Baby shower gift ideas in Canada

Buy for the first three months

Most shower gifts that fail are bought for the baby parents imagine, not the one they get. Newborns sleep, eat, need changing and need wrapping. The Kyte Baby sleep bag and the Lulujo swaddles help with jobs parents do every night. The Kushies mittens are the small thing parents forget to buy.

Several picks here come from Canadian makers: Lulujo in Montreal, Loulou Lollipop in Vancouver, Kushies and Petit Lem. Kyte Baby sells in US dollars, so expect exchange fees on that one.

A gift for the parent counts too. Dryer balls for the laundry mountain, or a donation in the baby's name for parents who already own everything, both land better than a fourth stuffed animal.

Check the registry, then the size

If there is a registry, use it. Parents choose bottles and soothers for reasons you will not know, and babies refuse some shapes, so the Dr. Brown's and BIBS sets are best bought for parents who have already picked a bottle. Sleep bags are sized by weight; when unsure, buy the next size up.

Budgets

Under $25: the mittens, the DK book, I Wish You More, the cotton muslin, the bib and the dryer balls. Bundle two or three with a card. From $25 to $75: the sleep bag, the bamboo swaddles, Sophie la girafe, the BIBS set and the Loulou pieces. Above $100: the Dr. Brown's set, which suits a group of coworkers.

What to skip, and timing

Newborn clothes in bulk. They are outgrown in weeks; buy six months and up instead. Thin muslin is a stroller shade, not a winter blanket, so pair it with something warmer if the baby is due in January.

Showers usually happen four to eight weeks before the due date, and babies come early. Order at least two weeks ahead, and allow extra time for Canada Post in December.

If you are buying for a hockey family, the Loulou swaddle and the Petit Lem blanket are the two that will get a laugh at the shower.

Questions people ask

How much should you spend on a baby shower gift?

Most guests spend between $25 and $75. Close family and best friends often spend more or join a group gift. A coworker or acquaintance can give something under $25, such as a set of muslins or a board book, without it looking cheap. If the parents have a registry, buying one item from it at any price is better than an expensive guess.

What do new parents actually need that nobody buys?

Things for the middle of the night. Extra sleep bags in the next size up, muslins for spit-up, newborn scratch mittens, a nail file that works while the baby sleeps, and a portable white noise machine all get used and rarely show up as gifts. Parents also run short on burp cloths and swaddles because they go through several a day.

Is it OK to buy off the registry for a baby shower?

Yes, but stick to categories that are hard to get wrong, like muslins, swaddles, books or a sleep bag in a larger size. Avoid bottles, pacifiers and car gear, since parents often choose those for specific reasons and babies can reject them. Include a gift receipt so they can swap sizes without asking you.

What is a good group baby shower gift?

Pick one bigger item instead of several small ones. A boxed set like The Little Green Sheep Little Luxuries set, Frida's big baby kit or a bottle-feeding kit covers many needs at once. For coworkers, ask the parent which large registry item is still open. One shared card with a note from each person goes over well.