Best Baby Shower Gift Ideas New Parents Will Actually Use

You’ve just received an invite to your best friend/brother/colleague’s baby shower. Want to give the expecting parents something they’ll actually use? Skip the fussy outfits and stuffed giraffes as tall as you are and focus instead on practical items.

Thoughtful, everyday solutions will streamline routines and save tired, busy parents time and worry. And happily, these are exactly the things OXO does best. Think: essentials for feeding, bathing, on-the-go adventures, and keeping everything organized. Read on for a must-have baby gift list that will earn gratitude and high-use points from any parent.

Baby Feeding Essentials That Make Mealtime Easier

There are a few elements that make baby feeding gear truly essential: It’s intuitive and easy to use (no in-depth manuals required). It’s durable (guaranteed it will get tossed on the floor one or two—or 35—times). It’s dishwasher safe (when Baby finally goes down for a nap, does your mom friend want to handwash all Baby’s dishes? She does not.). Here are some OXO baby feeding favorites.

• Bottle Cleaning Tools. Baby bottles need to be sparkling clean—and the right tools make all the difference. The Cleaning Essentials Set comes with everything caregivers need—from a bottle brush to tiny brushes for getting in all the nooks and crannies of those little valves. For dishwasher-safe items, this dishwasher basket is a total lifesaver for corralling all the straws and valves and lids.
• Bottle Drying Rack. Once washed, the Space Saving Drying Rack can hold bottles and their accessories without taking up a ton of counter space. This larger drying rack holds up to eight bottles at once, comes with a removable cup, and has separate space for smaller pieces.
• Breast Pump Cleaning Set. Whether you’ll be pumping at home, in the office, or on the go, you’ll want to keep things sanitary. This handy cleaning set comes with brushes and tools that easily get into all the nooks and crannies of your gear and ensure everything is ready for the next pump session.
• Formula dispenser. Formula-feeding moms will understand the hassle of hauling around bottles and measuring out powder in a restaurant or on a park bench. This ingenious dispenser makes the process mess-free 
• Baby Plates and Bowls. When littles are starting solid foods, unbreakable plates or bowls are a must. OXO’s versions include suction bases to help dishes stay securely attached to high chair trays and tabletops.
• Baby Utensils. Feeding spoons and silicone utensils are great starter tools because the rounded edges won’t irritate sensitive gums. Once tots are feeding themselves, they’ll have fun with their own “big kid” utensils that are still small and light enough for them to manage on their own.
• Sippy cups. OXO’s Sippy Cup with removable handles makes park trips, backyard picnics, and car and stroller rides stress-free. As kids get bigger, a spillproof water bottle will be a welcome addition to the supply kit.
• Straw Cleaning Set. Not sure how to clean the drinking spouts and straws of sippy cups and water bottles? This helpful brush set can get into the crevices.
• Bibs. Once your baby is ready for solids, you’ll want to protect those adorable clothes—and your floor. So, a bib that catches that sweet potato puree is essential. Tuck this functional bib into your diaper bag or purse. After lunch, slip the used spoon inside the pocket, roll it up, then toss it back into your bag. A larger bib with sleeves offers even more protection.
• Food prep tools for caregivers. Different sous chef tools are required when you’re prepping foods for the younger set. A grape cutter quarters grapes, making them safe for little ones to eat. A food masher turns solid fruits and vegetables into instant baby food. This masher features a crank for quick pureeing. At home or out and about, food scissors are invaluable for cutting a wide variety of items down to bite-sized pieces.
• Booster seat. When a baby is ready to move on from their high chair, a booster seat is an excellent transition tool. According to the experts at Solid Starts(Opens in a new window), a leading resource and app on how to introduce real foods to babies: “If [a] child willingly sits in [a] high chair, keep them in the chair until around 18 months to provide the safest, most supportive eating environment. After 18 months, if your high chair does not grow with the child, consider a toddler chair or booster seat for additional support and safety.” OXO’s booster seat has a high back and sides, plus a secure harness to keep little ones safe at the table.
  
  

Smart Storage Solutions for Baby Food & Snacks

Prepping and storing foods ahead of time makes a busy parent’s life easier, whether they’re feeding the baby at home or grabbing items for park play dates. Get them stocked with tools for snack and baby food storage.

• Snack containers. These silicone reusable bags can do a lot. Fill them with cereal, pieces of fruit, crackers, or cheese cubes. They open flat on the bottom so they can stand steady while being loaded, then seal snugly across the top to keep foods fresh. (And if your friend wants to use them to store crayons, toys, or pacifiers, they’ll do that job, too.)
• Baby food storage. For the parent who wants to make her own baby food, these silicone BabyBlocks are a must-have. They stack for easy fridge and freezer storage and have leakproof lids for bringing Baby's snacks on the go. They come in 6 ounce, 4 ounce, and 2 oz sizes, glass and plastic versions, and are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.
  
  

On-The-Go Essentials for Busy Parents

Have baby, will travel—it’s an inevitable truth of parenting (even if only to the library or grocery store). Tools that move conveniently along with you, don’t make messes, and are simple to access are a stress-saving advantage.

• Snack Containers and Travel Cups. Eating gets messy quickly with little ones, so it’s important to have a few strategies for keeping snacks organized and contained. On-the-go snack cups, with their petal lids, keep snacks inside while allowing tots to reach in on their own. Reusable flat-bottomed snack bags—that stand up on their own—can be sealed tight, making them an ideal companion for the park or playground.
• Fork and Spoon Set. It’s always smart to pack your own tot-sized utensils. The fork in this portable duo is pointed enough to spear food but rounded enough to be safe for babies’ and toddlers’ delicate mouths, and the spoon is deep enough for scooping. Most importantly, both the utensils and the handy travel case are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
• A Cooler Tote. Another indispensable item: An insulated lunch tote that keeps meals and snacks cool. Stash utensils in the extra pockets.
• Insulated Beverage Holder. When your parent friend heads to the playground at 7:30 am on Saturday morning, they’ll love you for this thermal mug. It keeps beverages warm for up to 12 hours, or cold for up to 24 hours.
• On-the-Go Wipes Dispenser. This dispenser saves a new mom or dad from hauling giant packs of wipes wherever they go. A wipes container that can hang from stroller handles or be slipped into a bag is also handy for cleaning hands when out and about.
• Stroller Hooks. Hang a few hooks from the bar of your stroller to accommodate your purse or diaper bag. They’re also great for holding grocery totes or extra jackets.
  
  

Practical Everyday Gifts Parents Will Appreciate

Then there are the practical gifts, the ones that will be used everyday, that will speed routines along, keeping items clean and organized, and daily to-dos simpler to manage.

• Baby bathtub. For bathtime, the Splash & Store Bathtub has a narrow end for newborns and a wider end for older babies, up to 18 months, so you only need one tub and no fussy inserts. It also collapses flat for storing.
• Baby Bath Toy Bin. Rubber duckies and other bath friends stay close in this self-draining basket that ensures proper airflow so toys dry quickly. When bath time is over, scoop toys out of the water and allow them to drip dry in place.
• Spout cover. Avoid bumps and bruises by covering your faucet with a bathtub spout cover that softens sharp edges.
• Rinse Cups. This bundle of bath time essentials includes a toy basket, a whale-shaped spout cover, and a silicone cup for rinsing soap and shampoo off little ones.
• Diaper caddy with changing mat. Save the new parents some time by gifting them an all-in-one portable diaper changing station. It’s perfect for stashing in the living room, the nursery, even a car for when the baby needs a change this instant. The station includes a changing mat, and plenty of space for wipes, diapers, lotions, and more. Complete the gift by filling it with all your faves.
• Changing Pad. This changing pad can be used anywhere from atop the changing table to the bathroom or bedroom floor. Curved sides keep Baby from rolling away and there’s a security strap that buckles across the middle.
• Large wipes dispenser. Parents setting up the nursery will also be glad for a larger wipes dispenser that is refillable, only requires one hand to pull wipes out, and protects wipes from drying out.
• Drawer dividers. Organize tiny onesies, diapers, supplies, and more with these expandable drawer dividers that give everything a dedicated home base.
  
  

Tips for Choosing the Best Baby Shower Gift

The best baby shower gifts help busy parents do what they need to do more quickly, comfortably, and easily. So, as you’re planning your gifts, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Choose practical items. Do the parents need items that save space? Will they be traveling or often on-the-go? Will they be breast or bottle feeding? Along with the actual items (bowls, bottles, etc.) cleaning tools can be incredibly helpful to make sure products stay sanitary.
• Look for everyday essentials. Along with what’s practical, also consider items caregivers will need everyday. Well-made, durable tools such as wipe dispensers, changing pads, bibs, and tubs will become a valuable part of the new family’s life together.
• Opt for easy-to-clean products. If a product is too difficult to clean, it will become more of a hindrance than a help in a busy parent’s day. If something can go in the dishwasher, it’s a win. So are items that can come apart easily to be cleaned, as well as brushes and racks that assist in the process.
• Consider long-term use. Think beyond the newborn stage to products parents will need as their child grows. Bowls, utensils, and sippy cups may not be used right away, but new parents will be grateful to have good ones on hand when they reach the toddler days.

It’s impossible to go wrong with baby shower gifts that are practical and thoughtful. Choose items that will be useful every day, that help to streamline regular routines, and you’ll deliver the best present of all to your new parent friend or family member: time and peace of mind. Check out OXO’s complete collection of baby products.