Bad Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Baby showers are a great way to splurge the mom to be with cute little gifts for the baby on the way. Picking out baby shower gifts are usually easy because many parents opt to use registries. If you are not familiar with registries or the mother has opted not to use one you might be left feeling unsure of what to purchase. Below I have compiled a list of gifts that may be deemed unfavorable with some moms. You can help narrow your gift choices down by reviewing this list.

Baby Powder/Scented lotion- Powder has a history of being unsafe to use as it can cause damage to the lungs of newborns when inhaled. Many moms are a bit hesitant in using powder because of this. In addition, scented lotions may irritate newborn skin and the mother might actually prefer to use a different type or even different brand of lotion.

Pampers/Diapers-Yes diapers are very handy but they become a problem when guests purchase the diaper in too small of a size. Moms often complain that they receive an abundance of diapers from their guests but when the baby finally arrives the diapers are too small for them to wear.

Clothing - Picking out clothing should be left to the mother. The biggest problem with purchasing clothing is the time lapse; the time when the clothes were purchased and the time when the baby will actually be able to wear them. For instance, one mom received 6 summer outfits sized 0-3 months for her baby due in January; of course the baby would be way beyond 3 months when summer finally approaches. The other problem with purchasing clothing is that the mother's taste in style may contrast greatly with that of the guests. If you want to purchase clothing perhaps buy a $20-$40 gift card to be used at a clothing store for the baby.

Hair accessories- These will not make great gifts because they can pose as a choking hazard to babies. Babies have a knack for pulling and tugging and they just might tug the accessories off of their head and innocently place it into their mouths. Children generally become attracted to hair accessories when they are a bit older.

Stuffed animal- Stuffed animals can pose as a suffocation hazard for newborns.

Diaper Pails- Many moms that I have talked to have said that the diaper pail was not the greatest gift for them to receive. They simply could not sit in their house knowing that a pail of dirty diapers were accumulating in their baby's nursery.

Remember, every mother is different. If there is something that you would really like to purchase for her but are not sure if she would really like or need it, be sure to call her and ask.

Opened Items- So you might have an opened pack of diapers where you have just used a couple, or you might have an opened pack of socks that you would like to give to the baby. Instead of giving the mother the gifts in the opened packages take them out and rearrange them in a little basket for the baby.