It seems like everything month or so there is a new baby shower to go to which means unless you’re looking for baby shower gift ideas that won’t break your budget, you could quickly go broke. Learning how to make a baby shower gift basket though can be both budget friendly and a quick and easy baby shower gift. You don’t need to present a huge, extravagant baby welcome basket to make a splash with your gift. In fact, you can give one of the best baby shower gifts that most new moms receive for under $25.00 if you know where to find the resources to get you started.
The thing that people get wrong about baby shower gift ideas is that they really don’t need to be expensive. Sure, if the new parents are your kids, parents or some other immediate relation, you may want to shop from their baby registry instead, but for the rest of us, a simply baby welcome basket will do the trick. Here’s the thing with a baby shower gift basket though; they can be as budget friendly or as expensive as you make them. If you don’t pay attention and you throw in your gifts willy nilly without much thought, you will almost always spend more than you want to.
How to Build a Baby Shower Gift Basket {for Under $25.00}
If you know that you’ll be buying a lot of baby shower gifts in the next few months, you may want to consider taking the time to sign up for a FREE 30-Day trial to Amazon Family HERE. It will allow you to save money on diapers, wipes and other baby items you may want to put in your baby shower gift basket. You can also create a baby registry on Amazon for FREE HERE if you’re the one who is pregnant. They usually have a really nice sweepstakes and an amazon baby box when you do.
One other thing you may want to consider before creating your baby welcome basket is to sign up for an Rakuten account if you’re going to be shopping for baby gifts online. When you shop through Rakuten, you’ll earn a portion of your qualified purchase back as cash back. Yes, you read that right. You can get paid to shop online with Rakuten! Once every 3 months, Rakuten will send you a check with your cash back money. Plus, Rakuten gives all new members who sign up for an Rakuten account with THIS link a free $10.00 bonus when they make their first qualifying purchase of $25 or more.
Still wonder how does Rakuten work? Check out my Rakuten 101 post HERE.
Stock up on free baby samples –
I realize that some will think it is odd that I am putting this one first, but there is a reason. When you request free baby samples, they take time to ship; sometimes as much as 4-6 weeks. If you know that you’re going to need samples to help fill a baby welcome basket, you’ll want to sign up for as many free baby samples as you can, as early as you can. They aren’t hard to find and in fact, we have a list of over $1,100 in free baby samples you can request right HERE. Items like baby shampoo, clothing and other baby items that you can get for free will all be a help to your new Mom and a help to your budget.
As you’re waiting for your baby freebies to come in the mail, you can gather the rest of the items in this post so you’re ready to build your baby shower gift basket when the time comes.
Shop Thrift Stores for a nice basket –
To start making your baby shower gift basket, you’ll need a nice basket. You could blow your entire $25.00 budget on a new one or you can head to your local thrift store and save quite a bit. Most thrift stores have an over abundance of baskets and almost all of them are in like new shape. Save yourself money and grab one of these baskets for your baby welcome basket instead of paying retail for the same thing.
Side note: Want to up your thrift store game and learn how to save money at thrift stores? Head over and check out THESE 8 thrift store shopping tips before you go.
Grab a cheap piece of fabric –
Head to your local store and see if you can’t find a pre-cut fabric quarter on clearance that will fit inside of your “new” basket. You don’t need to buy some super expensive material. Anything cotton or polyester will work.Check the clearance racks since that will be your best bet for getting it cheap. All you need to do is make sure that you have a pretty print and that it will fit inside your basket.
Make a few additions homemade –
Homemade baby products are super easy to make and work fantastic when they’re made correctly. Things such as homemade diaper rash cream, homemade baby shampoo and homemade baby wipes will not only allow you to build an amazing baby shower gift basket, but to also do it on the cheap without looking cheap. Adding a few homemade baby products also gives your gift a personal touch too making it sure to be one of the best baby shower gifts the host receives.
Be sure to include diapers and wipes –
Diapers and wipes are essential to every new mom and she will love you if you include them in your baby welcome basket. To save yourself money, you can request free diaper samples or sign up for a free trial to The Honest Company. Be sure to find out – discreetly if you can – whether she intends to use cloth or disposable diapers. If she is using cloth and you don’t mind spending a bit extra on your basket, you could buy cloth diapers and wipes for her and add them to your basket. They can be expensive for a new mom so you would be helping her save quite a bit.
If you signed up for the Amazon Family free trial that I mentioned earlier in this post, you can also save up to 20% when you buy diapers and wipes on Amazon. To do this on the cheap, you could take the time to earn free Amazon gift cards online and use those gift cards to “buy” the diapers and wipes for your baby welcome basket. I have a list HERE of 39 Ways to Earn free Amazon gift cards online that can help you get started.
Add a cute stuffed animal or blanket –
Finally, finish your baby shower gift basket off with a cute stuffed animal, small infant toy or blanket. Doing so gives it a bit of whimsy for your recipient and gives baby something to remember you buy later on. Just be sure that whatever you add is okay for small hands that will eventually put everything into their mouth. Baby’s First Teddy Bear, stuffed angels or large temperature sensitive rubber duckies for the bath are all great ideas.
With all of that said, I do want to mention that in order to make sure your baby welcome basket is one of the best baby shower gifts the mother receives, try to stay away from anything that may be controversial to her. Items such as pacifiers or bottles if she is breastfeeding may have an effect opposite to what you want. All moms need those basic items for baby, but if it’s controversial, it is best to let her purchase it herself.