Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

9 inexpensive baby shower favors people will actually like

Don't pick baby shower favors that will be tossed, try these instead

Two women playing a game at a baby shower
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

The first baby showers were held in the years following World War II. All the fun traditions like games and those baby shower favors started in the late 40s and early 50s to celebrate moms-to-be. Think of a baby shower favor as a thank you from the mom-to-be for the gift and for helping her celebrate and get ready for the baby’s arrival. Over the years, those little thank you gifts evolved into something bigger. Recently, baby shower favors have become cute posts for social media.

For the shower host, baby shower favors can be a source of stress. Coming up with baby shower favor ideas isn’t easy, especially if the shower host isn’t especially creative. Then there’s also the problem of cost. Coming up with inexpensive baby shower favor ideas people will like and use isn’t easy. There’s nothing worse than creating an awesome baby shower favor and then finding out later most guests tossed it. Not only does it mean you wasted your valuable time, but your money, too. Don’t get anxious over baby shower favors. We’ve got 10 budget-friendly baby shower favor ideas guests will enjoy and not trash.

Baby shower party favors on a table
Vidal Balielo Jr./Shutterstock

Baby shower favors

Just like putting together party favors for your child’s birthday party, baby shower favors should be something relatively simple that guests can use. A baby shower favor is a thank you gift for coming that most guests don’t take much notice of.

The tradition has been around for decades and is a thoughtful one. When thinking about baby shower favors, try to come up with small parting gifts that are edible or ones the guests or someone in their family can use. Here are some fun baby shower favor ideas that won’t break the bank or get tossed.

Cookies

A sweet treat is a tasty way to end any baby shower. It’s also a baby shower favor guests will definitely appreciate. Head to your local bakery or order baby shower cookies online. Have the cookies individually wrapped and tied off with a ribbon. The guests can take the cookies to go and enjoy a yummy treat later or pass it along to a family member. Either way, someone will eat it.

Plants

Houseplants have become all the rage and are actually a healthy addition to any home. While not everyone has a green thumb, succulents are relatively low maintenance. A succulent in a cute pot makes for a unique baby shower favor that guests can place on a windowsill at home or on a desk in the office. You can purchase succulents in bulk online and they are a budget-friendly option.

Mugs

If you have kids in the house, you know things break. A coffee or tea mug always comes in handy at the home or office and is a baby shower favor people will use. Look for mugs in bulk online. You can fill also the mugs with chocolate kisses for an added treat. These will most certainly not go to waste.

Water bottles

A water bottle is another great baby shower favor idea guests will appreciate. With sports, school, and work, water bottles are always in hot demand around the house. Water bottles are available online in bulk in an assortment of fun colors. Give the water bottle as is or dress up with candy inside.

Cozy socks

Who doesn’t enjoy snuggling up on the couch or under the covers with a cozy pair of socks on? A thoughtful baby shower favor that keeps on giving every time it gets used is a pair of snuggly socks. A pair of chenille socks is a perfect baby shower favor if the shower is during the winter. You can also go seasonal with socks depending on the time of year for the shower.

Mittens

Like warm socks, mittens tend to disappear when it’s time to use them. If you’re hosting a winter shower, mittens or gloves are another baby shower favor that keeps on giving. It’s easy to find mittens and gloves online in bulk at reasonable prices.

DIY candy jars

An easy and inexpensive baby shower party favor idea is to make your own candy jars. Fill 4-ounce Mason jars with M&M’s or Hershey kisses for a yummy and simple do-it-yourself baby shower favor. Dress up each Mason jar with ribbons in the shower’s color scheme. Once your guests or their family members eat the candies, they have a Mason jar to use in the house.

DIY candy boxes

Another budget-friendly baby shower favor idea is to make your own candy boxes. Take small cardboard candy boxes and assembly each one. Fill with candy or other treats. Then tie each box securely closed with ribbons matching the shower’s theme.

Cake pop rattles

If you have the time and love to bake, cake pop rattles make for an adorable and tasty baby shower party favor. The Cake Blog has a do-it-yourself recipe to create cake pop rattles for all your shower guests to take home. For those of us who aren’t creative bakers, you can order cake pop rattles from Esty or a local bakery.

Nail polish in a box for a baby shower favor
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Other inexpensive baby shower party favor ideas

If you’re looking for other baby shower party favors that are simple and budget-friendly, try these.

  • Popcorn in Mason jars
  • Flavored honey jars
  • Chocolate lollipops
  • Oreo sprinkle pops
  • Flavored tea bags in Mason jars
  • Go seasonal (small pumpkins for fall or snowflake ornaments in winter)
popcorn jar baby shower favors
Elsa Salinas Gomez/Pexels

Skip personalized baby shower favors

Personalized baby shower favors are one trend that’s a waste of money. People are less likely to use a baby shower favor like a water bottle or mug that has a name and date on it. No one is going to take a mug to the office that has “Susie’s Baby Shower” written on it. Even something useful, like coasters, is likely to get shoved in the junk drawer if they say, “Oh Baby.” So, resist the temptation to personalize baby party favors. Personalized baby favors typically end up pushed to the back of a cabinet or thrown away, which wastes money better spent on something else.

Cookies for baby shower favors
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Showers of happiness

Giving baby shower favors as a parting thank you gift to shower guests is a long-standing baby shower tradition. Baby shower favors don’t have to be extravagant or expensive. There are plenty of inexpensive baby shower favor ideas shower guests will like and actually use. Like birthday party favors, many baby shower favors get discarded.

Keep your baby shower favors simple. Edible items like cookies or cake pop rattles are always a hit. Try to avoid personalizing a travel cup or mug with a name or date. People are less likely to use a baby shower favor with a date or cutesy saying on it. With these budget-friendly baby shower favor ideas, you’re sure to find something the parents-to-be and the guests will enjoy.

Editors' Recommendations

Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
What is Juneteenth? How to talk to kids about this important holiday
What Juneteenth is and how to help kids understand the significance behind the holiday
Juneteenth sign in red, black, and green

What is Juneteenth? If you're not familiar with Juneteenth, the holiday is short for June 19 and commemorates the day when slavery finally came to an end in the U.S. The holiday originated in Texas and is considered the most enduring Black American celebration. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day. The first Juneteenth was celebrated in 1866, a year after troops entered Galveston, Texas. Federal troops finally arrived in Texas in 1865 to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation that had freed slaves more than two years earlier.

The first Juneteenth in Texas was marked with much jubilation, which is where the name Jubilee Day came from. Juneteenth celebrations included barbecues and music, along with prayer services and educational events. As Juneteenth became an annual event in Texas, the holiday began to spread to other states. Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1972, and it became a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden.

Read more
5 amazing Father’s Day activities every dad will want to do
Need an idea for Dad's Day? Try one of these cool Father's Day activities
Little girl and her dad celebrating

Father's Day might not drive up flower sales or be as huge a brunch draw to area restaurants for brunch like Mother's Day, but the day is a special commemoration as kids young and young at heart take the time to celebrate their dad. Instead of a tie or breakfast in bed to mark Father's Day, how about an activity that gets your dad out and doing something he loves?

There are a lot of cool Father's Day activities that can be a lot of fun for the whole family or just one-on-one with Dad for teens and grown kids. If you're looking for exciting things to do on Dad's Day, we've got some awesome ideas.

Read more
8 great Father’s Day gift ideas for every kind of dad
Shopping for awesome Father's Day gifts? Here's what dads love!
Little girl with dad holding a wrapped gift

If you're shopping for your dad or helping your kids shop for theirs, skip the tie and sock section because he doesn't need more of those. We've got awesome Father's Day gift ideas for those dads who seem to have everything. The key to finding the ideal Father's Day gift is to stick to those hobbies Dad loves best, whether it's sports, backyard grilling, or Star Wars collectibles. Pair that special gift with a cool outing, and you've got the perfect Father's Day present.

Best Father's Day gifts
Before heading out to the mall or going online to order a Father's Day gift, take a moment to think. Focus on what your dad really enjoys doing. Is he a weekend sports dad going to games or is he the resident grill master? We've got awesome Father's Day gifts for all types of super cool dads.
Baseball dad
If the dad you're shopping for is the ultimate baseball fan and has patiently stood on the sidelines or been watching you play since T-ball, a personalized baseball mount will be a treasured gift. The baseball-themed block mount is available in different sizes. All the kids' names can be printed on the baseballs. This will look great next to all of the kids' baseball trophies.
Soccer dad
Soccer dads have been on the sidelines through all kinds of weather. Make his time at games and those long tournament days extra cozy with an ALPHA CAMP sturdy canopy lounge chair. Dad will truly appreciate the sunshade on sunny and rainy days. This chair features a cup holder and is great for the beach and camping trips, too.
Star Wars dad
Okay, so May the Fourth has passed, and Darth Vader certainly would never have been voted Father of the Year, but you can celebrate your Star Wars-loving dad with a Darth Vader Father of the Year shirt. It's available in an array of colors and comes in different designs featuring the best father in the galaxy.
Hockey dad
If the dad you're shopping for faithfully gets up with your rink rats to get that early morning, late evening, or whenever there's ice time, he deserves something super cozy to keep himself warm in those subzero rinks. CQR's thermal fleece pullover is sure to keep Dad warm and snuggly all year long, whether he's coaching from the bench or watching behind the glass.
Tech dad
Is your dad online for the newest Apple devices? Okay, so you are shopping for a tech dad. Chances are he's got all the hot and trendy tech stuff hot off the presses. So, how about a binary clock from CafePress? Binary is the language computers speak, and wouldn't a binary clock make a unique gift for your technology-loving dad?
Grill master dad
You've been chopped! Well, no, not really, but if Dad is addicted to the Food Network and would love to have Guy Fieri on speed dial, then a grill-related gift is in order. The Cuisinart CGS-W13 set is sure to please. The set comes complete with 13 pieces, and the grilling tools feature wooden handles. Personalize the handles with a special message for Dad using paint markers.
Fisherman dad
Would Dad rather be fishing? Then he will thank you every time he uses Swiss Ascent's fishing multitool. This multipurpose tool works as a hook remover, scale scraper, tape measure, bait cutter, flashlight, knife, scissors, weight scale, bottle opener, and foldable stand. Now, how cool is that?
Outdoor dad
Does your dad love being in the great outdoors? Do most vacations revolve around a national park or a new hiking trail? Then, he will really love a copy of America's Best Day Hikes: Spectacular Single-Day Hikes Across the States. Be prepared though! He'll definitely be planning some fun family road trips after reading this.

Read more