Ever wondered what are the best items to give to new parents? Shopping for baby shower gifts can be difficult.  You want to buy gifts that new parents will love but that they will also use.  Do new parents really need a hundred adorable new born bodysuits, or would they rather have diapers?

At Kid to Kid Bel Air we get asked these types of questions often, so we decided to ask our amazing community of experts (our customers!) for their recommendations for the most useful baby shower gifts.  We wanted to know the new baby items they used and loved and just couldn’t live without.

Based on our experts’ responses, here is our top 10 list of the very best baby shower gifts.

  1. Meals and someone to occupy older kids so that mom can rest. This comes as no surprise to anyone who has ever been responsible for the care of a newborn, but its easy to forget how overwhelming those first few weeks can be.  Having a warm, home cooked meal, or even just a meal that they didn’t have to make, can feel like a real life saver.
  2. Fischer-Price Rock ‘n Play – A highly recommended item by most of our expert moms, the Rock ‘n Play is an excellent way to keep the new little one soothed and happy while they nap or play.
  3. Sound Machine – Mom Emily Gemmill said, “the Baby Shusher was a LIFESAVER!! It’s a must have; simple, easy to throw in the diaper bag on the go, and it just magically works! We couldn’t have survived newborn twins without this.”
  4. Velcro Sleep Sacks or Swaddles – Mom Athena Ross said her favorite was her Halo. “I bought it from you guys [Kid to Kid] and it’s basically brand new.”
  5. Muslin Blankets – These soft, lightweight blankets can be used for almost anything: swaddling, covers for baby carriers, sun shades, protection from summer bugs, and more.
  6. Receiving Blankets or Soft Blankets – Mom Jennifer Dark told us how useful a sports blanket can be for new moms.  “A sports blanket where it’s waterproof on one side and soft on the other… I’ve used them so many times in our household for stomach bugs, games, the dog and car trips (she gets car sick…) It’s my most frequently consistently utilized odd item most don’t think about.”
  7. Fridababy  – Almost every expert mom we spoke with cited the NoseFrida Snotsucker and/or the Windi Gaspasser as essential must-haves for new parents.
  8. Saline Nasal Spray – A must-have for little ones with a little nasal congestion and super helpful when using the NoseFrida Snotsucker.
  9. Boppy Pillows – Both the Boppy® Nursing Pillows and the Boppy® Newborn Lounger were highly recommended by the expert moms we spoke with.
  10. The 4moms® mamaRoo® Infant Seat – Another highly recommended item was the mamaRoo. It bounces up and down and moves side to side, just like we do when comforting babies.
At Kid to Kid Bel Air, we understand what new and veteran parents want and need, and we work hard to make sure that the items we carry are in the very best condition for the very best prices.  Many of the new baby gifts in our top 10 list can be found at Kid to Kid, in new or like-new condition at prices up to 70% off retail!  Still not sure what to get a new mom or dad?  Not to worry!  Give them a Kid to Kid Gift Card and let them pick out their favorite gifts!