Going to a baby shower soon, OR having a baby yourself and need some registry ideas? I am in the season of life where my friends and I are having babies and baby showers galore! I love buying gifts for babies, there is just something about the tiny clothes and cute little accessories.

Here I have made a list of my top ten favorite gifts to give and to receive at a baby shower. I am the type of person who spends an unimaginable amount of time trying to find the perfect gift for my friends and family.

After going to many baby showers (and having a few of my own) I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what is practical as well as cute to give as a gift!

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. Which means I might be compensated for purchases made from these links at no additional cost to you. I am not responsible for any actions taken from my advice, all ideas and opinions on this post remain my own.

#1 Haakaa

The is at the TOP of my list for a reason. The Haakaa is hands down my FAVORITE gift to give to a mama who is planning to breastfeed. Unfortunately, I did not discover this until I was about 9-10 months into breastfeeding my first. So with my second I plan to use it from the get-go.

If you have read my other blog posts, I have talked about the haakaa before so you know my love for it already. If you are a breastfeeding mom you NEED this (or a few) for your daily use.

What the heck is a haakka?

The haakaa is a silicone milk collector you put on the opposite breast that your baby is feeding from (or you’re pumping from). It uses natural suction to collect the let down of your milk.

If you are feeding your baby and have nothing to collect the milk on the opposite side- that is precious milk wasted because both breasts will let down anyway! It holds 4 oz of milk which if you just collect that every time you feed will help your freezer stash significantly.

Click on the link below to add to your registry or amazon cart right now!

#2 Variety of pacifiers

There are literally SO many pacifiers out there its not easy picking one out for your new baby. The same thing goes for bottles you just never know what kind your baby will like to use until they get here.

The hospital will usually provide a standard pacifier when your baby is born- that might work for you but it also might not! A couple things to consider about pacifiers-

1. You might want to get a pacifier recommended for breastfed babies or bottle fed babies depending on how you plan to feed.
2. Look at orthodontic pacifiers. (That won’t negatively effect your baby’s teeth or mouth structure as they get bigger) I work in the dental field and this is something we see a lot so it is definitely a real thing!
3. BPA free is always something I look for!

I will link some of my favorite choices to try below. The good thing is, all these pacifiers are budget friendly which makes it easier to try multiple brands.

Nanobebe

These Nanobebe newborn pacifiers are orthodontic friendly as well as award winning for breastfed babies. They are also 100% silicone and BPA free!

MAM

MAM is also a great and popular option for newborns. Especially breastfed babes! The nipple is symmetrical which means you won’t have to try to find the right way the pacifier goes when your baby spits it out and wakes up in the middle of the night (win!). Also BPA free with silicone nipple.

I used these with my first and they come in a “glow in the dark” option which is great for the middle of the night also!

NUK

I love this brand for the orthodontic function as well as them being BPA free and silicone. NUK is a great brand but I was warned by a lactation consultant at the hospital that NUK is not the best choice for breastfed babies.

A tip she gave me is if the baby is breastfeeding, a round nipple paci is the best option and the NUK is an example of a nipple that is tilted. Which means your baby’s tongue could get used to that and the suckling while eating can hurt mom. Just something to think about!

#3 Burp Cloths

You can NEVER have too many burp cloths. There are also so many cute designs and great materials you can choose from.

When you have a newborn lets face it, laundry doesn’t get done as often as usual. So, it’s nice to have a large stash of burp cloths in your newborn arsenal. That way you can keep some in your nursery, your bedroom, living room, diaper bag, anywhere you might be with your newborn. You’ll be ready for spit up in every room!

Here are some of my favorite brands that are great for gifting or adding to your registry!

Muslin burp cloths

Simple, white muslin burp cloths. The muslins are so soft for a new baby that’s why I love this material (for burp cloths, blankets, clothing). Super absorbent and BIG. If you don’t love white, they come in a big variety of colors too.

Copper Pearl

Copper Pearl is a brand that I love for many baby items. Their patterns are so cute and they are constantly coming out with new ones! Their burp cloths are excellent material, 100% cotton, large, and also super absorbent.

#4 Sleepers and Onesies

Everyone LOVES shopping for baby clothes. This is what you always hear at baby showers! I am guilty of over shopping for baby clothes, I can’t resist the cuteness either. The trick though is to think about sizing up.

A lot of people buy newborn clothes, but I never do! Yes, the baby could be premature or small when born but so many people buy the smaller clothes (and babies grow FAST) that I find it more beneficial to get 3-6 months, 6 months or even 9 month clothes that baby can grow into.

I for one LOVE when I find bigger sleepers and onesies in the back of my baby’s closet I forgot I had. It’s like Christmas to a parent!

The cloud island sleepers from Target are hands down my FAVORITE sleepers. They are 100% cotton, so breathable, perfect for the summer months when it is too hot for thicker material but still want to keep baby in a sleeper. AND what I love most about them is the fold over cuffs on the arms (so baby doesn’t scratch their face) and the inverted zipper.

Perfect for middle of the night diaper changes. You don’t have to completely undress your baby which is wonderful for sleep deprived parents. My first baby LIVED in these and I plan to put my second in the same ones!

I will post some great onesie options also. Some things to think about when buying basics like onesies:

1. Buy multiples and be practical. Babies don’t always have to be in the perfect matching clothes and most adorable outfits. Babies are messy and get dirty easily especially when they start eating solids and being mobile. Having a handful of onesies for around the house that are going to get stained up is a must.
2. For infants, the shoulder lap neckline is a game changer. I did not know about this until my first was bigger but if you notice how a lot of onesies have the multi-layer shoulder it is designed that way so you can pull the whole thing down instead of up over their head. Think diaper blowout. Being able to save a bath by not getting baby’s hair dirty is such a time saver and super practical!

Gerber bodysuits

These onesies made by Gerber are a great price for a great simple product. I also love that the snaps between the legs aren’t right at the very middle but come up the front some, making diaper changing much easier (especially for the super wiggly baby). And they have a lot of solid color options.

Carters bodysuits

Carter’s is a name brand you absolutely know if you have young kiddos. These onesies by Carter’s are also a great option for less mess- they have side snaps as well as snaps between the legs. So- same concept as the shoulder lap. You can take the whole outfit down instead of pulling over baby’s head.

#5 Diapers and Wipes

If you are stumped on what to buy for a baby shower- here is your answer! Babies ALWAYS need diapers and wipes, you can never go wrong with this gift.

Kind of like the clothing- I would consider buying sizes 1-3 instead of newborn diapers for the same reasons.

A lot of people will buy newborn sizes and also you can get a ton of free ones at the hospital! Baby might not even be in newborn diapers for long or could skip them all together.

Usually, you will put what kind of diapers you prefer on your registry but if not, I love these pampers pure for sensitive skin. They are also fragrance free (yes some diapers come in scents). I personally try to stick with the cleaner version of all baby items so this is a good option.

Babies also will always need wipes, even into toddler years when they are potty trained. I use wipes on my toddler’s face and hands when we are out and about. I love these WaterWipes which are water based, for sensitive skin and are advertised as the “world’s purest baby wipe.”

#6 Bath Wash and Lotion

These are gifts new moms and dads will always need. I love finding gifts that are practical and needed! Babies always need bath wash and lotion to keep their sensitive skin moist and soft.

I am always looking for brands with cleaner ingredients and here are a few of my favorites.

Aveeno baby

I love Aveeno baby and this gift set is perfect, with wash/shampoo and lotion. It’s hypoallergenic, pH-balanced & free of soap, sulfates, parabens and phthalat

es. Perfect for sensitive skin and helps that new baby smell come out (nothing better!) It is made with natural oat extract and oatmeal which helps baby’s skin be super soft.

I also like their lavender scent for my toddler. Lavender is calming which is great before bedtime. I will say I don’t love that most fragrances even in baby products are listed just as that on the ingredient list. We don’t really know what is in “fragrance” so if I can steer away from it I do try my best to do so.

Honest Company

The Honest Company makes so many great products for baby that have clean ingredients and ease a new parent’s mind. This fragrance free shampoo and wash is perfect for a newborn if you are someone who wants those clean ingredients! It is perfect for sensitive skin and made without phthalates, parabens, dyes, synthetic fragrances, and formaldehyde donors.

Pipette

I recently discovered this company, Pipette who makes baby products that are 100% clean and non-toxic with plant derived ingredients and non synthetic fragrances. Their products make a great gift and are super affordable which is sometimes not easy to find with clean products!

They have everything you need for a baby’s bath time and this shampoo/wash and lotion set is perfect for a gift!

#7 Baby Wrap

The baby wrap is one of my personal favorite products so I also love sharing this with all my friends as a gift! When you are a busy mom, especially if you have other kids, you’ll need your hands to be free a lot throughout the day.

There are times your baby needs to be close to you and you also have a billion other tasks to do. A baby wrap is the perfect solution!

There are so many types to choose from and everyone has mixed reviews of them all. It can be really hard to decide what to get. I’ll share the ones I have used and liked for myself.

Baby K’tan

The Baby K’tan is a great wrap, I used this with my first and I LOVED it. It comes in sizes which is unlike most wraps that are one side. This is more of a wrap/carrier combo. You purchase the same size as you wear in a shirt so the downside is in most situations you can’t share this with your husband or someone not wearing the same size.

It is also not a huge piece of material that you have to tie and manipulate which is great for first time wrap wearers.

There are two pieces that you slip on/tie and it keeps your baby really snug and secure. It was super user friendly which I loved since I had no idea how to tie another wrap at the time!

Moby

The Moby wrap is a well known popular wrap with parents. It’s a great price and there are so many colors and designs to choose from. It is a long piece of fabric that is super stretchy and comfortable to wear and for babies 8 pounds to 33 pounds. It is really easy to use and if you visit their website they show you how to do all kinds of wraps with your baby!

Vrbabies

This one is a carrier not a wrap but really comfortable unlike some baby carriers. There are multiple ways to wear this also and is for infants all the way up through toddlerhood. I also love how breathable this material is, makes it perfect for the hot months!

#8 Sleep Sacks and Swaddles

There are so many types of sleep sacks out there and trying to find something that works for your family can get expensive.

So I love having these on a baby registry! Babies are not supposed to sleep with an actual blanket until they are 2. Which is a long time! Having a sleep sack that zips is the perfect solution for babies and toddlers that don’t get a blanket at night.

The brand we always use in my house- Halo.

First up, the halo swaddler sleepsack. I will not put anything else on my babies who wiggle free out of literally EVERYTHING we have tried concerning swaddling.

It starts at size newborn and goes up from there. I love this style because it has super strong adjustable fasteners that makes sure your baby isn’t getting their arms out, an inverted zipper (we all know I love an inverted zipper) for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night, and is just simple to use.

Can’t beat simple as a tired new parent.

When your baby is big enough they might roll but still need that feeling of comfort a swaddle provides, you can leave one or both arms out and still have the swaddle. I just love that there are different variations you can do with this swaddle.

The next step up in the halo sleepsack. For bigger babies and toddlers who no longer need to be swaddled. It is basically just a blanket that zips up so your baby isn’t able to throw it over their face or get all wrapped up in it.

I just prefer this brand because they are great quality, are made with 100% cotton and have never steered me wrong!

#9 The Big Equipment

While babies don’t NEED a whole lot of stuff, there are some big ticket items you really do need to have with a new baby. If you are going to a shower of someone who you are close with or you might be going in on a gift with another person- you might be looking to purchase a bigger item from the registry.

Things always needed that are a little more pricey would be the high chair, travel system, crib, bassinet, individual car seat, baby monitor, etc. All this stuff really is useful for a new parent and would be something they’d be very grateful to be gifted to them!

Let’s face it, babies and all their gear can get pretty expensive. I will share a few of my favorite bigger ticket items for a baby shower registry.

This is the high chair we use at my house and I am obsessed with it. Super easy to clean, grows with baby, AND the best part- I won’t have to buy another one for baby #2. This one turns into a toddler booster seat so I can just take the top part off, attach it to a kitchen chair and then I have two high chairs in one. This one is genius!

This bedside bassinet comes right up to the bed and has an adjustable side that comes down for you to be as close to baby as possible without having baby in your bed. Great for parents who don’t want to leave the bed in the middle of the night for feedings and diaper changes.

It’s really all about survival anyway!

This is a one and done car seat which saves so much money in the long run! And I am ALL about saving money where ever I can. You can use this one car seat from infant to big kid in a booster seat. It is pricey, but if it is the only car seat you’ll ever need it is totally worth it.

#10 Something Personalized for Baby

I am a sucker for a good keepsake. I love having something I can look at and remember that time in my life. So something personalized for a new baby is the perfect gift.

There is nothing like a brand new baby. You really only seem to look back and remember the good.

Etsy is a GREAT place to look for all things personalized. I will link a few things that are great gifts for a new baby.

This adorable stuffed animal with the baby’s name and their birth details is the sweetest addition to any nursery! (click on the picture to see on etsy!)

A name blanket is a great gift, it will grow with baby for years to come!

These teethers and pacifier clips are a great keepsake as well as a practical gift. Also, something small for a sentimental mom like myself to keep in a baby box under a bed somewhere!

We all love shopping for babies and I hope my list gave you some ideas for gifts when you attend your next baby shower! Or, when you are making a registry for your own baby.

Leave a comment with your own favorite items to give more ideas for new moms and babies!