Best and Worst Baby Shower Gifts

With the baby care market now racking in over $47.7 BILLION a year, its no wonder buying a baby shower gift is harder than ever. Even with a registry, buying the right gift can still seem like an impossible task. Most parents register for upwards of a hundred items or more. How is the gift giver to know what is the best gifts, and what are the worst? Sooner State Doula can help :)

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The Best

1. Diapers and wipes. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH! Just make sure to ask if the parents are using a specific brand or type. You wouldn't want to get a cloth diapering mom disposables! You may be worried about what size to get, but fret not. Most big box stores will exchange an unopened pack of diapers for a different size.
2. Consider going in on a large gift with a couple of friends. A car seat is one of the few absolutely necessary baby purchases, and it's often one of the most expensive. Because of safety concerns, parents cant save a few bucks by buying secondhand either. Imagine the weight off the parents shoulders to know that a large purchase is taken care of! Other big ticket items you could consider splitting with friends could be a stroller, crib, baby carrier, swing, rocking chair, or high chair.
3. Basket of essential healthcare items. If you have children, I'm sure you remember at least once in their childhood, running out to the store at 2 AM to get something while they were sick. It's inevitable. Help the parents be prepared by giving them a care basket of things they might need! You could include a nose frida, thermometer, boogie wipes, saline spray, gas drops, gripe water, Tylenol, baby vicks, and maybe even something special for the parents like a chocolate bar. Those long nights with a sick baby can be rough!
4. This gift idea is unique and by far my favorite! Consider giving the parents a gift card for some type of take out place. Maybe your favorite pizza shop, or a great chinese takeout. Or create them a few of your favorite freezer or crockpot meals. These are invaluable those first few weeks at home! 
5. Another unique and free gift idea is to let the parents know what days and times you are available and your number to call if they ever need or want a baby sitter. You can include this in your card! Every momma needs a break now and then and by giving her this information ahead of time she will know, you are there when she needs you!

Extra! For a mom planning to breastfeed, I love to give the book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. It's a fantastic breastfeeding book that covers every possible thing you could need to know as a breastfeeding mother!

The Worst

1. After market car seat accessories. Many people don't know that it is actually unsafe and even voids the car seats warranty to use after market accessories. After market accessories are anything you can buy separate from the car seat itself. Strap covers, head pillows, different seat covers etc. If the car seat doesn't already come with these things you should get them from the car seat manufacturer, not from a 3rd party brand.
2. Wipe warmer. The logic behind the baby wipe warmer is that baby wipes may be too cold for baby’s butt, and the cold temperature will make the little one fussy during changing times. Perhaps, but babies are always fussy during changing time. It’s just the way of diapers and babies and poopy messes! Most parents never end up using the wipe warmer. Its just an extra unnecessary step.
3. Changing table. Just another unnecessary big ticket item! Parents learn pretty quickly that anything and everything can be a changing table. The ground, the bed, the couch etc. An on the go changing pad would be a better used alternative, or even a muslin swaddle blanket. They are super versatile and breathable. They can be used to change your baby on, as a nursing cover, or as a swaddle.
4. Newborn clothes, especially uncomfortable ones! Little tiny baby jeans are super cute, but also super unrealistic. A newborn is much more comfortable in a gown or onesie.
5. Baby laundry soap. There are a fewsoaps that may be strong enough to irritate baby’s skin, but they’re fairly few and far between. You’ll find that the average soap sold at the supermarket will be just great to wash baby’s onesies and clothing. You won’t have to worry too much about allergic reactions in your little one.

Truly, the best gift a new mom can receive is the love and community of the people who care about her. New motherhood is full of so many changes and emotions that your presence really is that important to her. However, if you want to shower the new parents with gifts, now you can travel to the store with ease!