Gifts are the most important aspect of a baby shower. Amazing baby shower gifts are easy on the eyes, baby-safe (do not pose potential hazards), practical (can be used by the parents time and time again) and offer convenience (increase the ease of baby care). That said, choosing a gift that the parents-to-be will love isn't always easy. Fortunately, we've compiled this Shower Gift Buying Guide to help you weight your options.

Ask if there is a Gift Registry

Avoid buying unwanted, unneeded, and duplicate or highly similar gifts by asking the couple if they have a gift registry or wish list. A registry should have many gifts for you to choose from or it can act as a point of reference when searching for a unique gifts that the parents haven't considered.

Consider the Time of Year

The time of the year is an important consideration when purchasing baby clothes. If you buy sized newborn winter clothes for a summer birth or summer clothes for a winter birth, it is likely that the baby will be unable to wear them immediately and will outgrow them before the appropriate season comes around.

Buy a Size Up

In general, babies gain between 1.5 and 2 pounds and grow 1 to 1.5 inches per month during the first four months of life. This means that most parents can expect their baby to go up a clothing size every 10 weeks. For these reasons, when purchasing a clothing gift, it is best to buy a size larger or in multiple sizes. 

Consider the Usefulness

There is nothing worst than an adorable yet unpractical shower gift. Babies grow and develop super fast, so it's wise to consider beforehand how useful your gift will be in three months. If you really want your gift to get used up, consider buying practical items that parents will use to take care of their baby daily, like diapers, wipes, bibs, toiletries, feeding bottles, bodysuits, etc.

Safety First

When buying baby toys...

Look for:

• Toys that are at least 1¼ inches in diameter and 2¼ inches in length so that they cannot be swallowed or lodged in the windpipe
• Soft toys that are well stitched to resist constant squeezing, twisting and pulling. For hygiene purposes, check the label to ensure that your selection is machine washable
• Plastic toys that are sturdy

Avoid:

• Toys made of potentially toxic materials that can cause poisoning, like BPA, lead, PVC, phthalates, arsenic, formaldehyde, cadmium and chlorine
• Small toys less than 1¼ inches in diameter and 2¼ inches in length, as they pose a choking hazard
• Toys with small parts likes wheels, eyes and noses made from buttons, small pieces of plastic, wood or glass, that can come loose overtime and be swallowed
• Toys with small parts that are assembled with glue
• Large toys made up of small parts that can be easily taken apart
• Toys with sharp edges that can cut
• Toys with pointy ends that can stab or poke
• Toys with dangling parts longer than 8⅔ inches that pose a strangulation risk
• Toys that shoot objects in the air
• Toys with batteries or magnets that can be easily accessed and swallowed
• Loud toys that can damage hearing

Happy Shopping. Feel free to Contact a baby products specialist today with any questions you may have.