Baby Shower Gifts and Prizes

 

Once you’ve mailed out your invitations, you’ll be inundated with telephone calls asking for gift registry at a baby store or department store, pass that information along. If not, here are a few gift suggestions. By the way, it’s always a good idea to ask your guests of honour which items they need the most and which, if any, they have already received. That way there won’t be a duplication of gifts.

 

Gifts for Baby

 

Basic Necessities

Crib blankets / quilt

Sleepers

Baby towels and washcloths

Diapers

Undershirts

Bibs

Booties

Socks

Mittens

Plastic pants

Baby clothing

Baby bottles

Receiving blankets

Nursery jar set

Crib sheets

Sweater and cap set

Crib bumpers

Diaper pail

Diaper pins

Diaper bag

Infant seat

Tipper cup

Waterproof lap pads

Baby power, shampoo, oil, soap

Outfits, in newborn and infant sizes

 

Note: the parents of an older adopted child may appreciate larger-sized clothes and more advanced toys, such as tricycle, doll house, electric train, and so forth.

 

Tip: some hostesses request that each guest bring a small box of disposable diapers in addition to their main gift.

 

Would Be Nice to Have

Tights

Insulate baby bottle carrier

Baby hangers

Crib hangers

Crib toys

Brush and comb set

Crib pillow and pillowcases

Baby record book

Parenting books / magazines

Growth chart

Feeding spoon

Baby bathtub

Baby thermometer

Outfits, range from size 3 months to 2T

Nursery decorations, such as a mobile or switch plate covers

Bath thermometer

Stuffed animals

Gift certificate for a professional baby portrait

Rattles and teething rings

Baby scissors

Shoes

Baby food grinder

Potty chair

Musical toys

Quilts

Plate / cup set

Baby scale

Crocheted shawl

Picture frames

Snow suit

Jogging suit

Safety gate

Music box

Portable crib

Booster chair

Dirty clothes basket

Waterproof mattress covers

Books

Diaper stacker

Night light

Picture album

Tub toys

Piggy bank

 

Note: many mothers I interviewed said they wished they had received larger-sized clothing because their babies outgrew the newborn size outfits within two months.

In some parts of the country it is a custom for the guests to stuff bills and coins into a large piggy bank as a “head start” for the baby’s savings account.

 

More Expensive Gifts

Crib

Rocking chair

Car seat

Baby swing

Baby walker/ jumper

Bassinet

Instant thermometer

Cradle

Dressing table

Child’s rocker

One year’s diaper service

Sterling silver frame, spoon, bank, rattle, place setting, or cup

Intercom nursery monitor

Stroller

24k gold locket, bracelet, or ring

Playpen

High chair

Toy chest

Christening grown

Starter savings account or savings bond

 

Tip: if your goal is to have all the guests contribute to the purchase of one large item, such as crib, make this clear on the invitation. You could say, “we would appreciate your contribution toward the purchase of one group gift: a much-needed crib for the nursery.”

 

Gifts for Mommy

 

New mom basket

Bath powder

Hand lotion

Book / magazines

Favourite candy bars

Makeup kit

Manicure kit

Hand mirror / comb

Hair ribbons / clips

Perfume or cologne

Pen / pencil set

Portable writing table

Stationery / thank-you notes

Book of postage stamps

 

Breakfast-in-Bed Basket

Breakfast tray

Elegant place setting of china

Fine linen napkin

China tea cup or coffee cup

Teapot or individual coffee carafe

Gourmet coffee and teas

Imported tea biscuits, tarts, etc.

Box of candy

 

Other Gift Ideas

Lacy, feminine nightie

Satin slippers

Bed jacket

Relaxing CD or cassette tape

Gift certificate for a “Day at the Spa.”

Bubble bath or bath salts

Cosmetic case

Humorous coffee mug, T- shirt, or sweatshirt

Charm bracelet with a charm that represents the new baby

 

Gifts for Daddy

 

Hospital Survival Kit

Candy bars

Book of crossword puzzles/ pencil

Fiction or nonfictions book

Snacks, including granola bars

Cue cards for labour coaching

Party Gorp

Canned juices

Pain reliever

Sack of hid favourite homemade cookies

Pack of chewing gum

List of names / telephone numbers of everyone to be called when baby is born

Disposable indoor camera

Deck of cards for playing solitaire

Magazines such as Sports Illustrated, etc.

 

“Bachelor” Survival Kit

Instructions for the automatic coffee maker or a jar of instant coffee

Instructions on how to use the dishwasher and washer and dryer

Pet-feeding instructions

A loaf of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly

More pain reliever

If there are other children in the family, a list if the basics (bedtimes, school times, schedules for practices, carpool info, etc.)

Important telephone numbers, such as the hospital, the doctor, his mother-in-law, etc.

TV dinners

Canned spaghetti, chilli, etc.

Snacks foods, such as pretzels, nuts, and crackers and cheese.

Fast-food gift certificates

Gift certificate for pizza delivery

Six-pack of his favourite beverage

 

Humorous Gift Basket

Large pacifier for him

Nodoz

Plastic disposable gloves, surgical mask, and nose plugs (to wear when changing diapers).

His own personal baby bottle (purchase a huge animal feeding bottle from a veterinarian).

Alarm clock for the 2 a.m. feeding

Humorous coffee mug, T-shirt, or sweatshirt

Package of condoms

 

Other Essentials

Box of cigars

Blank video tape

Cassette recorder / taps (for taping the new baby).

Picture frame for his office

Autographed baseball, bat, football, etc., for the baby

Brag book (for baby pictures)

 

Gifts for Mommy and Daddy

Home-cooked meal brought to their door

One home-baked pie or cake per week for four weeks

Pizza, KFC, or other home delivery

Restaurant meals

Free car wash

Free house cleaning, laundry, or yard service

Three free hours of running errands

One free month of chauffeuring duties (for any older children who need rides to /from school, soccer practice, etc.)

Parenting advice

“First night on the town’ – a group gift that includes several gift certificates: one free evening of baby-sitting; corsage and boutonniere from a local florist; dinner for two at a fine restaurant; movie, concert, or theatre tickets.

Several movies on video tape, or a membership in a movie rental club.

Romanic gift basket filled with champagne, cheeses, imported crackers, etc.

Camcorder

Camera

Tape recorder

Film developing

 

Gifts for Grandparents

Supply of disposable diapers

Safety railing or bed-top “napper” to make any bed safe for the baby

Stuffed animals

Receiving blankets

Waterproof lap pads

Tub toys

Basket filled with the basics: baby oil, baby lotion, powder, etc.

Rattles

Pacifiers

Teething ring

Bibs

Infant feeding spoon

Bottles / nipples / formula

Safety gate

Crib

Playpen

High chair

Camcorder

Camera

Tape recorder

 

Gift Display

Although gifts can be set on a table in the corner of the room, it’s much nicer to display them in special way, creating a focal point as the guest nicer to display arrive. Think about your theme and you’ll come up with ideas. Here are a few examples:

A decorated plastic or wicker laundry basket.

A toy chest to hold the gifts (the toy chest may double as a hostess gift).

Place the gifts under a silk focus “sugar plum tree” decorated with lollipops, candy kisses, and gum drops.

A decorated cradle or bassinet that can be used to hold the gifts or you can place a doll baby inside the cradle or bassinet along with a few stuffed animals, and place the gifts on the floor beneath.

A decorated rocking chair.

A decorated playpen.

A child’s red wagon, decorated for the occasion.

A corner enclosed with sections of picket fencing or wire fencing that has been spray-painted in a color to match the party’s theme.

Roll the gifts into the room on a decorated hand truck or freight dolly.

Hide the gifts around the house until it’s time to open them. Give the mother-to-be a list of clues to follow that will lead her to the gifts. She can ask for help from the other guests if she would like. You can make up your own rhyming clues.

 

A variation of this gift hunt is to have honoured guest open small, relatively inexpensive gifts in the normal way, followed by a “Baby Treasure Hunt” where she must follow clues that lead her to one large joint gift from all the guests. Her first clue can be enclosed in the last gift-wrapped box she opens. Use the clues suggested above, except that instead of each clue leading to a gift, each clue leads to another clue until the large gift is finally found.

 

Opening of the Gifts

The gifts are usually presented to the honoured guests near the end of the party. One of your helpers should sit next to guest of honour ad she opens gifts to be sure the cards are kept with the gifts and to make a list of who gave what. This list is given to the mother or father-to-be after all the gifts have been opened so they can keep track of who gave them each of the gifts.

As gifts are opened they are usually passed around the room for all the guests to admire.

All the ribbons and bows from the gifts can be used to make a colourful bouquet, which will be given to the mother-to-be at the end of the party to use as a decoration in the baby’s nursery. Another helper can attach the ribbons and bows to a sturdy plate to make the bouquet.

Tip: Have your guest of honour sit in a specially decorated chair as she opens her gifts.

 

Door Prize Gimmicks

Guests love the idea of door prizes. These may be something you purchase and wrap ahead of time or part of your decorations, such as a table centerpiece, potted plant, or floral arrangement. Here are a few popular ways to determine who wins a door prize:

Number the backs of the name tags and place corresponding numbers on pieces of paper that are folded up and placed in a basket. Near the end of the party, ask the guest of honour to draw a piece of paper out of the basket. The winning number receives the prize.

Insert three wads of paper (with pre-determined numbers) inside three balloons before they are blown up with helium gas. Arrange the balloons in a bouquet as part of the decorations. Then, near the end of party, ask one of the expectant parents to select one of the balloons and burst it by sitting on it o hands allowed!). The person with the corresponding number on the back of her name tag wins a door prize. Repeat this same procedure for the second and third balloons.

If the party is a sit-down dinner, place a baby-related sticker under the seats of two or three of the dining room chairs. After dessert has been served, ask the guests to look under their chairs to see who has the stickers. Those who do, win prizes.

Let the guests guess how many jelly beans or candy hearts there are in a clear glass baby bottle. The guest who comes closest to the correct answer wins the bottle full of goodies.

 

Suggested Game and Door Prizes

Women

Bath powder

Cologne

Bag of potpourri

Decorated candle

Bubble bath or bath salts

Drawer sachets

Bracelet

Gift basket containing homemade dessert breads, jams and jellies, or bath accessories.

Party centerpiece, floral arrangement, or decoration.

Sunshade for her car

Picture frame

Compact

 

Men

Humorous tie

Four-pack of cigars

Gift certificate for a car wash

Gift certificate from a sporting goods store

Pen and pencil set

Swiss army knife

Desk accessories

Money clip

Travel kit

Sunshade for his car

Sports trivia book

 

Co-ed

Gift certificated to a restaurant

Two movie passes

Buckets of gourmet popcorn

Bottle of wine or champagne

Two coffee mugs and a pound of coffee beans

Basket if gourmet cheeses / crackers

Box of candy

Gift certificate for pizza delivery

Party centerpiece, floral arrangement, or decoration.