Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Alternate title for this post: Items that Made Life Easier in the First year of Ruby's Life. Really long title, and now you know why it is the alternate title. After being on the other side of the baby shower gift table AND having nearly a year under my belt as a mama, one thing became abundantly clear to me: babies are complicated and until you have one (and then even after) Target's baby aisle is confusing as hell. So, here is a list of items that were used day in and out around our house including the one item I buy for every pregnant lady.

Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack
This is the first item I bought for my sister when she was pregnant. She returned the favor and bought it for me when I was pregnant. With a baby, you wash a lot of bottles and nipples and tubes and the list goes on and you will also need to dry them. This is a cute countertop drying rack that adds some interest to your dishwashing chore.

JJ Cole BundleMe
At some point in the infant's first year, it will be winter. And trying to get a baby in a winter coat and then get that bundled baby snapped into the carseat is not a fun fight.And will always make you late. Enter this winter bunting. Thick and warm, it lines the carseat and zips up both sides up to the baby's chin (or thereabouts) covering the baby on both sides with a toasty inner shearling outer plush blanket. 

Bath Seat
The first few months of baths can be tricky, and I would just get in the tub with Ruby to wash her up. Once she could sit up and got interested in the bath, we got a bath seat for her to be in the bathtub by herself. It's awesome! We don't have this exact model (but I might be purchasing this one soon) but I like that the front bar folds down so you can put baby in and take baby out easily. (We have had some scraped knees in the past...) It fully supports the baby and suction cups secure it to the bath tub.

Soothie Gel Pads
This is that one item I have to buy any pregnant lady. Even if I don't know if they will be breastfeeding. These guys go on the breast after each nursing session and are complete nipple savers. Seriously. If there is any chance a baby will be trying to latch on to a new mother, they will need this lovely box in their arsenal. And at $10 a pop it is an easy addition to a baby gift, but maybe not budget friendly to a new mom making a quick dash to the store to pick up another bag of diapers/wipes/washcloths/pacifers/etc.

Other thoughtful gifts include:

• Clothing in sizes bigger than 6 months
• a magazine subscription (trashy and/or pretty is good)
• Luxurious shower gel for mama (for the rare occasion she gets to shower, make it a luxurious one)