14 best baby shower gifts that new parents will actually want
We love buying baby shower gifts. What is better than celebrating such an exciting time with someone dear to you? And the gifts are just so cute.
But we have learnt from experience not to choose the first item that makes you go “aw” but to really think about what the parent-to-be really wants or needs.
Holly Harper, head of inspiration at Not On The High Street, says: “We are finding that lots more gifts are being bought for parents rather than their baby.”
Grab the chance to spoil any new parent or carer with a luxurious treat.
Or, if you are a parenting pro, help a friend navigate the weird and wonderful world of childcare with something that you found useful.
Harper agrees: “I would recommend using your own experiences as inspiration for practical gifts – never underestimate the need for a proper baby changing bag.”
If you are shopping on a budget, but want to buy a fabulous gift, Harper has the solution: “Why not club together with friends to buy an extra special gift for the parents-to-be? Treat them to a nursery showstopper that they perhaps couldn't justify buying herself”
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Read More
12 best baby sleep aids that help your little one drift off with ease
10 best baby mobiles that help sooth your little one to sleep
18 best gifts for new parents to celebrate the little one's arrival
Aden + Anais classic dream blanket
Blankets are a safe baby shower gift, and this is not just any blanket. Four layers of super soft muslin form a strong but soft throw that is perfect for snuggles, as well as using as a play mat. Versatile, as well as delicate, it washes well and retains its colours. There are several gorgeous designs to choose from. The classic Aden + Anais designs are beautiful and are a badge of honour for any new parents or carers.
Buy now £44.95, Aden + Anais
The White Company under the sea hat and mittens set
You can’t have a baby shower without at least one gift from The White Company. This sea life set is perfect for both boys and girls. No one can resist a little hat with ears, and the scratch mitts will be a godsend when the baby gets to the stage of trying to scratch its face. Perfect in a hospital bag and for bringing baby home, it is soft and makes a generous looking gift which won’t break the bank. There’s matching muslins and onesies too – just saying.
Buy now £16.00, The White Company
Buttonbag baby handprint kit
One of the best things about new babies is their small hands and feet, but they don’t last long. This kit allows parents to take a print of a little hand and foot to treasure the tininess forever. It arrives in a beautiful suitcase box, so there’s no need to wrap it. The clay is non-toxic and air dries, so it is simply a case of squidging in the little baby hands and feet and waiting for the clay to set. It’s easy to use, even for the most arts and crafts challenged parents or carers, and gave a result worthy of framing, which we will treasure. We loved it and will be buying it for other mums to be.
Buy now £20.00, Jojo Maman Bebe
Mama Mio tummy rub routine
Treat the bump to this luxurious routine that helps prevent stretch marks. It includes a scrub, butter and oil to keep growing skin soft and smooth. Growing a baby is a special time and this routine will help mum bond with her bump and really take the time to look after her changing body. We loved the smell, and it lived up to its reputation as a must-have treat for expectant mothers.
Buy now £60.00, Mama Mio
Meminio raising you childhood memory journal
This book provides a place for new parents or carers to write to their children. It is lined, and unprompted, so they can write anything, whenever they want. It’s a nice way to record memories, thoughts and wishes for the future, as well as a beautiful thing to pass on to the child when they are grown up. It’s a very sweet looking book and good quality, too. It’s a pricey gift but something that will be treasured for a long time.
Buy now £35.00, Not On The High Street
Kodak classic instant print digital camera
This camera looks retro yet has a lot of tech going on inside. It is a point and shoot camera, which also prints instant photos. You can edit photos and add filters and/or text via the app, and even save photos for later. It is small enough to take out and about, and ideal for people who love taking photos. It also makes a great gift for parents and carers who are sleep deprived as it’s easy to set up and use. You must be patient and wait long enough for the photos to develop properly, which can be hard because the process is exciting. But we will use this a lot, as it is perfect for capturing early days and sharing pictures with family and friends.
Buy now £127.49, Amazon
Biamother app premium subscription
Biamother promises to be a pregnancy and postnatal expert in your pocket through providing access to advice and one-to-one coaching. It helps new mums prepare for, and recover from delivery, stay focused and positive, as well as offering advice on food and fitness if you want it. A gift for mothers would be a premium subscription for the service, which costs £16.99 per month and provides access to their own coach, whom they can ask questions to 24-hours a day. We downloaded this easily and got stuck in straight away, loving how intuitive it is and easy to master. We found it really reassuring to have someone to ask questions to at any time. It is highly engaging and very bespoke once tailored to suit you, and felt like it was made by true experts. We loved the options for exercise, which are each suited to your stage of motherhood. We will be recommending this to mums and mums-to-be.
Buy now £16.99, Biamother
Magnet Mouse unisex mouse babygrow
These 100 per cent pure cotton baby grows are adorable. They use innovative magnet technology to fasten, meaning no more fiddly poppers – music to tired ears. We are huge fans of this brand – the material feels luxurious and the peter pan collars look sweet under a jumper. It is a high price, but it will be worn again and again.
Buy now £45.00, Magnet Mouse
Tommee Tippee gro grobag abstract animals snuggle
In order to solve the problem of chilly babies waking up because their blankets have slipped off, TommeeTipee has created these sleepbags for your baby slots into, which fits snugly over their shoulder and PJs. They are a lifesaver for sleep deprived new parents and carers who will try anything to get their little one to sleep soundly. There are different tog warmth ratings to suit the seasons and they wash well. Ideal for babies who don’t enjoy being swaddled, yet still need a cover that will stay on during the whole night-time rodeo. Worth the money and a great gift that any new parent or carer will appreciate.
Buy now £25.99, Tommee Tippee
My Expert Midwife mum-to-be collection
New mums will thank you profusely for this gift. These oils, sprays and balms are developed by midwives to help mums in areas that they will really need it. The term expert is reassuring, and we found the products helped amazingly. Practical gifts can still be pretty, and this set comes in a beautiful white cotton drawstring bag that makes it feel like a treat.
Buy now £67.00, My Expert Midwife
Kit & Kin newborn set
This is a beautiful and luxurious collection of super soft items for any newborn – made from sustainable 100 per cent organic cotton. The onesie has a zip, not poppers, which is a real treat for tired parents or carers. The set is comprised of a hat, sleepsuit and blanket – the latter is the perfect size for newborns and can be taken out and about, and the hat has floppy bunny ears. The cream and grey colours are beautiful, and the items felt luxurious and the packaging a treat.
Buy now £71.07, Kit & Kin
Tomee Tippee groclock
If you ask a new parent what they want, they will say “more sleep”, and this product might actually help on that front. The clock shows stars, which gradually disappear during the night and then the sun appears when it is time to get up. The instructions for children are simple – stay in bed until you see the sun. Aimed at older toddlers and children, this is an ideal gift for parents and carers who are expecting their second or third baby and want to ensure their child stays in bed, even if they are woken by the littlest one.
Buy now £22.99, Tomee Tippee
HappySkin dreamy clouds baby gift set
According to the British Skin Foundation, one in five children in the UK are affected by eczema at some point. We know how awful it is when your little one is suffering, so this gift will be a godsend for new parents and carers to reach to during itchy flare-ups.
HappySkin is a range of base layer clothing that is designed and proven to protect, heal and sooth irritated skin. It incorporates an innovative polymer technology (“dreamskin”) that helps to increase the natural flow of moisture and regulate the skin’s temperature.
We tested the dreamy clouds baby gift set, which comes with a bodysuit, leggings and sleepsuit. The leggings had foldaway feet to keep little toes warm or cool, and the items are soft and nicely presented.
Our little tester has eczema, so this was the perfect gift for us. As promised, it didn’t aggravate his skin at all unlike how other new items have. It is a luxurious and thoughtful gift which will be truly appreciated.
Buy now £47.47, HappySkin
Don't By Her Flowers the new parents package
A thoughtful and helpful gift for those blurry, early days. It’s hard to remember to eat when you don’t know what time it is, or where you put the fridge. Cooking something that is either nutritious or tasty is a big ask. These bundles save the day and are packed with delicious, healthy ingredients. We love that this package thinks about the whole family. It comes with tea, reusable coffee cups, brownies, a £35 Cook voucher (a frozen meal company with a focus on quality ingredients) and a muslin for the baby. The packaging felt like a treat, while the caffeine and sugar hit kept us going when we needed it most, and we enjoyed choosing our own Cook meal bundle.
Buy now £94.50, Don't Buy Her Flowers
The verdict: Baby shower gifts
Like any gift, choosing something for a new parent is a personal choice and you will have a good idea of what they want or need. We love the idea of clubbing together to get something extra special, like the Aden + Anais classic dream blanket which will be treasured. If they are short on space, a techy gift like the biamother app is thoughtful and useful.
