Baby Shower Gifts

Some baby showers seem more difficult to shop for than others. If a parent doesn't know if they are expecting a boy or a girl, it can seem overwhelming trying to find a baby gift that isn't gender specific. The problem is actually that mindset, that we have to buy a pregnant woman adorable outfits for her soon to be born child. Yes, clothes are cute and fun and even helpful... but not always the best way to go!

While I was pregnant, I had about 3 seperate baby showers thrown for me. Out of all of those baby showers, I appreciated every gift and sent out thank you cards, but I had received several 'duplicate' gifts, especially of things that were cute but I honestly never even used. When asked by people who had been unable to attend any of my baby showers what it was that I hadn't already recieved, or what it was that I wanted, I always had the same answer.

Diapers! This may go without saying, but diapers are one gift that no one will mind recieving too many of. There is actually no such thing as too many diapers. Along with this would go diaper wipes, but when bringing a new baby into the world it is having an abundance of diapers that makes life easier. Just be sure to know if the mother is planning on using cloth or disposable.

A few of the gifts I received were actually packed like a gift basket, all in a diaper bag. The extra diaper bags do come in handy. It is nice to always have one fully packed and ready in a vehicle, one on a stroller, one in the living room, etc. What goes inside can be cheap dollar store toys, cute outfits, whatever stuffers you want to put in. If you are in the position to give multiple gifts, whatever they are, I suggest packing them all in a diaper bag. You don't even need to wrap them!

Some great stuffer ideas are : pacifiers, blankets, bottles, rattles, any of the other items mentioned in this article, outfits (onesies), gift certificates, and coupons to babysit!

Another great gift to give an expecting mother is a breastfeeding pillow. These are u-shaped cushions that can be used for many things all through the first year. They can be used to lay a resting baby in, to nurse, to practice sitting when they get older, and so much more. The average price for these must-haves is about $20 and they can be found in the baby section your local Walmart or K-mart. (You don't have to search for a baby store to find these.)

In the 5th month of my son's life I discovered the best baby shower gift ever. I have sworn that if I ever attend another baby shower, I will give this as a gift, because it is absolutely wonderful to own. What is this precious item? It is a baby food mill.

It may be a little hard to find one, but it will be especially hard if you have no idea what you are looking for! Unfortunately, these items are not as well known as some other baby items, but they're really easy to locate once you know about them.

The quality and price range of baby food mills vary tremendously, but I bought mine for $6.99 at K-mart. What it is, in case you have never heard of one, is a gadget used to make your own baby food. I had tried using a blender and a food processor, but nothing has ever worked so well for baby food. That's what these are made for! They are very easy to use, and the reason they make the best gift is because even the expecting mother may not know what it is. If she doesn't, just explain to her (the package will explain as well.)

Some mothers may have never heard of these things, and miss out on the simple convenience and money saving benefits of owning a food mill. So if nothing else, a baby food mill would be what I recommend to give as a gift at a baby shower.

Remember, if you don't know what to get or what not to get, the best thing to do is ask!