Finding practical baby shower gifts for moms and moms-to-be is something that seems to really be downplayed. But when you stop and think about it, practicality as a new mom is what everyone really needs, right? Instead of gifting the new mom with yet another onesie or package of burp clothes, why not think about your own experiences as a mom and give her what she really needs?
After all, who says that a baby shower can’t be all about baby shower gifts for mom, and not just baby? Or better yet, find out a way to have the best of both worlds. Give mom all the practical baby shower gifts and sprinkle in a few adorable baby gift ideas as well.
Because as long as you’re covering all the options for the most useful baby shower gifts, you can rest easy knowing that the soon-to-be-mom is covered in all areas of items that she’s really going to need.
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Practical Baby Shower Gifts for Moms
What does a practical baby shower gift even mean anyway? And truthfully, that can vary from mom to mom on what they considered practical.
But just because I’m a mom and I know what I wish I would have been gifted during my baby shower, I feel that it’s best to understand a bit more about what practical baby shower gifts really are.
When I say practical, I mean practical. These aren’t necessarily cutesy little items that are popular or trending but more along the lines of things that will help mommy keep her sanity intact. Think outside the box to when you were pregnant and just having a newborn and try to remember what you wished for that you just never had.
While this might vary for every single person, I know a couple of unique baby shower gifts that are also quite practical that immediately pop into my head.
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Laundry service
Love this. Because honestly, when there’s a newborn in the house, who really has time for anything else? Even if you can just afford to gift a week or two of laundry service to the new mom, you’re seriously going to be giving her one of the best, and most practical, baby shower gifts ever.
(Make certain that you shop around on this gift as well. There is usually something offered on Groupon or through local coupon sites that offer a really great deal, too!)
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Gift Cards
Many people think that gift cards are impersonal, but that’s just really not the case. That kind of logic and thinking tends to be more for anniversaries and birthdays, not necessary as a baby shower gift. What I love most about the idea of giving a gift card is that it then gives the new mom free reign to buy whatever she wants and needs.
Is she needing help with dinner for a few nights during the week? Her gift card can help with that. Is she running low on diapers and didn’t get very many at the shower? She can easily use the gift card to refill up her stock.
Just make certain that you purchase a gift card that can be used anywhere (just like a credit or debit card) so it allows her to literally use it for anything that she needs.
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Diapers
Plain Jane or not, diapers are not only practical but they’re an absolute necessity as well. Babies are going to poop and pee, and that poop and pee have to go somewhere. And some babies need their diaper changed upwards of 15 times per day! When you’re looking at the cost of diapers, that can really add up.
Giving the mom-to-be plenty of diapers is a great way to give her the ability to stock up on an item that every baby needs. (and truthfully, this is one of the most practical gifts that you can give)
Now that you know three of what I feel are the most practical baby shower, let’s focus in on some of the other best baby gifts that you can take to the baby shower.
Related: Seriously Brilliant Newborn Hacks for New Parents
Homemade Baby Shower Gifts
Know that we’ve got mom taken off of with practical baby shower gifts, let’s focus in on some great DIY baby shower gifts as well. And from me to you, I love homemade gifts.
Not only do they take time and effort to make but they really do come from the heart. Homemade baby shower gifts also make really great unique baby shower gifts too because they truly are one in a kind.
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Diaper Cake
Can I just say that I love these? I often admire them from afar because I’ve never actually made one myself, but I think that they are a really cool gift to give to the mom. Not only are they loaded with diapers but they also usually have other baby items stuck in them like diaper cream, pacifiers, etc.
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Nursery Decor
If you know the theme of the nursery then you have a leg up on making a really cool gift for the fun of it as well. You can create a unique piece of wall art or decorate a fun picture frame, too. If you have any sort of creative bone in your body, you can really have fun with making something homemade to fit in with their nursery decor.
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Crotchet Blanket
There’s just something about receiving homemade blankets that truly never go out of style. Plus, as the baby gets older, the blanket is something that they can continue to use as well. What many people really don’t think about is how much time and money that it takes to create something homemade. Truth be told, it’s actually often a lot more expensive to make a DIY gift than to just buy something from the store.
Related: Best Swaddles for Newborns in 2019
Baby Gift Ideas for Boys
If you know that the upcoming bundle of joy is going to be a boy, then you can really zone in on baby boy gifts. (and it’s so much fun to shop for babies when you know what sex they are going to be!)
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Baby Rattles
Just hear me out…people always think about getting babies gifts for when they get a little bit bigger, but babies like to play too! Baby rattles are a great gift for baby boys as you can really have fun with the designs and shapes of them as well.
Baby toys can be practical because they’re so important in helping to build fine motor skills and coordination in young children and babies.
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Little Sneakers
Seriously, too cute. While the baby boy might not be wearing shoes anytime soon, you can bet that they’re going to be styling’ once they start. Just search online for baby sneakers and you’re going to find that you lose hours of time just searching around at all the adorable items. Baby feet are just too cute.
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Baseball Cap
Since you’re buying practical baby shower gifts for the mom, who says that you can’t have a little bit of fun with the baby gift ideas for boys? All little boys seem to love baseball caps so you should go ahead and gift one to them at the baby shower. And if you have a favorite sports team or sport, this might just be the perfect time to push your own agenda.
Have fun shopping for fun and unique gifts for little boys. There are some really cool gift items out there that are perfect for all baby boys.
Related: Breastfeeding and Pumping (schedule + tips that’ll make it easy!)
Baby Gift Ideas for Girls
Shopping for baby girls is so much fun! It’s like we transport ourselves into a world full of tulle, skirts, and headbands almost immediately once we find out that a baby girl is soon to be born. If you’re needing some super cute baby gift ideas for girls, you can’t go wrong with any of these.
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Tutu
The fluffier and goofier, the better. Not only do tutus just look adorable on baby girls, but they also make really good props for newborn pictures as well. Set her up to be a little princess or ballerina from the first day that she is born.
Is this necessarily a practical gift? It depends on who you ask. You can totally make it one if you’re giving it as an outfit for the baby’s first picture.
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Pink Carseat Carrier Cover
Depending on where you live, this can be a real lifesaver. These covers are perfect for putting over the top of car seats (safely so the baby can breath) to keep the elements away from them. During the cold weather or rainy weather, it helps to keep your bundle of joy dry and warm. Make certain to grab a pink one as a gift for the baby girl so that she can be snuggly and comfy. (and of course, there are blue ones for boys, too!)
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Teething Toys
There are some really adorable teething toys out there that will help the beautiful baby not have gums that hurt so bad. You can find pink ones, cute animal ones or even ones that are shaped like fruit. And while the baby really won’t need this gift for quite some time, it’s certain to come in handy in the near future. All babies will grow teeth and need something to chew on…and it doesn’t need to be momma, either!
As you can tell, there is no shortage of baby shower gifts that you can give to baby boys or baby girls. Even though some gifts are for one are the other, there are some gifts that can be for both, too.
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Gender-neutral baby gift ideas
These great gift ideas can be for both boys and girls and are certain to come in handy.
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Bumbo Seat
This is again another great and practical gift because it helps the baby to learn how to sit up and gives their core some extra strength. Moms also have to be careful with this because this isn’t something that a young baby should be put into until they are ready.
However, once they are old enough, the bumbo seat can be perfect for both boys and girls. It’s a great way to teach babies to sit up without the worry of them falling over backward and bumping their heads. You can also purchase a tray to put on the front so it can double as a high chair as well. (just make certain that you’re following all safety procedures for these as there have been issues with them in the past)
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Nursing Pillow
Maybe this is a gift for the mom just as it is for the baby, but a nursing pillow is such an amazing gift for all involved. It gives the mom a way to prop up the baby so that nursing is more comfortable for her and it gives the baby a way to nurse without having to be in an awkward position.
Nursing pillows are really nice because they’re created to fit around mom and the baby perfectly for a nice, snuggly fit.
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Swaddle Blankets
Babies love to be swaddled! And it just makes sense. After they’ve spent 9 months crammed in the timely spaces of the belly, it’s a feeling that they’re used to and accustomed to as well. Swaddling a baby is super simple and they even make special blankets that were made to solely be used as Swaddlers.
You can purchase them in gender-neutral colors like yellow and green easily as well.
When you’re trying to choose baby shower gifts, relax and listen to your gut. Especially if you’re a mom or parent and have had children before.
And while there might be a ton of new gadgets and gizmo’s on the market that is “must-have”, don’t forget the importance of having practical baby shower gifts as well.
Choose items that you know the mom is going to need and use and don’t be afraid to go against the grain. You’ll be amazed at how thankful moms are when they receive gifts that they’re actually going to be able to use!
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