52 best baby shower gifts: Top present ideas new mums and dads will love

It’s not a baby shower without someone gifting an adorable playmat so make sure it’s a good one. We love the cosy, soft faux-fur cushioned mat which is comforting for baby (and parents) to lie on. The safari animals, which rattle and squeak, are easily detachable for baby to play with on and off the mat to stimulate their senses.

An added bonus is that you get two gifts in one as it comes with a luxuriously soft elephant pillow for little ones to enjoy some tummy time and admire themselves in the mirror. The neutral grey and white colour scheme is perfect for style-conscious parents and the crinkle-sounding ears encourage baby interaction. It takes the top spot because each of its stylish and adorable elements supports babies’ development to reach key milestones during their first year.

Read more: Best baby playmats

We adored this gift from the moment it arrived. Coming in a mint cardboard box addressed with the same personalisation that we’d ordered for the dressing gown, the packaging doubled up as a sweet memory box. The delicate wrapping added to the wow factor and the cuteness level went through the roof when we modelled it on baby.

We ordered a gender neutral ivory shade with personalisation in the Ollie font and adored the design but there are four different fonts and six colours you can choose from. The dressing gown is available in sizes from zero to six months to six to seven years and can be purchased in grey, sage, blue and pink.

While growing a baby can be tough, postpartum recovery can be even harder – not to mention how your body might take to breastfeeding. Showering a mum-to-be with thoughtful but essential items will be gratefully appreciated.

The washable nursing pads, breastfeeding tea, lactation hot chocolate (a real treat with frothy milk and marshmallows), an reusable hot and cold boob soothing gels, will support mums through the tough fourth trimester.

We loved the inclusion of biodegradable maternity pads, washable C-section-friendly pants and nipple SOS balm (that also works wonders for soothing nappy rash), as these can be instantly added to mum’s hospital bag. We were also really impressed with the muslin blanket as it was big enough to use as a nursing cover, a pram blanket or for swaddling baby.

BabyBjörn has been crafting carriers since 1973 and it really shows in the high-quality cushioned fabric that is soft and comfortable for both parent and baby. We tested the popular mini design, which is suitable for babies weighing 3.2kg-11kg, and loved how easy it was to experience hands-free bonding while out shopping or during a quick clean of the house.

You can pop your baby in the carrier and be safely strapped up in just a few minutes – and with easily adjustable straps any petite or taller parent will feel just as comfortable. We can confidently say you won’t be desperate for a massage after wearing this for too long because your baby’s weight is evenly distributed thanks to the crossover back support.

Read more: Best baby carriers

The quality of this changing mat is superb and it’s easy to wipe the waterproof material clean. The curved edges help keep the baby centrally positioned and thick padding offers comfort while changing or doubling up as a soft base for tummy time.

We love the modern sage colour and polka dot pattern for a stylish, gender-neutral nursery. The size fits perfectly on top of the Mamas & Papas changing dresser we reviewed, along with most changing tables.

Read more: Best baby changing mats

Introducing the most practical baby shower gift of all: baby changing bundles. The hypoallergenic nappies’ animal designs keep things cute when things get ugly and the dermatologist-approved materials work wonders to distribute liquid evenly for sag-free dryness and prevent nappy rash.

We love Kit & Kin’s super easy process to build your own bundles, plus the option to subscribe to deliveries as often as you like at times that suit you. Trust us mums when we say having a regular delivery of nappies and baby wipes will seriously keep your life in order. There is nothing worse than realising you’ve run out mid-poonami.

For £41.96, we created a bundle including 152 newborn nappies, 240 baby wipes and 120 biodegradable nappy sacks.

As parents ourselves, we know how grateful any new mum and dad would be to receive this gift card. Postnatal recovery is tough but definitely made easier with home cooked nutritional food to aid recovery and fatigue.

Sleepless nights and busy days with a newborn have you forgetting to shop and know what to cook, so luckily this gift card can be used online to purchase three meals (29.99), four meals (£36.99) or five meals (£41.99) – each option is for two people.

Our favourites from the huge variety of meals on offer, include the hearty and iron-rich spiced pork and spinach ragu, and the fragrant chicken Thai green curry for a healthy fakeaway.

The beauty of this – essentially postpartum – gift is that it can be redeemed whenever the new parents like, and they can select their own meals based on dietary requirements and their post-hospital cravings. You can also save on gift wrapping, as you can simply email your recipient with the details.

A baby bouncer is on every parent’s wish list, but with so many other essentials to buy and a costly price tag, it can often be the one item parents overlook. And regret soon sets in once parents’ arms ache from bouncing their baby all day.

While testing, it became obvious why so many parents love this “hands-free babysitter”. We quickly realised there was no need for us to rush through chores, as it became clear our little tester was perfectly content rocking away while watching mum frantically tidy around their throne.

We love that this lightweight bouncer arrives ready to use in a sweet cardboard box (handy if parents want to keep it packaged up until the baby arrives or to easily transport in the car). Not to mention the abundance of stylish colours, including the new dark purple shade which launched this spring.

Read more: Best baby bouncers

Katie Loxton proves baby-changing accessories can be just as stylish as the pre-baby designer handbag that used to be able to carry all your essentials. Once the baby arrives, you need a large, sturdy bag to lug your gear around.

We love this tote bag because it’s not only super practical – with an easy-to-fold-away changing mat and multiple pockets for storing muslins, spare clothes and plenty of nappies – it can also be personalised with up to three letters for initials, or maybe “mum”.

We were grateful for the handy adjustable shoulder strap if we ever wanted to wear it across the body, and found it easy to attach to our pram clips. Plus, any new mummy will be pleased to receive all the compliments that come with this luxe bag, available in black or light taupe.

There is so much to love about this feeding set, which comes packed full of all the essentials any new mum needs for bottle, combi and expressed feeding. The bundle includes bottles, soothers, a microwave steriliser, storage bags, cleaning brushes, a drying rack and a warming bowl.

We were grateful for the extra-large drying rack, as we could also dry breast pump parts at the same time. The warming bowl, meanwhile, is cleverly designed to fit the bottles perfectly and doesn’t involve awkward wires and plugs.

Our little testers particularly loved the teats on the anti-colic bottles, which helpfully replicate the familiarity of breastfeeding. We appreciated the flexible silicone designs to encourage independent feeding as they grow older and start to grab and hold objects with purpose.

Spoil a mummy-to-be with the most adorable gift of all – matching T-shirts for her and her new bestie. The matching baby tee is size zero to three months – perfect for showing off mum and baby’s special bond on their first outings. We love the handy poppers on each side of mum’s top for easy nursing and soft cotton for all-day comfort.

While parents-to-be will no doubt be expecting to embrace their newborn in endless cuddles, there will be many moments when they need to pop their baby down to rest those new mummy and daddy muscles.

The Ickle Bubba pod offers the perfect spot for a newborn to nest (all the way up to eight months old), keeping them safe and snug, while also giving them room to wriggle around. The firm mattress base has a breathable 3D mesh to regulate temperature and keep your baby comfortable. Plus, the jersey covers (yes, you get a spare one) are machine washable, so you don’t need to worry about spills.

We were glad we kept the plastic cover to easily transport the pod on visits to family and leaving the little one with grandparents.

Read more: Best baby nests

Koala prints are taking the baby fashion world by storm at the moment, and we are here for it. You can always nail the cute factor with a pair of dungarees, especially when they are made from soft jersey fabric and printed with those adorable exotic faces. Both trouser legs fasten all the way down to the feet, making changing a breeze for parents, and we love that you can mix and match the top and bottoms with other outfits too.

Without a doubt, you’ll be known as the guest who brought the coolest gift to the baby shower. While this ball pit is hardly a practical gift for a newborn, nor is it the easiest thing for parents to store at home, it sure does bring hours of entertainment for baby.

Helping them to learn to sit upright and to develop their hand-eye coordination by playing with the balls, it’s fun and practical. There is also plenty of room for twins and siblings to have fun together (a win-win for busy parents who struggle to keep multiple children entertained).

These dinky socks are the perfect example of a practical, sweet and affordable present idea. We love the breathable lining and soft padding throughout the socks to gently support baby’s first kicks and exploration with their feet.

Suitable for use from birth to six months, the soft-touch design cradles baby to make bath time comfortably hands-free. Unlike other supports, this one doesn’t take up too much space and allows baby to kick their hands and feet out to make a splash and get a feel of an adult-size bathtub, all while sitting securely, thanks to the non-slip base.

We love how easy it is to clean and dry quickly and the backrest quickly warms up to the water temperature to prevent the baby from having a cold back.

You really can’t go wrong with gifting this bath thermometer – it’s both budget- and baby-friendly. There is nothing fancy to this gift but it does exactly what it says on the tin – it clearly tells parents how hot or cold the temperature is, to help keep their baby safe and comfortable. It’s light and small to easily pack for family holidays too.

We think this is an ideal on-the-go toy for little ones and particularly helpful for soothing babies during car journeys. The soft koala and rattle noises help with baby’s sensory development and we’re pleased that it’s also been consciously crafted with recycled materials.

We are so grateful that this bangle makes remembering to carry a soothing teether easier than ever before, as it doubles up as a stylish bracelet. You can’t really go wrong with gifting this to a new mum at a bargain price of £11.

Read more: Best teething toys for babies

Wow. We can only describe this as a miracle gadget that can genuinely turn a baby from a crying demon into an angel in just a few minutes. The device is able to detect if your baby becomes restless and automatically starts rocking their buggy. We’ve tested this on the pram after tantrums, during a nap, as part of bedtime routines and even at the end of a long wedding day.

We loved that the pack comes with universal adaptors to make travelling aboard with your little one more blissful. This little beauty can also be attached to a cot with a handy adaptor to give baby a gentle rocking sensation and encourage a longer snooze. Bed rocker feet are also available for an extra helping hand during those restless newborn nights.

Is there anything cuter than a baby wrapped up in a hooded towel? We think not. The soft towelling fabric is gentle on baby’s skin and it’s an added bonus that you can also personalise the towel with up to 11 characters, to really make expectant parents’ hearts melt.

We reviewed JoJo’s born in 2023 unisex sleepsuit (£21, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk) and matching hat (£5, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk) in our best Mother’s Day gift guide and think it would also make a lovely gift for new parents.

We adored the luxury feel to this baby pampering gift set and the inclusion of newborn daily essentials such as nappy cream. The handy travel-size products let parents trial some of Little Butterfly London’s bestsellers before buying bigger versions of their faves.

The beautifully packaged organic collection includes five products specially designed to calm, heal and protect babies’ precious skin, making bath time that little bit more relaxing. The delicate top-to-toe bath wash and relaxing massage oil is gentle on their skin to soothe and encourage peaceful sleep.

We love the soft padding and towelling insert for changing baby after bath time. This changing mat isn’t as thick or as curved as the wipe-clean mat from Mama Shack (£30, Mamashack.co.uk) but we loved this one for dressing baby in fresh clothes.

The soft fabric was a nicer feel for baby, compared with the colder, waterproof surface on their skin. All of the inserts and covers are machine washable so you can feel reassured the mat is always safe and clean for baby.

Looking stylish at the hospital is borderline impossible post-delivery but these gorgeous pyjamas definitely head in the right direction. Any mum-to-be will be grateful to have this short PJ set packed in their hospital bag.

The super-soft jersey fabric is lightweight and gentle against your skin, and will keep you cool, comfortable and relaxed. The V-neck T-shirt has buttons you can easily unpop for nursing – meaning these PJs will see you through the postpartum stages, too – and the shorts’ tie-string waist helpfully accommodates your bump throughout the trimesters.

Cleverly designed (with scientific research in mind) to develop babies’ sight, hearing, fine motor skills and self-awareness, the reversible padded activity cloth book is suitable from birth, with black and white colours for newborns and colourful patterns more suited to kids aged five to six months.

We love the book’s interactive details that encourage babies to feel new textures and admire themselves in the mirror. The added bonus being that it is machine-washable and easy to attach to a pram.

Priya and Peanut’s baby sensory flashcards (£12.99, Priyaandpeanut.com) are also a great buy for a newborn gift. As babies don’t see colour in the very early stages, the black and white flash cards work to stimulate and develop a newborn’s eyes and brain.

Read more: Best baby sensory toys

What all parents want more than anything is a good night’s sleep, so consider gifting them exactly that, in the form of Drowsy’s pillow spray.

We were pleasantly surprised by how long-lasting the spray was, as we could still smell the botanical aroma when we woke up in the morning (after a long, deep sleep). The scent is a lot stronger than some offerings from other brands, so, even though the instructions advise to spritz two to five times on your pillow, two sprays was plenty for us, meaning you get more bang for your buck.

The brand also sells a zen candle (£59, Drowsysleepco.com), which gives off a relaxing smell, even unlit, and would also make a lovely gift.

Who says nursing attire can’t be stylish? With a classic polka-dot print, this lightweight, loose-fitting nightie has handy front buttons to allow baby to snuggle in.

We just wish the material felt more luxurious and soft on our skin but it definitely ticks all the boxes for hospital-bag practicality.

Is it even a baby shower if there aren’t teeny tiny shoes to coo over? You can’t get much cuter than these Converse pram shoes, ready to support baby’s first steps with comfort and style. Our hearts melted when we tested these on our little one’s feet, so don’t be surprised if they spark a tear or two at the baby shower.

Luckily, the laces are just for effect and these tiny trainers actually have helpful Velcro, making them easy to slip on and off.

We couldn’t wait to get our hands on one of these sling wraps from British independent brand Ryloobaby – especially after watching Stacey Solomon’s Instagram video that showed her using one for the first time.

While the box does come with handy step-by-step instructions, we definitely found video tutorials more helpful to follow, as it took a few attempts to feel confident and comfortable enough to secure baby inside the wrap. Once tied up correctly, though, we loved the soft fabric and the ability to have hands-free skin-to-skin bonding with baby while on the move.

What’s better than a hamper of baby toys? A hamper of fun and educational toys that arrives every two months!

The looker play kit (0-12 weeks) boasts a variety of interactive sensory objects to help babies right from birth, including baby’s first wooden book, monochrome mittens, sensory links that attach easily to a pram, and a silicone rattle that works to develop baby’s vision, body awareness and fine motor skills.

We were most grateful for the handy guide with step-by-step instructions on how to get the best use out of each of the objects included, plus the sweet addition of a mug to support parents with much-needed coffee fixes.

Each box thereafter adapts its activities to continue engaging senses, encouraging imagination and developing intelligence up to 48 months old.

We adore this unisex newborn gift set, which arrived baby-shower-ready in beautiful packaging. The set is tailored to all seasons with matching leggings, socks and an adorable hat, all made from the same soft, organic cotton.

Cleverly designed with parents in mind, the babygrow couldn’t be any more practical when it comes to changing nappies, as you can unpop both legs all the way to the top. The fold-down arm and leg cuffs extend the longevity of the outfit as baby grows.

The soft, quilted cotton and organic blend is so light and delicate on baby’s skin for day naps or night-time snoozes. We love that the arm holes can easily adjust as babies grow chunkier and the white and sage neutral design is just gorgeous for gifting. The 2.5 tog is practical for all seasons and the helpful cardboard hanger offers a handy guide for parents to dress their baby in the most suitable clothing dependant on room temperature.

This is one of those gifts that parents definitely wouldn’t have thought of buying pre-baby’s arrival but for which they will be extremely grateful – especially during their very first outings, as they can keep a close eye on their little munchkin while driving.

We were impressed by how easy it was to adjust the mirror, despite it being such a generous size, for a clear, full view of baby. Plus, baby enjoyed admiring themselves, which helpfully kept them distracted for stress-free journeys.

We love this adorable spiral toy, because it’s so easy to attach to a car seat or pram when you’re on the go. The sweet frog, goose and butterfly attachments offer visual and sound stimulation with a mirror and crinkly textures to encourage interaction on journeys. Parents will also be pleased to know that it is machine washable.

Blankets are an essential on every parents’ checklist and we particularly love this contemporary, ivory option for packing in a hospital bag thanks to its antimicrobial properties, which can protect your little one from viruses and bacteria when in touch with dirt or pets at home.

We tested it for newborn swaddles, bedtime tuck-ins and pram layers — and loved all three uses. Their Future has revolutionised baby blankets by using 100% recyclable material without compromising on comfort. The lightweight, breathable fabric feels luxuriously soft on your baby’s skin for all-year round cosiness. Every purchase arrives beautifully giftwrapped and £1 is donated to the reasearch of preventing premature births.

We were pleasantly surprised with the extra features included with this night light, as there aren’t many around that offer four-in-one benefits.

Our favourite features were the nursery room thermometer, to help us decide how many layers baby needed to keep them comfortable; the mobile phone app, for tracking notes on night feeds and sleeping patterns; and its Alexa-pairing ability, for turning on soothing light shows, hands-free.

The way to every pregnant woman’s heart is food, especially in the form of pretty, perfectly gooey brownies. We loved the extra special touch of the baby shower card included in the box, which allowed us to write a soppy, heartfelt message to the parents-to-be.

We opted for an assorted box featuring white choc chip, chocolate orange, salted-caramel and triple chocolate brownies, as well as Lotus Biscoff, lemon meringue, raspberry ripple and salted-caramel blondies. Every one was moreish but our favourites were the Lotus blondie and salted-caramel chocolate brownie – absolute heaven.

Every new mum is told to “sleep when baby sleeps” but it’s not as easy as it sounds, with bright daylight to contend with. We tested Drowsy’s midnight blue mask and it’s revolutionary in providing blackout comfort with no elastic in sight (excuse the pun).

It’s the ultimate luxury item for any new mum’s hospital bag and helps new parents fight those restless nights

We thought this gift was a mini pack of genius, allowing parents to file their baby’s nails safely and comfortably while nursing or just cuddling. You simply choose one of the adhesive nail files labelled either ‘0 months’ or ‘6 months plus’ from the pack and attach to the thumble, which you can wear on one of your fingers or thumbs, making it easier to file baby’s nails.

You might also recognise the brand’s Mini First Aid Kit, which featured on Dragon’s Den in 2021.

There is nothing more welcoming to tired mums than coffee, so a personalised thermos flask to help keep their hot drink, well, hot during pram strolls or even when resting in bed, will put a big smile on their face. We tested personalising a white flask with coloured hearts and adding “Mama” to the centre, rather than a photo, and it turned out beautifully. We also loved the viral TikTok Stanley Quencher-look to the design, for stylish mummies.

We were surprised by just how portable this was – it fitted easily into our handbags, it wasn’t too heavy and could be charged in the car via a USB port. When out and about, heating milk is completely wireless and you just tap the ‘on’ button to adjust warming temperatures to either 37C, 40C or 45C.

We gifted the Closer to Nature newborn starter set as a helpful bundle but plastic bottles from MAM or Philips Avent also fit the machine. Parents will be grateful for the cleaning brush and two soothers included, too.

A walker is always the gift every ‘cool auntie’ wants to bring to the baby shower – purely to show off how ready they are to start the fun with their niece or nephew (even if they have to wait a while to see baby walking with the trolley).

We loved the range of colourful playthings and musical sounds to keep babies entertained until they are ready to walk, while also encouraging them to reach cognitive and physical milestones.

To really treat the parents-to-be, we recommend gifting this walker pre-made, as it takes quite a while to set up and has lots of fiddly screws and bolts that you wouldn’t want around little ones.

Baby bear-themed nursery items are all the rage, and we love this basket’s soft, flexible seagrass material, which makes it comfortable to carry in one arm with baby in the other.

When used as a washing basket, it stores 10 babygrows comfortably, and could also double up as a storage bin for bottles, books or toys. Whatever it gets used for, there’s no doubt it will bring cuteness to a nursery.

A photo album is on every parent’s shopping list, to document those special first moments, but this adorable book makes capturing those milestones even more sacred. Wrapped in baby-themed tissue paper, it comes baby-shower-ready.

The pages are designed to store photos and words covering birthdays, baby’s favourite things, family trees, first holidays, smiles and starting school.

We love the idea of giving a gift that’s meaningful to baby’s due date, and, for summer babies, what could be cuter than this sweet silicone bucket and spade set? Not only will it be a unique gift, it’s sure to be a lovely option for little ones to use on birthday beach trips for years to come.

Trust us, this set really will last for those annual milestones, because the 100 per cent silicone has a far longer lifespan than any traditional plastic set we’ve tested. The soft, flexible material is gentle on little hands and teeth, and helpfully squishes easily into beach bags and suitcases for holiday adventures.

Each set includes a bucket, spade and four mould designs, which you can choose from a variety of themes, including sea creatures, dinosaurs and even cats. All of the waterproof moulds make for imaginative toys to play with in paddling pools and at bath time, too

Until you’re in the newborn bubble yourself, you don’t realise how reliant you are on takeaways or food deliveries (and just how unhealthy you eat during this stage).

Dovebrook’s new parents bundle relieves parents from food shopping, spending a fortune on JustEat and waiting for food to defrost, because everything is already fully prepared and can be cooked from frozen. We were pleased all of these plant-based meals were packed full of nutritious ingredients to help support new mums in their postpartum recovery, while tasting indulgent and comforting at the same time.

Our favourite dishes out of the bundle, which includes four mains and three desserts for two, were the mac and cheese (best vegan cheese we’ve ever tasted), creamy mushroom stew (the chunky, rich-flavoured mushrooms and crunchy hazelnuts took our tastebuds from our dining room to a fancy restaurant) and the ginger sticky toffee pudding was just divine, paired with plant-based ice cream we already had in the freezer.

We were impressed that all of the packaging was 100 per cent sustainable, and loved the free casserole dish, in which meals fitted perfectly for cooking in the microwave or oven.

Matching mini-me attire and ‘mama’-stamped accessories are the new must-haves, and independent brand Mylee London is bang on trend.

We were impressed with the lush quality of this bag’s white corduroy fabric – it looked so stylish with ‘mama’ in white outlined in gold glitter. The inside is easy to wipe clean and it’s the perfect hospital wash bag size to store essential skincare and make-up products.

By no means does this qualify as an essential item but it perfectly pairs with a cute outfit as an all-rounder gift. From newborn to 18-24 months, we adore the aura of organisation these clothes dividers bring into an often chaotic and messy nursery. It is a lovely touch for parents to be reminded of each milestone their baby reaches as they grow through the early years, too.

We love these sensory bath toys because they give babies the same fun of classic rubber squishy toys, while remaining sealed to prevent any nasties getting inside.

The hand-painted and 100 per cent natural toys have clearly been crafted with babies’ visual and cognitive development in mind, offering a variety of textures for baby to touch and chew on. The clever colours and engaging patterns encourage visual stimulation to make those first bath times not only adorable but productive, too.

The three-pack arrived already gorgeously gift-wrapped with stylish monochrome wrapping paper and a satin ribbon, instantly standing out as a luxury gift in the baby-shower mix.

Ikea’s multicoloured stacking set proves wooden toys don’t have to look bland and boring. We love the educational and playful element to this bargain gift – helping encourage baby’s development without spending a fortune. The plastic fox on top is also fun to use in a paddling pool or bath, so babies can satisfyingly scoop and drain water through the air holes.

We adored this gift set from the moment we unwrapped its delicate tissue-paper packaging. The bundle, which makes for such a thoughtful gift for mums planning to breastfeed, comes with your selected design of nursing cover (red, blue, green or beige), a “Mum stuff” zip pouch and a multipack of gorgeous leopard-print scrunchies.

Any mum is bound to be delighted with this gift set, thanks to the super-soft – and perfectly stretchy – fabric of the breastfeeding cover, which is so gentle on mum’s and baby’s skin, and its stylish design (which actually makes for a gorgeous accessory to complement mums’ newfound casual, comfy looks). The sweet pouch is ideal for packing toiletries or small essentials in mum’s hospital bag, too – a delightful added bonus.

This gift is sure to go down a treat with tired parents, and its Velcro strap means you can take it everywhere you go. It can be attached easily to a cot, pram or car seat. The calming cloud is a delight for the whole family, with volume-adjustable soothing sounds of a waterfull, lullaby, heartbeat and pink noise (a deeper, gentler alternative to white noise, helping to promote longer sleep). We think the heartbeat sound is genius, as it specifically mimics what a newborn would have been used to hearing in the womb.