Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Baby showers are fun and exciting events that are normally organized by a close friend or family member of the mom to be. Baby shower games are played to entertain the guests and keep things fun. Plus gifts are given to the mother to be to help her on her journey into motherhood. The gifts can be clothing, baby products or things for mom that will make her life easier when her baby arrives.
***Disclosure – this post is sponsored by Globofam***
Shopping for baby shower gifts may be really fun, or perhaps you are a little bit stuck for some ideas. Baby shower gifts for mom and baby that are super practical will be the best types of gifts. Here are some useful baby shower gift ideas for mom and baby to help you find that perfect gift.
Nappy Cakes
Nappy cakes are fun and are so useful for a new mom. Every baby shower needs to have a nappy cake gift!
In case you don’t know what a nappy cake is, it is a hamper of baby toiletries and other essentials plus nappies and it is put together in the design of a cake. Every new mom to be will need loads of nappies and baby toiletries such as bum cream, baby soap and baby shampoo. You can try your hand at making your own or you can buy one.
Sheepskin Products For Baby
Sheepskin has been a firm favorite for baby products for hundreds of years. Sheepskin is less likely to cause allergies in babies. It is soft and comfortable while providing insulation against the cold. Sheepskin blankets are especially helpful for preterm babies.
Find a good shop that supplies luxurious sheepskin products for babies and you won’t go wrong for a baby shower gift.
Essential Baby Clothing Hamper
For the first few months a new baby will be outgrowing clothes at a very fast pace. Babygrows, vests and socks will be needed in sizes newborn, 0 – 3 months, 3 – 6 months, 6 – 9 months, 9 – 12 months and 12 – 18 months. Up until 1 years old babies will need a complete new wardrobe every 2 – 3 months!
It is very common for a new mom to get lots of clothing gifts for newborn and 0 – 3 month sizes but very often no bigger sizes. Consider buying a hamper of one item of each size rather than a bunch of things for a newborn. Chances are high all newborn items will be worn for a week or less before the baby outgrows all the newborn items!
Consider buying gender neutral clothing since mom to be might be planning more babies and she can then use the baby clothing for her next baby.
Shapewear For Mom
Remember its not all about the baby, its also about the the mom. Her body is going to change and she will have lumps, bumps and stretchmarks in places that were never there before. When baby arrives chances are high that the new mom will be spending all her time and energy focused on her new baby.
Giving her soft and comfortable shapewear for new moms will make such a difference to her esteem.
Breastfeeding (or Formula Feeding) Hamper
Breastfeeding is not always easy, especially when it comes to first time moms. Making up a breastfeeding hamper is a great way to help a new mom master breastfeeding.
A book about breastfeeding will always come in handy along with some products like nipple cream, breast pads, a breast pump and a breastfeeding cover. You can even include a baby wrap since these really do come in handy not only to carry your baby but baby-wearing also encourages breastfeeding and bonding.
Breastfeeding tops and bras are also super useful and will make an amazing addition to a breastfeeding hamper. It may be best to include vouchers for the bras since these will need to be properly fitted and it is best to buy breastfeeding bras when baby arrives since mommy’s body and breasts will be changing shape and size.
If mom to be does not plan on breastfeeding you can simply change this to a feeding hamper which will include things like bottles, teats, a bottle warmer, some formula and some bibs
A Baby Soothing Hamper
Babies are notorious for being niggle, sleeping badly and crying. Creating a hamper specifically towards soothing a baby is a wonderful gift to give, especially if this is a first time mom to be.
Some things to include in a soothing hamper include some swaddling blankets (along with instructions on how to swaddle and an explanation of why), pacifiers, an amber teething necklace, a white noise CD, a comfort blanket, teething gel and some colic drops.
A Diaper Bag
Every new mom will need a good quality diaper bag. You can also stock it with some essentials that she will need to pack in it. Create a checklist for new moms to pack in their baby diaper bags so that they can be confident in those first few weeks that they have not left out something important when leaving home.
You can also include a checklist for mom to be to pack in for her birth at hospital, or at home if she is planning a home birth.
Great ideas @lynne!
Some of the items mentioned here are essential when having a newborn in the house and with gifts like these it will most definitely make things a little easier on the new Mommy.
1. Bigger clothing. With the last few baby showers I attended, I made sure I am buying clothes for 3-6 months or even bigger. Most people buy newborn clothing but that little peanut outgrows them at such a rapid pace that you’ll have to up size very quickly.
2. Baby bags – I am convinced that you can’t have too many baby bags. They are essential and you have to replace them from time to time. Especially the bag that goes to daycare or preschool. They get worn out pretty quickly.
3. A Gift for the expecting Mommy – With my baby shower two of my friends clubbed in together and bought me lovely gifts including a super soft blanket for JD. Not a swaddle or fleece one. One of those real blanket blankies, like the blankets we used. That blanket was so soft and of good quality. We still use it. It really was the best gift and so unexpected. Included in their gift was a Isabella Garcia gift for myself with luxurious hand cream and rose water for the body. I thought this to be so considerate of them. I didn’t expect a gift for myself and was very greatful.
4. Another great idea I saw on Facebook the other day, was a first aid kit for babies. It contains all the medicines and necessities that one would need for baby ailments. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I visited our Pharmacy for some kind of drop or medicine. Especially those first three month’s. It is good to be prepared. Pharmacies can help you to make up the perfect kit needed for newborns and this item is something that so little people think about. I was thinking to get this for the next baby shower that I will attend.
Thank you for the great ideas @Lynne
I normally gift a nappie bag with a few essentials for all the baby showers that I attend.
A small breakdown of the essentials that fill up the nappie bag is, Baby Powder, Baby Lotion, Bum Cream, Vaseline, Wet Wipes, Glycerine, Facecloths, Cotton wool buds and not forgetting Baby Oil.
Three of the people that I had gifted these goodies to have used it as a starter kit to take to hospital, when I heard that I felt so glad that I could off helped in such a way.
Being a mom, you know what gifts was necessary and which you could have done without, so I gift what I know that I would appreciate the most.
I am so glad I saw your article @Lynne! I am attending a baby shower soon and since my kids are much older now I realize how much I have forgotten. But it did all come back to me as I read your article and I completely agree. The bigger sized clothes are a must – I remember how thankful I was every time I could open the closet and get the next batch of sizes out. The baby bag with essentials is also a very good idea. I think I will be doing that for my friend, even though this is not her first child. Like Elize said, you can never have too many bags!
I was also thinking of making a little elephant (I love crocheting) because it is a boy and it is the mom’s favorite animal. Something personal which I think they would both love. Baby showers are so exciting – I just love them!
It must be our instincts as moms, I don’t know. But shopping for a baby is one of my favorite things to do.
Thank you for your ideas @Lynne.
A personal and handmade gift will always be a winner and appreciated @giets. I am sure she will love it! I got a beautiful handmade jersey from a close friend’s mom when my daughter was born, it was such a special gift. Plus handmade gifts are usually of such higher quality than anything you can buy in stores these days. My husband’s granny knitted him a jersey when he was a baby and when my daughter was born my mother in law gave it to me for her. An amazing an sentimental gift. I now have it packed away in a memory box for my daughter.
Please do make the crochet elephant @giets. They are lovely and like Lynne mentioned handmade gifts are always special and treasured.
I’ve recently completed my first big crochet project – a blanket for JD.
I wish I could crochet the animal toys. They are super cute but I’m not good with patterns. :-O
And I agree with you, shopping for babies are very enjoyable. I love looking through all the adorable little baby grows and baby essentials and I always end up over spending. LOL.
Great ideas, i got my sis a baby bag for her babyshower. So i wad definitely on the right track 😋😊