I also think detergent is a plus. I was so happy when I got some Dreft for my shower. That stuff is expensive and you only want the best for you newborn. And most mommies to be wash and rewash everything!

bluepuppybites — that's a great idea as well as baby body care products!

These are all really great ideas lil!

Oxyclean! Also, if you get diapers get a size OTHER than newborn. DD was only in newborn diapers for a week and this time we received 7 boxes of newborn sized.

Always remember the mum. I always give a gift for the baby as well as the mum. Like something from bath and body works. always a plus...... cause when the mum gets relaxtime a bath is a wonderful thing.

Oh! i love these ideas, my neice is pregnant, and due with her first child in September, so this is really good.

perfect timing! my friend's baby shower is in a couple weeks and i was just thinking about what to get her.

"In this economy, parents-to-be are thinking less about luxurious layettes and more about baby basics."

SO true! my friend wants NO toys. she only wants the basics and things she'll absolutely need.

I'd like to also suggest gift certificates for online shopping sites such as diapers.com. They're awesome. They have all the essentials and they can get whatever they need. Diapers.com offers free shipping for any order over $50 which is insanely easy to do if you're buying diapers especially and they deliver next day. We use them all the time and I've been gifting moms gift certificates to them because it also saves trips to the store as well.

Certificate to diapers.com would be good, since they also have cloth diapering options (why wasn't cloth on the list along side the service suggestion?)

Love this! I make a point of only giving practical baby shower gifts. I know the Mom always appreciates it. May not be super sexy, but, I've been there. I know that diapers and baby powder are more usable than frilly dresses. Not that I don't love the frills...