The Best Off-Registry Baby Shower Gifts for New Parents

It’s often said that new parents will forgo their own self care because they’re so busy with their new little one (and so tired!). A task as simple as washing their face might be thrown out of the schedule. So here’s a gift to help them feel refreshed in a jiffy—and to remind them to take a little time for themselves.

The third trimester = carrying around a bowling ball belly day in and day out. Treat a pregnant person to a nice pedicure to soothe away the aches and pains, bonus points if a partner or friend can do the pedicure for them (they can barely see their feet as it is).

Whether they have a C-section or a vaginal birth, this postpartum recovery kit is sure to be a recovering mom’s best friend. With disposable underwear, perineal healing foam and cooling pads and liners, it has the goods to help soothe everything that comes with postpartum recovery. Be sure to include the Peri Bottle, too, since it’s not included in this kit. The super-sized kit includes all of the above plus labor and delivery needs too (like a gown, socks and a travel bag). Some expecting parents might find it a little awkward to receive this at a shower, but don’t worry, they’ll thank you later.

First lock of hair, favorite stuffed animal, birthday cards…there’s no end to what you can put in a little one’s keepsake box. Some parents start putting items in even before their baby arrives. So if you’re looking for a special baby shower gift that will keep memories for a lifetime, a beautiful keepsake box is a go-to. This handmade pine box has a beautiful, delicate design, and there are thousands more to match every nursery and personal style.

If the expectant parents plan to breastfeed or pump, then this gift just might be a lifesaver. There’s some frankly unpleasant stuff that can come with pumping and breastfeeding, like sore and chapped nipples, engorgement, mastitis…and this awesome kit can help provide relief. It’s complete with soothing nipple cream, nipple shields, collection cups and more.

No parent wants to cook multiple meals and clean the house every day when they have a new baby. Good thing gift givers can offer to help with these Help and Favor cards, from cooking and cleaning to dog walking and babysitting. While this gift may not have much in the way of presentation at a baby shower, it’s pretty safe to say it’ll be appreciated just as much as (if not more than) any other gift.

Diapers may not seem like the most exciting gift, and while it’s true that a jumbo box of Size 1s isn’t likely to elicit a reaction from shower guests, there are ways to make a bunch of diapers look aesthetically pleasing. Diaper cakes have been around for a few decades, but we wouldn’t consider them out of fashion just yet—especially since diapers are the thing new parents need the most of (besides, you know, sleep). The new parents will be super thankful, and the design is just the cherry on top.

Meet the diaper cake’s hip cousin. Bodysuit cupcakes are the same concept but with the option for more variety. You can include bodysuits, hats, blankets, socks…anything that’s soft enough to roll up into a sweet little cupcake shape. Plopping the rolls into oversized cupcake papers and placing them in a baker’s box makes for a pleasing presentation too.