Baby Shower Gifts That Aren’t Clothes

Walk into almost any baby shower gift shop and you'll find the same things: tiny onesies, little dresses, cute socks and outfits that look adorable on the hanger.

And honestly, there is nothing wrong with giving baby clothes.

The problem is that clothes are also one of the easiest baby gifts to end up with too many of.

New parents may already have bought several outfits themselves. Grandparents might have filled a drawer before the baby even arrives. Friends and family can also have the same idea when choosing a shower gift.

So, if you're standing there wondering what to buy instead of another outfit, there are quite a few options worth considering.

Think about what happens after the baby shower

A baby shower gift has two moments.

There's the moment the parents open it, and then there's the much longer period when they actually have to use it.

That second part is easy to overlook.

A beautifully packaged gift is lovely to receive, but something that becomes part of the baby's everyday routine can be just as appreciated. Nappies, muslin wraps, bibs, blankets and other baby essentials aren't particularly exciting when you're looking at them individually.

Put them together in the right way, though, and they can make a surprisingly nice gift.

That's one reason nappy cakes have become such an alternative to the usual baby outfit.

A nappy cake isn't really a cake

If you've never bought one before, the name can be a little confusing.

A nappy cake is essentially a collection of nappies and baby items arranged to look like a cake. There is no baking involved, of course. The idea is to take things that parents will need anyway and turn them into something suitable for a celebration.

That makes them particularly useful for a baby shower.

You aren't giving the parents something that will simply sit on a shelf. At the same time, you aren't handing over a plain packet of nappies either.

The gift can be displayed at the shower, photographed with the other presents, and then taken apart later so the individual items can actually be used.

For anyone trying to find baby shower gifts that aren't clothes, that's a fairly good balance.

What if you don't know what the parents already have?

This is probably the biggest issue with buying gifts for a new baby.

Unless you're very close to the parents, you probably don't know exactly what they've already purchased.

They might have a full wardrobe. They might already have blankets and toys. They may even have stocked up on some of the basic supplies.

You can try asking, but sometimes you simply want the gift to remain a surprise.

One way around this is to choose something that will be used repeatedly.

Nappies are an obvious example. Babies go through plenty of them, so they are unlikely to be wasted just because the parents already have some at home.

It's also worth looking at gifts containing a mixture of useful items rather than buying one very specific product.

Don't know the baby's gender? You don't have to guess

Another thing that can make baby shower shopping awkward is choosing a gift when the baby's gender hasn't been shared.

There's no reason to fall back on the same pink-and-blue options.

Neutral baby gifts can work for any newborn and are particularly handy if the parents have chosen to keep things gender-neutral.

If you're shopping for a baby shower and don't know what the parents are expecting, a unisex or neutral nappy cake is an easy way to avoid guessing.

And if the baby's gender is known, you can still choose something that matches. Perfect Little Bundles has options for baby boys, baby girls and neutral gifting, so you can browse based on what suits the occasion rather than trying to make one product work for everyone.

What about buying for twins?

Buying for one baby is already enough of a challenge. Twins give you twice as much to think about.

A gift made specifically for twins can be more useful than buying two unrelated presents. It also makes the gift feel like it was chosen for the family rather than simply being a standard baby gift doubled up.

Twin nappy cakes are worth considering here because they are designed around the fact that there are two babies arriving.

They're also a useful option for group gifts. If several people are contributing money towards one present, choosing something made for twins can make better use of that combined budget.

You can still give something personal without buying clothes

Some people avoid practical gifts because they worry they will feel impersonal.

That doesn't have to be the case.

Think about why you would normally choose a baby outfit. Maybe you want something cute, something that looks good when opened, or something that reminds the parents of the person who gave it.

You can get that same feeling from a non-clothing gift.

A nappy cake with carefully chosen baby items can feel much more personal than a basic pack of essentials. A baby hamper can do the same thing, especially if you know the parents' preferences.

The important part is choosing something that suits them rather than simply buying the first baby item you see.

Baby gift hampers are another option

If a nappy cake isn't quite your style, a baby gift hamper is another route.

Hampers give you the chance to have several smaller items together in one gift. They're particularly useful when you want a mixture of baby essentials without the presentation being centred around nappies.

There isn't really a right or wrong choice between a hamper and a nappy cake.

It depends on what you're looking for.

If you want something that will stand out on a baby shower gift table, a nappy cake has a very distinctive appearance. If you'd rather give a selection of baby products arranged together, a hamper may make more sense.

The best gift isn't always the cutest one

Baby products are very good at making us buy with our eyes.

A tiny outfit looks adorable. A little pair of shoes looks irresistible. A miniature hat somehow seems necessary even though the baby may wear it twice.

But parents generally have to deal with the practical side of having a newborn.

They need things they can reach for at 2 a.m. They need supplies that disappear quickly. They need items that can handle being washed, used and washed again.

That's why a gift that looks good and has a purpose can be a better option than something chosen purely because it's cute.

You don't have to stop buying cute things. Just don't feel like clothes are your only choice.

So, what can you give instead?

If you're trying to move away from the traditional baby outfit, start by thinking about the parents rather than the baby shower itself.

Would they appreciate something they can use straight away?

Would a neutral gift be safer because you don't know their preferences?

Are they expecting twins?

Would a collection of smaller essentials be more useful than one larger item?

Once you start asking those questions, the list of possibilities gets much longer.

Nappy cakes are one option worth looking at, especially if you want something that feels like a proper present but still contains things new parents can use. You can browse the Nappy Cakes collection to see the different options available.

And if you'd rather give a selection of baby products in a different format, baby gift hampers are another option.

Conclusion

Baby clothes are an easy choice for a reason. They're cute, familiar and usually straightforward to buy.

But easy doesn't always mean best.

If you're worried about buying an outfit the baby will outgrow quickly, choosing the wrong size, duplicating something the parents already own, or simply giving the same kind of present as everyone else, look at gifts that serve a practical purpose.

Nappy cakes, baby hampers and other newborn essentials can give you something different to put on the gift table while still giving the parents items they can use once the celebrations are over.

Sometimes the most appreciated baby shower gift isn't the one that stays looking perfect. It's the one that gets used.