byKelly Bailey
Fact-Checked by Haley Jena
| April 26, 2022
What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links.
Best Baby Shower Favors
Succulent Planters
T4U Succulent Planter Pots
$28
See Review
Hair Ties
Colebrook Designs “Oh Baby” Hair Ties
$30
See Review
Flower Vases
Hosley Glass Gold-Dipped Bottles
$13
See Review
Seed Gift Tags
Seed Bloom Wildflower Seed Gift Tags
$32
See Review
Candles
Mini Mason Jar Candles
$70
See Review
Hand Cream
Qungco Travel-Sized Hand Cream
$15
See Review
Lip Balm
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm
$9
See Review
Amazon
Cookie Bags
Searik Self-Adhesive Cookie Bags with Thank You Stickers
$16
See Review
Amazon
Popcorn Boxes
Big Dot of Happiness Baby Shower Popcorn Treat Boxes
$16
See Review
Target
Bottle Openers
Poppin’ Bottles Bottle Opener
$36
See Review
Nail Polish
OPI Nail Lacquer
$11
See Review
Amazon
Fun Soaps
Kate Aspen Sweet Honey & Fresh Flower Honeycomb Soap
$2
See Review
Honey Jars
DnayDkiy Mini Glass Honey Jars
$21
Candy Bar Wrappers
Baby Shower Candy Wrappers
$9
See Review
Garden Starters
Growneer Peat Pots
$15
See Review
Amazon
A Donation in Your Guests’ Names
Donation to the Loveland Foundation
$
See Review
Baby showers are so special: They’re a wonderful way to welcome future moms and dads into parenthood. They’re also a great opportunity to shower the parents-to-be with love and gifts to make their lives brighter and easier.
As a caring host, there are a few things you should remember to make it a party they won’t forget. You want your guests to have delicious food and something to keep everyone entertained, but you may also want to consider a thank-you gift that will make them feel special long after the shower is over.
Do you need to give guests baby shower favors?
While baby shower favors can be a great add-on to make your guests feel special, plenty of parents don’t opt for favors and that’s totally fine. For instance, while some moms in the What to Expect community say they’ve always taken home a small goodie after a baby shower, plenty of others have never. There areno hard-and-fast rules when it comes to baby shower favors, so feel free to do what you’re most comfortable with, whether that’s giving guests a gift to remember the occasion by or just focusing on the event itself without any favors.
Baby shower favor ideas
If you do choose to give loved ones a parting gift, there are plenty of creative and reasonable baby shower favor ideas out there to send your guests home smiling.
Whether you’re looking to DIY, add a personalized touch or keep things budget-friendly, there are so many options — and all are special. Here are a few baby shower favor ideas to consider:
- Food is always a hit. Cookies, cupcakes, bags of popcorn, chocolates or candy are all great, but keep in mind the dietary restrictions of your guests and consider options that everyone can enjoy.
- DIY options keep it cost effective. Think body scrubs, handmade soap, bouquets of flowers from the garden or mason jar candles.
- Personalized options work great for a smaller crowd. Costs can skyrocket quickly with personalized options, which is why custom gifts are generally better for more intimate events.
- Self-care items are always nice. Things like candles, face masks, lip balms or body butter are great ideas, for instance. Include a mix of scent options so everyone can go home with something they love.
No matter which idea you go with, your baby shower favors are sure to make a great addition to the celebration.
How we chose the best baby shower favor ideas
It can be hard to narrow down your baby shower favor selection, which is why we did the digging for you. We searched through the What to Expect community of millions of moms to hear what several other parents and parents-to-be had at their baby showers and what their guests loved. We analyzed dozens of discussion threads to narrow down which favor ideas were clear winners for tons of different families.
Read on for the best baby shower favor ideas.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
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Succulent Planters
T4U Succulent Planter Pots
Buying Options
Pros
- Easy to maintain
- double as event decor
Cons
- Somewhat small
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Succulents are super trendy right now, and for good reason: These hardy plants are gorgeous and easy to care for, even for someone without a green thumb. They also double as decor for the event, so it’s like a two-for-one deal! You can arrange them on tables or create a cute display near the door for guests to grab on their way out.
Visit your local nursery for the succulents and soil, and add thesesmall white hexagon succulent planter pots to your cart for an adorable baby shower favor. Want even more charm? Add these “Watch me grow” wood markers for an extra touch.
Community Reviews
Akferguson4
We did succulents! I wanted to give something that people can actually keep and have and not just throw away. Everyone loved them!
MollyWagz
We did succulents too and since it was a tea party, the ladies got to plant them in a teacup of their choice (collected from thrift stores). It was a cute gift but also a fun activity.
Sc22
I went to one where there was an activity to put a little succulent in a cute pot. They had an assortment of pots, succulents, some soil, rocks, etc. I kept it for years.
Hair Ties
Colebrook Designs “Oh Baby” Hair Ties
Buying Options
Pros
- Cute but not kitschy
- three designs available
Cons
- Not as valuable for those with shorter hair
Why We Love It
Elastic hair ties come in all sorts of prints, but we love thisset of 24 hair ties with gold and silver accents. They already come mounted on cardstock with a thank you message printed on the bottom, saving you time and energy. It’s a practical gift option that’s more affordable than many other favors, which is a huge win in our book. There are also pink and blue designs with baby feet if you want to keep the favors extra on-theme, but the neutral prints are a good way to go if you’d like your guests to use them again and again.
Flower Vases
Hosley Glass Gold-Dipped Bottles
Buying Options
Pros
- Great size for small bouquets
- easy for guests to take home
Cons
- Paint can scratch with time or washes
Why We Love It
Grab an array of flowers andthese vases from Amazon to create a DIY flower bar where guests can make their own floral arrangements to take home. It works as decor and a fun activity, plus each guest gets to take home something uniquely beautiful! We love these vases because of their size — at just over 5 inches in height, they’re perfect for a small bouquet. Not to mention, the gold-dip detail feels a bit more cheerful than a plain glass vase.
Seed Gift Tags
Seed Bloom Wildflower Seed Gift Tags
Buying Options
Pros
- Great for larger parties
- more affordable than other favor ideas
Cons
- Not great for those who don’t like gardening
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
TheseSeed Bloom Wildflower Seed Gift Tags are the quintessential spring shower favor. Write a thank you note on the tags and tell loved ones to plant them and watch their flowers grow. It’s environmentally friendly and spreads a little joy, all in one gift. (Win-win!) They also come with planting instruction slips and perfectly sized envelopes, making them easy for guests to grab at the end of the shower. Your guests should eventually see flowers like daisies, foxgloves, petunias, poppies and snapdragons, making this a gift that lasts. One What to Expect community parent pointed out this favor works particularly well for virtual baby showerssince they’re so easy to mail.
Community Reviews
Jeebs
I had my 1st in November of 2020 and it was all by mail because Covid was gnarly. My favor to everyone was some seed paper they could plant since it was easy to mail.
Candles
Mini Mason Jar Candles
Buying Options
Pros
- Crowd pleaser
- lots of ways to customize
Cons
- Scent could be stronger
- more expensive than other favors
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Just about everybody appreciates a good candle. These 4-ounce mason jar candles are sweet and simple, and would fit neatly in with any guest’s home decor. Thisset of 24 candles in particular offer a mild lavender scent and come with a 10 hour burn time. Customize it with a tag that says “Thanks for lighting up our lives!” or a simple “Thank you!” using round label stickers.
Community Reviews
jess_s0616
I’ve been to a shower where a small candle was given and wrapped in blue paper.
Hand Cream
Qungco Travel-Sized Hand Cream
Buying Options
Pros
- Variety of scents for guests to choose from
- portable container
Cons
- Not everyone loves botanical scents
Why We Love It
A travel-sized tube of lotion is a useful yet thoughtful baby shower favor idea. Thisset of 15 has a variety of scents, meaning guests can choose which scent sounds most appealing to them, from cherry blossom to green tea. They’re perfect for tossing into your bag, and guests will think of you and your baby every time they use it. Who wouldn’t appreciate a gift that’ll leave your mitts silky-soft and rejuvenated?
Lip Balm
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm
Buying Options
Amazon
Target
Walmart
Kohls
Old Navy
Pros
- Useful present
- four flavors per pack
Cons
- Smaller favor
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Another practical baby shower favor idea? Chapstick. You can never have too much lip balm — stick one in your purse, another in your car, one at your office desk, another tube in your bathroom — the list could go on.Burt’s Bees is one of the best, most universally loved picks on the market with its natural, refreshing scents. This value pack comes with four flavors, which is great for a shower since your guests can choose which one they’d like most. For bonus points, grab acustom label from Etsy to personalize the favor so your loved ones think of you and your sweet little one when they use it.
Community Reviews
Furmomplus
I did chapstick! Etsy has tons of labels, and then I bought chapstick on Amazon! Super cute, cheap and practical.
Cookie Bags
Searik Self-Adhesive Cookie Bags with Thank You Stickers
Buying Options
Pros
- Self-adhesive
- comes with thank you stickers
Cons
- Must consider guests’ dietary restrictions
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Baby showers and cookies go hand-in-hand. (They’re practically mandatory!) Get your loved ones together before the big day to whip up Grandma’s recipe, or try your own hand at creating something delicious. Once the sweet treats are ready, wrap the cookies in bags for your guests to take home. Thesepolka-dot bags are adorable and self-adhesive, which means you don’t have to fumble with twist ties or tape. Plus, they come with sweet thank you stickers to make them feel more official.
Community Reviews
Amamaaa
I had cookies for our favors for everyone in gift bags. I would definitely do the cookies cos guests can eat them…
Popcorn Boxes
Big Dot of Happiness Baby Shower Popcorn Treat Boxes
Buying Options
Pros
- Cute packaging
- showcases a widely loved snack food
Cons
- No lid means risk of popcorn spills
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
How sweet are these theater-esque popcorn boxes? Stop by your local farmers market or grocery store to pick up some kennel corn and hand these out to your guests on their way out. Add a sticker or tag that says“ready to pop” or“thanks for popping by” and they’re guaranteed to be a huge hit. What’s more, popcorn is a widely loved snack food that can transform for any shower theme. You could add pink or blue melting chocolate and edible glitter for that extra punch of pizzaz, or go for classic butter, caramel or white cheddar flavors. Better yet, allow your guests to pick and choose their own popcorn flavors to ensure they’ll love it!
Community Reviews
Lizzysloan
I made bags of popcorn kernels and added a tag that said thanks for popping by and included some caramels!
MsCareyBaby
We are doing a Babyque and I’m doing gourmet popcorn bags.
Bottle Openers
Poppin’ Bottles Bottle Opener
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
If you and your guests like to celebrate with a little bubbly, thisbaby-bottle-shaped opener is the perfect favor to send loved ones home with. “Poppin’ bottles” is a double entendre and sure to be a hit. On top of their clever design, these beautiful gold bottle openers come packed in a gift box already, making it a set-it-and-forget-it type of shower favor. (Yes, please!)
Community Reviews
Brianne007
We did bottle openers for our favors. They were shaped like baby bottles that said ‘poppin bottles’ on them. We went with something practical we thought people might get use out of and they were a hit.
Nail Polish
OPI Nail Lacquer
Buying Options
Amazon
Target
Walmart
Walgreens
Pros
- Lasts a long time
- guests can use it over and over
Cons
- Gets very expensive if you have a large group
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
If you’re a self care fan, nail polish is the perfect favor to celebrate your upcoming bundle of joy. You can pick a color — literally any color under the rainbow — to match yourbaby shower theme, or a beautiful neutral that everyone will enjoy. TheOPI brand is a solid choice thanks to its high-quality polish and sizable color selection. Add on a cute note that says“mani thanks”with a complementing ribbon and you’ve got yourself an adorableandpractical favor idea.
Community Reviews
KmR28
For our shower we made custom cookies with pink hued nail polishes saying ‘Mani thanks!’ As a play on words with manicures.
Fun Soaps
Kate Aspen Sweet Honey & Fresh Flower Honeycomb Soap
Buying Options
Pros
- Comes in baby-shower-themed wrapping
- nice self-care angle
Cons
- Small size
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
A fancy soap is a great way to elevate your self-care routine, making it a great baby shower favor idea.These soaps will be the buzz of the party with their cute honeycomb features and delightful honey scent. It comes pre-packaged with a cute sticker that says “Mommy to Bee!” but you can take it to the next level by pairing it with a card that says,“From our shower to yours.” If you want to make your favor even bigger, let guests pick a little loofah or lotion for a whole set.
Community Reviews
brandinickel
We did soaps! Everybody seemed to actually want 1, or multiple, we had brought extra.
Honey Jars
DnayDkiy Mini Glass Honey Jars
Buying Options
Pros
- All-inclusive set
- jar and dipper made with food-grade materials
- dishwasher-safe jars
Cons
- Glass jars are prone to breakage
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Loved ones will never forget your little honey is arriving soon when you send them home with a mini jar of honey! Thisset of 20 comes with everything you need for an adorable favor, including a 1.5 ounce glass jar, golden lid, wooden dipper, thank you tag, jute rope and a tiny bee charm. (Read: All you need is honey!)
They’ll look beautiful sitting on the table with a sign that says“A little honey is on the way.” These are extra-perfect for a bee-themed shower, a travel themed shower (tea and honey, anyone?) or a tea party shower.
Community Reviews
Countrymommy123
We had a tea party theme for my last and did vintage tea cups with little metal spoons flavored tea bags and lil jar of honey with a note that said baby Bartlett is brewing thank you for sharing in this amazing adventure take time to relax and enjoy as time always slips away
Candy Bar Wrappers
Baby Shower Candy Wrappers
Buying Options
Pros
- Doubles as cute party decor
- more affordable favor idea than others
Cons
- Adds job of wrapping candy
- only gender-neutral design is dinosaur-themed
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
A candy buffet is an awesome idea for a baby shower, especially if you have guests of many ages present. It also undergoes double (or rather, quadruple) duty as a baby shower activity, decor, food and favors. Throw inthese candy wrappers for extra customization and you've got yourself a party! All you need to do is pick up a bag of mini candy bars from the grocery store (or add them to your Amazon order) and fold them up in the adorable wrappers. Add them to a tray or clear glass bowl for guests to enjoy during the party or take home when the celebration ends.
Community Reviews
LeslieKate2281
We’re doing a candy bar with mesh bags. We have almost 75 people going so I figured I’d make it easy.
Garden Starters
Growneer Peat Pots
Buying Options
Pros
- Doubles as party activity
- great for warm-weather baby showers
Cons
- Not everyone is into gardening
- not great for city dwellers
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Gift your friends the gifts of green thumbs and their own vegetable gardens with these 4-inch peat pots. Just add soil and seeds, and they’ll have everything they need for a successful garden at home. Note what seeds are planted in each using one of the included labels, and add a sticker that says“watch me grow” for the perfect springtime baby shower favor. Even better? Save yourself some time and turn it into a fun shower activity where you and your guests plant the seeds together!
Community Reviews
BahDure
I called my baby ‘little seed’ before I knew if I had a boy or girl, so I put together favors with a flower pot and veggie/flower seeds.
A Donation in Your Guests’ Names
Donation to the Loveland Foundation
Buying Options
Pros
- Helps others
- may inspire others to donate as well
Cons
- Guests don’t receive an actual gift
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It
Giving back always feels good. Donating to a charity you love in lieu of favors will help you make a difference and even inspire your loved ones to donate. For instance, one What to Expect community parent-to-be made donations to&Mother and theLoveland Foundation on behalf of their baby shower guests. &Mother is dedicated to overcoming roadblocks that limit a woman’s choice to pursue and thrive in both her career and motherhood, while the Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for and bringing opportunity and healing to communities of color, especially for Black women and girls.
You can put out a sign letting your guests know where you donated to and encourage them to give back as well.
Community Reviews
kmgulish
We’re skipping the favors and games and opting to donate instead. We’re making a donation to AndMother and Loveland Foundation.
Written by Kelly Bailey
KellyBailey is a busy momma to #3under3 girls, including a set of twins. She lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband of five years and can often be found trying to find the balance between career woman, wife and mother. She's a fierce body positive advocate and a lover of all things beautiful.
From the What to Expect editorial team andHeidi Murkoff,author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading ourmedical review and editorial policy.
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