Before I had my own child, I went to my fair share of baby showers (and sprinkles, for subsequent pregnancies.) Not knowing what a mom actually needed, I would use the mom-to-be's registry and Pinterest to point me in the right direction when it came to finding a great shower gift. And although this meant I'd give the recipient exactly what they wanted, I wish I'd known about the best gifts you can give for a baby shower. Not only would one of these items had made the mom-to-be happy, but it would have earned me some creativity points too.
This isn't to knock any of the traditional mainstays of baby shower presents, of course. I mean, a mom can never have too many onesies, bottles, or baby books. (OK, maybe too many baby books. I mean, you only have so much room in a nursery.) But if you want to really blow the socks off of your friends and family at any future celebrations, then you'll want to think outside the box. Heck, you may even want to think about the mom and not about the baby. From meal kits to subscription boxes, check out some the best gifts you can give at a baby shower.
1Diaper Replenishment Service
Think of this as a baby version of Birch Box. Though things might vary slightly depending on where you live, there are plenty of places that offer a diaper delivery service, like Tiny Tots. Whether the parents-to-be have gone the disposable or cloth route, there are options for both.
2Prepared Meal Kits
Similar to the above idea, this can really help out any new parent since food-prep is time-consuming. According to Forbes, there's a wide variety of meal kit services available to fit everyone's unique needs and budget, so you'll have no trouble finding a perfect fit.
3A Bottle-Catcher
Bobalong Bottle Holder, $27, Amazon
From sippy cups to pacifiers, many parents have struggled while driving to reach something that has fallen out of their baby's grasp. That's where Bobalong, an accessory that can hold a baby bottle comes in handy.
4Surprise Subscription
Bluum Subscription, $29/month, Bluum
This one is fun for everybody. Bluum is a monthly box of surprise goodies for baby and parent alike. You can customize it based on the child's age and it can be updated with preferences, too.
5House Cleaning Certificate
They say you're supposed to sleep when the baby sleeps, but I always found myself trying to catch up on errands instead. That's why purchasing a house cleaning certificate is a brilliant idea for a baby shower gift.
6Laundry Delivery
The future is now. Apparently, you can give the gift of laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery to the parents-to-be. Call me old-fashioned, but this concept seems amazing to me.
7Prepaid Massage Membership
OK, this one may seem weird to give at a baby shower, but it might just take the cake for best present ever. When my best friend gave me a pre-paid massage membership, I could have cried. Most likely they'll cash it in once the baby has arrived, but it will be so worth the wait.
