As a Shopping Writer and Mom, These Are the 10 Baby Shower Gifts I’ve Found Are Worth the Splurge

I’m a frequent shower guest who loves these picks from Uppababy, Ollie, Nuna, and more.

by Dorian Smith-Garcia

Updated: July 3, 2024

Source: 10 Shopping Writer-Recommended Baby Shower Gift Ideas (parents.com)

Image: Parents / Tyler Roeland

Conventional wisdom may advise parents to fill their registry with affordable selections around $50 or less (and diapers…lots and lots of diapers), but when I attend a baby shower for a close friend or family member, I tend to gift something a more expensive—yet truly useful—item. When I had my daughter, my mother bought me a convertible Graco crib and accompanying mattress, while a close friend bought the Graco 4Ever convertible car seat, which my daughter still uses to this day in booster mode.

Even if it’s not for their actual shower, splurging on a baby gift for a close friend or family member is a lovely way to support them as they get ready to welcome their little one. So, I rounded up 10 fantastic wishlist items (including ones I’ve given and been gifted myself) that expecting parents would love to receive—including the editor-loved Nuna rotating car seat, Uppababy convertible stroller, and Babyletto convertible crib. 

The Ollie Swaddle

$70 at Amazon

I took plenty of prenatal classes when I was pregnant, including several sessions on the importance of swaddling. I never really got the hang of it—my daughter would wriggle out of it just seconds after I thought I’d wrapped her correctly—so I wish I’d had the handy Ollie swaddle, which has various loops that guide you through proper swaddling procedures. One of our Parents editors can’t sing its praises enough, sharing that “The Ollie swaddle is my go-to baby shower gift! Every parent I've gifted the swaddle has raved about how quickly their baby falls asleep. 10/10 recommend!"