# Advice needed for Baby Shower gift. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 13, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746 "2011-11-13T00:19:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/1 "2011-11-13T00:19:01Z")
I’m invited to a baby shower a week from today. The mother to be isn’t what I would call a friend, more of a close acquaintance. Her husband is one of the goalies for the local minor league hockey team. I have no children (by choice) and don’t really know what to get for her. I was thinking along the lines of 6-month size diapers and some onesie’s or something. The baby is a boy. I do know I don’t really want to get “newborn” stuff - babies grow so fast! Any ideas for something the new Mom will like or find really useful will be appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/2 "2011-11-13T00:24:51Z")
The mom will probably be getting more clothes than the baby can possibly wear. Diapers are an EXCELLENT idea, as are any other item that gets used up over time, like bath stuff. There was one item I really wanted for my shower and didn’t get: the Itzbeen timer. Look it up on Amazon. Would have totally saved my bacon in those foggy newborn weeks. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/3 "2011-11-13T00:25:50Z")
Diapers are my first choice. Or food. Maybe you could give them a gift card for someplace that delivers. I’m child free as well, but I understand that the new parents are going to be time and sleep deprived for the next couple of months. Anything that makes their lives easier will be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/4 "2011-11-13T00:30:57Z")
Thirded. Diapers and delivery gift certificate would be awesome. If you want to add something small and frivolous, maybe a “baby’s first Christmas” ornament, depending on the due date. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/5 "2011-11-13T00:31:10Z")
The absolutely best item my wife and I recieved at my first son’s baby shower was tempanic membrane thermometer. That’s the type that goes in the ear and has a reading within a second or two. We got lots of diapers, onesies, blankets, etc… bit that thermometer was by far the most useful thing we got. Someone else got us a box of baby-proofing items. There were outlet covers, doorhandle covers, and those little latches for the kitchen cupboards. There were several packages of each, so when we actually baby-proofed the house we didn’t need to buy anything. Also, gift certificates. Maybe to Applebees, with enough $ on it to cover appetizers, dinner and dessert for two. Make sure it doesn’t expire for a year or so. Two months after the baby is born mom and dad will be thankful to be able to go out to dinner without having to worry about the bill. Everyone will be giving clothes, blankets, and diapers. Think outside the box. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/6 "2011-11-13T01:04:51Z")
Call/E-mail the person throwing the shower and ask where the mother-to-be is registered. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/7 "2011-11-13T01:07:33Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Call/E-mail the person throwing the shower and ask where the mother-to-be is registered. The owner of the team is throwing the shower; I don’t have her number or the number of the mom to be. I’ll see if I can get any info tomorrow afternoon at the game. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/8 "2011-11-13T01:19:08Z")
Since you don’t know her well I would vote for diapers too. If you knew her better, I’d give her a basket of lotions, bath salts, oils, etc. for the new Momma to enjoy. She likely feels “fat” and “unattractive” right now so it would do wonders to boost her self image. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/9 "2011-11-13T01:38:43Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > The owner of the team is throwing the shower; I don’t have her number or the number of the mom to be. I’ll see if I can get any info tomorrow afternoon at the game. Nine times out of 10 parents are registered at Target or Babies R Us. You can search the websites for registries if you know the parents’ names. I paid for housecleaning at the time of my SIL’s choosing, and she said it was the best gift they got. 🙂 A collection of favorite, classic children’s books is another popular gift that is usually welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/10 "2011-11-13T01:44:44Z")
Since it’s a boy you can get these: [http://www.amazon.com/Peepee-Teepee-Sprinkling-WeeWee-Airplanes/dp/B000EBQ8DI](http://www.amazon.com/Peepee-Teepee-Sprinkling-WeeWee-Airplanes/dp/B000EBQ8DI) (there are other kinds, it’s the idea that counts). Also, a tiny food processor will come in handy. Like this: > **[Amazon.com : Munchkin Baby Food Grinder, Light Blue : Baby Food Mills : Baby](https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Baby-Food-Grinder-Light/dp/B000GB0NZA)** > > Amazon.com : Munchkin Baby Food Grinder, Light Blue : Baby Food Mills : Baby Few people think to get that in advance. In four or five months, it will be the most used appliance they own. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/11 "2011-11-13T03:39:40Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > Since you don’t know her well I would vote for diapers too. > > If you knew her better, I’d give her a basket of lotions, bath salts, oils, etc. for the new Momma to enjoy. She likely feels “fat” and “unattractive” right now so it would do wonders to boost her self image. siiighhhh… my daughter will be eight months old this week and I still haven’t had a single soaking bath since she was born. Plus one to feeling fat and unattractive though. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/12 "2011-11-13T03:40:30Z")
I agree with Hello Again. Just go to the Toys R Us or Babies R Us websites and see if she is registered. If I buy clothes, it’s usually 12 or 18 month sizes because the baby will be in them for more than two weeks. I have also bought books - Mother Goose or other classics. You know she will use the diapers, and so you can get some in a medium size if you think she will get a lot of newborn diapers. I think she will be going through ten a day or so for a while, so she will need lots. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/13 "2011-11-13T03:41:42Z")
You’d have to find out what kind of diapers the parents were using. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/14 "2011-11-13T04:24:06Z")
A collection of books to read to the little one. There are so many great books for the 0-3 age group and they become nice memories as the kids grow up (I still have the book collections my parents read to me at that age!) I know that these events are usually baby and mom oriented, but since the father is a hockey player, he’s probably travelling - by bus - a lot and not home as much as he’d like from October through May (ish…depends on the league). If you can find out if he has a Kindle or other eBook reader, is there a way to buy ebooks for someone else? You could buy books for him to read over the phone while he’s on the bus/in a hotel during away trips. Perhaps another Doper could come up with other ideas for a good gift to give a father who travels a lot for work? Also: baby facecloths. My SIL carries a ton of them around with her and her 5 month old son, and uses them for everything! ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/15 "2011-11-13T04:49:09Z")
If they have a registry check it out before you buy anything. If you can’t find a registry gift cards for food delivery or Amazon would be much appreciated I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/16 "2011-11-13T04:53:48Z")
I like to give books: either a collection of baby-appropriate board books or something appropriate for reading to the child when he/she is a little older. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/17 "2011-11-13T05:09:45Z")
The best presents given to me, and the ones that I make standard for baby shower presents now: -Cloth diapers. Not for diapering, but for, well, everything else. I used these as burp cloths, breast pads, other things I can’t think of right now, and now the Little One uses them as security blankets. I was weirded out when I got them at my shower, but they have turned out to be one of the best presents. -Swaddleme infant wraps for swaddling the baby. I never figured out how to swaddle the baby in a blanket that she couldn’t kick out of (she was a pretty active baby), and these saved our sanity. I wouldn’t get the very smallest ones just in case the baby is large (ours was). But I also concur with board books. Sandra Boynton has a lot of cute classics. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/18 "2011-11-13T05:15:38Z")
Last time I gave a baby present, I gave [this book](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031264812X/ref=oh_o05_s00_i01_details). It was well-received. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/19 "2011-11-13T05:18:39Z")
Phyllis Root is another good one for board books. ---
**Author:** ![ProbablyProcrastinating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/57b2e6/32.png) [@ProbablyProcrastinating](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProbablyProcrastinating)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746/20 "2011-11-13T06:51:39Z")
I give what I want: Amazon gift certificates. Mommy wants to shop and this way she can do it while nursing the baby late at night. It would be different if you knew her personally. Diapers are good as long as she’s not doing cloth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-for-baby-shower-gift/602746.md?page=2)