When I was pregnant with my first child, I had 13 other friends, family members, and co-workers who were pregnant at the same time as me. And many of them were pregnant with their first child, too! I had so many baby showers to attend or plan (and if you need ideas for throwing a baby shower on a budget, I’ve already written an article on how to host a baby shower for $100 or less). So I needed to find plenty of affordable baby gifts that fit my budget (especially since I needed to get everything for my own baby!)
It’s been a few years since that crazy season, but I didn’t want to just rely on my own memories and experiences when talking about good baby gifts for people buying today. So I asked veteran parents in a popular Facebook group for moms what they most wanted or needed as new moms, especially for the first time. Many moms referenced the gifts no one bought off their baby registries which they wanted (and I’ve also written an article about baby registries if you’d like to know more about those!)
There were some very common trends among the answers. A few moms gave multiple options within their comments, but I’ve analyzed all the answers and saw six common recommendations in particular. And after those six top suggestions, I also included another 13 inexpensive baby gift ideas if you need something else! Here they are in order of popularity.
Top 6 Gifts Most Moms Wanted
*Note: if I mention a specific product, I’ve looked around and tried to find the location online that’s currently offering the best price and link to that. If you really want to be sure you’re getting the best price the day you read this however, you’ll want to use the free Honey browser extension for its price comparison and tracking tools.
1. Baby first aid/medicine.
With 32 votes, baby first aid and medical items came in first place. This includes things like a baby thermometer (either rectal or an ear/forehead reader), gas drops, a bulb syringe, nail clippers, infant Tylenol, etc.
Some moms suggested making a gift basket of these various items, but even more suggested buying the “Little Remedies New Baby Essentials” kit as a good, inexpensive set that comes pre-made. You can see its current price on Amazon here.
A TON of moms mentioned buying the “Nose Frida Snot Sucker.” I’ll be honest, this device totally grossed me out as a new parent. But there is a very good reason all the veteran moms (including me) will tell you to get one. They work.
2. Diapers and wipes
Even though I specifically asked for cheap baby gift ideas OTHER than diapers, the second most common suggestion with 30 votes was to buy diapers or wipes! Even if they’re not the most glamorous gift, they’re so desperately needed.
As a bonus, you don’t need to coordinate this gift with others or worry someone else is getting her diapers and wipes- PARENTS ALWAYS NEED MORE.
Melissa was one of those moms who commented on my poll, saying, “I honestly just wanted diapers and no one got them for me (most people buy clothes and blankets).”
If you’d like to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to giving these gifts, you can see my article comparing diapers by price or my other article on the cheapest baby wipes.
3. Something special for the mom
With 26 votes, tons of moms mentioned how frequently babies get gifts and how often the mom gets left out. Those who suggested gifts for moms focused their recommendations on comfort or pampering items, including:
- hand cream (for dry, cracked hands after doing a lot of bottle washing)
- a pretty bathrobe (for moms learning how to breastfeed)
- a new water bottle (to help with hydration) Pro-tip: one mom, Marlyce, mentioned getting something that says “Mom/Mommy/Mama Bear” because new moms are often excited to show off new “mom gear.” I personally like this Mama Bear water bottle on Amazon.
There were also some moms who talked about more practical items for moms, but they were more in the minority so I included their suggestions in the “homemade gift basket ideas” section below.
4. Help with chores and babysitting
This, honestly, is a hard gift to give if you’re not already a friend of the mother-to-be. But with 20 votes, “Visits to do chores, watch the baby, or a chance to talk about how she’s feeling/coping” was the next most suggested gift.
Let’s be real. The postpartum period can be hard. This is especially true for first-time parents who’ve never had to cope with the steep learning curve, physical healing, sleep deprivation, or sound of frequent crying all at once.
Sometimes, the thing new parents need most is not a “thing” at all. More than a fancy gadget, they need love and support, especially the in-person kind that gets them a brief break.
If you still want to give a physical gift, you can include a coupon book with a card. (And if you want some other ideas for what to put in a coupon book to help support them, I’ve written a whole article with 101+ coupon book ideas.) However, expect that in the hustle and bustle of new baby life, mom might lose the coupon book. So don’t be afraid to send a quick text once you know the baby’s arrived, offering an hour or two some afternoon.
5. Food for the family
In a tie for fifth place, food was the next most recommended affordable baby gift. Some moms suggested making homemade freezer meals which mom or dad could pop in the oven when needed. I’ve already written an article about freezer meals that are specifically good for new moms (namely, they’re nutritious, able to be eaten one-handed while balancing a baby, etc) if you need ideas on what to bring.
Another suggestion was gift cards to local restaurants or delivery services like Doordash or GrubHub. If you decide to do the delivery service gift card, please make sure they service the parent’s area! There are plenty of towns and neighborhoods which might only be able to get “take out” from the gas station in their area, or nothing at all.
6. Straight cash (or gift cards)
Finally, gift cards to big box stores or cold, hard cash was recommended multiple times. This is a gift they can use when they realize “What?! I didn’t know babies needed that!” (usually in the middle of the night). Giving a flexible gift like cash or a broad-reaching gift card allows them to order exactly what they need, exactly when they need it.
If you want to go the gift card route, focus on places like Walmart, Target, Amazon, or wherever they’ll be buying most of their baby gear whenever baby reaches a new milestone or clothing size. As a bigger bonus, see if delivery is an option!
One commenter, Connie, said, “Honestly I’d give her a card and put cash inside 
I can’t tell you how many “oh crap” moments we had in the beginning where we needed something immediately for babe, and were stuck in “wait til paycheck” mode since I wasn’t back at work yet.”
Other Inexpensive Gifts For Babies (And New Parents)
Despite the above suggestions being the most popular, there are plenty of other good options to gift to new parents. Here’s a few practical, delicious, and/or adorable options to get your creative juices flowing!
Baby gifts that still look expensive
- Fancy chocolate for mom
- Comfy postpartum robe (this version on Amazon will work for nursing, if mom is doing so)
- Aden + Anais velcro baby swaddles.
Most useful gifts for babies
- Silicone bibs with pockets at the bottom.
- The Amazon link above is to the same kind I’ve been using with multiple kids for the last three years. They hold up tremendously well and seriously cut down on mealtime mess. Note that these are more geared towards babies and toddlers who eat some solid foods, not infants who spit up occasionally.
- Carter’s zippered onesies.
- Pro-tips from multiple moms: get larger sizes (6mo and up) since everyone focuses on buying the tiny baby sizes. And some babies might never even wear newborn sizes, or hardly wear the 0-3 sizes!
- In addition, you REALLY want a zippered garment, not one with snaps or buttons. Babies are wiggly, and often need to be changed quickly in the dark. Zippers all the way!
- A pack of burp cloths.
- Pro-tip: get the old-school cloth diaper style like linked above. They’re SO much more absorbent than the admittedly cuter style marketed specifically as burp cloths nowadays.
- A pack of paper plates!
- One mom, Deenie, says, “No new mommy wants to be doing dishes!”
Homemade gift basket ideas for new moms
- Gift basket of one-handed snacks that parents can eat while nursing or bottle feeding. If you can, focus on treats that are full of iron and protein. Protein or granola bars are great, plus beef jerky, roasted chickpeas, or yogurt bites.
- Postpartum healing kits! There are pre-made kits which help with labor and delivery recovery, but those run around $100 and include a lot of items hospitals will already give out for free. Instead, focus on items like a sit bath, Epsom salts, perineal spray, witch hazel wipes, disposable underwear, or c-section scar cream.
- If you know the mother is hoping to breastfeed, you could do a basket of nursing essentials like lanolin nipple cream, nursing pads, “soothies,” breastmilk storage bags, or a haakaa.
Gifts for a family with older kids, too
- Matching big/little shirts & onesies
- “Busy boxes” with activities for the older sibling(s). You won’t be able to buy a pre-made busy box for under $25, but you can absolutely make your own busy box for that price. Crayons or markers, coloring books, play-doh, little lego sets, or puzzles would work great to keep toddlers or early elementary school aged kids occupied when the parents need to spend a little more focused time caring for the baby.
- A month’s subscription to a streaming service like Disney+, Amazon Video, or Paramount+. (Paramount+, if you didn’t know because you’re not currently the parent of a toddler, is where Paw Patrol episodes stream. You’re welcome.)
Tips to Save Money on Baby Gifts
First and foremost, you should check the baby registry if the new parents made one. Make sure you don’t bother buying anything they might have indicated they DON’T want or need, otherwise you’re just wasting money.
Before you go out to buy, check and see how mom feels about “pre-loved” gifts. Because you can get some good-quality furniture, expensive baby gear, and/or toys for pennies on the dollar when you buy secondhand. Check children’s consignment stores, Facebook Marketplace, and local Buy Nothing groups to score big, if mom’s comfortable with that.
Finally, if you know some of the new parents’ other friends and family, you can join forces and pool money to get a group gift. Some of the big-ticket baby items like a stroller/travel system, crib, or fancy swings might be too expensive for any one person to pick up on their own. They’re perfect for getting together, however. Pay attention to any preferences of the parents-to-be, and get a card that all participants in the group gift sign, and you’ll be good to go!
That’s it! Hopefully, you’ve already found an item or two that will make a great gift for the new parent in your life. If you’d like to know more about what kinds of baby gear items current parents consider essential, you can check out some of the most popular articles in my “Do I really need a…” baby gear series:
- Do You Need a Baby Stroller? Here’s What 1,400+ Moms Said.
- Do You Need a Diaper Pail? [Survey Results + Alternatives]
- Survey Says: You Really Don’t Need A Baby Bouncer
And if you’d like to know the next time I post an article about raising kids on a budget, be sure to sign up for my email newsletter below! Thank you!