How Much to Spend on Baby Shower Gift [2022]

Congratulations! You were invited to a baby shower. This means you will be in the presence of fab food, good friends, cringe-worthy games and (a lot!) of gifts to open.  

The problem? 

The parent(s)-to-be will be opening your gift in front of dozens of other judging eyeballs. 

You don’t want to look like Cheapy McCheapskate and spend too little on your baby shower gift. At the same time, you don’t want to overspend and look like you are trying to outdo all the other attendees. 

Today, we are going to help you figure out how much to spend on a baby shower gift in 2022.  Based on our anecdotal research, here are simple guidelines on how much to spend:  

• £10-25 if you are an acquaintance or co-worker; 
• £25-40 if you are a close friend or relative; 
• £40+ if you are a “best” friend or close relative like brother/sister. 

Of course, these are just research-based guidelines and not hard-and-fast rules. There is no “right” or “wrong” amount to spend on a baby shower gift as we’ll describe in further detail below. 

First, let’s dive into an all-important question: 

Is It Better to Give a Baby Shower Gift … Or Wait Until the Baby Is Born? 

If the parent(b)-to-be is hosting a baby shower and you are on the invite list - this is your time to bring a gift. The baby shower is the traditional time where baby gifts are given by friends and family who are closest to the parent(s)-to-be. 

If you are not invited to the baby shower, but would like to give a gift we would recommend waiting until the baby is born to send a gift. 

Why wait until the baby is born? 

1. Some parent(s)-to-be may be superstitious or believe it’s bad luck to take a baby gift before the baby is born. This is particularly true in some Jewish communities. If you are unsure, you are safer waiting to the baby is born as not to worry or offend the expecting parents; 
2. Many families wait until birth to find out the gender. As many baby gifts are gender-specific, it will make gift-giving easier to wait until the gender is revealed; 
3. If you wait to find out the baby’s name, you can buy a personalized gift for the baby. These personalized gifts tend to be a bit more special for new parents (particularly first time parents) and will be worth the wait. 

To recap, if you are invited to the baby shower - the expectation is that you can bring a gift to the baby shower. If you are not invited to the baby shower, we recommend that you wait until the baby is born to send the gift. 

Now, onto the question we are all here for: 

How Much to Spend On a Baby Shower Gift In 2022

When giving a baby shower gift, it’s important that any gift you give meets the following criteria: 

(a) the gift is within your budget; 

(b) the gift reflects your relationship to the parent(s); 

(c) the gift is something useful (or on the parent(s) registry); 

Remember, friends and family will never want you to stress about giving a gift. It may seem cliché, but it’s truly “the thought that counts” when it comes to gifting. 

How much you should spend on a baby shower gift in 2022 will depend on three (3) main factors: 

Factor #1: Your Baby Shower Gift Budget

The fact is that it’s been a rough few years both personally and financially for many people. Many of us face financial problems related to the pandemic, and others simply don’t have a big budget to spend on baby shower presents. 

The other reality is that you may be invited to 5, 6 or even 10 baby showers in one year. You cannot be expected to spend thousands just because all your friends decided to have babies at the same time! 

Rather than going with a guideline on what you “should” spend, it’s always better to spend what you can afford. The “best” gifts are not the ones that cost the most money - they are ones that are the most thoughtful and useful to new parents. 

To make it easy: stick to your budget. 

It’s important to remember that babies grow out of newborn items VERY quickly. There’s no point in stretching your budget for a gift that will only be used for 2-3 months (at best). 

The best practice is to determine your budget before you go out and purchase a gift. If you determine your budget is £20 - then go to the store with a £20 note in your pocket (and nothing more!)

It is very easy to get caught up in the “cuteness” of baby products and quickly your £20 budget balloons to £50 if you are not careful. Don’t let it happen. 

If you are looking for gift ideas in the £10-20 range you can get: 

• Box of nappies; 
• “Survival” kit with newborn medicines; 
• Baby thermometer; 
• A book; 
• Picture frame; 
• Bibs. 

Believe it or not, new parents will be so happy and grateful to receive baby essentials like a baby thermometer and nappies. These are useful items that all parents absolutely need. 

Factor #2: Your Relationship to the Parent(s) 

The second question you should ask when figuring out how much to spend on a baby shower gift is: 

What’s my relationship to the parents? 

We have broken this down into three categories to help provide some guidelines on what would be considered reasonable based on your relationship status: 

How Much to Spend On Baby Shower Gift for Coworker or Acquaintance? 

If you fall in the category of coworker or acquaintance to the parent(s)-to-be, it’s reasonable to spend somewhere in the range of £10-25 for a baby shower gift. 

This is the perfect range to get small gifts such as: 

• Crinkly toys; 
• Muslin blanket; 
• Sleep suit; 
• Hat and gloves; 
• Book(s); 
• Nappies; 
• Picture frame; 
• Rattle. 

How Much to Spend On Baby Shower Gift for Close Friend or Relative

If you are a close friend (but not “best” friend) or a relative (but not brother/sister), it is reasonable to spend somewhere in the range of £25-40 - if you can afford it. 

This is the range to buy some nice toys and keepsakes such as: 

• Wedge Changing Mat; 
• Swaddles; 
• Blankets; 
• Dingle Dangle Baby Toy; 
• Bath Towels; 
• White Noise Machines;
• Footies; 

How Much to Spend on Baby Shower Gift for Siblings, Close Family, Best Friends

If you fall in this category of those closest to the parent(s)-to-be, it is reasonable to spend £40+ on a baby shower gift. Again, this is only reasonable if it falls within your personal budget and in no way is a rule. 

Some great gifts in this price bracket are: 

• Personalized clothing or picture frames; 
• Baby rocker;
• Baby carrier; 
• Baby bouncer; 
• Baby monitor; 
• Cot Mobiles.

Factor #3: What Baby Gifts the Parent(s) Need

Anyone who has had children knows that newborns don’t need a whole lot during their first few months. Food, warm clothing and a safe place to sleep is all it really takes. 

If you are struggling to think of a good baby shower gift, we recommend: 

1. Ask the parent(s)-to-be if they have a baby registry. For those who don’t know, a baby registry is an online list of items that the parents have picked out for friends to buy them. The concept may seem a bit strange (or even off putting) to those who have never come across a registry - but it actually takes nearly ALL the stress out of gift buying; 
2. If you are a parent yourself - think of the most useful things you had as a new parent. It might have been something that a new parent may not think of (say, a nappy bin). These types of gifts are always great because new parents may not realize it at the time, but they will enjoy the benefit of your gift when their baby comes along. 

Baby Shower Gifting Tips

Now that you have an idea of how much to spend on a baby shower gift, we want to give you a few more tips for you to think about: 

1. Consider Pooling Your Resources: One of the best baby shower hacks can be to pool resources with a few friends. Alone, you may be able to give a £25 gift, but with 5  friends you can gift a ~£125 gift. This may help with the purchase of a “bigger” essential gift like a baby monitor, baby bouncer or other bigger item that the new parent(s) will be thrilled to receive; 
2. Gift Cards Are Welcome: If you are struggling to think of a baby gift idea, gift cards are typically a (very) welcome gift idea. While it may not feel like the most personal gift, it is very thoughtful in that it allows the parent(s) to pick out exactly what they want for their baby; 
3. Don’t Be Afraid of Essentials: Nappies, medicines, snot suckers and the like are not the sexiest baby shower gifts - but they make some of the best gifts. The worst thing for a new parent is not to have a snot sucker when your baby gets a stuffy nose or to run out of medicine in the middle of the night. Essentials make great baby shower gifts. 
4. Always include a gift receipt with your gift: New parents will undoubtedly receive 2 - and sometimes 3 or more - of the same exact gift. It’s always good to include a gift receipt so the parent(s) have the ability to return your gift. The worst thing is that the parent is stuck with a gift they don’t need; 
5. If you go BIG - it might be best to give the gift in private. If you are the type of person who gets the BIG (e.g. expensive) gift for the baby shower - it would be best to give that gift in private. Giving a very expensive gift in front of other attendees is generally not in the best taste as others may feel upstaged. The new parent(s) also may feel a bit awkward about receiving a luxurious gift in front of other friends and family members. There’s nothing wrong with an expensive gift, but discretion is preferable. 

How Much to Spend on Baby Shower Gift: Key Takeaways 

If you just got an invite to a baby shower, take a few deep breaths. Babies are cute, cuddly and the best news is … this particular one doesn’t belong to you. 

To recap what we learned today, here’s the quick run-down (in case you are in the store right now, panicking): 

 Don't Forget! 

• It’s customary to bring a present to a baby shower; 
• Don’t be afraid to buy baby essentials; 
• Check to see if the parent(s) have a baby registry; 
• Keep in mind the parent(s) culture or beliefs - some consider it bad luck to receive gifts before baby’s arrival; 
• Gift cards are awesome! Especially for disposable items like diapers and wipes; 
• It’s okay to give your gift when the baby’s born or shortly thereafter;  
• If you know someone is having a baby, but haven’t received a baby shower invite, always ask if it’s okay before you buy or send a gift; 
• Pooling money for gifts can be a great idea; 

Still Looking for the Best Baby Shower Gift 2022?  

Know someone ready to have a beautiful baby girl or a bouncing baby boy? 

If you are looking for the best baby shower gift of 2022, you need to check out the incredible Dingle Dangle baby toy.  

The Dingle Dangle is an amazing 4-in-1 multi-sensory toolkit that uses a sensory stick to transform into 4 unique functions: 

1. Hands-Free Nappy Change helper; 

2. Portable Mobile; 

3. Sensory Rattle; and 

4. Soft teether. 

The Dingle Dangle baby toy is one of the best and most thoughtful baby shower gifts to give in 2022.

You can check out a short video of how the Dingle Dangle works here: