1. Essentials

Baby clothing such as undershirts, socks and baby suits. One should ensure that the items chosen are easy for new parents to take on and off the baby. Other useful items include nice clothes for the travel from the hospital to the babys new home and waterproof lap pads.

Grooming products for the baby which include baby wipes, baby powder and baby lotions. Other popular items include baby soaps, wash cloths, first aid kit and diaper bag.

Feeding items also make great gifts. These include personalised cute bibs, burp towels, bottles and bottle accessories. If the baby is going to be breast fed then a breast pump will always be welcome.

2. Gifts Suitable for the Father-To-Be

Most fathers tend to provide support roles and so the gifts should reflect that. Ideas include media products on bring baby up and supporting the new mother.

More practical gifts would lean towards a kind of emergency kit for the father comprising a diaper bag, baby wipes and other hygiene items, first aid kit, baby bottle and baby formula. Indeed anything that would be useful if the father had to help out at short notice. If the budget can stretch include a small mp3 player or any other portable music playback device for those sleepless nights as he carries out a suitable program to put a restless baby to sleep.

3. Gifts Suitable for the Mother-To-Be

As the new mother will be spending most of the time in looking after the new baby, gifts should tend to the kind that pampers her. Suitable gifts would be relaxing herbal and mineral baths, lockets and either items of costume jewellery that can hold picture of the baby.

Since the events leading to and including the birth of the new baby are special moments for the mother-to-be, a baby shower album to capture these precious moments will always be appreciated.

4. Gifts for the Nursery or Baby Room

Bedding or crib related items such as fitted crib sheets, waterproof crib pads, mobiles and personalised baby swaddling blankets.

Other great gifts include baby changing table, baby monitor and stuffed animals. In addition, anything that helps brighten up the baby room such as pictures, embroidered wall hangings.

5. Baby Travel Items

If your budget can stretch and you are considering a stroller, make sure that it can be folded down and erected easily one handed. Occasionally it may be just one parent and baby travelling and so the parent needs to be able to either fold down or erect the stroller with one hand whilst holding baby with the other.

Stroller backpack combos score highly for comfort and practicality. They are incredibly convenient in airports, subways with stairs, and more importantly in buildings where strollers aren't permitted.

Baby carriers, slings and baby back packs. The great thing about baby carriers is that they spread the childs legs out at hip level, which is essential for the development of the hip, pelvis and spine.

Car seat stroller combos are another great idea. If you are aware that the parents to be have a car seat, you may be able to consider a stroller that accommodates infant car-seats made by popular manufacturers.

6. Keepsakes Gifts

Baby print frame kits, make sure that the one selected contains everything that the parents to be will need to create an impression of their baby's foot, hand or both and then elegantly display the impression for years to come.

Keepsake albums that capture the first year of baby's life. Make sure that the album selected have pages allotted for chronicling the pregnancy, birth story, family tree, baby's growth, first words, hand and footprints; and for mounting the birth certificate.

7. Gift baskets

If stuck for ideas then you cannot go wrong with a baby shower gift basket. Baby shower gift baskets come in a variety of sizes and prices. If possible try to get a baby shower gift basket that contains a mixture of essential and pretty keepsake items.

Essentials could for example include hooded bath blanket, receiving blanket, hangers, plush toy, bib, burp cloth, wrap bodysuit, baby bottle, sippy cup, feeding bowl, fork, knife, snack cup, bottle brush, nipple brush, comb, hair brush

Keepsake items could include a porcelain picture frame, a 12 month calendar with adorable stickers to help record milestones and events during baby's first year. Other suggestions include a baby print frame and birth certificate holder.