Baby shower gifts beyond the registry

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A baby shower is a chance to help a family get ready. The registry tells you what they want. The ideas below are for when the registry is picked over, or when you want to add something personal.

Buy from the registry first

If the parents made a registry, start there. They chose those items for their home, their car and their budget. Buying from the list also avoids a pile of duplicates to return. If the list is mostly bought, many registries take cash funds or gift cards. Pair one with a small off-list extra if you like.

Clothes in the next sizes up

Newborn clothes are popular shower gifts, and babies outgrow them in weeks. Choose baby clothes in 6 to 12 months or larger instead. Think about the season the baby will be that size. Simple pieces work best: bodysuits, sleepers with zippers, and soft pants. Skip outfits with buttons, bows or decorations that could come loose, since small parts are a choking risk. Remove all tags and stickers before use.

A book collection

Start a small library. Baby board books stand up to chewing and grabbing. Pick a few with bold pictures, faces or simple rhymes. Write a short note inside the cover with your name and the date. Reading aloud is good for babies from the very first weeks.

Bath and diaper basics

These run out fast, and parents rarely have enough.

• Hooded baby towels, since a baby gets cold quickly after a bath
• Soft baby washcloths, a dozen or more
• Size 1 diapers, because many babies move out of newborn size quickly
• Unscented baby wipes

For anything that touches the baby’s skin, choose fragrance-free. Newborn skin is sensitive. The parents can ask their baby’s doctor which washes, creams or lotions to use, so leave those choices to them.

Comfort for the parent’s recovery

The birthing parent needs care too. A soft bathrobe is easy to wear during night feeds and visits. A nursing pillow can make feeding more comfortable for a parent who is healing. It is for feeding only, with an adult awake. A baby should never sleep or lounge on one. Add slip-on socks, one-handed snacks or a note promising a nap shift.

Practical help

Help is often the most welcome gift. Fill freezer meal containers with soups or casseroles, and label each with the dish, the date and how to reheat it. Use containers they can keep. Or offer a specific job, like a load of laundry, a grocery run or a dog walk. Put it in writing with the dates you are free.

Go in on a group gift

Big items can be easier as a group. Coworkers, friends or relatives can pool money for a stroller, a crib or a high chair from the registry. Buy new, especially a crib, since older cribs may not meet current safety standards. One person collects the money and buys the item. Everyone signs one card.

Car seats: let the family choose

A car seat is one of the most important baby items. The family should choose one that fits their car and their baby. Give money toward it rather than picking one yourself. Don’t buy a used car seat or one with an unknown history. It may have been in a crash, expired or been recalled. Certified child passenger safety technicians offer free car seat checks, often at hospitals or fire stations, to help parents install it correctly.

What to skip

• Crib bedding and sleep extras. Babies should sleep alone, on their back, on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard with only a fitted sheet. No pillows, bumpers, blankets, positioners or soft toys. Avoid weighted sleep sacks, weighted blankets and inclined sleepers.
• Amber teething necklaces and other teething jewelry. They are a choking and strangulation risk.
• Toys with button batteries or small parts. Button batteries can cause serious internal burns within hours if swallowed. If a toy has one, the battery door should need a screwdriver to open.
• Scented lotions, powders and candles.

When in doubt, ask the parents. A thoughtful card and an offer of help go a long way.