When going to a baby shower, there can often be some anxiety about how much you should be spending, and what is to be expected.
While this is not always an issue, especially if there is a registry, you always want to make sure it does not look like you are over or under spending, especially if you are not that close to the person.
Even if there is a registry, there can be some concerns if the products available are varying in price. Because of this, we have put this guide together.
We have split up the sections by how close you are to the person who the baby shower is for to help give you some guidance on what is usually expected.
Of course there may be some dynamics we have not accounted for, but our advice should be useful!
How Close Are You?
There is no easy answer to exactly how much you should be spending on someone whose baby shower you are attending, but what you will hear from most people is that the correct amount to spend will depend on how close you are to the host, so keep this in mind when looking through these sections!
Family Member Or A Close Friend
Congratulations on having someone so close to you going through such an exciting time!
If the person is quite close to you, this is when you will likely be expected to spend a little more since it is rare for someone so close to be having this happen to them!
For this occasion you will want to get a gift which is personal and special.
Depending on the relationship you have with the parent, you might be able to get some insight into the items they need the most, and what they already have.
We recommend using this information to ensure that you can get something that you know they will need and love, which is also in your price range.
For this type of relationship, we recommend spending between $50 and $200 depending on just how close you are and your price range.
Make sure to take advantage of your closeness to get insight into the best gift ideas available!
What To Get?
If you are close enough, you should be able to find out what items the host needs and what they already have.
For example, if you know what stroller they are getting, you could get specific accessories for it.
Or you could get a high quality baby carrier, these will get a lot of use, and there is a good amount of choice! Try and avoid clothes unless you have been specifically tasked with getting these.
Friend Or Less Close Relative
If you are getting a baby shower gift for someone that is a friend or a close relative, we recommend trying to spend somewhere between $40 and $80.
This way you can still get them something substantial, without having to spend too much.
There are plenty of personal and unique items you can get, and if there is a category where we could recommend straying from the set registry, this is probably the one to go for.
If you are struggling to pick specific ideas for gifts, we recommend asking the host, or if the party is a surprise, we recommend asking the organizer or someone close to the expecting parent what they are looking out for.
If you are getting something more unexpected, always make sure to get a gift receipt just in case!
What To Get?
Diaper cakes are an adorable baby shower gift and they will always be needed. You can either order one pre-made, or you can watch a tutorial video online on how to make one yourself.
Playards are also a great affordable baby shower gift that is perfect for this price range as well!
If you are unable to attend in person, or are in a rush for a present, getting a gift card is also a great idea!
Formal Relationship
If you are getting a gift for someone you have a more formal relationship with, for example, an employee, an employer, or a client, or maybe just someone you do not know as well, we would recommend using a baby shower as a chance to show your appreciation! In this case we would recommend anywhere between $50 to $150.
We feel like any less could be seen as under spending, and anymore could be seen as a little too much. In this category, we would always recommend going for more useful items than unique.
Unique items will usually require knowing the recipient quite well to know what might fit their sense of humor, or what specifics they would appreciate.
However, going for a more useful, or even sentimental gift will always go down well!
What To Get?
For this one we would recommend trying to get as much insight as possible into the types of presents that this person will need.
This could be diapers, or clothes, or maybe just a gift card. You could even see if they need any more big ticket items, especially if you have quite a close relationship with them.
For this category, we recommend doing as much research as possible, and trying to stick to the registry if this is an option!
Summary
Hopefully this guide has given you some useful insight into what the best gift ideas are for baby showers and how much you should be spending.
A great piece of advice we will always give to those who are unsure about what to get when going to a baby shower is to talk to as many people as possible who are going to the event.
This is easy if you are friends with a few people going. Collaborating on gifts is also a great idea, especially if you want to get a big ticket item that might be out of your price range.
This is a great way to get a gift that will be appreciated more without any of the awkwardness associated with over spending!
