The short answer: bring or send a gift basket the parents can use, and send flowers to the host or to the venue a day ahead. A baby shower is about practical help for new parents and a nice afternoon for the guests, so the best gifts do one job or the other. This guide covers what to give, how to order for a group and what to write on the card.
Flowers or a gift?
Flowers and baby gifts solve different problems. Flowers dress up the room and thank the person who did the planning. A gift basket goes home with the parents and gets used over the following months. If you are not sure which you are being asked to bring, a quick message to the host will settle it, and it also helps to avoid five of the same thing.
- If you are a guest: a basket for the parents is the usual choice.
- If you are hosting: flowers for the table are a lovely finishing touch, and they can go home with the parents afterward.
- If you cannot attend: send a gift to the parents' home a few days before the shower, or send flowers to the host with a note.
Baby gift baskets to consider
Our baby baskets come in boy and girl versions, so you can match the news if the parents have shared it. Each one lists its contents on the product page.
- A simple welcome. The Precious Arrival basket for a boy or for a girl includes a fleece blanket, a gift set, washcloths and a rubber duckie.
- A bit more for the first weeks. The Baby Steps basket for a boy or for a girl has a layette set, a rattle and receiving blankets.
- Something to keep. The Wooden Keepsake basket for a boy or for a girl comes in a wooden crate with a plush bear inside.
- With a picture frame. The Baby Tray Gift Basket for a girl arrives on a wooden tray, with a frame for one of her first photos.
Our baskets are dressed with cello and a bow, so there is nothing to wrap. Gift baskets are made to order and need at least one day's notice, so plan ahead and do not leave it until the morning of the shower. You will find all of them, along with other ideas, in our gift baskets and new baby collections.
Flowers for the table
A shower often takes place in a living room, a party room or a restaurant. One or two low arrangements are usually enough. Guests want to see each other and pass plates around, so keep the flowers below eye level.
- Colours. Soft pink, blue, yellow or white all suit the occasion. You do not need to match a theme exactly, though it helps to ask the host. See our pink flowers and white flowers for ideas.
- Scent. Many people are sensitive to smells during pregnancy, so choose lightly scented flowers. It is a good idea to skip strongly perfumed lilies.
- Keeping them fresh. Our guide on how to keep a bouquet fresh longer is worth a look if the flowers arrive a day or two early. Keep them somewhere cool until the guests arrive.
Sending to the venue
If the shower is at a restaurant or a party room, call them ahead of time to check that they can accept a delivery and where it should go. Put the host's name on the order, along with the name of the room or the event. To ask about a set delivery time, call us at 905-677-9999 before you order.
Ordering as a group
Coworkers and friends often chip in on one gift. To keep it simple, name one person to place the order, set a budget up front, and pick one basket. One card with a line or two from everyone means more than several cards that end up in a pile. If your group gift is going to the office where the parent works, check that someone will be there to receive it.
What to write on the card
Every order includes a free handwritten card. Keep it short and warm:
- "So excited to meet your little one. Congratulations to you both."
- "Wishing you a beautiful shower and a healthy, happy baby."
- "Sorry we cannot be there. Thinking of you and sending lots of love."
- "Thank you for hosting such a lovely shower."
- "From all of us at the office, congratulations and enjoy every moment."
If the parents have not shared the baby's sex or name, keep the wording general, and leave out any guess. Once the baby has arrived, our guide to new baby flowers explains what to send and when.
Sending across the GTA
Every flower arrangement is hand-arranged in our Mississauga studio. We offer same-day delivery of fresh flowers across the GTA, and delivery is free on orders over $50. For delivery areas and days, see our delivery map and zones.