Inexpensive Baby Shower Gift Ideas

It's always exciting getting an invitation to a friend's baby shower, but, face it, most of us don't want to sink a lot of money into the gift unless it's a close friend or family member. On the other hand, no one wants their gift to look cheap, either. The compromise? There are a lot of inexpensive baby shower gift options that are essential for the parents-to-be and most that people overlook. Your bank account won't suffer and the parents-to-be will be happy to have things they didn't think to buy.

Great Gifts For Under $10

Baby Proofing: One big thing that's overlooked are babyproofing items. This is something you would have to ask the parents-to-be about. Baby proofing is something that a lot of people put off until later into their pregnancy, closer to their due date. I waited until after my baby shower to baby proof things ad that was one of the things I asked for. Some must-haves are the outlet plugs and cabinet locks, but another good thing to look into is door grips that make it harder for baby to open doors when they get a little bigger. A pack of a combination of these things is only about $5 - $10, depending how large the pack is, and it's definitely something essential that most people don't think of for gifts.

Baby Toys: Good baby toys are amazingly hard to come by when the baby is still little, so toys are always good gifts. Keep in mind that most people will aim for when the baby is a little bit older, such as teething rings, but anything you can find that's good for before the baby starts teething is fair game. You could even buy several different toys to give the parents-to-be a variety. Most good toys for young babies are only $2 - $4.

Great Gifts For Under $20

Bath Gift Sets: These come in all shapes and sizes and, let's face it, they're the most convenient gift ever. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've fallen back on these sets for gifts when I didn't know what else the parents-to-be would need. The great thing about bath gift sets is there will always be a use for them. It doesn't matter if the parents-to-be get two or three or four sets. They will all get used at some point and the parents will be happy to have them. They range in price from $10 - $20, depending on the set.

Grooming Sets: These are really, really convenient things for parents-to-be that plan to be on the go a lot with baby. Great for overnights in other places and should be considered a must-have for diaper bags. I know that I loved mine. These sets usually include a thermometer, a nose picker, gloves, scissors, nail clippers, nail files, a brush/comb, etc. They can be great for sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa's or just for a day out at the mall in case something comes up. They usually run about $15 - $20.

Tummy Time Mat: It's easy to forget these and they are a really good idea (although not always necessary, as tummy time can be done without them). There are a lot of good tummy time mats for $15 and they're really good for parent-child bonding time and for baby learning time.

Diaper Stacker: You might want to ask the parents-to-be about their nursery theme, but these diaper stackers really come in handy, especially for those late night/early morning diaper changes when you're only half awake! These range in prices from $9 - $15 and are really convenient for both storage and use.

Great Gifts For Over $20

Money Pooling: If all else fails and there's something the parents-to-be need that's more expensive than you want to pay, pooling money is always a great way to go. Get another two or three friends and each pitch in $10 - $15 and you can buy that thing that's really needed. The parents-to-be will really appreciate it and you don't have to break your piggy bank to afford it!