Baby shower gift ideas parents in Ireland will actually use

Baby showers are a newer tradition in Ireland than in some other countries, and plenty of Irish families still prefer to hold off on gifts until the baby arrives. So if you have been invited to one, there is a fair chance nobody in the group is quite sure what to bring. Here is a practical guide to gifts that will actually get used, written from the receiving end.

If the baby has already arrived, our guide to newborn gifts Irish parents actually use is the one you want. This one is about the weeks before the birth, when the parents are still getting ready.

What is a good baby shower gift?

The best shower gifts fill a gap the parents have not got round to yet. Before the birth, most people have the big items sorted or on order, but the small everyday things are easy to forget. The HSE's own list of what a newborn needs is a good starting point: babygros and vests, cardigans, hats, socks, cellular blankets, sheets, nappies, cotton wool, towels, bibs and muslin cloths.

If the parents have a gift list, use it. It is not unromantic, it is kind. It saves them returning three identical baby baths in February.

What are good baby shower gifts on a small budget?

• Nappies and wipes. The classic for a reason. Buy a bigger size too, since babies move up faster than you would think.
• A pack of muslin cloths. Burp cloth, bib, shade, comfort. Every house needs a pile of them.
• Vests and babygros in 3-6 months. Newborn sizes get given in bulk and outgrown in weeks. The HSE advises clothes that are comfortable, soft and easy to wash.
• A room thermometer. The HSE recommends a baby's room is kept between 16°C and 20°C, and a simple thermometer takes the guesswork out of it.
• A bath thermometer. The HSE suggests about 36°C for a newborn's bath, and having a reading is reassuring for a nervous first bath.
• A couple of board books. Durable, cheap and useful for years.

What are good mid-range and bigger baby shower gifts?

• A baby sleeping bag. The HSE says it should be low tog, with no hood, the correct size for the baby and conform to current safety standards. Ask the parents what size and season they need.
• Cellular blankets. Recommended by the HSE because they let air circulate.
• A sling or baby carrier. A lovely gift for hands-free cuddles. The HSE's TICKS guidance applies, so make sure the parents know it: baby high and upright, face in view, close enough to kiss, a finger width of space under the chin and the back supported.
• A voucher towards the big items. A buggy, cot or car seat is personal, and parents often want to choose these themselves.
• A stairgate for later. Not glamorous, but it will be needed within the year. Our room-by-room baby-proofing checklist shows what else comes up once the baby is on the move.

What can I give the mum-to-be instead of something for the baby?

Baby showers tend to be all about the baby, but the person who will feel the first weeks most is the parent. Gifts for her are often the ones remembered longest.

• Batch-cooked meals for the freezer, labelled, in containers she does not have to return.
• A food delivery or supermarket voucher for the early weeks.
• Comfortable things for her hospital bag: a soft dressing gown, slippers, a big water bottle. Our hospital bag checklist has the full list if you want to fill a gap.
• Feeding comfort: the HSE lists nursing bras and breast pads for breastfeeding, and a comfortable feeding top is always welcome.
• A voucher for something just for her, for after the baby, when she is ready.
• Your time. A handwritten card promising a dinner drop-off, a load of washing or an hour minding the baby while she sleeps is worth more than it costs.

Do not forget the other parent either. Partners get very few presents at a shower, and a good flask for the night feeds lands well.

What baby shower gifts should I avoid?

A few popular gifts go against Irish health and safety advice, and it is kinder not to give them.

• Cot bumpers, pillows, duvets and sleep positioners. The HSE advises keeping the cot clear of pillows, duvets, bumpers, sleep positioners, wedges, bedding rolls, toys and comfort blankets, because they are a suffocation risk. Our guide to safe sleep in Ireland explains why.
• A second-hand car seat. The HSE says not to buy or use a second-hand car seat unless you are sure about its safety history. If you have a family one to pass on, let the parents decide, and be honest about its age and whether it has been in a crash.
• A second-hand mattress. If you are passing on a cot or Moses basket, the HSE advises buying a new mattress for it.
• Amber teething necklaces. The HSE says never to use amber teething jewellery. It is a choking and strangulation risk, and there is no scientific evidence it relieves pain.
• Headbands and clothes with cords. The HSE advises no hairbands or headbands for children under 3, and no hoodies with drawstrings or hats with ties.
• Baby walkers. The HSE advises against them. They do not help babies learn to walk.

For toys and baby products, look for the CE mark. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) describes it as a manufacturer's declaration that a product meets EU safety rules, and you can check recalls on the CCPC product safety page.

What is a good group baby shower gift?

Group gifts are where a baby shower really earns its keep. Five or ten people chipping in can cover the one expensive thing the parents are dreading paying for.

• A voucher towards the buggy, cot or a new car seat, so the parents choose the model that suits their car, home and budget.
• A meal rota for the first month, with each guest signing up for one night. Free to organise and hugely appreciated.
• A nappy fund. Everyone brings a pack in a different size, and the parents are sorted for months.
• A cleaner for a few visits after the birth, if the group budget stretches.
• A memory book with a page from each guest, for the baby to read one day.

Is there a useful gift that is not a thing at all?

Yes. In the early weeks, most new parents are quietly asking the same questions: is the baby feeding enough, sleeping enough, having enough wet nappies? Having a simple way to write it all down from day one really helps, and both parents can see the same record at 3am. You can gift Lullagram to parents-to-be, and it covers pregnancy now as well as the baby, so it is useful before the birth too. If you would rather give something they can hold, a written promise of a cooked dinner in week two works just as well.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good baby shower gift?

Something the parents will use every day in the first months: nappies and wipes, muslins, babygros in bigger sizes, a baby sleeping bag in the right tog or something for the parent-to-be such as meals for the freezer or a voucher. If there is a gift list, use it.

How much should I spend on a baby shower gift?

There is no set amount. A packet of nappies with a nice card is a perfectly good gift, and a group of friends pooling money can cover one bigger item the parents actually need.

Can I give a second-hand car seat as a gift?

It is best not to. The HSE advises not to buy or use a second-hand car seat unless you are sure about its safety history, because damage from a crash is not always visible. A voucher towards a new seat the parents choose themselves is safer.

Are cot bumpers and baby pillows good gifts?

No. HSE safe sleep advice is to keep the cot clear of pillows, duvets, bumpers, sleep positioners, wedges, toys and comfort blankets, because they are a suffocation risk. Cellular blankets or a correctly sized sleeping bag are the safer choice.

Should I buy a gift for the mum-to-be as well as the baby?

If you can, yes. Batch-cooked meals, a food delivery voucher, a comfortable feeding top, a big water bottle or an offer of practical help in the first weeks are often remembered longer than anything for the baby.