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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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4 min readWhen 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.
Product | Best for | Price | Rating | Best feature | Wow-factor | Learn more |
| Best gift overall | $26.95 | 
| 6 sounds to choose from | 3.5/5 | View on Baby Bunting | |
| Best budget gift | $29.95 | 
| Super practical | 1/5 | View on Baby Bunting | |
| Best gift under $50 | $32.95 | 
| Encourages more sleep | 3.5/5 | View on Amazon | |
| Best gift under $100 | $55 |
| Great for teething babies | 4/5 | View on Amazon | |
| Best gift over $100 | $222.30 | 
| Nourishing for new mums | 5/5 | View on Baby Bunting |
Prices are 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.
6 sounds to choose from
Buttons glow in the dark
Comes with clip 
Requires 3 x AA batteries 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.
Affordable
Durable
Practical
Not very exciting as a gift
Adds to the washing 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.
Packs up small
Great for travel
Affordable
Doesn’t always cover large windows
Only sticks to flat glass 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.
Helps soothe sore gum
Gorgeous gift pack
100% natural rubber
Can fall apart over time
Needs regular sterilising 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.
Helps with postpartum pain relief
Nice thoughtful gift for new mums
On the exxy side 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.
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.
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.
