Baby Shower Gifts that Moms Want

Standard baby shower gifts usually fall into the category of clothing, shampoos, and diapers. Although these gifts are nice gestures they do not take much of the burden off of the parents' backs. The gifts that parents really do need are a bit on the higher end when it comes to price. If you can afford to spend a bit extra you might want to consider purchasing one of these gifts below for the baby.

Bassinet- These are what the infants sleep in. These are just temporary beds and can be used up until the baby is about 4 months or when they have reached the given weight capacity. Bassinets range from $50-$100.

Stroller- These are very important for the new parents. Strollers make traveling with the baby less of a hassle. The best strollers to purchase are; the ones that come with a car seat and can adjust with the baby as he or she grows, and include under carriage storage and an adjustable canopy. Baby Trend and Graco are good brands that make affordable strollers. Strollers can range from $150-$250.

Medicine- Medicine such as infant Tylenol, Mylicon Drops, diaper rash (Desitin is a great brand) ointment and thermometers are very useful for infants. Infant medicine and thermometers generally start at $10.00 and up.

Baby Food- Infants generally do not start eating solids until they reach age 4-6 months. Babies first start with cereal (rice) and work their way to the jars. When purchasing baby food, don't purchase too many jars. Four jars and a box of baby rice cereal should be sufficient for a gift. Baby food in a jar usually costs $1-$2 and baby cereal costs $300-$5.00.

Formula- The baby will need formula if the mother chooses not to nurse or chooses to nurse and bottle feed. Babies go through formula quickly and formula is expensive. Formula costs $16-$20 a can. Babies feed consistently throughout the day which means that having a bulk of baby formula will be very useful. Enfamil is one of the top formula brands. If you are not sure which brand the parents will prefer you could wait a little after the baby is born to purchase the formula.

Baby monitors- These are helpful for the parents when they want to let their baby sleep and need to make a quick stop to the kitchen or bathroom. With these devices they will be able to watch or hear the baby without worrying too much. Baby monitors can cost anywhere from $30 to $150.

Crib- These can get really expensive but are very valuable as children can use them from the infant stage to the toddler stage. Cribs usually start from $150 and can go up to $500. Wal-Mart sells affordable cribs.

Car Seat- Car seats are just as valuable as beds if not more important. The parents will be required to have a car seat with them before they can take the baby home from the hospital. Car seats range from $50-$200.

Diaper Bag- The diaper bag is essential for parents to be, this is where they will store the food, diapers, wipes, blankets, medicine etc... A nice sizeable bag can cost $13-$40.

PlayPen- These come in handy when the baby starts to sit up and becomes more mobile. Play pens are enclosed and give the baby somewhere safe to play and rest. They retail at $100-$300.

Swing, bouncer- Baby swings and bouncer are not really a necessity; they suffice more as a source of entertainment for the baby. These cost $50-$100.

Long sleeved- Onsies/footies- These will keep the baby warm. Clothing like this usually comes in a pack and generally costs $20-$30.

Breast feeding pillow- The Boppy pillow will make a great gift for breastfeeding moms. The pillow is shaped so that it fits around mom's waist. The baby rests on top of the pillow's length. The Boppy Pillows cost $20-$40.