Baby Shower Gifts: Soft, Useful Things for the First Months

Baby Shower Gifts: Soft, Useful Things for the First Months

Baby shower gifts new parents will reach for daily: swaddles and blankets, first outfits, board books and rattles, nursery pieces and bath time basics.

Before the Baby Arrives

The best baby shower gifts are the ones parents use at three in the morning. I look for soft fabrics, simple designs and things that survive a lot of washing. These are the baby shower gifts I would pick.

Blankets and Swaddles

A swaddle is the first thing most parents reach for. aden + anais muslin is the classic, and the Little Unicorn stretch knit swaddle is easier to wrap on the first try. The Loulou Lollipop world map muslin and the Pehr elephant blanket are for later, when the baby is looking around.

Numbered collage: 1. aden + anais boutique 100% cotton muslin swaddle blanket; 2. aden + anais essentials cotton muslin dream blanket; 3. Little Unicorn Stretch Knit Swaddle Blanket - Tulip Stripe; 4. Little Unicorn Stretch Knit Swaddle Blanket - Powder Blue; 5. Loulou Lollipop Muslin Swaddle - World Map; 6. Pehr Pin Dot Blanket - Pin Dot Pebble; 7. Pehr Follow Me Elephant Blanket - Follow Me Elephant; 8. Parade Everything Organic Baby Blanket

First Outfits

Newborn clothes need to be soft and simple. The Burt's Bees Baby organic bodysuits and the KENDI by Colored Organics overall set are my choices. A Parade bucket hat and a bear hat finish a first outfit.

Numbered collage: 1. Lou Lou & Company Gus Newborn Hat Bundle + Top + Bottoms; 2. Lou Lou & Company Cohen Newborn Hat Bundle + Top + Bottoms; 3. Burt's Bees Baby Ranunculus Organic Short Sleeve Bodysuit & Pant 5 Pack; 4. Burt's Bees Baby Limestone Organic Short Sleeve Bodysuit & Pant 5 Pack; 5. KENDI by Colored Organics Organic Baby Boy Overall Set; 6. KENDI by Colored Organics Organic Baby Boy Winter Bundle; 7. Parade Reversible Organic Cotton Bucket Hats; 8. Parade Organic Baby Bear Hat

Books and Toys

At this age toys are mostly things to chew. Mushie teethers and the Manhattan Toy Teethe-A-Bug are the ones that actually go in a mouth. A board book from HarperCollins is for the long evenings.

Numbered collage: 1. Manhattan Toy Winkel; 2. Manhattan Toy Teethe-A-Bug; 3. Sassy Sassy My First Rattles Newborn Gift Set; 4. Sassy Sassy Shake, Rattle & Chew Baby Box; 5. Mushie Animal Ring Teethers; 6. Mushie Rattle Teethers; 7. HarperCollins Winter Is Here Board Book; 8. Hachette Book Group Spring Street All About Us: Feelings Board Book

For the Nursery

Make the nursery feel calm. A Liewood night light and a Pehr mobile set the mood, and the Pom Pom hamper in natural is a pretty answer to the laundry pile. The Frida head-hugging hairbrush is for the first soft hair.

Numbered collage: 1. Pehr Pom Pom Hamper - Natural; 2. Liewood WINSTON night light - Dark sandy; 3. Trixie Night light - Mr. Lion; 4. Ali + Oli Baby Closet Size Dividers; 5. Frida Baby Head-Hugging Hairbrush + Styling Comb Set; 6. Pehr Classic Mobile - Magical Forest; 7. Liewood MANDY Music Mobile - Sandy; 8. Nivas Sheep Crib Mobile

Bath and Care

Bath time is a daily event, so a good towel matters. The Little Unicorn hooded towel and the Loulou Lollipop hooded towel set are the ones I would wrap. Mushie shampoo and Earth Mama castile wash keep the routine gentle.

Numbered collage: 1. Burt's Bees Baby Flower Meadow Organic Cotton Knit Terry Washcloths Pack of 3; 2. Burt's Bees Baby Hello Moon Organic Cotton Knit Terry Washcloths 3 Pack - Quarry; 3. Little Unicorn Infant Hooded Towel - Pastel Petals; 4. Loulou Lollipop Hooded Towel Set - Lemon Squeezy; 5. Mushie Baby Shampoo & Body Wash; 6. Mushie Sealife Bath Essentials Kit; 7. Earth Mama Simply Non-Scents Castile Baby Wash; 8. Loulou Lollipop Silicone Bib Printed - Big Apple Baby

A Simple Plan

If you are unsure, pick one swaddle and one hooded towel. They are the two things parents use every single day and never have enough of. Add a board book and the shower gift is done.