Arranging or attending a baby shower is a heart-warming opportunity to share in the excitement of your friend or family member’s much-anticipated arrival. Usually filled with fun activities, games and treats, it’s likely the last chance the mom-to-be will have all her closest friends and family together in one place before baby’s arrival.

It’s customary to spoil the baby – and mom! – with gifts, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what to buy. Do you go with must-have essentials or do you spoil mom with a special treat she probably wouldn’t buy for herself? What does she and baby need, or what would they appreciate?

Every mom and baby is unique, but we can all agree that there are some products that every parent and baby can benefit from, and some spoil products that every mom or mom-to-be would love to indulge in.

We’ve compiled a roundup of the best gifts for mom and baby, to help make it a little bit easier the next time you’re invited to a baby shower. Whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to splurge – we have found something to suit every preference.

Gifts for baby

Nesting cushion

This is a gift you would probably never think of, but nesting cushions have proven to be a lifesaver for new moms. Think of it like a portable mattress for baby – it allows baby to assume a safe, comfortable position that promotes containment and calm. nurtureOne Nesting Cushions come in different sizes and designs to assist moms with different needs. They have an option for premature babies that is designed to fit in hospital incubators, there are options for smaller as well as full-term babies and they even have one that comes with an attached sleeping bag. This handy item helps promotes baby’s comfort and good sleeping habits, and assists with smooth transitions from arms to crib, which their mom will thank you for!

A bib with a difference

All babies and toddlers require bibs, but we’ve found one with a unique design that’s sure to make feeding time a lot easier. The nurtureOne Fuss-Free Bib is so clever: It fits like a shirt and protects their clothes, plus it can be washed easily. It allows baby to self-feed, which encourages the development of their hand-eye coordination and food curiosity. This bib lets baby get stuck in and explore without their mom having to stress about the state of their outfit once they’re done.

The must-have thermometer

A thermometer is a must-have for any parent, and one of the most important items in your first aid kit. Babies and young children are prone to developing fevers, but knowing when it’s an emergency is only possible when you can gauge their temperature. The Vital Baby PROTECT 4 in 1 Contactless Thermometer offers a quick and accurate reading and it incredibly simple to use. It detects baby’s temperature in just 2 seconds and its colour-changing display helps alert parents when baby’s temperature is dangerously high.

A manicure set

Baby’s nails grow quickly, and if not groomed regularly, they have been known to scratch themselves in the face – or even worse – in the eye. An easy-to-use manicure set designed for baby’s hands and feet makes a great gift for first-time moms. The Vital Baby PROTECT Nailcare Set includes a pair of nail scissors with specially-sized tips, a nail clipper and an emery board for the perfect finish.

Microwave sterilizer

Another example of a gift you may not have thought of, but one that’s incredibly useful once you have it, is a microwave steriliser, which allows you to always have sterilized bottles on hand. The Vital Baby NURTURE 2 in 1 Combination Sterilizer kills 99.9% of bacteria and keeps contents sterile for a full 24 hours when the lid is kept closed. This microwave and cold water steriliser combination offers total flexibility depending on your needs and the large capacity holds up to four wide neck bottles, teats, collars, caps and tongs.

Baby skincare products

If there is one thing moms always need for baby, it’s good quality personal care and skincare products. Skincare products always go down well at baby showers as moms generally go through them quite quickly. The Tiggles baby range contains the very best (and gentlest) ingredients to help nourish and protect baby’s delicate skin. We recommend the Tiggles Baby Body Wash (filled with moisturising coconut oil jojoba oil and plant glycerin), the Tiggles Baby Lotion (which helps to soothe and moisturise your baby’s delicate skin) and the Tiggles Baby Oil (a blend of natural oils such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, rosemary extract, lavender oil and coconut oil to help keep baby’s skin soft and hydrated).

Who doesn’t love a massage? Baby is no different! Research has shown that massaging your baby’s skin promotes growth and development and is a fantastic bonding experience. The SOiL Baby Massage Oil contains a gentle blend of camomile, lavender and olive oil that keeps baby’s skin moisturised and soft and also helps relax colicky babies.

Gifts for mom

Nourishing body moisturisers

In order to keep skin soft and healthy, and to prevent the formation of stretch marks, it’s important to apply a nourishing body moisturiser every day during pregnancy. Happy Event has been a trusted brand for expectant mothers for decades, and their Firming Cream is always a winner. Its unique formula works to revitalise the skin by toning and reducing the appearance of stretch marks caused by rapid weight gain. It contains pink pepperslim, centella extract and collaplus; natural ingredients which aid in firming the skin and improving elasticity, as well as olive oil, shea butter and sodium hyaluronate, which have been used for generations to ensure that skin is moisturised and soft.

Tissue oil is the ultimate multipurpose beauty product, and it’s proven extremely versatile, especially for expectant moms. Not only does it help minimise the appearance of stretch marks, but it also intensely nourishes and moisturises the skin, which can get dry and itchy during pregnancy. Bramley’s range of tissue oils is SA’s number one selling tissue oil, thanks to their highly effective nourishing formula and affordable prices. They are available in a variety of scents and contain Bramley’s signature Bio-pharm oil and vitamin E. We recommend the classic Magnolia and Pink Blossom variants.

Home scents

There is nothing like a beautifully scented candle to calm the senses and create a peaceful atmosphere in the home. The SKNLogic Body Candle makes a gorgeous gift: Not only does it create a lovely ambience and delicately fragrances the room, but the formula can be applied to the body as a massage oil or body oil, too.

Pamper products

Most expectant and new moms aren’t likely to make a trip to the spa, so how about bringing the spa to them? Tree Hut’s range of delectable Sugar Scrubs have been designed to turn your shower into a pamper experience. These nourishing sugar scrubs contain only natural, nourishing ingredients and are fragranced with the most incredible scents you can imagine. The hardest part is choosing one!

A woman can never have too many lip balms. We love the Softlips French Vanilla Lip Conditioner, which has a lovely glide-on formula, can be worn over and under lipstick or gloss and won’t melt in the sun. With its SPF factor it protects lips from UVA and UVB rays to prevent dry, burnt or chapped lips.

SOiL Ugandan Shea Butter is unrefined and organic, and spreads smoothly and easily all over the body, leaving skin, hair and nails nourished and enriched. This powerful moisturiser protects and nourishes dry, damaged skin. It’s pure enough for baby too!

Complete your pamper hamper with a gentle-yet-effective body wash that’s free from harsh and synthetic ingredients. Earthsap Tea Tree & Peppermint Body Wash is a foamy liquid body wash that not only leaves skin feeling clean and fresh, but also gets the blood pumping and clears the mind. It’s filled with the goodness of natural ingredients and has a non-toxic formula.

A little health booster

It’s not always widely talked about, but pregnant moms and new moms are known to struggle with a bit of constipation. Cool Stool takes care of the problem without the use of harsh laxatives. This 100% raw, high fibre and super seed mix and daily supplement is designed to promote natural bowel movement while optimising gut health. Available in four variants including a gluten free option, it is absolutely delicious, and can be added to smoothies, breakfast cereal or can even be soaked in a bit of milk or water.

No matter what your budget, our gift guide makes shopping for a baby shower gift a breeze, and will ensure you find something useful for both mom and baby.