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.

This post may include affiliate links.

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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

Gwenerfresh , Cristofer Maximilian Report

Final score:

663points

POST

View more comments

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.

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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

roxictoxy Report

Final score:

437points

POST

View more comments

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A cross…for my Jewish child. Yes, they knew.

Crumb_Princess , Sophia Sideri Report

Final score:

423points

POST

View more comments

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

SummitTheDog303 , Kelly Report

Final score:

374points

POST

View more comments

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.

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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...

Greedy-Dot6333 , Jim Champion Report

Final score:

366points

POST

View more comments

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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

OkStop248 , cottonbro Report

Final score:

330points

POST

View more comments

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread MIL had a shower with all her friends and gave me the presents afterwards. I wasnt even invited

Kampus Production Report

Final score:

306points

Elle Py

POST

View more comments

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.”

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

madommouselfefe , robertelyov Report

Final score:

281points

POST

View more comments

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A gift set of baby medicine that all expired before she was born

TexanButNotAFundie , photograph by Zoologist diz Report

Final score:

274points

POST

View more comments

#10

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

FerrahBach , Heidi Report

Final score:

273points

POST

View more comments

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

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

FaveStarsGrateBard , InnocentBystander Report

Final score:

272points

POST

View more comments

#12

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread I got birth control pills…

Left-Pineapple-3656 , Hlaw0917 Report

Final score:

248points

POST

View more comments

#13

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

MotorVirtual , Pixel-Sepp Report

Final score:

246points

POST

View more comments

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

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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

AmiableOstrich , Liza Summer Report

Final score:

242points

POST

View more comments

#15

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A onesie that said “they did not stay 6 feet apart”

oddreyshae , Heather Heithus Report

Final score:

240points

POST

View more comments

#16

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

jaeunlee17 , world.openbeautyfacts.org Report

Final score:

215points

POST

View more comments

#17

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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

OkToots , maxpixel Report

Final score:

206points

POST

View more comments

#18

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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

purpleorchid729 , Amazon Customer Report

Final score:

199points

POST

View more comments

#19

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

beccajo22 , Wmpearl Report

Final score:

182points

POST

View more comments

#20

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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”

riastiltskin Report

Final score:

181points

POST

View more comments

#21

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread 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.

Saassy11 , NewHB Report

Final score:

171points

POST

View more comments

#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…

maggiep122 Report

Final score:

168points

POST

View more comments

#23

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A onesie that says "every dog needs a baby" and I have two cats. Zero dogs.

sjrj1717 , Stephanie Anderson Report

Final score:

158points

POST

View more comments

#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.

schmydd Report

Final score:

156points

POST

View more comments

#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.

anon Report

Final score:

154points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#26

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A dog toy that I’m fairly certain had been used (no tags, and there was a stain).

sdm4242 , MsMary Report

Final score:

144points

POST

View more comments

#27

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A homemade blanket with a sewing needle stuck inside it that we discovered when baby was a few months old.

thenopealope , Dmeranda Report

Final score:

137points

POST

View more comments

#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.

piefelicia4 Report

Final score:

130points

POST

View more comments

#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

booksandcheesedip Report

Final score:

128points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#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.

goldenpixels Report

Final score:

118points

POST

View more comments

#31

Those puff snacks that expired before the baby was going to be old enough to eat them.

PeterCarpet Report

Final score:

118points

POST

View more comments

#32

a box of smoke infused dirty books

we seriously left them in the garage they reeked of smoke so much.

amerikanishma Report

Final score:

116points

POST

View more comments

#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.

turtchel Report

Final score:

113points

POST

View more comments

#34

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread Got a onesie from someone that said “best younger sister” when I’m a FTM with only one baby. I gave the onesie away.

Gloomy_Cow_3643 Report

Final score:

106points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#35

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A pink Sonicare electric toothbrush, for my newborn son.

renchcoatweasel , Regina Report

Final score:

81points

POST

View more comments

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

#36

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread Just got an activity book for 7-11 year olds from my sister. She reserved an age appropriate activity mat from my registry, but it was out of stock so she got me the book.

somewhatsustainable , North Canterbury Books Report

Final score:

33points

POST

View more comments

#37

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A bathroom mat-sized gray faux fur rug. The gift giver swears it’s a baby blanket/wrap of some sort. It’s currently on our bathroom floor. Because no receipt

jennap224 , Kira Shuntel Report

Final score:

33points

POST

View more comments

#38

An enormous plush covered dinosaur that moves its head, opens and closes its eyes, and makes dinosaur noises. It comes up to my waist, and my toddler can sit on it.

0runnergirl0 Report

Final score:

31points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#39

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A giant 6 foot wide activity play mat/carpet thing. We live in a tiny NYC apartment and have no where near 6 feet of open floor, unless we wanted to swap out our living room carpet for a foam play mat

StrictAssumption4949 , Donnie Ray Jones Report

Final score:

27points

POST

View more comments

#40

My husband's aunt mailed us a box of baby things. All of it was Normal and helpful (which surprised me) but then I got to the bottom of the box and found some cheap lingerie and sexy time lotion.

bugslife707 Report

Final score:

27points

POST

View more comments

#41

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread A premium silk blanket that my mil kept wanting to put on my newborn, or under baby’s head. It’s not breathable at all

Cultural_Spinach_322 , Marco Verch Report

Final score:

24points

POST

View more comments

#42

A bath tub. Literally received 4 even though registry said a tub was already bought people must have not paid to much attention to that.

xo_snflwr Report

Final score:

24points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#43

Disposable diapers after I made sure everyone knew that we would be using cloth

a_million_questions Report

Final score:

23points

POST

View more comments

#44

My mom gifted me a wearable blanket in size 5T, in response to being told no when she wanted to get our newborn a comforter and a pillow.

m_owom Report

Final score:

22points

POST

View more comments

#45

One of those kids battery operated cars: would have been a great gift for an older toddler, but was not appropriate for a baby shower and now we have to store it forever.

peppercornn Report

Final score:

22points

POST

View more comments

#46

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread From my husbands aunt and uncle:

a onesie that said “made in quarantine”

It just made me so uncomfortable

SignatureApril , Natalie Pesak Report

Final score:

7points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

What do you think ?

Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago

There’s a lot of ungrateful sounding people, here.

60points

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...

Sergio Bicerra Descalzi 2 years ago

I find baby showers tacky... I've gone to a couple that were just cwlebrations, no present needed. But the GoFundMyBaby attitude doesn't feels right to me.

6points

SuperChicken 2 years ago

Seems that way. So many lost the art of being gracious and grateful. Don't forget, many people lost their sense of humor.

5points

Glirpy 2 years ago

People get really weird when they have children. So many of these posts seem incredibly entitled. Like people owe them for having children. I’m tempted to give the next person I know that has a kid a card that says, “You owe me $50 for having to put up with looking at your kid and listening to it cry all the time.” That’s funny, right?

3points

Miss Cris 2 years ago

Well, don't forget that they are people who actually make baby showers. What could we expect about them?

2points

celery g 1 year ago

did you actually read these f*****g posts? look at the thoughtless, useless s**t they got from same, ugh!

0points

Paradise 2 years ago

...really...so you would accept garbage and weird gifts? Go for it. *Reroutes all future garbage to your house*

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).

53points

Gin. No tonic 2 years ago

What an amazing idea! And even less financially fortunate friends can participate evenly.

16points

Aisling Raye 2 years ago

This is so sweet.

8points

Angelar 2 years ago

That is such a nice idea. I still have the children's books of my grandparents and parents, not to mention my own. Books are time travel machines. I would not exchange them for gold!

Heather Pobicki 2 years ago

Yes we did that instead of a card. It's nice to see their inscriptions when reading the books

4points

MeghanD 1 year ago

We did something similar by asking for a book, new or old whichever they preferred, in lieu of cards. My son was born with a full library and so many sweet messages written in them! He’s currently 2 and in his room pulling book after book making my husband read them as I type lol.

MiniMaus 2 years ago

One of my favourite shower gifts to give is a copy of "A Child's Garden of Verses" and " Wind in the Willows". Most parents these days have never heard of these and they are pleased to have something "older" .

Mattewis88 2 years ago

I'm sorry, but a few of these are just ungrateful.

44points

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.

13points

Rissie 2 years ago

Don't be sorry, I think many others felt the same.

Lindy Mac 1 year ago

And many of the gifts were thoughtless-lets-get-this-over-with c**p.

Yort 2 years ago

There’s a lot of people who spared absolutely zero thought for the gifts they were giving to a BABY. I don’t understand why people clicked on this listicle, what we’re you expecting? People to say “oh gosh thanks for this offensive piece of clothing that smells like s**t”?

-3points

They're just answering the question when asked what was the worst gift they received. It's not that serious.

Load More Comments

35 Moms Share The Worst Baby Shower Gifts They Ever Got In This Honest Online Thread

Games

Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite

Austėja Akavickaitė

Austėja Akavickaitė