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  • Reviews of Top 17 Gift Ideas for Baby Shower
Reviews of Top 17 Gift Ideas for Baby Shower

Choosing the right gift for expecting parents can be quite the challenge, and it can be hard to know exactly what a couple may need for a newborn baby. From clothing to travel, and from safety to child sleep monitoring, there are a few gift ideas that are tried and true by parents worldwide and guarantee to bring parents some peace during the hectic time.

First, giving the gift of toys to a friend for their new arrival like the Tiny Love Super Deluxe Lights and Music Gymini Activity Gym or the Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile, both of which have been on the market for a number of years, are a fun way of helping to dress up the bedroom or crib of a newborn baby. Toys for infants like these also help to put the baby to sleep, and could be lifelong reminders of your friendship to the family. Some affordable options for baby shower gifts include baby bottle warmers like The First Years Babypro Quick Serve Bottle Warmer or even a sound machine. Smaller gifts like these may slip the minds of expecting parents, but make quite the difference in the health and happiness of the entire family in the first few months of the newborn’s life.

If you are looking for a pricier option for a close friend or family member, there are many durable and long-lasting products on the market, including the Delta Eclipse Changing Table which can double as a clothing bureau or shelving unit after the child has grown out of the diaper stage. Parents may also have their heart set on a versatile stroller or a carrier, and while items like these may run upwards of $129-$200, their use goes a long way after years of toting or pushing around a child through some of their most precious years of life. Friends or family members may even choose to invest in a baby car seat like the The Peg Perego Convertible Premium Infant to Toddler Car Seat, which some customers call the safest car seat on the market, even after years of use and with multiple children in the family.

There is no better way to show a loved one you care than to show you are willing to invest in the happiness and security of their expected child. Check out the reviews of 17 great baby shower gifts below, with prices ranging from $5-$250, so you can show up for the whole family with their future in mind.

 
Reviews of Top 17 Gift Ideas for Baby Shower
Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Large machine washable mat with many interesting features on it
  • Interactive toy with good music and lights
  • Good for play time and tummy time
  • Lasts extremely well even after many washes
  • Very colorful and engaging toys
  • Hanging toys are removable
  • Easy to setup and folds up flat for travel

    Cons

  • May be low for some babies as toys dangle way too close to baby's face
  • Some kids keep their face on side as they do not like toys touching them
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Tiny Love Super Deluxe Lights and Music Gymini Activity Gym is designed to entertain and provide developmental benefits to your baby during 3 separate stages: from newborn to 10 months. It features a stimulating lights and music touch pad, with flowers that light up and flash on the mat when music is playing and has 2 music choices: Mozart classical or nursery rhymes. Baby can also enjoy tummy time with colors, pictures and 6 delightful activities and textures on the mat. As your baby grows, the large mirror motivates her to rise up on her hands, strengthening head and shoulder muscles.

The bright colored, large padded mat is machine washable. Two arches have fascinating activities and friendly animals dangling from plastic rings. Each dangling toy is removable and has a different sound or texture. This toy lasts extremely well and holds its bright colors even after many washes. It is very easy to set up and the mat folds up flat for travel.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Alarms when baby stops breathing
  • Vibrates to wake up baby when no motion is detected
  • Works with cloth diaper also
  • Three different alarm settings to deal with baby's breathing
  • Long battery life and water resistant body
  • Provides peace of mind

    Cons

  • Time setting of 15-20 seconds is quite long
  • Alarm is too low for some users
  • Likely false alarms when incorrectly fastened to the diaper
Review Summary

Snuza Halo is a mobile and easy-to-use baby monitor which clips onto baby's diaper to ensure that baby is breathing normally while sleeping. There are no wires or cords that could potentially harm the baby. The Snuza is made with hypo-allergenic, medical grade plastics and importantly does not send or receive any radio frequency signals making it completely safe to use. The Halo baby movement monitor has 3 light settingsgreen light when the unit is on; yellow light when the unit fails to sense any movement for longer than 15 seconds, at this stage it sends out vigorous vibrations near the baby’s diaphragm to rouse the baby and finally, the red light turns on when it senses no breathing for longer than 20 seconds, and emits a very loud beeping alarm to seek parents attention. Backed with long battery life the Halo earns praises for its relatively small size which provides unobstructed sleep. It is recommended that the unit’s tip must touch the baby’s navel as it is the ideal spot for the monitor to stimulate breathing.

However, apart from the small concern like the unit triggers many false alarms, alarm sound is low; one major concern is that the time settings of 15-20 seconds is quite long, a shorter delay will be a good suggestion to increase its effectiveness.

Overall, the Snuza Halo Baby Movement Monitor offers peace of mind in a simple and portable device which is packed with features and exemplifies unsurpassed technology combined with finely tuned precision monitoring with mobility and ergonomics.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • 2-piece internal vent system to create positive-pressure flow for vacuum-free feeding
  • Helps in reducing feeding problems like colic, spit-up, burping and gas
  • Vent system works well to remove air from milk and maintain essential vitamins such as A, C and E
  • Cleans well and is dishwasher safe
  • Standard size neck compatible with most pumps
  • BPA Free
  • Excellent product for the price

    Cons

  • Can be hard to clean because of number of parts
  • Many users complain about leakage from these bottles
Where to Buy
Review Summary

The Dr. Brown's BPA Free Polypropylene Natural Flow Bottle Newborn Feeding Set includes three bottles, two extra nipples, and a cleaning brush and is designed to make feeding time easy for new parents. The bottles feature a 2-piece internal vent system to create positive-pressure flow for vacuum-free feeding to help reduce gas and colic in babies. This special vent system eliminates vacuum and air bubbles. It is a BPA free feeding bottle set, thus you can stay assured of your child's safety. The set is easy to clean as it is dishwasher safe. The feeding bottles have a standard size neck that is compatible with most pumps.

However, some user reviews mention that these bottles can be hard to clean because of number of parts. Also a few users complain about leakage from these bottles.

Overall, the Dr. Brown's BPA Free Polypropylene Natural Flow Bottle Newborn Feeding Set is a very convenient and good quality feeding set for new parents.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Folds up nicely and easy to carry
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Nice safe place for baby to play
  • Sturdy and lightweight
  • Looks nice and stylish
  • Good product for the price

    Cons

  • The bassinet pad is thin, hard and uncomfortable
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Graco Pack N Play Playard with Bassinet is the perfect place for your little one to take nap or play right away.  Its durable frame makes it perfectly suited for travel. The signature Graco® push-button fold allows you to break it down in seconds, and the automatically folding feet and wheels make it amazingly compact when folded. It has airy mesh on all sides for maximum ventilation. This bassinet comes with a convenient carrying bag for no-fuss travel and storage.

Many reviewers complain about the poor quality of mattress. It is thin, hard and becomes lumpy.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Entertains and soothes babies, visually stimulating
  • Multiple soothing music, sound and lights
  • Can change the mode -- Music only, Music and Projector, or Music, Projector and Mobile
  • Remote is very convenient
  • Very colorful and attractive looking canopy
  • Light are not too bright and music is soft
  • Easy to assemble

    Cons

  • The remote works inconsistently
  • May not fit all cribs
  • Canopy can be heavy
Review Summary

Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile features animal friends from around the planet that twirl and smile down at baby as music plays and a fascinating light show dances up above. Now your baby can experience nature sounds, sweet lullabies or even heartbeat sounds similar to womb with this wonderful nursery toy. It projects nice soothing images and the delicate canopy keeps those images close, so it’s easier for young babies to focus. As baby grows, you can remove the mobile and project the show on the ceiling, with sweet music or sounds playing along. There are 3 modes to choose from:

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • All-in-One toy with lots of features like different colors, textures, a mirror, a squeaker, a teether and crinkly wings
  • Vibrant and bright colors
  • Engages babies and helps develop their senses
  • Visually interesting on both sides
  • Attaches super easily to car seats and strollers
  • Well made and durable
  • Good for teething kids

    Cons

  • Bigger than it looks
  • May be a little too big to hang on a car seat
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Lamaze Play & Grow Take Along Toy comes in variety of designs with bright vibrant colors, multiple textures and sounds that are sure to stimulate and delight baby. These are all-in-one plush toys with lots of features like rattle, squeaker, teether, crinkles and a peek-a-boo mirror. It is a visually interesting toy on both the sides. This ‘first friends’ toy comes complete with a Lamaze link for easy attachment to strollers, carriers, and diaper bags, so it's a snap to take the Play and Grow Take Along Toy with you on play dates, errands, or trips in the car. It is well made and very durable.

Some parents say that it is bigger than it looks and it may be little too big to hang on a car seat as it may touch the baby’s face.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Provides a snug swaddle for optimal sleep
  • They wash well and do not stretch
  • Comfortable for infants
  • Cute designs and colors
  • Easy to use
  • Helps baby sleep more and better
  • Great price and quality

    Cons

  • None
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Summer Infant SwaddleMe is an adjustable infant wrap that soothes your new born and helps them sleep better at night. It is made of 100% cotton and very comfortable for infants. SwaddleMe almost recreates the familiar, comforting snugness of the womb and helps prevent the startle reflex from waking baby. It also helps reduce the risk of SIDS. SwaddleMe wings are fully adjustable so baby can stay swaddled as he grows. Soft fabric wings fasten and readjust securely with hook and loop attachments to create a perfect fit but allows your baby enough movement to be comfy. This set has 2 pieces and is available in many super cute colors and designs. It is easy to wash and clean.

Overall, Summer Infant SwaddleMe is a great product at a very reasonable price. It provides comfort to babies and peace of mind to parents. Every baby needs to sleep safe and sound and Summer Infant SwaddleMe makes it possible.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Extra large sunshade canopy is good
  • All the accessories like parent organizer, tire pump, rain cover are included
  • Easy to put together, fold and open
  • Easy to adjust extra wide, multi-position, supportive seat
  • Smooth ride and front wheel can be locked
  • Easy to manuever with a light hold on the handle bar
  • Good value for money

    Cons

  • Kid's head may hit the canopy when it is folded
  • When the front wheel isn't locked, it shakes like crazy
  • Not good for jogging or fast paced walking
Where to Buy

$234.57

Walmart

$249.99

Amazon
Review Summary

Joovy Zoom 360 Swivel Wheel Jogging Stroller offers superb comfort and convenient features. It is easy to put together, fold and open. It has a one hand recline system and a signature oversize canopy for great sun protection. Joovy Zoom boasts wider, bigger and higher seat for better comfort and viewing. The seat is supportive and easy to adjust with multi-position reclining feature. The push handle is high and adjustable for easy pushing. The Zoom360 has a fully adjustable front swivel wheel and maneuvering this stroller is super easy.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Safe
  • Easy to install base
  • Comfortable
  • Good quality
  • Easy to buckle child into seat
  • Stays cool in hot weather
  • Car seat goes on base securely

    Cons

  • Difficult to carry
  • Uncomfortable to use if not used with Britex B-Agile Stroller
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Lightweight and travel friendly, the BRITAX B-SAFE Infant Car Seat provides your child with comfort and safety. Featuring Side Impact Protection and an energy-absorbing foam liner, the B-SAFE car seat ensures your child is protected from all angles. For parental convenience, the seat also includes premium, push-button lower LATCH connectors, a built-in lock-off, and an ergonomically designed handle to make the seat easy to install, remove, and carry. Side Impact Protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and contains the head and body. For further safety, a tangle-free, five-point harness provides a secure fit and distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body. Additionally, an energy-absorbing foam liner inside the seat further absorbs and distributes crash forces.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Quality product
  • Long lasting
  • A great educational equipment
  • Good for babies between 3-9 months
  • A tactile, visual and auditory toy
  • Tiny hands can easily grasp the blocks
  • An attention getter

    Cons

  • Chewable but has a funny taste
  • Some blocks had 'sharpish' edges, but can be trimmed or bent
Where to Buy
Review Summary

The Bright Starts Grab and Stack Blocks is a set of four soft and squishy blocks that feature different patterns and characters on each block. This infant play toy focuses on three of the five main senses - touch, hearing and sight, appealing to a baby's natural curiosity. A couple of blocks rustle, while a couple come with a bell inside them and jingle when babies shake them. The blocks are awash in vibrant colors, numbers and alphabets, and are great developmental toys for the crawlers or the soon-to-be movers and shakers!
These fabric entertainers are safe missiles that can be thrown at your walls, furniture, TV (and umm, even you!) once your child learns the art of pitching! They can also help develop motor skills when little ones learn to transfer them from one hand to the other or when they stack them to make a tall tower.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Soft and comfortable
  • Easy to clean
  • Large enough for most babies
  • High and contoured sides
  • Safety strap included to secure baby
  • Accurate measurements
  • Waterproof fabric covers the entire pad

    Cons

  • Slides easily on smooth surface
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad has high walls on both sides to help prevent baby from rolling too far in either direction while changing. For added security, a safety belt attaches over baby's mid-section and straps baby comfortably & securely on pad. This changing pad is made from PEVA vinyl and designed for ultimate softness and comfort. This vinyl is quilted, durable and very easy to clean. A security strap keeps pad attached to furniture for added safety.

Most reviewers like this changing pad but some users complain that it has smooth bottom and therefore it slides easily on the changing table.

Overall, Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad is a good quality product at a good price and offers peace of mind to parents and ultimate comfort to baby.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Heats up single bottle of milk or baby formula easily
  • Easy to use
  • Small and compact design
  • Has auto shut off feature to prevent overheating
  • Works well with most bottles
  • Has easy-to-read grid for effortless measuring.
  • Inexpensive

    Cons

  • The same amount of water may result in heating bottles to different temps each time
  • May scald the food/milk if not take out right away when warmer clicks off
Where to Buy
Review Summary

The First Years Babypro Quick Serve Bottle Warmer is a small and compact warmer that can warm virtually any bottle in just seconds. It can also be used to warm jars of food. It features a removable basket, automatic shut-off for added safety, and a ready light for your convenience. The Quick Serve warmer fits pretty much any size of bottle: wide, narrow, angled and disposable bottles. Users find it easy to use and like its auto shut off feature to prevent overheating. This inexpensive bottle warmer has easy to read grid lines for easy measurement of water.

However, many users complain that the heating results are not consistent with this bottle warmer since the same amount of water may result in heating bottles to different temps each time. Also it may scald the food/milk if not take out right away when warmer clicks off.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Vertical and two-tier design saves counter space
  • Holds a lot of bottles and accessories
  • Height adjustable design to hold tall and short bottles with ease
  • Easy to assemble
  • Easy to wash and dry the rack; Dishwasher safe
  • Spins and has an optional drip tray
  • Reasonable price and worth the money

    Cons

  • Doesn't work well with glass bottles
Review Summary

The First Years Spinning Drying Rack is designed to hold more bottles and accessories while taking up less space on kitchen counter. This Drying Rack allows for quick and easy storage and clean-up of your baby's cups and bottles. The vertical and two-tier design is liked by users very much. Also, its height adjustable design allows for holding tall and short bottles with ease. The rack itself is easy to assemble and comes with an optional drip tray. The First Years Spinning Drying Rack is easy to wash and it is dishwasher safe.

However, a few buyers who use glass bottles are not happy with this rack since it is flimsy and doesn't work well with glass bottles.

Overall, The First Years Spinning Drying Rack is highly rated and recommended by many parents. It is reasonably priced and is worth its price. This drying rack comes in various colors too. 

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Very safe
  • Durable
  • Easy to install
  • Fabric is easy to clean
  • Easily adjustable
  • Good quality material

    Cons

  • The seatbelt sometimes twists and turns in the buckle
  • Stiff shoulder pads
Where to Buy

$349.99

eBay

$379.99

Amazon
Review Summary

The Peg Perego Convertible Premium Infant to Toddler Car Seat is made with the highest quality of materials, providing complete safety and peace of mind to parents of little ones. It offers added safety features like adjustable Side Impact Protection (SIP), a Shock Absorbing Foam Element (SAFE) device and Expanded Poly Styrene (EPS) energy-absorbing foam. The Convertible was designed to provide the utmost in safety and fashion. Parents will find the innovative Fresco Jersey performance fabric to comfortably suit their little ones, as well as present a chic and stylish look that would be a welcome addition to any vehicle.

The Peg Perego Convertible Premium Infant to Toddler Car Seat is very safe and comfortable. The material that the seat itself is made of is quality material that feels extremely durable.  The car seat can be installed into cars effortlessly and can also switch between front facing and rear facing without difficulty.  The straps of the car seat can be adjusted to comfortably fit babies of various sizes.  The fabric used on the seat is also soft and adds to the comfort of the seat.  Another benefit of this fabric is that it is easy to clean.

Some people have issues with the seatbelt twisting in the buckle, causing them to have to take some time to fix it once in a while.  Some parents also thought that the shoulder pads were slightly stiff.

Overall, Peg Perego Convertible Premium Infant to Toddler Car Seat seems to be a good buy.  It is very easy to install and use.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Helpful in putting babies to sleep
  • Plays a variety of sounds including heartbeat sound
  • Can play all night long
  • Plays music from MP3 player too
  • Simple to use
  • Blue nightlight is very ambient
  • Compact and portable

    Cons

  • Volume does not go loud enough
  • May not be that durable
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Graco SweetSlumber™ Sound Machine helps your baby fall asleep and stay asleep. It offers 12 high-quality soothing sounds, including lullabies, nature sounds and white noise. You can also use the MP3 plug-in to calm your baby with a customized playlist of your baby's favorite songs. There’s a timer option, which automatically shuts SweetSlumber™ off once it has soothed your child to sleep. And should you want to peek in on your little sleeper, the soft glow blue nightlight will show the way without disturbing baby. This sound machine has thoughtfully-designed controls that are intuitive and easy to use. A compact and space-saving design with the option of AC plug-in or battery makes it ideal for traveling.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Easy to assemble with simple instructions
  • Perfect height
  • Made from solid wood and wood composites, Sturdy and Durable
  • Stylish looking with good finish
  • Has plenty of storage
  • Available in many colors to match any decor
  • Reasonable price

    Cons

  • Some buyers received damaged product
Where to Buy
Review Summary

Delta Eclipse Changing Table is a safe, functional and quality product to make you feel confident that your baby is secure when changing diapers. It is easy to assemble and comes complete with safety rails on all four sides around the top of the table, a water-resistant mattress and safety strap. There are two fixed shelves for open storage and height of the table is perfect. The Eclipse Changing Table also combines function and safety with style and craftsmanship. It is designed using solid wood and wood composites, with a non-toxic finish. The style of this changing table also matches the rest of the Delta Eclipse line, allowing you to have a continuous and appealing style in your nursery.

Even though this table is shipped in good packaging some buyers received defective or damaged product.

All in all, Delta Eclipse Changing Table is a sturdy piece of nursery furniture and is available in many different finishes and enhances any nursery. Changing diaper may not be the thing you enjoy, but the elegant style of this table will make it easy for you.

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Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Easy to grip for small hands
  • Does not roll too far on its own
  • It has a little bell inside and it rattles
  • Bright and colorful toy
  • Can be washed in dishwasher
  • Inexpensive toy
  • Gets some babies' attention very well

    Cons

  • Very small and not very interactive toy
  • Hard plastic and may hurt kids
  • Easy to get little hands and finger caught inside
  • Plastic is kind of sharp when you put your fingers through the holes
Where to Buy
Review Summary

The Baby Einstein Bendy Ball is an easy to hold and grip small ball toy for your little babies. It features bright primary colors and the recognizable Caterpillar character on center band. It is made from soft and flexible plastic and is easy to bend, squeeze, grasp and roll. The multi-colored rolling rattle ball inside adds additional sounds and visual stimulation to this toy. This Bendy Ball can be washed in dishwasher. It is an inexpensive toy which can get attention of some babies.

Some parents find the Bendy Ball very small and not very interactive. They also complain that plastic is hard and sharp and may hurt the babies. In some cases, parents report that it was easy to get little hands and finger caught inside.

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