5 Baby Products I Wish I Had Received at My Baby Shower

In hindsight, there are five baby products that I wish I had added to my baby register so I could have received that at my baby shower.

This shower gift list is the counterpart to the top five worst baby shower gifts.

If you are shopping for a shower gift, try to avoid, you could also consider the near infamous Boppy pillow or any of these other useful and practical shower gift ideas.

1. A Video Monitor

Instead of the sound-only monitor, I wish I had received a child video monitor as a shower gift. The sound monitor will keep the new parent up at night, as you fight exhaustion listening for every breath and hiccup.

A video monitor is a baby product that is remains useful as the baby gets older. For example, had we been watching our son the first time he managed to climb out of his crib, we would have a better idea about how he actually did it.

The video monitor is a less intrusive way for parents to check on a napping or sleeping child than walking into the room and risk waking the sleeping child.

2. A Wipe Warmer

Those cold winter diaper changes would be more comfortable with a wipe warmer. Even in the warmer months, wipes tend to be cool to the skin, because they are wet. While this might be soothing sometimes, warm wipes would be even better.

3. A Bottle Warmer

Another practical shower gift for parents is a bottle warmer. Even moms who breast feed babies may find they need express milk for later use. For women who have to use a pump, or use a pump in addition to direct breast feeding, a bottle warmer is just what you need for those middle of the night feedings.

4. A Jumperoo

A Jumperoo would have been great shower gift for my son. His development just never timed out right for the Jumperoo, or so I thought. Because he so quickly reached the 20+ pound mark, I thought he would outgrow the Jumperoo too quickly.

Some Jumperoos and similar bouncy products have a 25 pound weight limit. I thought the way he was gaining weight that we would get little use out of the Jumperoo product. But I was mistaken. At about 23 pounds he kept getting taller, but his weight stayed the same.

Had I known my son would hover around the 23-25 pound mark for so long, I would have bought a Jumperoo.

5. A Side Sling

I registered for and returned the Baby Bjorn baby carrier. It was not practical for my back or for my large breasts. As a shower gift, I wish I had instead received a side sling. Even now, especially when my son is not feeling well. I could use a side sling more easily than the front-loading child carrier.

Pregnant women, don't leave your baby shower without these gifts. Remove these gifts that you will not receive from your gift registry and add one of these five instead. From the first day you bring the newborn home, you will be happy that you received one of these five gifts at your baby shower.