published on August 27, 2024 in Front Page News

The 35 best baby shower gifts, according to new moms and experts

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Shopping is great and all, but we’ve unlocked a new level of fun: shopping for babies.

If you have a new mother-to-be in your life, there’s a good chance you’re already daydreaming about the baby shower; delicious treats, iconic diaper cakes, amusing games, the bump on display, and of course our favorite part — the gifts.

As exciting as this new chapter is, baby shower gifting can be tricky, uncharted territory for some. Whether you choose to shower or sprinkle the mother-to-be, there are plenty of wonderfully meaningful presents to choose from. Shower attendees may indulge in bigger ticket ‘registry’ items, like strollers or high chairs, or opt for smaller, yet just meaningful options like fresh flowers or food to lighten the load.

We’ve consulted experts and drawn from our own experience to compile an edit of the best baby shower treats for all genders and price ranges. With the right selection, you may just upgrade your friend status from bestie to godparent.

Expert Recommendations

In a quest to seek out the best baby shower gifting advice, the New York Post spoke with Miranda Padilla, Founder and CEO of The Mothership NYC, a doula agency in Harlem that helps expectant mothers navigate birth and postpartum.

Padilla told The Post that baby shower gifting has evolved in recent years.

“Typical baby shower gifts usually include big-ticket items like the stroller, crib, high chair, and playpen. Today, it is becoming more common for people to give the gift of support,” explained Padilla.

What can you do to support new parents?

Padilla suggests considering “five universal postpartum needs” before selecting gifts: “An extended rest period to recover and connect with baby — around 30 days. Loving touch — bodywork, belly wrapping, massages. Nourishing, warming foods. The presence of wise women and spiritual companionship, and contact with nature and reconnection with life force elements.”

The mother-of-two notes that gifts can come in the form of physical products, as well as specialized services, such as postpartum doula support, cleaning services, food delivery, and Bellibind sessions or massages at a spa.

What does Padilla recommend?

Padilla has recommendations for everything — from more common gifts like toys, clothing and strollers — to other out-of-the-box items like baby nail trimmers from FANSIDI and oxytocin-stimulating sound machines called “shushers.”

When it comes to selecting outfits for newborns, there are a few things to consider. “Baby skin is very sensitive,” Padilla noted. “Breathable, hypoallergenic, and easily washable materials like cotton and bamboo are good choices for baby clothes.”

Toys are another great baby shower gift, and Padilla suggests finding a toy kit that evolves with a babies developmental stages. “My top recommendation for baby toys are the Lovevery Play Kits,” said Padilla. “These Montessori-inspired, stage-based subscription boxes ship every two to three months.”

The best gifts are tailored to fit the lifestyle needs of the mother. For New York City moms, Padilla recommends two strollers: the Ergo Baby Metro+ which is lightweight and folds easily, as well as the Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller, which transforms from a car seat to a stroller with the click of a button.

One of the most meaningful gifts Padilla received at her own baby shower was a “baby’s first cold” kit, stocked with infant Tylenol, infant cough medicine, bath drops, nasal aspirator, humidifier, and infant gas drops. “This came in handy when I needed it the most,” she recalled.

What are the best baby shower gifts?

Some of the best baby shower gifts are backed by Padilla, have high customer ratings or are hand-selected from our New York Post shopping team.

Shop this article by category:

Clothing

Seraphine 3 in 1 Maternity Hoodie

This one is perfect for any mother-to-be, especially if they are due in the colder months or early spring.

This hoodie is not only cute and comfy, but also has a hidden baby carrier inside, keeping the little one close to your chest and warm. It is big enough in the midsection to be worn with your bump, too, so no need to wait until the baby is here to enjoy this gift.

Monica and Andy Hospital Cuddle Box

Celebrate baby from the first moments with this box of newborn goodies. The Monica and Andy Hospital Cuddle Box comes with a blanket, cap and a pant and shirt set to fit your new bundle of joy.

Finn + Emma Monthly Milestone Gift Set

Give the gift of precious memories with this set of onesies. Each of the twelve outfits corresponds to a month of life, culminating on their first birthday. The one-year outfit is a tee, as opposed to a onesie, to accommodate your growing tot.

Pip Pea Pop The Babysuit

Zippers, snaps and footies — oh my!

The Babysuit is a must-have product for moms and dads and a great gift to give if shopping for a baby shower. The onesie has an easily accessible diagonal zipper for getting the little one dressed and undressed, as well as snaps down below for a seamless diaper change without needing to totally strip down. The while onesie comes embroidered with your choice of adorable animal prints and comes in sizes ranging from zero to three months all the way up to one year.

UGG Unisex Bixbee Faux Fur Booties

We don’t need to convince you. Be the person that gifts this baby their first pair of UGGs. These iconic padded booties have a hook-and-loop closure so they won’t come sliding off. They come in four shades, including pink and navy.

Toys and books

LOVEVERY Subscription Play Kits

This is the baby shower gift that keeps on giving, as long as you’d like.

The Play Kits Program is a series of stimulating boxes for babies through two-year-olds, packed with toys that will help facilitate development as they learn about the new world around them. Gifting a single box is easy, starting at $80, or choosing to gift an entire subscription at various rates. Make sure to enter in the new child’s expected birthday so that they can ensure the box is delivered right in line with the baby’s delivery.

Sophie La Girafe Sophisticated Plush Toy & Teething Toy

For the posh baby, this is the only teething toy they should be seen with.

Sophie is a French giraffe that all new babies should have from the moment their teeth start to come in. This set from Nordstrom is a perfect two-in-one, as newborns can cuddle up with the plush toy and then grow into the chewable toy once their chompers come in.

Melissa and Doug Take-Along Farm PlayMat

OId McDonald had a farm, and now the baby in your life can have one too. This interactive farm play mat is a great way to introduce baby to sounds, textures and words through creative play and can also be wrapped up for on-the-go fun.

Baby and Toddler Light Grey Pop-Up Ball Pit

Jump for joy! Once they’re old enough, little ones will love getting all their energy out in this ball tub. The set comes in a variety of colors and is made with cotton jersey for a sturdy, yet portable design.

Keepsake Memory Book for Baby

Parents love this guided journal that shares the story of their baby’s birth up through the age of five. Cover every major milestone, and fill the pages with photos worth remembering. When they’re old enough, they will cherish “The Story of You.”

Best Board Books Bundle

Why pick one, when you can have them all? The seven books in this set include “Guess How Much I Love You”, “The Little Engine That Could,” “I Love You to the Moon and Back,” and more childhood favorites.

Montessori Wooden Baby Toys

How could you turn up these beautiful Montessori toys handcrafted from durable Acacia hardwood? This set includes stacking rings, an egg, a block, bawl, a bowl, and locking discs. Montessori toys seem to stack up pretty well against their plastic counterparts.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic Luxury Memory Baby Book

Celebrate each moment with your little one, recording the really special ones in this luxury book from Lucy Darling.

This makes for a perfect gift to a new parent, as every time they add an entry on the teddy bear-filled pages, they will think of you and smile. The book comes with 48 pages to fill and includes photo pages, room for ultrasound images, a spot for footprints and hospital bracelets and more.

Blankets and swaddles

Mori Personalized Hooded Baby Bath Towel

Make bath time fun and personalized with this adorable and customizable bath towel for babies. Pick a color and then choose a name to embroider on the hood of the super soft towel, making for an excellent baby shower gift.

Solly Baby Wrap

Give the gift of comfort and skin-to-skin time with this adorable and soft swaddle. From Solly Baby, the fabric is a lightweight Modal, coming in an array of colors and patterns for every baby.

Parachute Baby Cashmere Baby Blanket

Nothing is too soft for a new baby, but this blanket from Parachute comes close.

Parachute’s gray knit blanket will match any color nursery for little boys or girls, and the soft cashmere is perfect for swaddling, sleeping, or draping over mom while she nurses.

Strollers, swings and chairs

Bibbrella Full Coverage Bib

Help keep their kitchen floors clean with a full-body bib from Bibbrella.

This full-coverage bib is a game-changer when it comes to mealtimes, covering the baby’s arms, neck, torso and lap from spills and mess. It fits nicely into most highchairs and has a velcro closure to easily adjust to the growing baby. The bib comes in two different colors so far, including the above pink floral pattern and a blue world map.

Pottery Barn Kids Giraffe Plush Nursery Rocker

Forget rocking horses, when you could rock all day long on this adorable giraffe. Bonus points — the toy can also be customized with the new baby’s name or last name, making for an even more meaningful gift.

mamaRoo Multi-Motion Baby Swing

Rock-a-bye baby! Use this self-rocking machine to get the baby down for naps with ease, taking the pressure off of the new parents. The mamaRoo comes in three colors and also comes with sounds that play to calm babies while they rock.

ergobaby METRO+ Compact City Stroller

Traveling with a baby can be tricky, but this ergobaby METRO+ stroller makes it easy. The comfort-focused compact stroller can fold down and be placed in the overhead bins on an airplane. Good for newborns to age four.

Doona Infant Car Seat and Latch Base

Another one of Padilla’s favorites, the Doona system has drop-down wheels, allowing this hybrid to easily transform from a car seat to a stroller with the click of a button. Perfect for city living, and babies that are always on the go. Wheels are sold separately.

UPPAbaby VISTA V2 Stroller

This luxe stroller is the best gift for all upper-class UPPAbabies. It comes in the charcoal and leather treatment and can be converted to a carrier, should your path not be suitable for wheels.

Lalo The Daily Stroller

Sleeping, sitting and on the go, the Lalo pram is the only stroller the new set of parents will need.

The Daily Stroller is truly perfect for all day, as it has a seated position for when the baby is awake and looking at the world around them, a reclined position for relaxation and a fully flat position for nap time on the go. It can fold up in seconds when not in use and comes with an all-weather cover, bumper bar and canopy to fully protect and care for the baby while in use.

FANSIDI Baby Nail Clippers

One of Padilla’s top picks is an essential, life-saver for new parents. “The most nerve-racking part of baby care is cutting their tiny nails,” explains Padilla. “An electric nail file gets the job done quickly, safely, and efficiently.”

Ezpz First Foods Set

This gift is an easy one to gift, as it already comes as a set and we know any new parents will appreciate it.

The First Foods Set from Ezpz comes with everything they’ll need for their first non-bottle meal. It includes their bestselling Tiny Cup, two Tiny Spoons and a Tiny Bowl, all of which are easy for the baby to grip and are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The set comes in an array of colors from the above gray to pinks, blues, greens and more.

Wonder & Wise by Asweets

Don’t you just want to move right in? This whimsical Wonder & Wise Baby Activity Tent is the perfect dreamy home for a little one. The set also includes a llama play mat and hanging toys, keeping little ones engaged and entertained.

MyTheresa 1 + IN THE FAMILY

A fashionable take on a diaper bag. The ecru fabric softly holds all baby changing essentials, and features a closed zipper top and internal slot pockets for optimal storage. This will become the mom-to-be’s go-to bag.

Dyper Diaper Subscription Gift

While not the most glamorous gift, this may be the most needed and appreciated.

Giving a diaper subscription is a godsend gift, as we all know how many diapers a new baby can go through in a month. Choose the duration of your gift, from just one month up to a full year, starting at just $44.50. These aren’t just typical diapers either, as they are plant-based, made from responsibly sourced Bamboo and packaged in eco-friendly materials.

Frida Baby Sick Day Prep Kit

As suggested by Padilla, a cold kit is a gift that any new parent will be relieved to have in their corner. This one features the NoseFrida the Snotsucker, four hygiene filters, 12 nose wipes, and 0.5 oz Baby Vapor Rub. The ultimate congestion solution.

Beaba Babycook Cloud Steam Cooker & Blender

For the family that wants to make their own baby food, the Beaba is the best of the best. Give the Babycook as a baby shower gift and the family will be delighted, as it makes blending and steaming baby food a breeze. You can use it one-handed, perfect for the parent with a baby in one arm at all times, and it also works as a normal blender and steamer for other foods other than peas and carrots for the baby.

Baby Shusher: the Original Sound Machine for Babies

Padilla swears by the Baby Shusher. The sound machine is designed by pediatricians and emits a gentle and rhythmic ‘shhhh’ sound. Safe, simple, and highly effective, Baby Shusher is a must-have for every nursery, travel bag, car seat, changing table, and stroller.