For your convenience, many of the products I link too are affiliate links which means I may earn money if you purchase a product I recommend. I’m a new mother and have found a few practical baby shower gift that I consider completely invaluable for parents. I’ve discovered that having the right product for my baby makes life so much easier. I got a ton of cute clothing and fun little extra at my baby showers that I really appreciated. I love having fun outfits to pull out that I would never purchase myself. As a new mom, certain products become your go-to must-have gear. For me, that is what this list is all about. So if you are struggling for ideas for your next baby shower, buy them that cute little outfit (in a larger size), but then give your new-mom-to-be a few practical baby gifts as well. Your friends will thank you later! At my baby showers, people kept giving me blankets and I remember thinking what in the world am I going to do with all of these blankets. Trust me, you will use every single baby blanket you get – multiple times – often in the same day. During the first few weeks of Ella’s life, I was using 3-4 blankets a day. If you are in a warm area, I highly recommend the light-weight muslin ones. I like to keep her wrapped up, but when it is 110 outside you don’t want to be using flannel. On a side note, I recommend getting them in at least the 45 x 45 size. If you are crafty, you can purchase the fabric and make them yourself. Making your own baby blankets is a cheap baby gift, but one that any mother will appreciate because of the thought behind it. I also started using the little baby washcloths for burping rags. They easily fit under her neck while eating to avoid getting milk or spit up all over her clothing. They are so cheap and I was using so many of them that I bought around 30 of them and still use 5-6 of them daily. I know, this is a gross concept, but you will be pulling buggers out of your kid’s nose for the next few years, so you might as well get the best bugger tool. The Nosefrida rocks. It is easy to use and actually works – don’t bother with the round ball things – they don’t work and are super gross since you can’t clean them. Your baby isn’t going to love it and quite frankly there will be a few tears, but it is worth their anger. It isn’t a matter of if, it is a matter of when your baby will get sick, so go the practical route and give your friends a baby gift they will love. I love them for a couple of reasons. When Ella was a little, little baby, I could position the animal on her and it would help keep the pacifier in her mouth. As she got older, the plush animal because a toy for her that allowed her to easily put her pacifier into her mouth. I know it sounds weird, but trust me, babies and parents love them. They are absolutely adorable looking and are very practical. I actually have four of them and all of them get used regularly. I saw a difference as soon as I switched to the Dr. Brown Bottles. I tried using other bottles when she was 2 months old and she started spitting up again almost immediately. Every baby is different, but having a few bottles ready to go is invaluable. Even if your friend is planning to breastfeed having a few bottles is beneficial. My milk never came in. I was incredibly thankful for the bottles someone had given to me at 3:00 AM in the morning when I finally switched to formula. Based on experiences of friends this one is hit and miss for people, but at $6-10 a bottle, it is a practical gift, I think it is worth trying. I tried it for the first time at 3:00 AM after 2-3 hours of crying. It was a last resort thing for me and it worked immediately. I think the bit of sugar was a shock to her system that got her to stop crying long enough for her to realize that she was fine. I’m not sure that it actually did anything for the actual gas. Since then I’ve used it maybe once a week and although the results are rarely that quick, it definitely seems to help. In the last two weeks, Ella seems to have grown out of her projectile vomiting phase, so I haven’t needed to use it recently. Hopefully, my luck will continue. I’ve used the Wellements Organic Gripe Water and the Little Remedies Gripe Water. They both worked for me, but I like the fact that the little remedies brand doesn’t need to be refrigerated. We do a lot of outdoor activities and I can’t always keep products at perfect temperatures. I got a Boba Baby Wrap which is great for around the house when I’m doing chores and quick runs to the grocery store. I tried it last weekend for a light hike and it just wasn’t substantial enough. The wraps are perfect for newborns and light walking. I borrowed a friends Ergo 360 Baby Carrier for some hiking and love it! Fortunately, I had another friend who gave me hers since they are slightly expensive – sorry this is the one expensive item on my list. One of the features I love with the Ergo 360 baby carrier is the easy resizing. I wore it one day and Aaron wore it the next day and it literally took us 2-3 minutes to resize it for my significantly smaller frame. The Bobby Nursing Pillow and Positioner has so many uses! During my brief attempts at breastfeeding, I used it all the time to help support Ella. In the middle of the night when you are tired, a supportive pillow makes all of the difference. On a side note, this is a great product if you have younger children who want to hold the baby. The can put the boppy pillow on their lap and it helps support the baby. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable letting younger children hold my baby. There are a ton more baby products that I love, but this is a great starting point for cheap baby shower gifts a new mother will love. I am a bit of a cheapskate and I like to know that my baby gifts are used and appreciated. I’ve found that when I give a cute outfit with some practical newborn baby gifts it is always appreciated. Especially from first-time mothers who are a bit overwhelmed. I’m still experimenting, so if you have any must-have products let me know. If you are looking for a more extensive list of items new mothers will need check out this list of the ultimate baby essentials. It is one of the most comprehensive lists I’ve seen. If you have adventurous friends, you may also want to check out these links that have additional information and helpful gifts ideas: 
7 Practical Baby Shower Gifts For New Mothers:However, as great as cute clothing is, parents need a few practical baby shower gifts as well.
1. Lots and lots of blankets & burp cloths
I just purchase the cozy flannel fabric and then stitch it together inside out. I leave a small gap at the end to turn it inside out and then do a decorative stitch on the top to give it a pretty finish. Someday I’ll get on the ball and do a tutorial.2. Nosefrida Baby Nasal Aspirator
3. The WubbaNub Pacifier
Until you have used a WubbaNub Pacifier you won’t appreciate the amazingness of them. They are little pacifiers with a plush animal attached to them.4. Dr. Brown Bottles Natural Flow Baby Bottles
The Dr. Brown Bottles were a lifesaver for me. Maybe they are just a placebo, but they definitely seemed to cut down on the air bubbles in the bottle, which decreased her spit-up.5. Gripe Water
6. Baby Carrier
7. Boppy Baby Pillow
Since then I’ve started to use it as a support when Ella is hanging out. She is just starting to hit the age when she loves it. I put her in it yesterday and she just hung out and laughed while I was working for over an hour. A true lifesaver!Low-Cost Newborn Baby Shower Gift List Ideas For New Mothers:
Practical Baby Shower Gifts are the ideal gift for the new mother in your life
Great, helpful post with practical gift ideas. If you have a friend that is expecting and you’re not sure what to get I always recommend looking for practical gifts. I sell baby clothes for a living and when customers ask me for suggestions I always recommend the plain clothing items. Something that you think is beautiful your expectant friend may not, however plain baby clothes will always be appreciated gifts because they’re so practical!