Baby shower coming up? We list out the cutest ever gifts to celebrate a little one's arrival into the world...
Baby showers, like tropical showers, are a frequent occurrence in Singapore – it’s always good to be prepared. Bring the right gift to the baby shower brunch, and you’re securing your place as the number one ‘Aunty’-to-be! If you’re planning a baby shower yourself, pop these gift ideas onto your baby shower wish list – we’ve done all the window shopping for you! Here’s what we’re loving right now:
GIFTS FOR BABY
Night lights
A night light is a must, and there’s no such thing as too many! Use them in the nursery, on your bedside table or even in the bathroom for soft light – new mums spend a lot of time stumbling around in the dark.
Mini Whale Light
We adore the Mini Whale Light available at Deer Industries. It’s a soft blue light, with a built-in timer option, plus it’s made from BPA and lead-free PVC, so it’s eco-friendly and safe. It comes in other designs and all adorable, so why not get a few?
Marquee lights
Another favourite is the Typo Shaped Mini-Marquee lights. Powered by AA batteries, light and easy to wall-mount, these look oh-so-cool and chic. Unsure of the baby’s name? The lights also come in shapes like hearts and rainbows.
Play-and-Go toy mat
Take this one down to the pool, the park or on a playdate. The large circular, thick canvas mat is perfect to sit on. Pull a drawstring and it then bundles up into a sack, so you can literally play-and-go in minutes. It comes in loads of different patterns, and when your kid gets older it’s fantastic for storing Lego. Practical and pretty – score! Available at Deer Industries.
Swaddles
Muslin swaddles are must-have baby shower gifts for a reason! They’re perfect for the Singapore heat and can be used as light swaddling blankets, pram liners, shade covers, burp cloths, lawn mats, comforters, nursing covers, bath towels – the list goes on! We love the beautiful Aden + Anais prints, but do check out our guide to all our fave wraps and swaddles.
Local gifts
No baby shower haul is complete without gifts with Singapore style, and we love the Singapore Merlion Blue Serenity plushie! This guy needs no description. Look at him, he’s perfect. And at under $25, there’s no excuse!
Customised artwork
Sammy Eve artwork is a truly lovely Singapore keepsake. If you’ve missed her at the Boutiques Fairs, you can order a customised artwork online. To purchase a gift voucher (if you don’t yet know the baby’s name), get in touch with Sammy and she will mail one out to you. We’ve also put together a whole list of ready-to-go or custom order art ideas for nursery and bedroom walls, so take a peek.
Customised cushions
If you know the name of the baby, a letter cushion is a perfect nursery accessory. If you don’t know the baby’s name, there are also fun shapes to chose from. We love The Couture Crown designs, which you can order and customise by letter and fabric online.
Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair
Pool your baby-shower bucks together and splash out on a Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair with an infant insert – it’s a timeless design that will last a lifetime. And if Tripp Trapp is not mum-to-be’s style, then check out our guide to the best highchairs in Singapore: as voted for by mums!
Moover
Bring out the big guns with these classic toys and nursery pieces from the Danish company, Moover, that are sure to induce nostalgia. A tried-and-tested favourite piece is the red rocking horse (available at Playhao, one of our favourite toy stores!) – perfect for a group present if you’re all putting some money into the kitty.
Baby Feeding and First Aid Kit
Let’s be honest, a thermometer or a first-aid kit for kids certainly doesn’t rate on our cute-o-meter. But the first time you really need one, you probably don’t have one. At 3am with a feverish bubba, your friend will thank their lucky stars for the gift you’ve given them. Basket up a thermometer, baby nail scissors, baby sunscreen, DEET-free mozzie repellent together with some anti-colic feeding bottles and you’ve handed over not just a gift but a survival guide.
Newborn photoshoot
Yes, you can take hundreds of photos of your newborn on your iPhone but they never quite turn out like the Anne Geddes shoot you had in mind. For images to proudly display on walls, you really need to call in the professionals and Polkadot Photography are absolute pros at capturing gorgeous newborn pics in a style that your pregnant friend will adore straight away and in 30 years time. A gift that keeps on giving.
Cheeky Chomper Comfort Chew
Cheeky Chomper comfort chews are perfect baby comforters. They are soft like a plushie on one side, and smooth jersey fabric on the other, with a silicone teether attached and some tabs for extra sleepy comfort.
Matchbox mice and bunnies
Oh squeal: the cuteness! These little gems are so perfect for baby’s little hands as they’re easy and firm to grip. The Maileg mice and bunnies also grow with baby and eventually become dollhouse collectables. Available at The Children’s Showcase.
Plantoys teething toys, rattles and pacifier harness
Beautiful little timber trinkets coloured with safe water-based paints are both pretty and pretty useful. What’s not to love? Find them at The Better Toy Store.
Baby board books
Books, with a heartfelt inscription, are such a lovely way to personalise a small gift. Look for board books, which are indestructible. Lift-the-flap, black and white (high contrast) and textured books are always a hit – check out our guide to interactive books for babies and toddlers and go wild! Buy online from the Book Depository or any one of our favourite Singapore book stores.
BABY SHOWER GIFTS FOR MUM
Show your friend some love with an on-trend chunky and funky Anders & Dawn necklace. Made from a soft and safe silicone, this will be a hit with the teething baby too. Anders & Dawn also makes teething toys, so mum and bub can go matchy-matchy.
Weaning meals delivered
After four months of broken sleep, the thought of starting the weaning process and sterilising items multiple times a day seems daunting. To let your friend get on top of everything before yet another phase starts why not provide her with some home-cooked meals – for baby. “My name’s not Nigella”, we hear you cry. Don’t worry, Petit Bowl specialises in perfectly proportioned, healthy and tasty weaning, baby and toddler food. Order online from a selection of freshly prepared meals that can be delivered fuss-free and stored frozen. This is one visitor that a new mum will be so happy to receive.
A diaper cake
This is a 100% chocolate- and guilt-free cake made entirely out of diapers (or nappies, depending on which side of the pond you’re from) and other little bubba essentials like facecloths, mini socks and muslin wraps. In one useful hit, Diaper Cakes covers some new costs for a growing family, and make a cute alternative to cake on the baby shower table.
Pampering time
Why not club together and buy your friend a pamper session so she can have some time out when those sleepless nights get a bit much? A post-pregnancy massage, facial or spa pedicure will always be gratefully received. Vouchers for new post-bump clothes are also a good idea.
Books
All that feeding and settling means Mum is going to be chained to the sofa for a while, so why not suggest a few great reads for her? Check out our Book Club articles for suggestions!
