Buying a baby shower gift can get a bit tricky for a second or third (or more) baby. Any present is great but it's truly thoughtful to get something the family doesn't already have. Luckily, there are lots of great ideas for presents for subsequent children that are both useful and fun.
A parent who's just welcomed baby number two (or three, four, five...) knows they really need a large supply of the basics. Think diapers, wet wipes, rash cream, nipple balm, burp cloths, bibs, onesies, and other items that are used daily. Essentially, stock the diaper bag. Pop all these new baby essentials in a box and wrap it up—we guarantee it'll be a much-appreciated gift!
If you want to go beyond the basics, here are 10 other ideas for showering a parent who's just added another little one to their brood.
1. Offer the Gift of Babysitting: Ask any parent what they really want, and near the top of the list will probably be some alone time. You don't need to wait until the baby is older to give the gift of babysitting. Offer to spend a couple of hours in the family home watching the newborn and older sibling(s), which will give the new parent a chance to sleep, take a long bath, read a book, go for a walk—anything they usually take for granted.
2. Help with Household Chores: If the baby sleeps while you're babysitting, make yourself useful and do some laundry, ironing, or tidying. You can also take the older child or children out to the park or for ice cream to give the parent time to focus on the new baby.
3. Provide Savvy Storage Options: With each baby comes a lot of new equipment, gadgets, clothes, and toys. Make a new parent's life easier (or at least less cluttered) by gifting them some savvy storage options. Matching containers transform into attractive toy holders, hooks and shelves are perfect for clothes and towels, and a personalized wooden box can hold all those special keepsakes. You can also offer to help them get organized.
4. Pamper the Parent: Breakfast in bed and luxury bath products can pamper any new parent—but nothing beats getting out of the house for a few hours (or an entire day) without worrying about feeding, burping, and changing diapers. Whisk them off to a local salon for relaxing treatments, adult conversation, and as much silence as they want. Or bring a masseuse, hair stylist, or manicurist to them!
5. Gift a Baby Sling or Carrier: A baby sling or carrier lets you hold your little one hands-free. The product is helpful for parents with an older child in the stroller, and it also comes in handy around the house. After all, you sometimes need two hands to deal with daily tasks and multiple children at once!
6. Arrange for a Professional Photo Shoot: Nowadays, it's easy for parents to capture their newborn's every movement with their smartphone. This makes a traditional photo session with everybody in the same shot an extra special gift. Printed photos provide a lovely, permanent record of their growing family—something they'll likely treasure more than the endless Instagram selfies. Another option is to do a photo shoot while the expecting parent is still pregnant to document that amazing belly.
7. Hire a Cleaner: No parent should have to worry about housework in that sleep-deprived, chaotic newborn haze. To lend a helping hand, hire a cleaner to give their entire house a once-over. Bringing a new baby home can be stressful (no matter how many times you've done it before) so anything you can do to make their life easier—and cleaner!—will go a long way.
8. Prepare Meals: New parents need to eat! Help them maintain strength without having to spend ages in the kitchen by preparing and cooking meals. Lots of restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and meal preparation services create food parcels and deliver them locally. Alternatively, make a list and go shopping on their behalf with all the basics they need for the next few days or weeks. You could also spend a day in the kitchen cooking them some tasty, nutritious, and freezable family dinners.
9. Gift Card for Baby Store: Clothes are a popular shower gift, but babies might end up with dozens of outfits in the same size—especially if they already have a closet full of hand-me-downs. As an alternative, consider a gift card to a cute baby store, which parents can use to fill gaps in the baby's wardrobe. You can also band together with other shower-goers to purchase a more expensive gift card; the higher value can go toward a larger registry item, such as a new car seat or bounce chair.
10. Treat the Parent: This gift has absolutely nothing to do with the new baby and everything to do with the parent! Gift them a bottle (or crate, if you're feeling particularly generous) of their favorite wine, and when they're finally putting their feet up at the end of a hectic day, they'll be toasting you for your superb gift-giving skills. Other treats can have the same effect—think a box of luxury chocolates or their favorite potato chips!
Whether it's a second or third baby or even more, a baby shower gift is always appreciated. You can't really go wrong, especially if you include a gift receipt. But our gift suggestions—from gift certificates to tasty treats for the parents—can help you pick out something truly useful or special for the growing family.
