10 Baby Shower Gifts They’ll Actually Use

Having just given birth to my third baby, I’ve had my share of baby showers. One big one, a couple of smaller ones, but all deeply appreciated.

With this last baby, I wasn’t even expecting a shower.

Even though it had been almost nine years since my last baby and we didn’t have a single baby thing left in the house, we’re older parents who have done the baby thing before. We really didn’t expect anyone to make a big fuss.

My lovely mother and sister, however, threw us a gorgeous shower to celebrate the arrival of our little man. They made us feel incredibly special during an uncertain time, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

There’s just something about family going out of their way to throw a special little celebration for you that makes you smile.

Besides my own baby showers, I’ve also attended MANY as a guest, so I feel like I’m pretty well qualified to write this post.

Because let’s face it: everyone wants to buy the cute stuff.

The tiny “I’m the Boss” onesie. The adorable blankets. The little books. The impossibly small socks.

And don’t get me wrong, Mom and Dad will absolutely use some of those things.

Unless, of course, that adorable onesie gets lost in the sea of other baby clothes they were gifted and is rediscovered three months later after the baby has already outgrown it.

Ahem.

That may have happened over here a couple of times.

So, if you’re on the hunt for a truly useful baby shower gift that new parents will actually use, here are 10 suggestions from this veteran mom.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use, love, or would purchase myself.

#1. A Diaper Bag With a Fold-Out Baby Station

I didn’t receive this one as a gift. I actually bought it myself, and it has BY FAR been my favourite purchase for this baby.

It has all the usual diaper bag necessities: lots of pockets, bottle sleeves, a waterproof lining and plenty of room for the approximately 47 things babies apparently require every time they leave the house.

But it’s also a backpack AND has a fold-out baby station attached to it.

When I tell you I have used this thing a million times, that’s only a slight exaggeration.

At the beach. At family barbecues. At the zoo. At friends’ houses. Basically anywhere I’ve needed a clean, contained place to lay the baby down for a few minutes while I’m right there with him.

I even had it set up on a friend’s coffee table once when we attended a birthday party. Baby just laid there playing as the centre of attention.

She really didn’t mind. Haha.

The fold-out section also works really well as an on-the-go changing station, and the included changing pad has saved me when faced with some… questionable public bathroom changing tables.

This one now tops my list of recommendations for new moms.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/4xFy3Rv

#2. A Car Video Baby Monitor

I didn’t have one of these with my older babies. Honestly, I didn’t even know they existed until someone gifted me one.

Now? I love this thing.

With my older babies, I just had one of those mirrors attached to the headrest. It did the job, but a car video monitor lets you get a much clearer look at your rear-facing baby without constantly trying to decipher a tiny reflection in the mirror.

The camera is adjustable, the screen is easy to see, and they’re way more affordable than I expected.

I highly recommend one for parents who drive because being able to quickly see what your rear-facing baby is doing can save you approximately 100 unnecessary stops during a car trip.

And frankly, that alone is worth the cost.

Plus, if I didn’t have one, I would probably always ride in the back seat with the baby while Dad was downgraded to chauffeur.

So really, this product is also helping prevent Dad Front Seat Loneliness, which we all know is a serious new-parent epidemic.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/45TEZhL

#3. A Wearable Baby Movement Monitor

They’ll probably get a traditional baby monitor for the nursery, either from their registry or from another experienced parent.

What they probably WON’T get is something like the Snuza wearable baby movement monitor.

This little gadget clips onto the baby’s diaper and detects abdominal movement. Depending on the model, it can vibrate after a period without detected movement and sound an alarm if movement still isn’t detected.

For me personally, the biggest benefit has been peace of mind.

I’m one of those moms who can lie awake wondering whether the baby is breathing and then convince myself I need to go stare at him until I physically see his chest move.

This little monitor helped ease some of that anxiety and allowed me to actually get some sleep during those early newborn weeks.

Important note: A movement monitor isn’t a substitute for following safe infant sleep recommendations, and consumer movement monitors aren’t medical devices unless specifically indicated as such. If a baby requires medical monitoring, parents should always follow the advice of their healthcare provider.

But as a little extra reassurance for an anxious parent like me?

I absolutely loved having it.

And gifting a new parent a little extra peace of mind at their baby shower?

Gold.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/4cCcucb

#4. Baby Rattles They Can Actually Hold

The baby will probably get all kinds of gadgets and toys at the shower, many of which will sit in boxes until they’re old enough to actually interact with them.

Newborns are not exactly known for their excellent hand-eye coordination.

For the first little while, their hands are basically tiny fists operating independently from the rest of their body.

Reaching for things? Keeping hold of something intentionally?

Forget it.

That’s why I love these little rattles designed to fit around tiny hands or wrists.

Even before babies have really figured out how grabbing works, they can accidentally catch hold of them and entertain themselves trying to figure out what on earth is suddenly attached to their hand.

They’re one of the few toys we actually used during those really early months.

See the ones I use → https://amzn.to/3TJvsav

#5. A Baby Bathtub That Grows With Them

There are a million baby bathtubs out there for newborns, but some of them are surprisingly expensive considering babies outgrow them approximately five minutes after you remove the tags.

This bathtub was given to me as a gift, and we absolutely love it.

Bathing a squirmy little baby in a smaller tub on the kitchen counter is SO much easier than bending over the bathtub and trying to wrestle a slippery newborn.

The reason I especially like this one is that it grows with the baby.

Instead of being useful only during the tiny newborn stage, it can continue being used as baby gets bigger and eventually transitions toward sitting independently.

Much better than some of the adorable newborn-only tubs that become yard-sale material by month two.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/45U9qV5

#6. A Baby Lounger

I didn’t have one of these with my older kids, and I wish I had.

A baby lounger gives you a comfy little spot to put baby down while they’re awake and you’re right there supervising them.

We use ours when I need somewhere to put him for a few minutes while I’m sitting nearby, folding laundry, drinking coffee or doing a little doom scrolling while he kicks around and contemplates his toes.

One important distinction, though: baby loungers are not safe sleep spaces. If baby falls asleep, they should be moved to a firm, flat sleep surface intended for infant sleep.

Used appropriately for supervised awake time, though, ours has been incredibly handy.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/3SpZnEd

#7. A Soft Newborn Wrap

I never would have thought to register for one of these as a first-time mom, but I can tell you that the one I was unexpectedly gifted became one of my treasured newborn essentials.

Those soft wraps that tie your newborn close to your chest can sometimes be the ONLY thing that settles a fussy baby.

They’re warm, snuggled up against you, listening to your heartbeat…

And suddenly that baby who had VERY strong opinions about being put down is peacefully snoozing.

Bonus: you have your hands back!

You can make lunch. Walk around the house. Help an older child. Drink a coffee while it’s still remotely warm.

Just make sure you follow the carrier’s instructions for safe positioning and keep baby’s face visible and airway clear.

Trust me on this one.

She wants one, even if she doesn’t know it yet.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/4zcQTAV

#8. A Rechargeable White Noise Machine

This is the first baby I’ve consistently used white noise with, and it has been a game changer.

Since birth, we’ve used white noise as part of his sleep routine.

A little programming, if you will.

Now when I put him down and turn on the white noise, it’s another familiar cue that sleep time is approaching and his little brain starts powering down for the night.

Even better, ours is rechargeable and portable, so we can take it with us when we’re away from home.

Nap at Grandma’s? White noise.

Hotel room? White noise.

Trying desperately to convince a baby that yes, naps are still a thing even though we aren’t at home?

White noise.

Your new mom or dad friend will definitely appreciate this one.

See the one I use → https://amzn.to/4xyZCeS

#9. Muslin Swaddle Blankets

Somehow I didn’t receive many of these at my shower, and I wish I had!

I ended up going out and buying more myself.

Muslin swaddle blankets are one of those boring-looking gifts that don’t get nearly enough credit because they are SO useful.

They’re soft, lightweight and huge.

Obviously, they can be used for swaddling when appropriate, but I’ve also used ours as burp cloths, changing mats, tummy-time blankets, nursing covers and clean surfaces to lay baby on while we’re outside.

These days, my baby has also decided they are delicious.

So apparently they double as giant chewing accessories.

Just remember to follow current safe-sleep guidance when swaddling, stop swaddling when baby shows signs of trying to roll, and keep loose blankets out of baby’s sleep space.

They really are an all-around newborn must-have.

See the ones I use → https://amzn.to/4wYM6Sa

#10. A Bottle Warmer

I had never used a bottle warmer before this baby.

But forget wipe warmers and diaper genies.

This is where it’s at.

And yes, I KNOW you can warm bottles using hot water.

I know.

But these things are awesome.

The bottle warmer we use lets you select whether the bottle is starting cold or at room temperature, whether you’re using glass or plastic, and how much milk is in the bottle.

Then it heats it for you without the whole Is this too hot? Is this still cold? Why is the baby screaming? Where did I put the bottle? routine.

Ours also has a warming function that can maintain the temperature for a period of time, although of course you should always follow current guidelines for how long prepared formula or breast milk can safely sit out.

Before someone gifted me one, I absolutely would have poo-pooed this as a bougie, unnecessary extravagance.

I was wrong.

Not bougie.

Totally worth it.

See the ones I use → https://amzn.to/4xuMCHg

Baby Shower Gifts They’ll Actually Use

So there you have it: my veteran-mom recommendations for baby shower gifts new parents will actually use.

Cute baby clothes are wonderful. Books are wonderful. Tiny shoes that serve absolutely no practical purpose but make everyone squeal are also wonderful.

But sometimes the best baby shower gift is the thing Mom doesn’t even know she needs yet.

And if you’re thinking about going rogue and straying from the registry for one of these?

I can almost guarantee Mom isn’t going to come after you for being a rule breaker.

Especially when she’s three months postpartum and realizes she’s used your gift approximately 400 times.

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Before You Go…

Now I want to hear from you!

What was the baby shower gift you ended up using WAY more than you expected? Or, if you’re shopping for a new mom right now, what are you planning to get her? Drop it in the comments below. I’d love to add even more tried-and-true recommendations to this list.

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Whether you’re here for motherhood, babies, books, family life or just the comfort of knowing someone else’s house is also probably a little chaotic right now, I’m glad you’re here.

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