Avoid gifting duplicates, give them something they’ll actually want, and gifting for mama. Here are some of my favorite things to give as gifts for a baby shower or for someone welcoming a new baby into their life!

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A couple weekends ago I was at a baby shower for a dear friend. Watching her open all of her gifts made me reminisce on the gifts we received for Viv when she was born.

Full disclosure, we didn’t have a baby shower. Viv is a COVID baby and was born in early 2021. The world was coming out of being shut down and everyone was figuring out how to navigate life with masks and social distancing.

Social events like baby showers were still generally frowned upon and, let’s just be honest, it’s pretty impossible not to hug the mommy-to-be and gush over her belly. So we opted not to have one. We did, however, still receive so many amazing gifts from friends and family when she was born.

Few things make you feel as loved and cared for than friends and family showing up for you and your baby to welcome them into this world.

As much as we appreciated everything, we did get a few things that we ended up not using, not loving, or not even opening. If you are feeling any kind of guilt for not loving something you received from great aunt Linda or your neighbor you barely know who meant well, let me save you some time and comfort and tell you know that every single mom has been there.

Having gone through it myself, and watching many other new moms open gifts, knowing they would never use some of the items, I felt inspired to guide anyone who never knows what to get, doesn’t love shopping off a registry, or wants to be a more thoughtful gift giver.

Here are some of my favorite gifts to give, some that I received, and some that I think are amazing gifts for mothers-to-be and their baby.

As cliché as it may sound, blankets are a fantastic gift for an expecting mother or new baby. There is no new mommy that does not want to wrap up her baby or herself in a nice, soft, snuggly blanket.

If you’re worried that the new mom might receive too many baby blankets…I’m here to inform you that there is no such thing as too many.

When Viv was born, we received around 8 baby blankets as gifts, a handmade quilt, and two different crocheted blankets. I also personally received one big enough for me. I did wonder at first what we were going to do with all of them…until I realized I didn’t have to worry about that.

We used all of them. Every single one. We kept one in each vehicle, one in the stroller, two or three that floated around our house, and kept a thin one in the diaper bag. That’s seven already right there.

The ones that Viv no longer uses, we have made into blankets for her dolls. And I still religiously use the one I received because it is one of the softest, and longest, blankets I have ever had.

If you want to buy for baby, buy the softest blanket you can find. If you know what the nursery colors or theme might be, you could try and go that route. Otherwise I find that any pastels or cream colors are best because they show less lint and tend to wash better without fading.

But whatever you choose, you really cannot go wrong with a nice baby blanket.

You could also personalize it or make a little more special by having baby’s name and birth date embroidered or stitched onto it. If you don’t know what the little one’s name will be yet (or how to spell it), or date of birth, you could add something more generic but still cute, such as “baby girl” or “baby boy” or “little one.”

If you want to gift the mama-to-be, choose a blanket that is soft, fluffy, and long enough to cover her entire body AND feet. When Viv was born, I did use baby blankets for her, but I also used blankets for myself when we were snuggling or feeding because I would get cold too (especially during feedings!).

There are so many stylish and soft blankets, but they’re really just lap blankets or decorative throws. Get one mama can cuddle up in without tugging wrong and having her feet exposed if her arms are cold too. At a minimum, I would recommend getting a size 55×70, which ends up being 4.5 feet by 5.8 feet, but if possible go bigger.

I am also not below getting one that fits a twin sized bed because that is pretty much guaranteed to be long enough.

Whichever option you decide, make it long enough, make it soft, and know that this is a great, safe gift option even if it feels too basic. There isn’t one mama who won’t appreciate it at some point.

There is a lifetime of noise ahead of any new mother. The toys that toddlers have are full of noise, bright colors, plastic buttons, and lights. Not only does this get to be incredibly overstimulating for both parents and babies, they also require batteries to be changed out regularly.

We received a few wooden toys for Viv when she was born and on her first birthday and she LOVED them (and so did we!). They lasted a very long time and were easy to clean. We also loved being able to pull them out when we just couldn’t handle any more noise on top of her crying on some of those challenging days.

It may sound a little too Amish or 1800s to you, but I promise that these are more awesome for new parents than you think. Blocks, puzzles, and even some instruments can be made out of wood instead of having all the bells and whistles of modern toys.

Aside from wood, quiet toys such as stuffed animals, soft dolls, animal figurines, silicone teethers, or toys that have soft colors are all great options. Search for toys that say “Montessori,” soft, or sensory, which are almost all guaranteed to be quiet. Or at least quiet-er.

Less overstimulating toys are actually very “in” for new babies as more research continues to come out about the negative effects of screens and flashing lights on small children.

Melissa & Doug is a great brand to check out, or search Amazon or any website or app for “baby Montessori toys” and you’ll get some nice options.

Board books are great for any new mama + baby. Pediatricians and doctors recommend reading to babies even in the womb before they are born to help with their language development, vocabulary, brain development, and bonding (KidsHealth, 2023).

If they are a first time mama, they also likely don’t have a library of baby books yet, so gifting them helps create one for baby. Many hosts of baby showers are now requesting a book instead of a card for the mother-to-be to help build a little library (and truthfully they cost about the same, so go with the book).

If you’re worried about duplicates, which can happen because we all shop at the same stores, check out Usbourne for some really unique and affordable options (If you are not in the US, you may choose your location in the top left corner for options available to you).

The other (and I think cooler) option is to buy a non-baby book. One that they might enjoy when they are a little older, like 4-5 or even older. Not only does this prevent duplicates, but also builds beyond just the baby phase.

Eventually when they grow out of board books, Mama and Daddy are going to have to spend some money building a new library, which is usually more expensive than the baby phase.

Some of my favorite “oldies but goodies” are anything Berenstain Bears by Stan & Jan Berenstain, Frog & Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel, The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola, Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, The Magic School bus by Joanna Cole, and Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish.

If you really want to give a gift that keeps on giving, which also happens to be totally free, sign your mommy-to-be and new baby up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This program is free to use and funded by cities that participate, so it isn’t available in every area. But if it is, the child will receive a book in the mail once a month until they are five years old. How cool is that!?

It’s certainly worth a check online to see if you can sign them up. AND it’s one more thing that the new mom doesn’t have to do later or try and remember herself.

Back in my day (lol) we called them piggy banks, but so many exist now that are not actually in the shape of pigs, so I’ll keep it PC and call them money banks.

This is a fantastic gift to give because it’s kind of a nontraditional gift that acts more like decor in a bedroom than a toy, but is very functional and promotes the idea of saving money.

When I was a kiddo I had a bank that I could put coins in and I think every single kid gets so excited when they get to add to it. Viv has two and she loves adding coins to them any chance she gets, even if it’s just a couple pennies.

It’s a great way to instill the value of a dollar and saving money into children at a very young age and opens the door to have the conversation about how to be responsible and how to earn money when they get old enough to understand what money is and does.

These can be as simple or fancy or custom as you want them to be. The internet has endless options. You can even have them engraved or personalized.

I like the simple ones with a slot on the top for the coins and the plug on the bottom to get them out. I’m sure there are much fancier ones with more bells and whistles, but I like the old school versions of these.

If you do go this route, don’t forget to put a few coins in there to get them started! 🙂

This is a more generic category, but I am always a fan of any gift for mama and baby that can grow with them instead of being something they outgrow immediately. Anyone can buy a newborn onesie, but they’ll outgrow that in a matter of months or even weeks.

Obviously we need baby things too, but if you really want to stretch your dollar and buy a lasting gift that will go further than their first birthday, look for things that they won’t outgrow right away.

“Like what?”

Things like a sound machine (We love and still use our Hatch Nightlight/Sound Machine), air purifier, cool mist humidifier, stuffed animals, books, blankets, wagon, backpack diaper bag (bonus points if you fill it with the basics!), lunchbox or cooler bag, bath toys, wet bags/reusable Ziploc bags, and over-sized, foldable play mats.

These are all things that I still use to this day and my “baby” is four years old. Yes, even the play mat. It makes a great beach blanket.

Attention those of you who are already moms! This section is for you.

I know it’s hard to think back that far, even if your baby is still a baby, because those early days and baby times are a blur that go by really fast even when they go by really slow (it’s weird time distortion that can’t be explained, but you know what I mean). But sit for a second with your eyes closed (try not to fall asleep), and think about the things you used the most, loved the most, or believe every single mother should have when she has a baby for the first time. Maybe it’s even something you wish you had.

Then, whatever you think of, give that as a gift to an expecting mama. Some of the BEST things I’ve received as gifts, including products or toys for Viv, came from moms who have already gone through it and swear by their quality, effectiveness, or usefulness.

Don’t use the registry (unless you reallllllly feel strongly about it). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve glanced at an expecting mama’s registry and as I’m scrolling by all the products I’m literally shaking my head thinking, “you’ll never use that…that brand is garbage…that product is dumb…you can get that cheaper at…you’ll need five of those, not one…” I KNOW I’m not the ONLY mom who has thought these things.

Trust your own mama self and gift from your gut. Meaning, go with your gut and give the mom-to-be something you know she will love and appreciate for either herself or the baby. Go with brands and products you know and trust.

This is also a time when you might feel like kind of a weirdo for what pops into your head. “Um, Naomi? I’m not sure my friend mama-to-be is really going to understand or appreciate the Costco sized bag of chocolate bars and Tylenol, alongside a pack of Ultra level 10 absorbing feminine pad diapers and soft gel ice packs nestled below the blanket with a hood attached.”

No, maybe she won’t. Yet. But you do. It may not make the room gasp and collectively say “awwwwwwww” because it isn’t cute. But the real ones, the OGs (original gangsters, if you didn’t know), will chuckle, maybe cringe, nod respectfully in your direction, and say, “great gift, truly excellent idea, way to go.”

In fact, your experience alone is a gift to her. So rather than gloss over the truly hard and gross and traumatizing parts, lean in and prepare her for them the best way you can. With your own experience and recommendations for things that you used, loved, and always recommend in the mommy group chat.

While babies do require a lot of gear, which can be expensive, I also love to acknowledge the vessel in which the baby is arriving…the mama.

The toll this takes on a human is something only a mother understands. Having gone through it, I love being able to gift a new mom with things that I loved or wish I had when my baby was born and for the weeks and months that followed with sleep deprivation, days without a shower, and feeling like a milk machine and not at all like a human being or anything close to resembling one.

It’s mental and physical on the body and, for the love, I believe that mama needs things for herself too for going through truly the most miraculous thing a human can do–grow another human INSIDE OF HER and then have it EXIT out of her lady parts.

If you’ve never had children, that probably sounded really scary and gross. Guess what? It is.

Which is why Mama deserves gifts too.

We already talked about gifting mama-to-be a blanket, which is a great option. Another great option would be a huge, oversize sweatshirt. Do not buy Sherpa or fleece. Sherpa is disgusting when it gets liquid on it and fleece is asking for static shock.

Choose one that is soft on the inside with fabric that isn’t too thick (those post-birth hormones run ragged going from too hot back to normal). I like Nike brand, American Eagle (feel free to shop men’s for her), and Jerzees or Gildan if you are shopping at a boutique or ordering custom.

I would also go with a crew neck, which means no zippers or hoods. This is easiest for holding, carrying, and laying baby against Mama, while still being comfortable and warm.

If you want to step it up a notch, add a cute matching ball cap to go with her oversized sweatshirt because there’s a good chance she hasn’t showered in at least a couple of days and needs to cover up her hair.

Speaking of not showering, when she finally does get around to cleaning herself when she doesn’t ache with every move and can finally tolerate some warm water on her hoo-ha again without cringing, lean into some self care products for her like Epsom salt (non-scented), a pack of new washcloths, a new loofa, some lotion (I loved the Palmer’s Shea Butter + stretch mark removing lotion), and maybe even a huge over-sized bath towel to wrap up in.

You could even take it a step further and provide some basic toiletries like a new toothbrush and toothpaste, some under eye masks (get the ones with caffeine!), deodorant, and a new hairbrush and a pack of satin scrunchies (soft and easy on hair for sleeping).

It may seem boring, but I assure you a new mom is going to really appreciate having all these new items after feeling like a giant pile of gross coming home from the hospital and trying to settle into her new normal without having to buy them herself or add them to a grocery pickup.

Some other fun ideas for new mama: a new Stanley water jug, slipper socks or slippers, subscription to Wandering Bear cold brew coffee (if she likes coffee), electrolyte flavor packets (especially if she’s breastfeeding!), an herbal tea assortment + new mug, coffee pods + new mug, a delicate necklace that says “mama” or the initials of baby, fun tote bag to pack for the hospital, cordless back and neck massager, new pajama set, or a reusable tote box filled with delicious (and healthy-ish) snacks.

You can even hit the easy button and go with a few gift cards. Grab one to her favorite coffee shop, take-out restaurant, Amazon (anything she needs right to her doorstep!), or Target (every single mom loves Target, trust me, it’s a safe one). I’ve done $25 on each one of these, or even $100 (or whatever your budget for a gift is) on one big one.

Sometimes second-time moms like to celebrate their second go around with a “sprinkle” (instead of a full on shower). Often times it’s just an excuse to celebrate with mama and get all her favorite people together before she doesn’t see them again for awhile, but people have strong feelings on whether or not they need to give a gift to a mom who has already been a mom.

I might ruffle some feathers here, but I think moms deserve gifts for every damn thing they do. But especially for choosing to birth another human after already doing it once (or more) already. Like, they are choosing to go through that again and making a brand new 18+ year commitment probably at the same time they are already raising another small human.

If you are reading this and have strong feelings about NOT giving a gift to a mom who is already a mom (“she already had a shower once, why does she need to do this again” energy)…you’re probably in the wrong place. It’s okay, I’ll keep going while you make a quiet exit and go on to search for a place more suited to your style, where they kick puppies and don’t hold doors open for 80-year-old ladies.

For those of you still here, while I don’t think you need to go all out and go crazy with gifting, I do think giving the mama-to-be is a nice gesture and a nod to this amazing thing she is doing AGAIN. Like, what a freaking warrior.

If you aren’t sure what she needs or wants, go with a gift card, or something from the “For Mama” section, which is sure to be a hit no matter what.

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Whether you’ve been to tons of baby showers or you’re attending your first one, I hope this helps you think through your options for gifting and what moms really like and need versus what marketing tells them they do.

Many times a heartfelt gift means so much more than what you’ve spent. And even though the baby product industry is a billion dollar industry (EVERYTHING costs more when it’s for a baby), you don’t have to spend a lot to give a truly beautiful baby shower gift.

Also, can we all just agree to be done with the diaper art? What a pain in the butt to disassemble and store the opened diapers…