Choosing a baby shower gift can be difficult when you are on a budget, especially when you want to make it look like you went “all out”. Here is a guide to five cheap baby shower gifts that can make it look like you spent a lot when you didn’t.
The first gift idea is to make a craft yourself. When you can, spending some time to make something yourself can save you a ton. A gift that you make can also make it appear that you have a big heart and that you really put a lot of effort into the present. If you do not know what to make, a very effective and heart warming gift is to make a diaper cake. This may not sound very nice, but it is very easy to make and mothers-to-be absolutely love them. Here is how you make one. Just buy a pack of newborn disposable diapers and roll them each up. Then stand them on end, side by side to make each layer of your “cake”. To finish the layer, just take a ribbon and wrap it once around the outside. The ribbon can be pink or blue for a personal touch. You can also add little baby things to the cake or put a bow on top.
The second baby shower gift that is a must have item is called a “Boppy. These are simply a “C” shaped pillow that you put on your lap to support your arms and the baby during feeding time. Personally, my wife recommends this one as the single best thing she has for our newborn that is 3 weeks old. We also have two older children that each had a Boppy pillow when they were little. As a father, I even enjoy using the Boppy for comfort when I am holding the baby. These Boppy pillows can be found most anywhere baby stuff is sold. The price is usually under $20.00 and they come in many colors. You can shop for Boppy baby pillows on Amazon.com.
The third item that I want to suggest really leaves a big impression. Baby swings are a lifesaver when it comes to buying hours of relaxation for the parents. A baby swing rocks and cradles a baby so well that babies just fall right to sleep while swinging. There are two kinds of swings. A crank swing that you have to manually wind, and then there is a battery operated swing. Do not get the crank swing as it gets real old cranking it up every 15 minutes. For this item, I recommend looking for a local Church consignment sale to find this item as well as other cheap baby shower gifts. I am certain that you can get a battery operated swing for the same price as a crank swing if you use a consignment sale to make your purchase. I would say that on average, a Church consignment sale will save you 50% or more on this item. A new swing can cost anywhere from $50.00 to $200.00 at a retail store.
My fourth recommendation for a great baby shower gift idea is a picture frame or photo book. If you shop at a dollar store, you can get a great picture frame or photo book for under $15.00. New mother love to have a place to showcase their new bundle of joy. The key to this item being used is to make sure that you examine the frame or book in the store before you purchase it. You want to make sure that there are no scratches or marks on the frame or book. The perfect little baby needs a perfect little frame.
A fifth item is to put together a small gift basket filled with baby safety items. Most new parents do not yet have their home baby proof. A few packs of cabinet locks and electrical outlet safety plugs are cheap and will be well appreciated. You can usually buy these safety items in packs that are $2.00 or $3.00 each so you can decide how many of each you want to buy. Regardless of what you buy, be sure to make it seems personal and it will seem like you care about the new baby as much as the parents do.
