Baby showers are a great way to celebrate the impending arrival of a baby with your girlfriends. They are also an excuse to play baby-themed games, eat some great food, and have some fun… plus, there will usually be plenty of baby gifts!

While it’s great to turn up with a surprise gift at a baby shower, pregnancy and birth can be a hectic time; it’s often best to buy something that will be useful following the arrival of the new baby.

We asked a few mums what they thought were the most helpful baby shower gifts.  Here are some great ideas below:

Baby clothes

This would be the most obvious choice for a gift, but don’t forget babies do grow quickly. Consider buying clothes that are “00” and larger so that they will last a little while.

Sleep Suits

Sleep suits are a great gift idea and they are great for your baby to sleep in at night. You can get them from Target as well as the baby-themed stores.

Portable change mat

This is a great gift item and usually very affordable. They come in really handy when mum is out and about and needs to change her baby.

Nappy delivery service

Is mum-to-be intending on using cloth nappies? If so, a great idea for a gift is to pitch in with others and get her a nappy delivery service, such as Rescue Mum in Brisbane, where they collect dirty nappies and deliver clean ones. Alternatively, if mum is going to be using disposable nappies, you can never have enough and the supermarkets always have specials on!

Baby care package

Paw paw ointment, face cloths, wipes, a thermometer, and other items that will be needed on an ongoing basis… put a bunch of small essentials together in a nice basket/bag and you’ve got yourself a thoughtful and practical gift!

Pregnancy recovery shorts

SRC Pregnancy Recovery Shorts are excellent post birth to help with recovery and pulling the tummy back into shape. They go underneath clothing and have excellent reviews.

More quirky ideas

If you are wanting to buy a more personal gift, then birth prints are a great way to be different and you can let mum buy her own frame of her choosing or pop along and buy one for yourself. Brisbane based Trend Collections has a great range of prints which you can organise to be done after bub is born or Etsy has a great range of baby shower gifts.

More expensive items

Items such as a baby carrier, breastfeeding pillow, baby video monitor, or even a slow cooker might make the perfect gift to buy as a group. You may even consider organising temporary meals to help mum while she’s recovering using a company like Wholesomeness.

A note for gift purchasers: Don’t forget to pamper mum too!

It’s lovely to think of mum too at the baby shower. She is about to embark on a huge journey and she would certainly love to be spoilt with some pamper items, such as comfy slippers, a hair-care voucher, aromatherapy body wash, or chocolates. Alternatively, you could save mum’s gift for when you go and visit her once she has given birth. Maternity pads, nipple cream, and breast pads are all essential items the new mum may also welcome.

Choosing the perfect gift always requires a bit of careful thinking, no matter the occasion. At least with baby showers there are plenty of items to choose from… and the new baby probably won’t be too picky!

Dr Ken Law is a Brisbane Obstetrician specialising in the management of pregnancy and delivery.  For more information and to discuss your specific situation, please contact Dr Ken Law to arrange a consultation at Greenslopes Obstetrics and Gynaecology.