles not only help when tucking baby in at night, but they can also serve as car seat covers, nursing wraps, stroller shades, burp cloths and so much more. You’ll definitely want to grab a three-pack given how much use these multitaskers will get. We especially love that these are organic and come in classic, neutral prints.

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Baby booties

Baby booties
Image: Zutano

Trust us: Every baby will eventually try to pull their socks off (most likely when you’re out and about and don’t want to lose one). That’s why a pair of stay-put booties make a great gender-neutral baby shower gift. Zutano’s double-snap ankle strap stretches to fit just right, so savvy parents swear these infant shoes stay on no matter what.

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Taco-themed booties

Taco-themed booties
Image: Uncommon Goods
Buying Options
Uncommon Goods|$28.00

Of course, some footwear just looks good enough to eat. If the parents-to-be are the type to never miss a Taco Tuesday, these irresistible booties are sure to get a chuckle. Baby’s feet will look just scrumptious in these handcrafted wool shoes that are totally photoshoot-worthy.

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Baby healthcare and grooming kit

Baby healthcare and grooming kit
Image: Walmart

Forget every other toiletries kit out there—this is the stuff new parents really need. The NoseFrida (aka the snot sucker) has a reputation for being the most effective way to clear baby’s stuffy nose. This handy gift basket includes the famous NoseFrida, as well as a nail clipper, a peri bottle that makes a great baby shower gift for mom and even a tool to help baby pass gas—because practical baby shower gift baskets may not be the most glamorous option, but they can be the most useful.

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Baby shower gift card

Baby shower gift card
Image: Amazon

No matter how thoughtful all the shower attendees are, sometimes those baby essentials just slip through the cracks (and even if they don’t, parents will need to replace them when they run out!). Trust us, any new parent will be thankful for this lifesaver when they’re searching for the latest sleep solutions at 3 a.m!

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Toy subscription service

Toy subscription service
Image: Kiwi Co

Help baby learn through play with this researched-backed toy subscription service. Every two months, a box will arrive on the doorstep filled with developmental milestone-meeting toys, parenting tips and fun activities to try. And even better, this gift can fit any budget—a single box makes a great affordable option, or you can spend a little more on an ongoing bi-monthly subscription.

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White noise stuffed sheep toy

White noise stuffed sheep toy
Image: Cloud B

This fuzzy little sheep is more than just a cute toy—it’s a new mom’s lifesaver. With relaxing white noise like mother’s heartbeat, spring showers, ocean surf and whale songs, it’s sure to calm baby down with the push of a button. Hang it outside the crib, stroller or car seat (it comes with Velcro tabs) and send baby off to dreamland. What could be better than the gift of sleep? There’s also a smaller, travel-sized edition for babies who need comfort on the road.

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Rattle stuffed toy

Rattle stuffed toy
Image: Finn + Emma
Buying Options
Finn + Emma| $28.00

Two all-time favorite baby playthings? Rattles and stuffed animals—and with Rattle Buddies, you get both in one adorable toy. Plus, these buddies (you can choose from two cute characters: a mermaid and a pirate, matey!) are made from organic cotton yarn and eco-friendly dyes, making parents happy too.

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Milestone blanket

Milestone blanket
Image: Etsy | DashingFoxCo
Buying Options
Etsy|From $29.99

Baby will be “doing it for the ’gram” when they’re smiling on this adorable star and moon milestone blanket that can track their age from days old to years old. We love that this one allows you to choose the material, and how customizable date preferences let you display baby’s age: months, weeks, years or any combination thereof.

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Llama-themed bib

Llama-themed bib
Image: Etsy | Thepillowgeek
Buying Options
Etsy|$13.95

Babies and llamas share two things in common: they’re both cute and they both spit a lot. (Sorry, we had to.) But at least baby will be spitting up in style with this funny bib!

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Funny milestone book for parents

Funny milestone book for parents
Image: Walmart

If you’re a parent yourself, you may want to welcome your newfound comrade with a dose of reality and a side of humor. This book from the comedian behind the popular parenting blog The Ugly Volvo covers the all-too-real milestones they’ll soon be “celebrating,” like the first time baby headbutts you in the lip. Ouch!

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Baby milestone cards

Baby milestone cards
Image: Etsy | lovedbyjacob
Buying Options
Etsy|From $8.55

The best part of parenting? Watching baby complete all those amazing “firsts.” Parents can snap a photo of baby with these beautiful illustrated cards to keep track of every big milestone, from smiling to sitting up. There’s even the option to add a personalized storage bag and matching journal to keep track of all those precious moments.

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Animal-themed hooded towel

Animal-themed hooded towel
Image: The Knot Shop
Buying Options
The Knot Shop|$24.99

Want to win big with the baby shower crowd? This adorable, personalized critter bath towel is an instant thumbs-up. Whether you choose the dapper fox, complete with a bow tie and glasses, or a silver-maned unicorn they make excellent baby shower gifts for boys and girls alike.

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Silicone food mat

Silicone food mat
Image: ezpz

Even with the wiliest of babies, parents will get through dinnertime in peace with ezpz’s Mini Mat. Not only do the separate food compartments make a fun smiley face, but the mat also suctions to the table to prevent spills. Peace out, food tantrums! Plus, take 15 percent off sitewide with the code BUMP15.

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Food delivery gift card

One of the best baby shower gift ideas that new parents can put to good use on day one? A food delivery gift card. Trust us, they’ll be so busy taking care of baby that they’ll barely have time to feed themselves. Take care of them with a baby shower gift card that can get food delivered right to their door. Grubhub and DoorDash are both great options, depending on what’s available in your area.

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Helpful baby manual

Helpful baby manual
Image: Walmart

Sometimes parents just wish babies came with a manual. Well, now they do! This book shares plenty of useful information about baby’s first year, from “programming sleep mode” to “emergency maintenance,” through humorous instructions and diagrams that make it fun and easy to read.

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Stainless steel mug

Stainless steel mug
Image: Etsy | PeppermintLynn
Buying Options
Etsy|From $24.98

Help a new mom keep her coffee from going cold—again—with this stylish insulated mug. Not only is it cute, it’s also super practical. You know mom-to-be is going to need extra caffeine soon enough, and this personalized baby shower gift will save her many trips to the microwave.

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Pack of swaddle blankets

Pack of swaddle blankets
Image: Walmart

Many babies sleep better swaddled, but the advanced origami required to create the perfect baby burrito with a traditional blanket can be tricky, especially during a diaper change at 2 a.m. These Velcro swaddles are a foolproof way for even sleep-deprived parents to get the perfect wrap, which is why this two-pack for under $25 is such a great baby shower gift.

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Book collection gift set

Book collection gift set
Image: Target

Help the new parents start building baby’s library with this quartet of Beatrix Potter classics, including the famed Tale of Peter Rabbit. They’re all perfect bedtime stories, beautifully illustrated and will look lovely sitting on baby’s bookshelf.

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Matching gamer-themed T-shirt and bodysuit

Matching gamer-themed T-shirt and bodysuit
Image: Etsy | TheShirtLounge
Buying Options
Etsy|From $27.99

This is one of the best baby shower gifts for dads who love their Xbox. Any gamer would want to celebrate his ultimate achievement with this matching T-shirt and baby bodysuit set. There are three color options and a wide range of sizes to suit any daddy-and-me combo.

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The Best Baby Shower Gifts Over $50

Looking to splash out a bit more for an upcoming baby shower? We’ve got you covered with this collection of some of the best baby shower gifts over $50. From prenatal body products that hover right at the price threshold to luxe baby items that far surpass it, you’re sure to find the inspiration you need right here.

Neoprene diaper backpack

Neoprene diaper backpack
Image: Dagne Dover
Buying Options
Dagne Dover|$215.00

Some of the best baby shower gifts are ones that help your friends ease into parenthood while still feeling like themselves. This stylish satchel looks so cool, no one will even know it’s a diaper bag until parents start pulling out the nappies. The backpack silhouette allows for handsfree wrangling and comes fully loaded with all the accessories needed on an outing with baby, including a changing mat, stroller clips and extra pouches for storing all of baby’s tiny things. There’s even a built-in laptop sleeve!

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Baby swing

Parents of fussy babies swear by this high-tech baby seat that mimics a real person’s movements. The five different motion settings can help soothe and calm baby when Mom’s arms just need a rest. It’ll even connect to a smartphone so parents can switch up the sound and motion settings with ease.

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Baby photo journal

The Story of You Baby Book
Image: Artifact Uprising

Baby’s first year is filled with amazing moments—ones that parents won’t want to forget. This classic photo journal helps them document those precious memories, all bound in a beautiful foil-stamped fabric cover.

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Baby carrier

Baby carrier
Image: Nordstrom

Toting baby around isn’t easy on the back, unless you use a carrier designed to take the pressure off. That’s why the ErgoBaby Omni 360 is a good baby shower gift for parents on the go. With four different carrying positions, padded shoulder straps and a wide waist belt, this workhorse can adjust to fit any parent and any baby (it’s designed to be used from birth, as long as baby is at least seven pounds). And the Cool Air version is a particularly good choice, with mesh cutouts to keep baby cool and comfortable.

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Men’s slipper

Men’s slipper
Image: Nordstrom
Buying Options
Nordstrom|$120.00

All those late nights up changing diapers and pacing the floor to get baby back to sleep call for some extra cozy footwear for Dad. These super plush slippers are made from supple suede with Ugg’s signature wool lining that’ll keep dad comfortable for hours at a time (but let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that!).

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Multi-use play mat

Multi-use play mat
Image: Lovevery

This play mat was designed by child development experts to keep baby engaged, entertained and learning throughout their whole first year. The amount of options to switch out based on baby’s age and stage make this activity gym super customizable and sure to see hours of play and tummy time. Bonus: Its stylish design will look right at home on the living room rug without being an eyesore.

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Comfy layette set

Comfy layette set
Image: Maisonette
Buying Options
Maisonette|$99.00

Help baby make that first public appearance in style with this four-piece, 100 percent cotton set, which includes a footed sleeper, an adorable cardigan, a bib and a hat. The feminine floral print is a great baby shower gift for a girl, while the brand also offers an aviator theme for boys.

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Baby lounger

Baby lounger
Image: DockATot
Buying Options
DockATot|$195.00

An all-in-one baby shower gift, this comfy pod provides parents with a safe place to put baby for some playtime—a breathable, washable, plush docking station—plus an optional archway of dangling toys (sold separately) to keep little ones entertained. It’s available in a variety of colors and patterns, with additional covers available if you feel like changing the appearance.

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Personalized growth chart

Personalized growth chart
Image: Etsy | TwoDayDecor
Buying Options
Etsy|From $69.99

Whether you need a baby shower gift for a boy or a girl, this wall-mounted wooden ruler is a great way to measure baby’s growth throughout the years. Personalizable with baby’s name, weight and birth date, this three-foot ruler is a baby shower gift that will stay with the family for years to come.

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Loungewear set

Loungewear set
Image: Seraphine
Buying Options
Seraphine|$85.00

Whether it’s during pregnancy, at the hospital or recovering at home, any new mom can benefit from a comfortable, cute pair of PJs. This versatile set from Seraphine can take her from the third trimester all the way to late-night nursing sessions in style, making it one of the best baby shower gifts for Mom.

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Skincare set for moms

Skincare set for moms
Image: Tubby Todd
Buying Options
Tubby Todd|$62.00

Pregnancy and postpartum skin require a little extra TLC, so why not give a mom-to-be a gentle and pregnancy-safe pampering kit? This three-piece set from Tubby Todd includes belly oil, hand cream and an organic nipple balm to soothe tenderness from nursing.

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Nursing pillow

Nursing pillow
Image: Walmart

Whether the mom-to-be is planning on breastfeeding or not, this uniquely shaped feeding pillow can save her back with its multiple uses. This foam core wraparound pillow supports Mom and baby for nursing or bottle-feeding, cuddling or even napping (it’ll also save Mom’s arms during those times when baby refuses to be put down). The handy pouch is a great place to store all of her feeding essentials, or even her phone or a book.

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Digital picture frame

Digital picture frame
Image: Aura

Help the new parents stay connected with baby even when they’re away from home with this elegant and ingenious smart photo frame. It connects to your smartphone and uses facial recognition to automatically prepopulate the frame with the people you photograph the most (aka baby!). Plus, you can choose to send photos to the frame with the Family Share feature.

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Tactical diaper backpack

Tactical diaper backpack
Image: Tactical Baby Gear

This rough-and-tumble diaper bag is just what a rugged dad-to-be needs for his outings with baby. The front zips down completely, so he can see everything at a glance, and the back transforms into an attached changing mat. They can even swap out the removable name patch on the front depending on who’s carrying it: Mommy or Daddy.

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Storage hoodie for dads

Storage hoodie for dads
Image: TheDadHoodie

Here’s another clever baby shower gift for new dads. With this innovative (and, let’s face it, sort of hilarious) hoodie, he’ll have everything he needs close at hand. For the man who hates carrying a bag, the Dad Hoodie is chock full of compartments to stash everything from extra diapers and wipes to baby bottles. The super stretchy mesh lining helps to keep Dad cool and store whatever he’ll need.

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Cotton layette set

Cotton layette set
Image: Baby MORI
Buying Options
Baby MORI|$17.55

This 100 percent organic cotton layette from Baby MORI comes with everything the new parents will need for dressing and taking care of baby in those precious early days. The 12-piece set includes two footed sleepers, two long-sleeved onesies, a sleep sack and lots of other essentials, like a hat, bath towel and bath mitt. Choose from several different attractive color and pattern options.

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Mountable baby monitor

Mountable baby monitor
Image: Baby MORI

Let’s face it: There’s no greater gift than the gift of security when you bring a new baby home. That’s why this smart monitor is one of the best baby shower gifts you can give. The wall-mountable monitor provides a crystal-clear view of baby, and works with an integrated app that allows you to see lots of different statistics about baby’s sleep, like wake cycles, room temperature, ambient light and more. In fact, the Nanit Pro earned a special mention in our Best of The Bump roundup of the best baby monitors, due to the way it combines the high performance of a WiFi camera with a commitment to safety and security.

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Wooden rocker

Wooden rocker
Image: Maisonette
Buying Options
Maisonette|$199.00

Sure, baby won’t be able to use this beautiful wooden rocker right away, but we promise it’ll give some serious bang for its buck as baby grows. This Montessori climbing arch is made of smooth, sustainable wood for a toy that’s environmentally friendly and stable enough for even the roughest play. They’re sure to find a bunch of different and imaginative ways to interact with this great toy.

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Glass feeding bottle gift set

Glass feeding bottle gift set
Image: Target

Phillips Avent bottles are among the highest-rated and most popular bottles on the market today. In fact, we rated them the Best Overall bottle on our round-up of the best baby bottles on the market. This gift set features two large and three small glass bottles (complete with nipples) and two silicone safety sleeves—everything the new parents will need to get started feeding baby (with some to spare for when those dishes inevitably pile up!).

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How We Chose the Best Baby Shower Gifts

In order to choose the best baby shower gifts, we simply considered the things we’d like to receive if it were our own shower. We rounded up a collection that contains both useful items as well as whimsical ones, because hey—parenthood has to be fun and lighthearted sometimes (hello, taco booties!). And of course, anything that helps with essential tasks like feeding baby and putting them down for a restful night of sleep is a sure bet for the best baby shower gifts for new parents. We only chose items with four-star reviews or higher for our round-up, including a few of our staff’s tried-and-true favorites.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

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