Baby Shower Gift Ideas
Answering Your Questions: A Simple Guide to Baby Shower Gifts
What gifts should I take to a baby shower?
If you don’t know what to bring to a baby shower, don’t worry! We have lots of ideas to help you get started, and plenty of products to choose from.
Unless the new parents have made requests, start by deciding if you’d like to bring a practical present, or something soft and more sentimental.
The most popular gifts for a baby shower include baby blankets, changing bags and baby play mats, as well as bathtime accessories and gift cards. But there are lots of ways to show you care, and a wide range of gift ideas for newborns and parents.
For a complete break-down of baby shower gift ideas, see our buying guide below!
Should my baby shower gift be for the new baby, or for the new parents?
The gift that you bring to a baby shower can depend on the parent’s wishes, but when new parents haven’t made requests, your choice depends on personal preference.
Most baby shower gifts are meant for the new baby, to celebrate and welcome their arrival. Although they haven’t arrived just yet, the new baby is the guest of honour at the party! You can choose gifts for newborns, or something the baby can grow into.
But a new baby is a major event in the parents’ lives, and for new mums, pregnancy is a journey for two! Presents for new parents are a thoughtful gesture, to acknowledge their role in the adventure, show your love, and even offer practical support.
How much should I spend on a baby shower gift?
With all gifts, it’s the thought that counts! The cost of your gift should depend on your personal budget, because the most important thing is showing that you care. If you’d like help setting your budget, some common price ranges are listed below.
Remember: for larger presents, you can always co-ordinate with family and friends, and give a baby shower gift as a group. Group gifts help break down expenses, so everyone can pitch in for something extra special.
For Coworkers and Distant Connections: up to £29.99 (or more, if you prefer)
In this price range, you’ll find the widest choice of baby shower gift ideas, including baby blankets, play mats, baby gift sets and nursery accessories. You don’t need to choose the most expensive option to give a memorable gift or a practical present!
For Friends and Relatives: approx. £20 to £49.99 (or more, if you prefer)
For close connections, you might want to take your baby shower gift a step further, and choose a baby starter set or nursery accessory. In this price range, you’ll find feeding sets, baby gyms and keepsake box sets, as well as practical baby carriers and every day baby care essentials, like bedding sets for babies!
For Close Family and Siblings: approx. £50 +
If you’re shopping for your close family, you might want to give a baby shower gift that helps out with day-to-day baby care or sets up the baby’s nursery. In this price range, you’ll find video baby monitors, baby bottle steriliser kits, as well as cots and cribs — there’s lots to choose from without pushing your wallet to the max.
Baby Shower Gifts for Newborns: Soft Toys and Sensory Toys for Early Development
Soft Toys, Teddy Bears and Newborn Gift Sets
Inspire warm feelings and new baby smiles with cuddly soft toys and classic teddy bears for babies! Our soft toy collection includes super-soft plush toys and teddies with lovable features for newborns: the perfect cuddly playtime friends for a baby.
Newborn Gift Sets: Our beautifully-packaged baby gift sets are ready to present, featuring a baby soft toy and newborn accessories. Inside each pre-made gift box, you’ll find adorable gifts for babies, including baby blankets, baby booties, muslins and rattles.
Baby Sensory Toys and Teethers
Sensory toys and teethers are perfect for early exploration at home or on the go! These exciting activity toys engage all of baby's senses with crinkle textures, rattle sounds and light effects. Look for hanging toys to easily take playtime from the cot to the stroller!
Sensory Toys: Baby sensory toys inspire curious little ones to chase, bat, grab and play, with fabric tags and peek-a-boo panels. Our baby sensory collection features soft-touch sensory baby books, rattling Oballs, and spiral toys for baby to spin and flap!
Teething Toys: As babies grow, chewy teethers and teething toys can soothe delicate sore gums. Our pre-packaged teething toy gift boxes include travel-friendly activity toys, with soothing textures for baby to chew, and cooling chillable designs.
Cot Mobiles, Night Lights and Sleep Aids
With a soothing baby sleep aid, parents and newborns can both enjoy a good night’s sleep. Explore our white noise and sleep soother range to discover plush toys and hanging mobiles, featuring light and sound effects help baby sleep peacefully.
Sleep aids can be the perfect nursery decoration, and become part of baby’s every day bedtime routine!
Night Lights: Our night light collection features calming night lights and projectors that turn night time into a soothing light show. Explore soft warm glows and twinkling star projectors, with musical melodies and nursery rhymes to help baby’s eyes grow heavy.
Mobiles: Give sleepy babies and little hands a charming cot mobile to reach for! Musical mobiles comfort little ones with soft lullabies, gentle melodies and light-up features. Baby can drift off as mobiles automatically start to dim, with handy parent remote controls.
Tummy Time Toys, Baby Play Mats and Baby Gyms
Tummy Time: Our soft tummy time pillows and sensory water mats support baby as they stretch, grow and play! Curious babies can roll and explore, with hands-on activities and cuddly prop pillows.
Baby Gyms: Baby play gyms feature soft cushions and hanging toys, so newborns can discover sensory fun! Our collection of play gyms for babies includes plush newborn gyms and exciting baby activity gyms. Explore interactive features, like piano mats for baby to kick!
Play Mats: Give babies the freedom to explore with a baby play mat! Super-soft padded baby play mats are foldable and easy-to-clean, giving baby a colourful space to crawl and play!
Baby Bouncers, Baby Swings and Baby Walkers
Get little ones moving with a baby activity chair! Jumperoos, rockers and baby jumpers encourage little one to bounce, swivel, jump and play, with reclining cushioned seats, and supportive walking frames that help little ones get used to using their feet!
Explore our complete activity seat range to discover baby rockers that bounce with baby’s natural movements, and activity entertainers with lights, sounds, music and take-along toys!
Baby Shower Gifts for Parents: Practical and Thoughtful Gifts for Parents-To-Be
Baby Bedding Sets and Baby Blankets
Help parents prepare their home for the new baby with baby bedding! Extra baby sheets and baby bedding sets always come in handy, while fitted sheets make it simpler for tired parents to make the bed.
Baby Bedding: Our baby bedding range includes baby bedding sets in present-ready gift boxes, and practical multi-packs of baby sheets for cots, cribs, moses baskets and cot beds. In 100% soft and breathable cotton, our collection includes nursery bedding and travel sheets.
Baby Blankets: Bundle up the new baby with breathable warmth and lasting softness with an extra-snuggly baby blanket. Our pure cotton baby blankets are easy to clean and machine washable, available in adorable styles for lasting lightweight comfort.
Baby Feeding Starter Sets, High Chairs and Feeding Essentials
Start parents and newborns on their feeding journey with an essential baby feeding set from top brands like MAM and Tommee Tippee!
Choose from baby bottle multi-packs, steriliser sets, and all-in-one feeding accessory kits with soothers and sippy cups! Each starter set provides a complete set of essential products to feed a new baby.
From bottles that grow in size with baby, to slow-flow bottle teats for newborns, these breast-feeding and bottle-feeding sets are perfect practical gifts to help new parents get started at home!
Changing Accessories and Nursery Essentials for Parents
Help new mums and dads get started with baby changing essentials! Make every day a little easier with helpful changing accessories, like a handy wipe-clean changing mat, or a changing bag that helps parents stay organised on the go!
To help parents set up a nursery, look for a changing table with built-in storage. Changing units keep baby secure and comfortable every day, with multi-tasking features to make changing a new baby simpler!
Baby Bath Tubs, Bath Toys and Accessories
For a fun and practical gift, look for a baby bath tub or a baby bath kit! Make bathtime simple and easy for parents and babies, so newborns can splash and play, and stay comfortable every day!
Baby Baths: Our baby baths are perfectly sized for newborns, with secure features to help them sit comfortably. Easy to fill and drain, baby bath tubs make bathtime convenient for new parents!
Bath Toys: With our baby bath toy sets, babies can splish and splash with a complete collection of adorable toys! Our bath toy sets include fun water squirters, stacking cups and classic rubber ducks, so baby can grip, grab and build essential motor skills as they play.
Cribs, Cots and Co-Sleepers
A new baby’s first bed is the heart of their nursery, and a bedside crib or a cot bed can help parents and newborns get a good night’s sleep. Explore our complete baby bed range, featuring classic wooden cots and multi-stage cot beds designed to grow with baby.
A travel cot transforms from a standalone crib to a portable play pen, making them essential for family visits. Find compact foldable travel cots with removable bassinet cradles for tiny newborn travellers, and clip-on changing tables to make overnight stays simple.
Give Them the Gift of Choice with a Physical or Digital Gift Card
If you’re still not sure what to choose, a gift card can be a practical choice that lets new parents choose for themselves! The Baby Room at Smyths is a one-stop shop for babies and parents, with essential baby products to suit every budget.
We offer Physical Gift Cards and Digital e-Gift Cards, so you can send your best wishes anytime, anywhere. A simple and flexible way for new parents to shop, with a gift card, you can give them the whole store to explore!
What to Write in a Baby Shower Card
Not sure how to write a message for your baby shower card? Don’t be afraid to keep it short, sweet and simple!
Say congratulations to the new parents, and offer your best wishes. If you have a special message, go ahead and add it here. Wishing health and happiness for the new baby, and lasting good luck for the family is sure to create a thoughtful baby shower card.