Top 10 Baby Shower Gifts for 2021
When there is a baby on the way, there’s nothing but excitement in the air. One of the best ways to channel these feelings is through ultra-fun baby showers. Still, while baby showers are an excuse to drink colorful punch and celebrate a little one’s arrival, the event is also crucial to make sure the parents-to-be have everything they need before the real responsibilities kick in. Are you feeling stumped on what to get your friend or what to put on your own registry? Here are our top ten baby shower gifts for 2021.
1. Wearable Blanket
Starting off is a baby item that is not only essential for the baby’s comfort but their safety as well. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, loose blankets, stuffed animals, and pillows must stay out of baby’s crib—but that doesn’t mean the baby has to forfeit staying warm through the night! Wearable blankets (or “sleep sacks”) are a cozier alternative to loose blankets that will keep the baby happy and secure while they sleep.
2. Themed Mobiles
There isn’t a more iconic nursery staple than a classic baby mobile. Don’t be mistaken: they serve a greater purpose than just being cute! Soothing and calming, baby mobiles have been stimulating baby brain development since we first started putting them over cribs. With so many different designs on the market, it’ll be no trouble finding the perfect mobile to fit in with the beautiful theme chosen for the nursery.
3. Diaper Pail
As adorable and perfect as babies are, no one enjoys the smell of dirty diapers. It’s all but impossible to throw them away in a regular trashcan and too much of a hassle to take each one to the dumpster individually. Hence, a diaper pail is a necessity for a baby nursery—and what better way to receive one than as a baby shower gift? Sleekly designed and available in all the colors to compliment any nursery, diaper pails know how to lock in odors and keep the room smelling fresh. This would be a very generous gift to give someone at their baby shower or a strategic choice to add to your personal registry!
4. Baby Bathtub
Baby bathtubs can make a new parent’s life a lot easier. Far more convenient than the actual bathtub (babies are slippery!), an individual baby bath is a comfortable and user-friendly option to keep the new baby squeaky clean. Like the other suggestions mentioned, this gift can also be very customizable design-wise—though you might want to opt more for functionality over cuteness here, like finding a tub that offers more than one support position so it can grow with the baby.
5. Diapers, lots of diapers!
Did someone say diapers? What seems like it would be the most obvious choice on the list, so many parents out there still underestimate just how many diapers they would go through in the first year (hint: it’s a LOT.) So, you can never have too many diapers. Whether you’re requesting them for your baby shower or gifting them to others, it’s a good rule of thumb to get a box of diapers for each age range—babies grow fast, so it’s never a bad idea to be prepared.
6. Baby Wipes
This is fundamentally just a continuation of the previous point. Like diapers, it’s easy to underestimate just how many wipes someone will need in the first year. Stay ahead of the clean baby game and get these in bulk.
7. Bibs and Bottles
This gift takes particular care. Whether formula feeding, breastfeeding, or a mixture of both, all parents need good bottles on hand—and since there are so many brands to choose from, think quality over quantity here. Double up on the “feeding time” theme of this gift and add some cute baby bibs to keep everything clean and tidy.
8. Swaddle Blanket
This one is just so cute to think about! While a newborn is adjusting to their new life, a swaddle blanket is crucial to helping them feel safe and secure and getting them acclimated to sleeping on their back. Swaddling is also beneficial to calming fussy babies, soothing colic, and preventing them from accidentally scratching themselves as they discover their hands. Still, it’s essential not to swaddle too often, and there is a WRONG way to swaddle, so whether the baby in question is yours or someone else’s, research is required.
9. Nursing Pillow
With so many hassles that come with raising a baby, why include the back and neck pain that comes with feeding them? Considering that feedings can sometimes last for an hour or more, there’s no reason not to make it as comfortable for the parents as possible. A nursing pillow will not only save their shoulders, but they can be repurposed for some supervised tummy time!
10. Gift Cards
Lastly, when all else fails, you can never go wrong with a gift card. Give or request a custom amount of money to a preferred baby store so you or the parents in question can decide what the incoming baby needs the most—preferably a suggestion from this list!
