A funny thing happens as the years pass. You get to a certain age and all of a sudden, the social forecast starts to show a flurry of showers.
Baby showers, to be precise.
If your friendship group is experiencing something of a baby boom, take solace in the fact that you’re not alone. From around your late 20s, diaries begin filling up with a series of parties and events in anticipation of the new arrivals.
Just like the popularity of prom and trick-or-treating in this country, baby showers feel like an American import, but pre-baby parties can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome, thrown to ward off evil spirits and wish the mum-to-be a safe and happy delivery. Most cultures and countries mark the imminent arrival of a newborn with some kind of party - usually with presents, always with cake. If you’re a Kardashian, you recreate Disneyland in your back garden.
These days, a baby shower is a great way to see the parents before they’re lost to that new baby void of night feeds, dirty nappies and family visits. It also means you can help furnish them with all the essentials and luxuries they need before labour gets underway.
While the likes of baby clothes, breast pumps and nappies will be gratefully received, now’s also the perfect opportunity to spoil them with tiny designer goods, indulgent skincare and special keepsakes for the landmark occasion.
The more practical-minded might enjoy receiving a hamper packed with gourmet fare to keep them going in the early days when trips to the supermarket feel as straightforward as hitchhiking to the moon.
If you’ve got a baby shower to attend in the diary but you’re feeling stuck for inspiration, allow us to lend a hand with a shopping edit of the best baby shower gifts.
We’ve taken care to include ideas for parents as well as the new baby because they deserve some pampering too.
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Baby & Kids Essentials Set
From a luxury skincare heavyweight comes this set of essentials designed for precious newborn skin. The set contains every product from the brand’s Baby & Kids Collection - think bathing milk, hair and body shampoo, and creams including one for nappy rash, along with two animal-themed wash mitts to make bathtime that much more exciting.
Buy now £160.00, Dr. Barbara Sturm
Fortnums The Congratulations Hamper
Say congratulations in style with a hamper from the one who does it best: Fortnums.
Packed with tea time treats to enjoy the second mat or pat leave begins, there's plenty to keep them occupied with until the little one arrives. The lineup of seven food and drink gems includes a nice bottle of bubbles to; stick it in the fridge ready for popping when the time comes.
The medium-sized hamper has a hefty weight, so best to have this delivered directly to their door if you don't want to lug it around London and beyond yourself.
Buy now £160.00, F&M
Bramley Little B Hedgehog Baby Bath Gift Set
Say congratulations in style with a hamper from the one who does it best: Fortnums.
Packed with tea time treats to enjoy the second that mat or pat leave begins, there's plenty to keep them occupied until the little one makes their arrival. The seven-strong lineup of food and drink gems includes a lavish bottle of bubbles too; sling it in the fridge ready for popping when the time comes.
The medium-sized hamper is fairly hefty, so best to have this delivered directly to their door if you don't want to lug it around yourself.
Buy now £28.00, Fortnums
Kit & Kin Natural Skincare Starter Pack with Size 1 Eco Nappies
Any new parents will tell you that the early days are a flurry of naps and nappy changing.
Ensure their changing unit is fully in stock with Kit & Kin’s bumper eco nappy starter pack. The practical bundle has it all, from wipes and nappy sacks to bath products and lotions for breastfeeding new mums too.
Oh, and a fat stack of hypoallergenic eco nappies of course. Best of all, each pack sold helps to protect the rainforest, so your purchase is doing good too.
Buy now £103.14, Mamas & Papas
Welcome to the World Sit & Play Floor Seat (6 Mths)
It’ll be tricky to wrap, but for the entertainment and safety it provides, it’s worth it. This cushioned floor seat is designed for babies who can sit upright - at around the six-month mark - and sports plenty of soft fabrics for them to stroke for sensory development. Toys include a squeaker rattle, mirror and a teether to help when their teeth come through while a soft bunny toy is also there to make friends when the time comes.
Buy now £35.00, M&S
Tiny Rituals Baby and Parent Set
Filled with formulas that are kind to both mother and child, Rituals has nailed the art of elegant bathing in this Tiny set. The trio includes a dry oil to hydrate, a baby body lotion for the little one and a baby hair and body wash to help honour everyday moments.
Buy now £47.90, Rituals
Mama Mio Bloomin' Lovely Pamper Pack
Pregnant bodies change and stretch in all sorts of ways when you’re expecting. Soothe stretchmarks and tender boobs with Mama Mio’s pamper-focused bundle of joy. The hamper comes packed full of the brand’s nourishing beauty products, from Tummy Rub Butter and Bust Cream to Cooling Gel for tired legs. Safe to use while breastfeeding, the set carries a light citrus scent.
Buy now £30.40, Mama Mio
Bedfolk Box For Baby
New parents will likely have tons of baby clothes, but Bedfolk’s baby box has everything you need to swaddle your newborn in style. The hamper contains a super soft hooded baby towel to use after bathtime as well as a tiny cotton robe and a cotton blanket for swaddling. Everything is made from natural materials and is designed to encase your little cub in a cosy fabric.
Buy now £100.00, Bedfolk
Burberry Coated Vintage Check and Icon Stripe Bib
Mess is inevitable but at least their little darling will do it in style. Burberry's iconic check is back in fashion, and this bib takes the look from high fashion to high chairs. The soft cotton bib is coated in a wipe-clean finish and has a pocket to catch dribbles and spills.
Buy now £60.00, Burberry
BabyBjörn Mini Carrier, Leopard
Suitable for freshly hatched ducklings who need the feeling of closeness the most, BabyBjorn’s sling puts the fun in function thanks to the stylish leopard print design. The entire front section opens for easy access and strategically positioned straps ensure that the baby is properly supported when out and about for short trips. Breathable and comfortable to wear, the compact design is easily stowed in a changing bag or under the pram.
Buy now £105.00, John Lewis
Emporio Armani Logo-print four-piece dummy and bottle set
Give breast or formula milk the star status it deserves in a high-fashion baby bottle and dummy set from Emporio Armani. Consisting of a 240ml bottle and a smaller 130ml vessel, the set comes with matching pacifiers.
Buy now £116.00, Selfridges
