Baby shower. For the childless, it’s a phrase that can strike fear into the heart and spark instant present panic. What the hell do you buy a human being that hasn’t even been born yet? Do you opt for the safe, practical route of nappy bags and cotton onesies (snooze), or do you try to find something that the baby will love and want to play with once it’s actually developed motor skills? And then there's the potential quagmire that is the mumma-to-be's chosen nursery theme—let's not even get into the old neutral tones versus classic blue or pink debate.
Alternatively, do you buy something for the parent/s to be? This brings up a whole new question of appropriateness. Condoms, for example, while practical, are arguably a no. Tickets that require staying out later than 8pm? Cross ‘em off. Luckily, we‘ve done the hard yards for you and put together our top baby shower gift ideas for when there's not a gift registery to save you.
Nuna x BMW Collection
Price: From $399
Image credit: Nuna x BMW | Supplied
A stroller is one of the first major purchases parents will make for their baby and there’s a lot of pressure to pick the right one. Not only does it need to look good, but for a newborn it should also ideally have a fully reclining seat (or the ability to attach a bassinet), a sturdy design with good suspension for a smooth ride, a five-point harness for safety, a roomy, well-cushioned seat with ample support, some kind of travel system compatibility to easily transfer baby from car seat to stroller, adequate storage space, a large canopy to protect from the elements, and it should be easy to fold and unfold.
So, if you’re looking to go all out with a baby shower gift, look no further than the new Nuna x BMW Collection. Since both brands are known for detail-oriented luxury, they’ve literally thought of everything when it comes to creating the perfect stroller.
The collection features three strollers, the MIXX next ($1,099), the TRIV next ($999), and the TRVL lx ($699), as well as the LYTL carry cot ($399), each featuring design details inspired by BMW (think wheels with a BMW pattern, rims resembling BMW tires, and subtle BMW logo applications and patterns) along with the premium quality, safety, and innovative features you would expect from Nuna, the world-renowned authority in baby gear.
Although you can’t go wrong with any of the strollers, our pick would be the TRIV next. It’s a natural city dweller that quickly converts to a travel system, packs up easily and stands on its own when folded, becoming the perfect sidekick to everyday adventures. We also can’t get over how chic the grey fabric with BMW Trinity pattern and black leatherette accents looks.
Mumma Milla Leakproof Bandeau Bralette
Price: $69.99
Mumma Milla was founded by a mum of two who was frustrated by the lack of modern maternity options out there, as well having to rely on annoying and environmentally damaging disposable nursing pads, so she decided to create a product that would offer three main things: comfort, convenience, and confidence from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond.
The entire collection has been designed with the brand’s signature built-in leakproof layers, along with seamless silhouettes and eco conscious fabrics, so they can be worn throughout pregnancy and postpartum stages. They have also designed to be simple and modern so they can be worn with everything.
Although we love the whole range, if we had to pick just one piece, it would definitely be the Mumma Milla Leakproof Bandeau Bralette. With an ultra-feminine scallop design and no fiddly nursing clips to deal with, it’s a winner in our books. Pair it with leggings and an oversized tee when running out the door or wear it underneath peeking through layered pieces for a more sophisticated look. Oh, and did we mention Sienna Miller is a big fan?
Bare Mum The Complete Recovery Care Kit
Price: $159
The Complete Recovery Care Kit from Bare Mum was designed to make postpartum recovery as comfortable as possible. The most comprehensive care kit in their product range, it covers every type of birth, can go straight into the hospital bag, and makes the perfect gift for new mums.
OBGYN and midwife approved, the kit includes a perineal wash bottle, a pair of postpartum briefs, 10 herbal infused postpartum pads, a reusable warm and cool insert (designed to be used with the postpartum briefs), 150ml perineal foam, 50ml skin and scar oil, 120ml sitz bath salts and a handy step by step instruction booklet.
Hegen PCTO™ Complete Starter Kit PPSU
Price: $170
Regardless of whether mum-to-be is planning to breast or formula feed, having a set of bottles on hand is a newborn must have. This Complete Starter Kit from Hegen comes with an assortment of feeding bottles suitable from birth until around six-months old so she can express, store and feed within a single container with no wasteful transfer of milk.
Simply attach the Manual Breast Pump Module (not included in this kit) to express milk into the storage container, then swap the pump module with a Breast Milk Storage Lid, instantly converting it into an air-tight storage container for milk storing in the chiller or freezer. To feed, simply reheat to the desired temperature and change the lid to a feeding teat and collar for convenience with no wastage during milk transfer, making every drop count.
These bottles are the only system on the market which grows with your child's needs, making them a definite winner in our books. This set even comes with storage lids and a food storage converter so you can transform your bottle into a storage container for snacks or food purees, extending its lifespan even more.
Lozi & Gabe Pop-Up Baby Beach Tent
Price: $159
It is a truth univerally acknowledged that once you have a child, sun safety suddenly becomes a top priority. No longer are you willing to lie on the beach in a mere triangle bikini for hours at a time—slip, slop, slapping is just the beginning of your summer regime. And for that precious baby bundle of joy? Not one ray of sunshine can touch their bare skin. Enter, this Lozi & Gabe Pop-Up Baby Beach Tent.
Available in two gorgeous, oh so on trend colours, they are lightweight, easy to put up and down—and BSCI-certified UPF 50+ for sun protection. Trust us, no matter how many hours the expecting mumma has spent doused in coconut oil, they're going to thank you for one of these.
Lovevery Play Kit
Price: From $130
If you've got a little one of your own, you'll know that kids tire of toys at the speed of light, especially when their mastering new skills almost daily. And if not, you probably need to be told that no, a newborn cannot stack blocks or do a puzzle. Luckily, Lovevery has your gift and every stage of baby development covered with their tailored play kits.
Featuring gorgeous toys made with sustainably harvested wood, organic cotton, nontoxic paint, and baby-safe plastics, each kit is designed for an age-based developmental window and can be purchased on a subscription (which you can cancel at anytime), so get a few friends involved to go all in. Trust us, one toy is nice, but an entire year of toys guaranteed to engage, delight and allow the parents to actually finish a cup of coffee? Priceless.
DUE Belly Flop Pregnancy Pillow
Price: $139.95
The great irony of being pregnant is that even though you’re exhausted, it’s almost impossible to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. The Belly Flop Pregnancy Pillow from DUE changes that.
No one-shape-fits-all, this is adjustable, squishable support for the belly, back, hips and legs. It will bolster mum’s bump and help to give her growing body the rest it craves. Not just for bedtime, she can also use it to make herself more comfortable on the couch, in the car or anywhere she might be sat for a longer period of time. Then, when baby arrives, she can use it as a feeding pillow to help find a comfortable position while breast or bottle feeding.
*DUE do not currently ship internationally, only within Australia.
Hooded Baby Towel
Price: $34.95
Why aren’t hooded towels for grown-ups a thing, honestly? Linen is another item you really can’t have too much of when there’s a baby in the house, so turn their bath time into adorableness hour with a couple of these fluffy hooded towels complete with floppy elephant ears for extra cuteness.
Make sure you request a photo of all the snuggly goodness later down the track in return.
Baby Jersey Wrap And Beanie Set
Price: From $27.97
Every new mum wants that adorable newborn Instagram shot with their new bub wrapped up in a swaddle with a matching beanie, trust us. This snuggly jersey wrap and beanie set will ensure they can capture just that—you might even get credited in the caption.
Made of a soft, stretchy jersey, it’s cosy, suitable for all seasons and can be used in a myriad of different ways once ‘the shot’ is captured.
Book Basket
Price: Varies
Bedtime stories are an iconic part of every childhood. Create the beginning of a meaningful home library that (hopefully) inspire a lifelong love of reading with a basket of some of these gorgeous children's books:
- Where Is The Green Sheep?, Mem Fox And Judy Horacek
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
- 10 Little Fingers And 10 Little Toes, Mem Fox
- Guess How Much I Love You, Sam McBratney
- We're Going On A Bear Hunt, Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
Portable Nappy Changing Mat
Price: $69.95
By now the parents-to-be would have bought themselves a changing table and mat for home—but a portable version for the back of the car/middle of the shopping centre/everywhere else probably hasn’t yet crossed their mind.
This OiOi Change Mat packs up everything they’ll need into a aesthically pleasing package that will fit into a nappy bag or the bottom of a pram.
Tiny Activity Toys Gift Set
Price: $64.95
Ribbons, tags, strings and bangles—run of the mill for us, the most interesting thing in the world to anyone under a year old. And of course, fascinating to put in their mouths, so any toys need to be baby-safe, just as this tiny activity set is.
It features three different toys aimed at different ages and stages, making it the perfect baby shower gift idea that will keep giving long after the sleepless nights have made them forget who ate the last cupcake from the dessert table (we know it was you).
Silicone Bath Buddies
Price: $24.95
We don't know who needs to hear this, but those cheap bath toys you were thinking of buying? They'll be filled with gross black mould after approximately three baths, and that is not something you want to be squeezing into a baby's lovely, warm bubble bath, trust us.
These Silicone Bath Buddies are what you want instead—they can be pulled apart for cleaning and to air dry, while still offering plenty of opportunities for relaxing and explorative bath play. Excuse us, just adding them to cart.
Need more baby shower gift ideas? Check out these books that every kid needs on their bookshelf.
Image credit: Urban List archives and supplied