Best baby shower gifts (that parents actually want)

No matter your budget, here are the presents that will have you winning baby showers
Best overall
Best budget
Best under $50
Best under $100
Best over $100
Bare Mum Recovery Kit
Bare Mum Recovery Kit
5 out of 5 stars
5
  • pro
    Gift for mums
  • pro
    Helps postpartum recovery

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For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to create unbiased, human reviews. We may earn money when you click links on our site, but this does not affect our recommendations. Learn how we test and review.

Kate Reynolds
Apr 26, 2024
Icon Time To Read4 min read

When it comes to baby shower presents for new parents, there’s endless products on the market. Toys, books, clothing, bath oils, nappy creams... the list goes on. But if you’re wanting to impress your expectant friends or family with a baby shower gift they will love, then above all, the gift should ideally be useful.

Leave the cute rompers and beautiful nursery decor to mum and dad, and get them something that will help them on their new journey into parenthood.



Compare the best baby shower gifts

Product
Best for
Price
Rating
Best feature
Wow-factor
Learn more
Best gift overall
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
6 sounds to choose from3.5/5
Best budget gift
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
Super practical1/5
Best gift under $50
4 out of 5 stars
4
Encourages more sleep3.5/5
Best gift under $100
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Great for teething babies4/5
Best gift over $100
5 out of 5 stars
5
Nourishing for new mums5/5

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

1. Project Nursery Sound Soother: Best baby shower gift overall

Best overall
baby soother
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

A sleeping aid that you can take on the go? Tick, tick, tick. Getting a baby to sleep is one of the trickier parts of parenthood, and anything to help guide a newborn into those sweet, sweet zzz’s will go a long way.

You can pop this Project Nursery Portable Sound Soother in the pram, the car, or next to their bassinet to help create a consistent sleeping cue for babies.

With four nature sounds to choose from (white noise, heart beat, waves and rain) plus two lullabies, a portable white noise machine is the ultimate hack for helping babies get some shut-eye.

pro
Pros
pro 6 sounds to choose from
pro Buttons glow in the dark
pro Comes with clip
con
Cons
con Requires 3 x AA batteries

2. Big Softies Nappies: Best budget baby shower gift

Best budget gift
Big softies terry towelling nappies
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Okay, this present isn't going to win you an award for the most exciting, or flashy. But in terms of usefulness, the Big Softies Terry Towelling Nappies are a real winner.

Even if the expecting parents aren’t using them as reusable nappies, they have an abundance of uses. Keep babies warm in the bath by draping a warm towel over them. Throw one over your shoulder to catch any baby spew. Pop on a few on the floor for some nappy-free time to catch any, er, mess.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable
pro Durable
pro Practical
con
Cons
con Not very exciting as a gift
con Adds to the washing

3. Blackout blinds: Best baby shower gift under $50

Best under $50
Tommee Tippee Blackout Blinds
Tommee Tippee Blackout Blinds
4 out of 5 stars
4
Starts at$32.95
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Sometimes the best baby shower gifts are ones new parents don’t even know they need. Tommee Tippee Blackout Blinds help stop that early morning sun from creeping into baby’s nursery, encouraging a little more shut-eye in the morning.

Babies are still working out how to produce melatonin, and their sleep pressure is lowest between the hours of 4am and 6am. So any disturbances during this time, like light filtering into their room, can wake them, and they may have trouble falling back to sleep.

These blackout blinds have suction cups and velcro patches so they can be attached to a variety of window shapes and sizes. Plus, as they come with a little bag, they’re great for using on-the-go for holidays.

pro
Pros
pro Packs up small
pro Great for travel
pro Affordable
con
Cons
con Doesn’t always cover large windows
con Only sticks to flat glass

4. Sophie the Giraffe teething set: Best baby shower gift under $100

Best gift under $100
sophie the giraffe teething toy
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

This gift won't be required immediately as babies are unlikely to get their first teeth before 4 months old (and often much later) but when they do, parents will be glad to have some teething toys on hand.

Sophie the Giraffe is a much-loved teething toy, and this gift set has three pieces to help soothe sore gums. It’s made from 100% natural rubber and high quality food-grade paint. There’s the classic teething toy, a teething ring, and also a teething keyring to keep handy.

pro
Pros
pro Helps soothe sore gum
pro Gorgeous gift pack
pro 100% natural rubber
con
Cons
con Can fall apart over time
con Needs regular sterilising

5. Bare Mum Recovery Kit: Best baby shower gift over $100

Best gift over $100
Bare Mum Recovery Kit
Bare Mum Recovery Kit
5 out of 5 stars
5
Starts at$222.30
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

You know, sometimes the best baby shower gifts aren’t for babies at all. They’re for the parents, and after nine months of carrying and growing a human, mum deserves a bit of postpartum self-care.

This Bare Mum Recovery Kit has everything a new mum might need to help recover after birth. From skin oil to postpartum briefs, this gift pack is all natural and organic and would be a welcome addition on the baby shower gift table.

pro
Pros
pro Helps with postpartum pain relief
pro Nice thoughtful gift for new mums
con
Cons
con On the exxy side
Best baby shower gifts: Runners up

Dinner Ladies voucher: Dinner Ladies post out delicious frozen meals, which can be a real lifeline when you have a newborn at home. Their lasagnas are particularly scrumptious.

Heidi Sze ‘Nurturing Your New Life’: Heidi approaches parenthood with honesty, realism and a bit of humour in her book, and it’s the perfect antidote to the carefully curated parenting accounts of Instagram.

HELP: Yep! One of the best gifts you can offer a family with a new baby at home is help! Babysitting, cooking meals, doing a few loads of laundry can really help take the pressure of new parents as they settle into their new life.

Final word

Everyone’s journey into parenthood is unique, and if you’re really stuck on what to get loved ones for a baby shower gift, it never hurts to ask expectant parents what they would like.

FAQ

This varies from parent to parent, but most parents would agree that something practical and useful for the incoming new baby is a good baby shower gift.

This really comes down to you and your budget, and how well you know the expecting parents. That’s why we have gift ideas for every budget.

How we reviewed the best baby shower gifts

For our review of the best baby shower gifts, we looked at gifts across different budgets that are a combination of practical and useful for both parents and babies, as well as the author’s own experience as a parent.

You can learn more about how we review products by checking out our methodology.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Kate Reynolds
Written by
Kate Reynolds is a writer who's at her happiest when there's haloumi on the brunch menu and a dog to give pats to. She's worked as a travel writer, journalist, theatre reviewer, broadcaster and radio creative, and spends her weekends with as much of the aforementioned haloumi and dogs as possible. She writes on Cammeraygal and Wangal land.

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