Heirloom-Quality Baby Gifts They'll Cherish Forever

While the concept of a baby shower is about 100 years old, the debate about what to gift at a baby shower can seem ancient. Some people prefer to go straight to a registry, while others love to go rogue and offer a new life to something heirloom-quality that’s not listed on the registry. If you’re in the second camp and looking for ideas about what to gift a baby that will stand the test of time, read what our experts have to say. 

Why Southerners Love Heirloom Gifts So Much

Not all baby shower gifts need to be delivered straight to a recipient’s door via two-day delivery. While it’s often the grandmothers, mothers, great aunts and more who enjoy gifting more traditional items, anyone can gift an heirloom quality item. "It’s not just Southerners—many people enjoy handing down heirloom quality gifts because of the tradition and story involved in it," says Lauren Crawford, gifting expert at Lauren Loves Gifting. 

"We’re finding an overall shift back to more traditional thinking," says Chelle Watson of The Ivy House, a Dallas-based gift boutique. "In a world full of disposable things, there’s nothing as special as something that a child can have the rest of their life and potentially pass down."

The Etiquette For Gifting Heirloom Baby Gifts 

There are some etiquette guidelines to abide by when thinking about gifting something more traditional. Heirloom baby gifts fall into two categories—those that are being passed down through a family, and those that are meant to start a tradition. Crawford understands the appeal of existing heirloom items. "A recipient can understand more about the history of their family, or the person that's passing it to them," she says.

Crawford says it's imperative to consider a recipient’s personal taste first and how close you are to the new parents, with big, meaningful gifts reserved for immediate family. (This layer of intimacy should hopefully stave off any awkwardness when receiving the gift.) "You should ask one of the parents if there’s something you can get off registry, or permission if there’s something you have in mind that can be passed down," she says. "You should always err on the side of caution to get a better understanding of whether the gift will be used and appreciated."

She also says there’s an opportunity to give both types of gifts, depending on how close you are with the new parents. At the baby shower, perhaps gift something more practical, and then give a more meaningful gift when the baby comes, perhaps as a baptism gift, or vice versa. "Most couples, if they have good etiquette, will always say yes to a gift," she says. 

Practical Yet Beautiful Baby Shower Gifts

Traditional keepsakes: Items like sterling silver rattles, piggy banks, picture frames, baby blankets, brush and comb sets and cups might seem old-fashioned, but they are practical. "Children do use these items," says Watson. Crawford says she owns a sterling silver rattle that was passed down from her father, teeth marks and all. 

Out-of-the-box ideas: These days, givers are getting creative in their traditional gift-giving. At The Ivy House, Watson has helped a client gift pewter mint julep cups to her daughters and nieces every year in lieu of a more traditional one-time baby gift. Another client of hers has started a tradition of gifting a sterling silver cake knife to a new baby. "They can use it at the first birthday," she says, "and potentially later on."

Jewelry and accessories : Another popular practical item is jewelry, such as infant-sized sterling silver or gold bracelets that can be worn at a baptism. Watson has riffed on this tradition and made it her own, to great success in her family. "Every year my niece picks out a charm for a sterling silver charm bracelet I gave her. It’s something she can wear on special occasions or every day. She enjoys the charms we pick out and give to her at the holidays,” she says. “And it’s something she can pass down."

Functional items: Antique and new rocking chairs, petite child-sized stools, picture frames, pillows and keepsake boxes—"the new hope chest," says Watson—are all functional items that can hold meaning for their recipients.

Collectibles As Baby Shower Gifts

Collectible items are another popular gift choice to start or continue a tradition. "Many gift givers want to start a tradition that is special to them," says Watson, and choose an item that has meaning to them in hopes that it will also have meaning to the new parents and baby one day. Popular choices include hand painted trinket boxes, crystal butterflies, figurines, and sterling silver spoons. 

For existing collections, it’s wise to consult with the new parents before foisting a 50-piece collection on them, but there are creative ways to display family sets. For example, antique or heirloom baby clothes might not be practical to wear, but Crawford suggests a new spin: "Take older clothes and get them framed so that they’re passed down as decor," she says.  

Think outside the box, too: a black and white portraiture session or silhouette session might not be usable in the first few months of a baby’s life, but they can create beautiful mementos that double as decor. 

To Monogram Or Not To Monogram

Monogramming baby shower items can be as controversial as a baby’s name. Watson says that people aren’t as superstitious as they once were, waiting to monogram items until the baby arrives. "Everything can be monogrammed now," she says. Crawford, who lives in Winter Park, Florida, but whose mother is "very Southern," has always been taught to wait to send a monogrammed gift until after a birth announcement arrives. To prevent awkwardness and honor the family’s intentions, it’s best to default to Crawford’s advice and consult with the new parents first—just because you are privy to the child’s name does not mean that everyone else at a baby shower might be as well, for example. 

With good communication, an heirloom-quality gift can be very well-received. "There’s something to be said about making a little piece of history for your family," Crawford says.