Inexpensive baby gifts for co-workers and acquaintances

It has happened to all of us. There’s a baby shower at work for someone you don’t really know, a friend of a friend is having a baby shower and you somehow got invited, your sister’s sister-in-law is having a baby, whatever the reason, sometimes you need to find the perfect baby gift for someone you barely know. What should you get? How much should you spend?

It is a complicated matter, no doubt. You don’t want to spend a lot of money, but you also don’t want to come across as stingy or careless. If you’re shopping for a baby shower gift for someone you don’t really know, or only occasionally interact with at work, you don’t need to spend a ton. Most people agree that $15 to $25 is an appropriate amount to spend on that person.

So what kind of baby gifts can you get in the $15-$25 range, that are still really nice? Fortunately, there are many to choose from. Here are some options:

• Single Tier Diaper Cakes – You can find diaper cakes in many designs. Small single tiers can often be quite affordable.
• Diaper Cupcakes – A smaller version of a diaper cake, a diaper cupcake makes a delicious little treat. They usually include several diapers and one or two small baby items. Most cost around $10, so they can be very inexpensive. You can even make two together for a more impressive gift.
• Hooded Towels and Blankets – New moms can never get enough of any of these.
• Stocking Stuffer Bouquets/Baby T-Shirt Bouquets: These will be closer to the $25-$30 range, but they really make a statement. They are also very practical and very pretty. You won’t have to worry about anyone thinking you didn’t spend enough, because they’ll be too busy admiring the cute gift.
• A baby suit. If you choose to go this route, consider buying an outfit for when the baby is a little older. New moms rarely get 9-12 month baby clothes. It’s a real treat when baby starts to grow to have an outfit or two waiting for them.
• A gift pack of baby lotions or pregnant/new mom lotions.
• Novelty baby t-shirts, you know the ones with funny sayings on them. Make sure it’s one that most people will enjoy, and it will have everyone laughing.

Avoid these gifts:

• A pack of diapers. Yes, it is wonderful to have diapers for the baby. Yes, a pack of diapers fits very well in this price range. Yes, diapers are very practical. So why not buy a bundle? First of all, if you don’t know the mom well, you won’t know if she plans to use disposables or cloth. Most people who wear cloth will use a few disposables from time to time when they’re out and about, but they won’t use a pack of a certain size. Diapers in individual diaper bags or cupcakes are perfect for giving them “distance” diapers without giving them so many that they don’t get used to them. More importantly, though, even if you know they plan on using disposables, a pack of diapers doesn’t make a great gift. Although they can be quite expensive, most people think of diapers as inexpensive and likely see them as an “inexpensive” gift when given on their own (however, they’re great when given in gift sets).
• Simple stuffed animals. Who doesn’t think of stuffed animals when they think of babies right? So why not a stuffed animal? Actually, a cute baby plush, embroidered with the baby’s name, might just be wonderful, although it might be hard to find at this price unless it’s small. The only problem with stuffed animals is that new parents tend to have a LOT of them. Where should they put all those stuffed animals? If there’s something really special about the animal, then take it, but if it’s just an everyday stuffed animal, you might want to help the parents out by not adding it to the collection.
• Novelty baby t-shirts that are over the top. Be careful if you don’t know the new parent’s sense of humor. Play it safe and find one that just about anyone would appreciate.

With a little thought and careful searching, it’s not hard to find the perfect inexpensive gift for someone you barely know.