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35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread
Baby showers are a time to celebrate the little one on the way and give special (and needed!) gifts to the mom-to-be. So imagine you were invited to one. And that means you gotta find a gift. The reality is that expectant parents already have so much on their plate, so you want to get them a gift that’s going to be actually useful. A quick Google search shows thousands of baby shower gift ideas, from cute little toys to useful gadgets, the options are endless.
So picking up a present shouldn’t be much of a challenge. But many moms out there who received pretty questionable stuff from their baby shower guests claim this is not exactly the case. “What is the worst baby shower gift you received?” asked one Redditor on the Baby Bumps subreddit. The question seems to have hit close to home for many moms out there as they shared the weirdest and most inappropriate stuff they got to unpackage during their baby showers.
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#1
I got a kids size 10 shirt… like, one that a big kid could wear. We were really confused but said thank you and moved onto the next gift… the friend pulled me aside and apologized because he didn’t know anything about babies. We had a laugh about it and it’s still in my (almost) 4 year old’s closet. We have him put it on around his birthday every year and send a picture of him to our friend who gifted it to us. It’s tradition now lol
Bored Panda reached out to Tiffany Jenkins, the internet’s most loved content creator, best-selling author, wife, mother, and the author of her blog, “Juggling the Jenkins”. She has more than 5 million followers and counting on her Facebook page, and has been featured on national TV shows like The Today Show and The Doctors. Tiffany happily shared a couple of great ideas for baby shower gifts as well as some other insights into parenting.
When asked what is the best baby shower present a guest can bring, Tiffany said it’s hands-down diapers and wipes. “Babies go through an astronomical amount of diapers, having a stockpile of all different sizes ready to go is magical. There's nothing worse than going to grab a diaper when your baby has a blowout, and realizing that you're out. Taking a newborn to the store wrapped in a towel for diapers is always awkward,” she explained.
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#2
I was super excited to find a turquoise pottery barn crib on craigslist for $75!! Made a fb post and everything.
Well for my shower my BiL and SiL decided to buy me a crib! Not so bad, but when I opened it she goes "this is so that you don't have to use that street crib, cuz let's be honest, it's a street crib". In front of everyone!! I grew up on second hand items and it was such a slap in the face, I wanted to just cry
#3
A cross…for my Jewish child. Yes, they knew.
Laura Mende (Human) 2 years ago
My mom had a friend who was Turkish. We are German. In their culture (she said) it is normal to gift a new baby a necklace or bracelet made of gold. It is lucky or something... We didn't know this tradition and mom was very confused when her friend showed up with jewelery for me, then 2 weeks old. I mean it's nice, the necklace got a big "L" on it and the bracelet spelt "Laura". But for my mom it was weird. She put it on me when we visited this particular friend and otherwise never. Now I'm thinking about selling it. I mean solid gold...!
#4
A giant bag of sexist girl clothes from Target from my MIL, after we specifically had a discussion about how much we hate sexist baby clothes and will never put our daughter in anything like that. We tried to return them but they were so deeply discounted Target couldn’t even take them back. They all went straight to Goodwill.
Another great idea to bring to the baby shower is baby clothes in larger sizes. “My babies grew like weeds and would only get to wear an outfit a handful of times before it became too tight,” Tiffany said and added that “Having new clothes in bigger sizes already in the closet is incredibly helpful.”
“ZIPPER pajamas,” Tiffany added to her go-to baby shower gift list. However, it should never be snap-button pajamas. “I learned this the hard way. Waking up exhausted at 3:00 am to change a diaper is hard enough... Trying to snap 64 buttons back together while your kid thrashes around like a baby alligator is like the eighteenth level of 'Jumanji,’” she told us.
#5
My MIL gave me this beautiful "sleeping bag" that was handmade and my SO used it when he was a baby so it actually ment a lot to me cause we dont really have the best relationship. The day after my baby shower she told me she wanted it back and I can borrow it from her if I wanted to use it. felt very awkward about it because I told everyone of this lovely present...
#6
First baby... A card from my sister in law, pretty much saying I'm not ready to be a parent and that she hopes i "don't damage the child." It came with the "What To Expect," book series for birth through age 5. Lol. Also... She spent the entire party ragging on me to everybody. I had met her once prior to this. She was excused
#7
MIL had a shower with all her friends and gave me the presents afterwards. I wasnt even invited
Final score:
306points
For those guests who are in for a splurge for the expecting mom, the best expensive gift is a gift card. “Sometimes moms don't realize what they need until they are already knee-deep in motherhood, remembering you have a gift card to use for it is a huge relief later on.”
Although according to Tiffany, any gift is a nice gift, there are a few that aren't the best, if she’s being honest. “A baby drum set, for example—is not a fun time for the mom. Toys that make a lot of noise or take up a lot of space aren't the greatest. Definitely don't get her a gift certificate to a gym, and I'd skip the lingerie.”
#8
My husbands family thought it would be funny to give me a box of condoms, this was a shower for our second son. I was NOT pleased as a 38week pregnant woman. 1 because sex was the last thing on my list, and 2 how tacky and rude can you be. Oddly enough nobody fessed up to who brought the gift when I asked? I know my face indicated I would be murdering whoever it was.
#9
A gift set of baby medicine that all expired before she was born
WilvanderHeijden 2 years ago
Why would you even give baby medicines as a baby shower gift? You get them for free from your health care insurance if they really need medication.
#10
Fisher Price Rockn'Play bassinett...we got lucky but the headlines were so true. After I told the gift giver about the near deadly encounter with our newborn, she became annoyed that we returned it through the recall claim. We're no longer friends.
When asked whether guests are always expected to bring in a gift, Tiffany said that there is definitely an expectation to bring a gift, “since that's pretty much the main purpose for a baby shower.” She added that “I do think some people just enjoy being around others and feeling like the center of attention for a day as well. I wrote on my invitation that they didn't have to bring gifts, I just wanted to celebrate. They brought gifts anyway, of course.”
#11
My mother in law got us an ugly bookshelf after asking us if we had one and after we told her we did (and had it all set up in our small nursery). She also got us a wipe warmer after she knew that we were against using one (don’t need babe getting used to warm wipes when we are on the go so frequently). She then made a loud comment about how this other babe in the fam is probably much more protected from Covid because of all the breastfeeding (and I’m vaxed AND freshly boosted). She knows we’re not breastfeeding and just took it as a chance to give a jab. I made up for it though - after opening all of the gifts at the shower I proudly announced and thanked my mom for giving us the best gift of all - several weeks of sleep (via a night nurse). Everything she does is deliberate - but two can play the game.
RaroaRaroa 2 years ago
A wipe warmer!? You've got be kidding me. I can't even believe such a thing exists.
#13
So when my son was born, my brother in law gave me a card. When I read the card, he wrote that he bought 2 football game tickets. One for him and one for my husband…… And he got me, the one who had a baby in her belly for roughly 10 months absolutely nothing.
J. Normal 2 years ago
Cute that Dad got thought of, but in general it would have been even nicer to give a gift to both ( football tickets for Dad and a day of babysitting for Mom). When I had my Son the only gift I got was a diaper service for 1 month. Everything else was 100% geared towards the baby.
Moreover, Tiffany said that she’s noticed lots of her friends doing "virtual" baby showers nowadays, “which is cool. They put out their 'wishlist' on social media a few weeks ahead, then on baby shower day, they go live and open the gifts.”
“I think moms feel like they need a ton of gadgets and contraptions and baby furniture and the latest carseat in order to bring a baby into the world,” she said and added that “The truth is, babies don't need nearly as much as we initially think. All they really need is food, a place to sleep, something to catch their poop, and love. The rest is just a bonus!”
#14
My own mother gave me a notebook for my baby shower that was supposed to be filled with supportive messages from people who attended. Except that her own message was so scathing and pretty much just repeated in different ways how much I was going to struggle as a mother. I got good mileage out of passing it around and laughing at it with my husband's family, who are well aware of how insane my parents are
WilvanderHeijden 2 years ago
As long as they know that their parents are insane, there's nothing that the parents can do or say that will hurt or upset them.
#16
My sister got me a random basket from target that says "Baby" on it with a target grocery bag with random baby goods like wipes and such ._. Not wrapped or anything. The gift itself wasn't so bad but then my mom went on a 15 minute speech about how beautiful her gift is and how wonderful my sister was to take the time to make me a beautiful basket despite her busy schedule.
They came to the baby shower for a full 10 minutes, complained about the party, my sister only talked about herself and her pregnancies and how much she had it worse than me.. asked how much I weighed and tried to compare. then left. I was glad they left before other people showed up.
WilvanderHeijden 2 years ago
Don't get why OP let them stay for 10 minutes. She should have thrown them out after 5.
#17
A box of uncooked pasta and girl stuff ....FYI I don't know if its a boy or girl and made that clear to everyone that the gender is a surprise.....and the pasta i can't even explain
#18
A “my first 5 years” memory book, with a kids name already in it and the “when we found out we were expecting” says Thanksgiving 2013
#19
Not me but my SIL received a “time out chair” from a relative when she had her first. It was a children’s rocking chair with a clock imbedded in it and lots of s**tty sayings on it like “you have to think about what you did” and creepy stuff like that. Also it was clearly for an older child and not a newborn. We all had a good laugh about it after then donated it.
#20
A dirty teddy bear that smelled like cigarettes. When we called for the story, thinking maybe it was a childhood toy that had been saved, he said “ohh no, I just found that at the thrift store”
#21
Used and open items. came from my SIL’s brother in law and his wife. I am all for hand-me-downs, but like..open containers of baby power and butt cream that are half used, as their present…lmao. Oh, and it was all packed in a dirty, used diaper backpack.
#22
My friend’s BIL got them a giant abstract painting meant to personify the terror of a nightmare for their nursery….it was literally the scariest thing I’ve ever seen and he was not at all kidding. He really didn’t get why it freaked them out…
#23
A onesie that says "every dog needs a baby" and I have two cats. Zero dogs.
#24
I have a pretty “crunchy” friend who marked a bunch of stuff as purchased on my registry and then gifted “natural” versions of the items…I have to think it was just her being thoughtful (as in, she was thinking she got the “better” version of the thing I registered for) but a lot of the stuff she got is just packed with essential oils. I also put a good amount of research into the items I wanted so it was just kind of annoying and I don’t really believe in herbal tinctures or organic always being better. I just want diaper cream and soaps/lotions/nipple cream that works! Oh and a lot of it wasn’t returnable.
#25
My best friend got me a 50 cent machine ducky and five dollars. I wasn’t upset until she asked for the $5 back for gas money.
#26
A dog toy that I’m fairly certain had been used (no tags, and there was a stain).
#27
A homemade blanket with a sewing needle stuck inside it that we discovered when baby was a few months old.
#28
An absolutely hideous baby onesie dress in black, bedazzled with the words “My First Little Black Dress” in pink.
I think I threw it in the garbage instead of donating it.
#29
A thing to hang on the wall of the baby’s room that was covered in ribbon strung with loose beads. Nothing was knotted or secured in any way. Several beads fell off as I lifted it out of the box. So… they gave me a choking hazard for my baby
#30
MULTIPLE pillows for the tooth fairy. Like, what?? And they were shaped like teeth or had a pocket shaped like a tooth, no denying that they were designed as tooth fairy pillows.
Not offensive, just hilarious.
#31
Those puff snacks that expired before the baby was going to be old enough to eat them.
#32
a box of smoke infused dirty books
we seriously left them in the garage they reeked of smoke so much.
Anyone-for-tea? 2 years ago
I think smokers just don’t realise how much the smoke gets through to everything if they smoke in their home. My mum smokes and every time she gives me something I have to wipe it down, air it or wash it.
#33
My grandma got me a can of beans and canned enchilada sauce... pretty sure they were from her pantry and they were like 10 years old.
RaroaRaroa 2 years ago
Unless Grandma is always stingy, I'd like to say Grandma did her best. Be kind.
#34
Got a onesie from someone that said “best younger sister” when I’m a FTM with only one baby. I gave the onesie away.
Yoga Kitty 2 years ago
I assume it was second hand and the fabric was still okay? People are giving an awful lot of clothes away for stupid reasons. It is not that the saying was offensive or anything, it just does not fit (same as the one with the dog). Is it really that important? The baby will grow out of it in a matter of weeks! Be glad that you have another set of clothes to change the small one into after a carrot or spinach accident and be done with it...
#35
A pink Sonicare electric toothbrush, for my newborn son.
What do you think ?
Ace Girl 2 years ago
Chill. They're simply answering the prompt when asked what was the worst baby shower gift they received. It's not that serious.
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lenka 2 years ago
We asked our guests to gift a copy of their favourite children's book with a message written inside for the baby. It was amazing. We got beautiful books and amazing stories and wonderful messages. We received books for ages from baby to pre-teen. Its the shower gift that just keeps giving and our kids love the $2 cardboard books and the messages inside as much as the more expensive books (and some even more).
Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
What an amazing idea! And even less financially fortunate friends can participate evenly.
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NsG 2 years ago
It runs the gamut between "ungrateful recipient" and "actively dangerous/thoughtless giver". And there's some overlap, just to be fair.
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Ace Girl 2 years ago
Chill. They're simply answering the prompt when asked what was the worst baby shower gift they received. It's not that serious.
Load More Replies... lenka 2 years ago
We asked our guests to gift a copy of their favourite children's book with a message written inside for the baby. It was amazing. We got beautiful books and amazing stories and wonderful messages. We received books for ages from baby to pre-teen. Its the shower gift that just keeps giving and our kids love the $2 cardboard books and the messages inside as much as the more expensive books (and some even more).
Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
What an amazing idea! And even less financially fortunate friends can participate evenly.
Load More Replies... NsG 2 years ago
It runs the gamut between "ungrateful recipient" and "actively dangerous/thoughtless giver". And there's some overlap, just to be fair.
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