The Ultimate Guide to Baby Shower Gifting: Our Top 10 Recommendations
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Time to read 8 min
Baby Showers are an exciting occasion to celebrate the life of a little one that is yet to be welcomed into the world! Whether you are a friend, family member, or an expecting parent, knowing what to buy to prepare for the birth of a child can be a stressful experience. Luckily, we have complied our top baby product recommendations into one handy blog so you can quickly research and buy the gifts every parent wishes they had!
1. Gifts for More Sleep
Although we cannot gift sleep to a parent-to-be, we can gift them products that may help them get as much sleep as possible once their little one has arrived. Sleep can be disturbed for newborns, and consequently parents, by multiple factors. These factors can include hunger, teething pain and the Moro reflex.
The Moro reflex is a natural reaction that babies can show when they have been startled by something. This can include a loud noise or the sensation of falling. The Moro reflex is not something to be worried about. It shows your baby is developing their reflexes and will typically stop after a few months.
However, this reflex can wake your little one from their sleep. After this, they may cry and have difficulty getting back to sleep. The Love to Dream Swaddle UpTM Cotton Original has been designed with a patented ARMS UP™ position. This allows babies to self soothe by sucking their hands and touching their face to sleep better.
Furthermore, unlike a traditional swaddle blanket or baby sleeping bag, the soft, clingy fabric surrounds the baby to replicate the comforting feeling of being in the womb. In addition to this, the Healthy-Hip fit is also recognised by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. This swaddle is the perfect addition to any naptime.
2. Bottle Feeding Gifts
Everyone’s feeding journey is different. Deciding how you may choose to feed your little one is an important decision that must be made taking into consideration your family’s individual needs. If choosing to freeze your breast milk for later feeds, it is important to safely thaw the breast milk. Incorrectly defrosting breast milk can negatively affect the nutritional properties inside the breast milk. Traditional methods of thawing frozen milk can be time consuming and can also create ‘hot spots’ within the milk, which could burn a child’s mouth.
The Baby Brezza Bottle & Breast Milk Warmer is the only warmer with two warming modes to safely warm breastmilk and formula! The Steady Warm mode uses a warm water bath to safely warm or defrost breastmilk which preserves its nutrients (unlike most other bottle warmers that use steam heat which destroys breastmilk proteins).
It fits virtually all bottles, milk storage bags and baby food jars. The Baby Brezza Bottle & Breast Milk Warmer is perfect for quickly and safely heating formula and breast milk, which can be extremely helpful during those late-night feeds.
3. Experience-Based Gifts
Did you know that the gentle motion of rocking can help babies fall asleep faster? This can also help them reach deeper stages of non-REM sleep. This means a longer sleep for baby and in turn longer sleep for parents! However, during trickier sleeping periods your little one may become dependent on being rocked back to sleep.
Gently rock your little one to sleep, hands-free! The Rockit Rocker is a science and experienced based gift that can help parents who are on-the-go. Winner of the Gold 2024 Dadsnet award for Gold Best Sleeptime Accessory, the Rockit Rocker fits onto all prams and strollers.
Scientific tests show the vibration level of the Rockit Rocker closely mimics the normal hand rocking of a pushchair. The soothing movement is gentler than a pushchair moving over paving stones. It has an adjustable speed dial and is safe to use from birth.
4. Practical Gifts
Although it is not the most glamourous topic of conversation, did you know that it is estimated that in the first year of life, a parent will change between 2,000 and 3,000 nappies for their newborn? New parents can often underestimate how many nappies they will have to change and the cost of disposing them.
Change nappies in style with the Korbell Nappy Bin. The Korbell Nappy Bin is the most hygienic way to dispose of dirty nappies. Designed with hands-free disposal, the bin is reassuringly child-proof.
A self-closing whisper lid will not disturb a sleeping baby. Smells are contained within the bin as a unique three-part approach locks in odours to keep your nursery smelling fresh. Available in three sizes, this bin is the perfect addition to any nursery.
5. Cheap and Cheerful Gifts
When choosing a baby shower gift, you do not have to spend a fortune! The most thoughtful and helpful gifts can be cheaper. When it comes to bedtime, many parents will often make shushing sounds to help send their little one to sleep. Shushing helps to calm babies as it reminds them of the noises that they heard whilst they were in the womb. These noises can include their mother’s heartbeat and the whooshing of her blood flow.
Rockit WooshhThe w is fully customisable with 8 sounds and volume settings to find the best fit for your little one. It has two types of shushing noises. These include calming water sounds, womb noises, ambient music and a relaxing purring cat sound. The Rockit Woosh can be used in the home or on-the-go, and even has a ten-hour mode for those tricker nights! Save your voice and your pennies with this handy device.
6. Gifts for Hands-Free Comfort
Did you know that babywearing builds a connection between a parent and a child? Not only this, but babywearing is also great for a child’s cognitive, physical and emotional development. Plus, having hands free whilst also being close to your little one is a brilliant way to catch up on those tasks that you’ve been meaning to do!
The Izmi Essential Wrap is designed to be used from birth catering for little ones who are between 2.3kg – 9 kg. The wrap is completely adjustable with 2 carrying positions (parent-facing front carry and side carry).
It can also be worn whilst breastfeeding for additional support. The hip healthy design is recognised by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Winner of Gold in the Made for Mums Awards 2021, this wrap truly is an essential for any new parent.
7. Tech-Savvy Gifts
Parenting can be daunting. Bringing a new life into the world is one of the most rewarding but also can be one of the hardest experiences you may have. A baby monitor can ease some of these worries once your little one has arrived, providing extra reassurance during those moments when a parent may need it.
Awarded Silver in the Best Baby Monitor Category of the Honest Midwife Awards 2024, the Owlet Medically-Certified Dream SockTM is a smart baby monitor offering unparalleled peace of mind.
Receive real-time notifications if any health readings fall outside the preset ranges through the Owlet Dream App and base station. Track your baby’s vital signs, including pulse rate, oxygen levels, and sleep trends, with ease. Monitor what matters most with the Owlet Medically-Certified Dream SockTM .
8. Gifts for Easy Cleaning
Sterilising feeding equipment is recommended by the NHS until a child is at least one years old. Although this is an extremely important part of any parents’ daily routine, we understand this can take up a lot of time. With the average newborn drinking between 10 and 14 bottles per day, that’s a lot of bottles to sterilise and dry before the next feed.
Spend more time with your little one and less time sterilising with the Baby Brezza Steriliser Dryer Advanced.
The Baby Brezza Steriliser Dryer Advanced has the largest capacity of any steriliser, holding 8 bottles, 2 full breast pump part sets, soothers and accessories from any brand. It kills 99.9% of germs with natural steam, then automatically dries 33% faster saving you precious time. With four modes to suit your needs, this gadget will become your best friend.
9. Science Based Gifts
Sleep is incredibly important for newborn babies. Newborns can sleep typically between 8 to 18 hours a day! However, we understand that getting a baby to settle for bedtime can sometimes be a challenge. Some parents might reach for the car keys in the hopes that the soothing vibrations and white noise of the car might help send their child to sleep. However, it is important to remember that safer sleep guidance advises that car seats are only used for transport and not as an alternative to cots or high chairs. Although it is generally okay for a baby to fall asleep in a car seat for a small period of time, it is important that they are placed onto a firm, flat surface as soon as possible.
The Rockit Zed mimics the car experience. Specialised motors generate low-frequency rumbles and engine revving vibrations. With 3 static vibration speeds and 3 dynamic modes simulating car acceleration and deceleration, the Rockit Zed is customisable to your little ones needs.
The device works on any type of mattress. The Rockit Zed also acts as a night light with 3 light levels and an all-night mode, which is especially helpful during those late-night feeds. During the night, the Rockit Zed is the perfect companion for you and your little one!
10. The Ultimate New Parent Gift
Unsure on which gift to buy for your upcoming baby shower. Why not get the Ultimate Baby Shower Bundle? Featuring 3 must have items (all of which have been mentioned above!) this bundle is perfect for those looking to buy gifts that will last. At a discounted price, this bundle will help any newborn parent from the moment their little one is welcomed into the world.
With so many gift options on the market, it is important to only buy products from trusted and reliable distributors. When buying any products for a little one, make sure to check that the product complies with safer sleep advice. For more information, please check the government website to see if any products have been recalled and make sure the product is in excellent condition, comes with instructions and the product meets the relevant British Safety Standards. For more advice on safer sleep, please visit the Lullaby Trust’s website.
Choosing the perfect gift for a baby shower can be difficult, especially when there are so many things that a new parent will need during and after the birth of their little one. Although many people will have different product recommendations, every family is unique. What will work for someone else’s child, may not work for yours, and that is completely fine! We hope that whatever you decide to gift, you have a great baby shower!
Author - Chloe Markey
Chloe Markey is a freelance writer who specialises in script and blog writing. With a particular passion for podcasts, Chloe has been involved in the production of multiple podcast series, ranging from true crime to our very own The Cheeky Rascals Podcast. She has an avid interest in the world of parenting and has learnt lots since working with Cheeky Rascals!
