# Baby shower gift? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337 "2003-06-30T13:22:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/21 "2003-06-30T20:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Our traditional baby shower gift is a bundle of two dozen white washcloths from Sam’s Club. When my brother and his wife had twins, they got four dozen. They weren’t too thrilled when they opened them up: “Yay. Washcloths.” However, when they got home from the hospital with two newborns, it was more like “YAY!!! WASHCLOTHS!” > \*\* Did you go to Mrs. Gaffer’s baby shower!? We got these and had both of those reactions. One of the most useful gifts we received. It has now become our standard shower gift as well. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/22 "2003-06-30T20:12:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by burundi \* > **I know that showers aren’t SOP for 2nd babies, but [shrug] what are you going to do?** You have a party instead. A breakfast, or brunch, or tea, or “party for mom.” But not technically a “shower.” No one begrudges a celebration and party. ---
**Author:** ![Blueberry\_Buckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@Blueberry\_Buckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueberry_Buckle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/23 "2003-07-01T01:02:30Z")
I second the idea of a small basket of medicines. Shoot, skip the $5 basket, because that’s enough for an extra bottle of Tylenol of something. Also, something that we always give as a baby gift, is an ear thermometor. I like to give something practical, that you will get continued use out of. I had never thought of it until someone had purchased one for us. Another thing I think of, is socks. I swear, the daggone washing machine searches for socks and eats them up! We are ALWAYS having to buy socks for our daughter. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/24 "2003-07-01T01:17:01Z")
if you want to go a bit impractical, it is the year of the sheep, goat, etc. i’ve been giving out lamb chop stuffed animals. rather cute and a way to remember what year the tyke was born. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/25 "2003-07-01T02:55:21Z")
Blueberry Buckle, with the socks you should add a small lingere bag. They help keep the socks from being eaten in the wash 🙂 We’ve yet to lose a sock to the washer but the cats like to play with them and hide them on us! ---
**Author:** ![Blueberry\_Buckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@Blueberry\_Buckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueberry_Buckle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/26 "2003-07-01T23:26:04Z")
Thank you for the tip tanookie! (hiding head in shame) I’ve never used one before, not even for undergarments, since I usually wash them out in the sink. I’ll have to get one. ---
**Author:** ![Purple\_Scottie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Purple\_Scottie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purple_Scottie)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/27 "2003-07-01T23:42:51Z")
It might not be the most practical gift but I usually select a few classic children’s books to start the kid’s library off – _Goodnight Moon_ , _I Love You Forever_, or a nice Mother Goose are all good choices. I second the idea that it is a good idea to get a happy for any older kid – it doesn’t have to be anything big. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/28 "2003-07-02T07:09:11Z")
I would just like to note that you guys have mentioned many things I never would have thought of…medicines, washcloths, gifts for Mommy, seasonal post-3-month clothing…that will come in very handy for future shower gifts. I have a rule about adult gift-giving that it must be something the person would love but would never splurge on for themselves… But babies are different. You want the practical stuff. _takes notes_ Great thread! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/29 "2003-07-02T12:20:56Z")
I like to give books. Here are some of my favorites: [Dogger](http://www.chinaberry.com/showbook.cfm?invnum=6356&userid=75168946) [Quiltmaker’s Gift](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0439309107/ref=cm_wl_ovu-pg.1-pos.15/102-6388011-6583315?v=glance&coliid=ILH0MIGC8577Y&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER) [Henry Hikes to Fitchburg](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395968674/ref=cm_wl_ovu-pg.2-pos.11/102-6388011-6583315?v=glance&coliid=I1IVPZAUC91FG0&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER) [Chicka Chicka Boom Boom](http://www.chinaberry.com/showbook.cfm?invnum=9664&userid=81929253) For something a little different: [Lamb Hot Water Bottle](http://www.chinaberry.com/showbook.cfm?invnum=3360&userid=81929253) [Miss Rumphius](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140505393/qid=1057148552/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-6388011-6583315) [Snipp, Snapp, Snurr](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0807574996/qid=1057148656/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-6388011-6583315?v=glance&s=books) [Any Kevin Henkes Book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0688128971/qid=1057148774/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-6388011-6583315?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/30 "2003-07-02T12:32:20Z")
These are all great suggestions. I think I’ll swing by the bookstore on my way home from work and pick up some sturdy, drool-proof baby books (one for Big Sis, too). The other ideas are good, too, but my heart says that nobody, not even babies, can have too many books. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/31 "2003-07-02T12:32:25Z")
I used to love shopping for baby showers… cute frilly dresses or little sports outfits with hats and shoes… adorable little picture albums with teddy bears on them… rattles and stuffed toys…bottles and pacifiers… you get the picture! Then I had a baby myself. And people gave me all that stuff and I thought it was just adorable until I went to use it. I still have a pile of small unused picture albums. (and this does not mean there are no photos of my kid! there’s more pics of her on our web site than exist of me from birth to 18 years old) My standard baby shower present now is a laundry basket with a pack of diapers, bottle of simethocone, tube of balmex, travel packages of wipes, bibs and changing pads, non disposable changing pads, nighttime bath, vapor bath, a real suction bubble (not the useless ones with the safety tip), tooth brushes, hooded towel, soft blanket (I get the ones my daughter has attached herself to like glue … many of my friends have reported their kids like these blankets best too) a baby faces book, some onesies in 3-6 or 6-9 month sizes, and a ring of baby keys. Also for anyone with little ones with stuffy noses… Triaminic makes vapor patches that smell like mint or cherry and you stick them to the little one’s chest. They don’t make a mess like traditional vicks rubs and you don’t have to worry about dosages… just try and put new ones in different places on baby’s chest as if she’s sick for an extended period of time and too many patches are on the same place too long it can irritate the skin a bit. ---
**Author:** ![hedra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hedra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hedra)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/32 "2003-07-02T13:39:32Z")
Two books: The Wonder Weeks (so she doesn’t pull out her hair on the fussy stages) Siblings without Rivalry (so the big sister doesn’t pull out the baby’s hair) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/33 "2003-07-02T13:43:31Z")
GET A GIFT RECEIPT!!! We got many gifts that were duplicates or were just not usable for us (clothing too small for our giant baby). It was so wonderful to be able to easily exchange the items. ---
**Author:** ![epeepunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f19dbf/32.png) [@epeepunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epeepunk)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/34 "2003-07-02T14:13:18Z")
Damn you **hedra** ::shakes fist:: **I** was going to say that, since it was _me_ that bought the books for a coworker. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/35 "2003-07-02T14:30:17Z")
Baby Einstein videos. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/36 "2003-07-03T16:15:58Z")
Maybe something off her registry? Seriously. A lot of people didn’t bother to check what my wife registered for, and we got some truly useless stuff, and some stuff that just has no place in our home. It’s always best to see if you can find out what she actually wants and get some of that. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337/37 "2003-07-03T16:56:51Z")
An unabridged dictionary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-shower-gift/185337.md?page=1)