A baby shower is a fun way for the expectant mother and her friends to celebrate her journey to parenthood. It doesn't need to be a big celebration, complete with funny (read: weird) cake, decorations and themed games. It can be just as simple as an afternoon tea served with jammy dodgers and Victoria sponge cake bought from the local supermarket. One thing is for certain; it's a celebration that should centre on the mother and her baby, not the time for doing each other who can give the best or the most expensive gift.
If you're invited to a baby shower party and you're stuck for ideas on what to buy, here's our list of top 3 baby shower gifts to help you out.
1. Out-and-about starter kit
Preparing to go out and about with a baby can be a mother's nightmare. There are so many things to remember to take with her: baby wipes, dribble bibs, muslin, baby grow (more than one of this), baby hats, toys, blanket, an extra t-shirt for her (she doesn't want to be in her top the whole day if she's covered in sick.) And if she's bottle feeding, she needs formula milk, boiled water and more than one baby bottle.
You'll be doing her a great favour if you can start her with a changing bag that can hold the whole nursery and the kitchen sink in an organised manner but still remains compact and stylish.
2. Free Baby Sitters
You can either give it as a voucher (having spoken to a baby sitter already) or you can talk to your group friends and organise a rota to give the mother an hour or two hours break once in a while after the baby is born. Baby sitters can be expensive, and they're not always available. Most new mothers are so tired during the first month after the birth, organising a baby sitter; so they can rest is something they don't get around to doing. If you already organised it for her, and she can call you when she needs one; she'll be totally grateful.
3. Personalised baby gifts
Personalising is a great way of making an ordinary gift special. For babies, you can get personalized bibs, t-shirts, baby hats and teddies. However, I would wait until the baby is born before personalising anything for the baby.
