by Al Louis

Created on: June 11, 2008   Last Updated: July 15, 2008

A baby shower is loads of fun and, as a guest, your only expense is a thoughtful gift. Some shower gifts make you say, "Oh how adorable," while others make you say, "I wish someone had thought of that for my shower." Some gifts will be used to death (that's a good thing) and some will be treasured for years. Inexperienced moms or those who aren't moms will usually give the more adorable gifts while the seasoned moms usually go for the more practical. Here are thoughtful ideas for both the adorable and the practical gifts.

The most thoughtful and useful gift I ever received was a light switch extender. It was a god-send. This is a gift for the mom with more than the baby. If there are young children in the family, these brilliant little contraptions make it easy for a small, potty trained child to turn on the bathroom light without calling for Mommy. The gift of not having to jump up while nursing a baby or dozing on the couch is priceless!

Diapers are always appreciated. They make an especially thoughtful gift for the mom with who already has everything because no one ever has too many diapers and saving a few trips to the store with a new baby in tow is a gift in itself. For moms who have enough kids that they may not be having a shower, a diaper shower is a great idea. It's still a party to celebrate the mom and baby but it is completely utilitarian.

A very thoughtful and practical idea is for several guests to "go in together" and buy one more expensive gift that the mom really needs. I didn't know how much I really needed a swing until it was given as a group gift for my second child. I did know how much I needed a twin stroller when my third child came along but had not bought one yet because it was fairly expensive. Nine women each pitched in what they would have spent on individual gifts and I ended up with a gift I used nearly every day until it fell apart seven years later!

Every second baby needs their own teething ring and hand print kit. These just can't be reused. Their own special soft blankie is also very thoughtful because these babies will be toddlers one day and an older sibling will tell them that the blankie they have claimed for their own is really just a loaner and there will be tears. A batch of scrapbooking supplies is also nice because even if the mom already has some scrapbooking stuff, new supplies will ensure that the baby's book doesn't look like a rerun of an older child or vacation album.

Clothing for babies is fairly inexpensive and everything is cute when it is tiny. Pick something you think the mom will really love. If you are short on time or unsure of what to buy, a gift card to a store the mom frequents will be just as appreciated as if you had picked the clothes yourself. Onsies, socks, booties, and hats (the snug fitting kind for the first couple of months) are all useful especially for first babies.

When in doubt, ask the mom what she needs or wants or look online to see if she has registred at any of the usual places.

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