Love them or loathe them, we're all aware of gender reveal parties and probably been a guest at one. Well, now, it seems that we're facing the dilemma of whether or not to buy a gender reveal gift and searching for gender reveal gift ideas.
More and more parents-to-be are opting to host a celebration to announce their baby's gender, and more and more guests to bringing a gift along too.
But what is the proper etiquette for gender reveal party gift giving? What do you buy? And is it any different to a baby shower gift?
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What is a gender reveal party?
I'm sure most people know what a gender reveal party is by now. They've been around long enough. But just in case, here's our quick fire explainer on gender reveal parties.
They're bit of a 'does what it says on the tin' thing. It's a party where the parents-to-be, and/or their friends and family, find out if they're having a boy or a girl.
Sometimes the parents-to-be will already know and they're revealing the gender to friends and family, but the parents typically find out together. Over the years, the gender reveal itself has come in more extravagant and creative ways (which have often led to all manner of hilarious gender reveal fails), from hitting a baseball containing coloured powder to fireworks and even airplane flyovers!
What are gender reveal gifts?
Gift giving at a gender reveal party is a relatively new concept, but has become more common in recent years, especially in the US.
Some parents are choosing to have gender reveal parties instead of baby showers, because gender reveals are seen as something that involves both mum and dad, whereas a baby shower is typically female-only.
As a result, guests are sometimes choosing to give gifts at the gender reveal party instead. And that means they're often very similar to the type of gifts you'd give at a baby shower.
Gender reveal gifts for the baby
Whether it's a boy or a girl, the new addition is the star of the show and usually the main recipient of gender reveal party gifts.
Of course, when you're looking for gift ideas for a gender reveal party you don't yet know whether or not it's going to be a boy or a girl. So we've come up with plenty of great ideas regardless of baby's sex.
1. Baby blankets
The humble baby blankets have been a staple baby shower gift for generations. Whether it's an older relative knitting their own or an organic cotton blanket bought from an online, independent shop, baby blankets make wonderful gifts.
Check out our list of the best baby blankets on the link above, or if you're in a rush, click the button below to find our top pick from Burt's Bees!
No matter how much they stock up during pregnancy, new parents will be shocked at how quickly they run out of some of the baby essentials and accessories like nappy rash cream, wipes, nappies/diapers and more. A hamper containing a collection of some of the smaller, cheaper items makes for a super useful gift.
So, check out our baby essentials checklist, pick out a few items, get yourself a hamper, and you've got yourself a brilliant gender reveal party gift! Or, you could purchase a ready-made one...
The baby's not even here yet and we're thinking about teething!? It may sound silly, but plenty of people use baby shower or gender reveal gifts to buy something the baby will need a little later down the line.
Check out our guide on teething rings, or you could get a personalised one for that extra special touch.
A framed hand or footprint kit is definitely one of the most adorable gift ideas. Some use food-grade clay to create more of an imprint mould, while others use an inkless substance for a print.
5. Themed wall art
You will first need to check with the parents what theme they're going for in the nursery (and hope they're going for something gender neutral). Once you know the theme, a piece of framed wall art is a lovely, touching gift. And something that will be used for a long time.
These little wooden plaques are often used by parents to announce the birth of their baby on social media, or in private messages to family. You may not be able to get one personalised with the name, but the message 'I'm here' still makes for a beautiful gift.
7. Baby rattle
Rattles are usually one of the first real 'toys' that babies will play with. Sure, they might have a cuddly toy they hold onto, but in terms of play, it's usually the rattle that comes first. More often than not, they're super affordable and come in a range of materials, shape, sizes and designs to suit anyone.
Check our list of the 15 best baby rattles right here, or you can go right ahead and get out top pick on the button below.
8. Older baby clothes
As tempting as it can be to buy newborn clothing, a lot of people who attend a baby shower or gender reveal party will buy clothing or nightwear for a few months down the line - sizes 0-3 or 3-6 months. That's because the parents themselves tend to buy a lot of newborn stuff given all of their excitement.
It also helps to ease the financial burden when the mum is a few more months into her maternity leave, and money is a bit tighter.
9. Baby milestone cards
Image: Twin Stationery
Baby milestone cards help the parents to celebrate their growing baby, whether it's month-by-month or doing things like eating food for the first time, sitting up, saying their first words or walking.
There are some really beautifully designed choices in a whole host of themes that make for really lovely gifts, just the like one above from Twin Stationery.
So many parents absolutely love Ewan the Dream Sheep and swear it made a huge difference to their baby's sleep. It plays soothing sounds and a warm nightlight to comfort baby at night. It's also cry-activated, meaning it'll switch on when it hears little one's screams.
Gender reveal gifts for Mum
After the baby, the mother is usually the next focus of gifts and rightly so. She's the one carrying the baby and going through the physical and emotional struggle of pregnancy.
Gender reveal gifts for mums usually either centre around helping her to be more comfortable as pregnancy draws to a close (and it's most uncomfortable!), or helping her to adapt to life as a new mum.
Here are some of our favourite gender reveal party gift ideas for mums.
11. Pregnancy massage
If the mother has been struggling so far during the pregnancy, she'd definitely appreciate a pregnancy massage. These can be expensive, however, so perhaps one to club together with some other guests attending the party.
12. Post-birth snack hamper
The first few weeks of a new baby are tough. Sleepless nights and lots of crying. Plenty of mums look back and say that snacks saved them during the long nights of feeding their babies. Get some of her favourite snacks, get a hamper. A thoughtful yet practical gift.
(Just don't be surprised if she eats them way before the baby comes!)
13. Pregnancy pamper kit
Pregnancy is tough and uncomfortable, even at the best of times. A pamper kit - a box or hamper filled with relaxing bath products, candles, creams and more - could be exactly what she needs to take the weight off her shoulders (and back!).
14. The maternity dress she's had her eye on
It's no secret that maternity clothing can be quite pricey. And she may have been reluctant to make such a big purchase when she's only going to use for a few months. If you want to show go the extra mile and show your appreciation for her, why not get that one special maternity dress she spotted that balances style with practically!?
15. Post-birth relaxation kit
In reality, this is pretty much the same as the pregnancy pamper kit - a relaxing candle, relaxing bath goodies etc. But the distinction is that you're sure to be able to find one's tailored to this stage. The packaging might be focused on mums rather than mums-to-be, or it may contain a little card with a message telling her what an amazing job she's doing.
Gender reveal gifts for Dad
It's no secret that gift giving at gender reveal gifts or baby shower tends to focus on either the baby or the mother. Of course, the woman is carrying the baby and deserves everything she gets, but dads are parents-to-be, too, and there's no reason why we should be left out.
Here are some of our favourite thoughtful gifts for a man preparing for fatherhood.
16. You're Going To Be A Dad
You may be wondering why you'd both getting a pregnancy book for dads when they're already halfway through. But our bestselling pregnancy book You're Going To Be A Dad doesn't just cover the nine months of pregnancy. It also covers some of the essential information new parents need in the first year of their child's life.
Going from a man to a dad means something very special and important. It's the start of a long journey to becoming a dad joke master. And our book A Dad Joke A Day not only offers up a corny dad joke for every single day of the year, it looks at the science behind the dad joke and exactly what makes a joke a dad joke.
18. Books to read during pregnancy
Many dads-to-be find that reading to the bump helps them to bond with the baby during pregnancy. We've selected these as some of the best books to read to the bump.
19. Cargo shorts
If you want to use this opportunity to have a laugh and a joke with the dad-to-be, you could buy him some khaki cargo shorts.
If you're not already aware, there's a funny stereotype (particularly in the US) of dads wearing a polo top tucked into a pair of cargo shorts, white sweat socks and a pair of white New Balance trainers - if the sun is out, the outfit is usually completed by a baseball cap and sporty sunglasses.
A pair of cargo shorts is a great way to help him complete his transformation into 'dad'.
20. A baby carrier
This is one of the more expensive ones, so if you have the budget or want to club together to treat the dad-to-be, we can't think of a better gift than a baby carrier.
The reason this is such a special gift is because it promotes the dad bonding with his baby. New dads sometimes struggle to bond with their baby because they typically spend less time with them, whether it's because the mum is breastfeeding or because they have to return to work.
It's even more special if it's coming from a dad who has used a carrier himself and wants to pass on the joy to his friend or relative.
Make sure to check out our list of the best baby carriers for dads (and maybe have a few subtle conversations with him to see which one he might want!). Or you can find out top pick below.
21. Nappy/diaper bag for dads
Dads are more engaged in the day-to-day care of their children than ever before. And it starts from day one, getting stuck in with nappies and diapers - but there's just one problem. So many changing bags on the market are designed for women. Luckily, there are some great diaper bags for dads out there. And you can get straight to it and buy our top pick below.
22. Streaming subscription
If they don't currently have a streaming subscription, or there's on in particular they haven't got, a six-month subscription is a really useful gift. I watched loads of stuff in the first few weeks after my son was born, keeping me awake and alert in the dark hours of the night.
There's no shortage of books for babies and young children, and it's fair to say that a lot of them focus on the relationship between mother and child. But a book like My Daddy Is Amazing by Sabrina Moyle is a great way help him realise how important his role is and how much value he will bring to his child's life.
Gender reveal gifts for both parents
Some gifts aren't specifically for a mum or a dad, they're for both of them.
24. Babysitting voucher
Image: Witty Hearts
This is about more than a night off after months of no sleep, it's a show of support to reassure mum and dad that they're not alone on this journey. Of course, you can just tell them you'll babysit whenever they need, but a personalised physical voucher is a nice touch and serves as a constant reminder to them both later down the line.
25. Food/activity voucher
Some might consider a voucher a bit of a cop out gender reveal gift idea, but it's actually really lovely and works in two ways. Like the babysitting voucher, it gives the couple the opportunity to get away for a few hours and just be themselves rather than 'mum and dad'. Equally, it could be something they used before the baby comes. After all, spending quality time with your partner before the baby comes is very important!
26. Batch cooking vouchers
We always advise expectant parents to spend time batch cooking, and freezing, some meals in the final few weeks of pregnancy. Any parent will tell you how much of a life saver it was to be able to heat-up a homemade meal with fresh ingredients, rather than cooking themselves or ordering a takeaway.
Like with the babysitting offer, it doesn't necessarily need a physical voucher, but it makes for a nice touch.
27. Photo album
Photo albums make for really sweet gender reveal party gifts. With so much reliance on our phones, we usually have thousands of photos on our phone never to be looked at. A photo album not only encourages you to take plenty of photos as a new family, but also print them out.
Gender reveal gifts for siblings
Often the forgotten figure, siblings can find gender reveal parties overwhelming and confusing, especially if it's their first sibling.
They don't truly understand what it all means, they worry that their mum and dad won't have time to play with them when the baby arrives or that they'll love the baby more, or that their family with be more interested in the baby. They might worry they won't be a good big brother or sister - or that they don't even know how to be a big brother or sister. They don't understand why there's all this excitement when they're feeling so sad.
A little gift for them, especially one centred about becoming a sibling, could be just what they need.
28. Sibling books
There are some really lovely storybooks out there designed to help children understand what it means to have a new baby brother or sister, and to become a big brother or sister. We're big fans of 'You're the Biggest'.
This gift will not only help the first child to feel included in the celebration, but also help them to cope and prepare for the journey that's about the start.
29. 'Best big' clothing
There are tonnes of clothing products on the market spelling out 'best big brother' or 'best big sister'. It's definitely something he or she will wear with pride.
You can also get matching clothing sets, but it's probably best to wait until you know what the baby is going to be and what its name is going to be.
30. Sleepover voucher
If you're a close relative or family member, a sleepover voucher is a brilliant way of showing the child they can still have plenty of fun just for them. Maybe they could do with a night away from the baby's screaming and crying, a shopping trip or an afternoon playing video games.
FAQs
Do you have to bring a present to a gender reveal party?
A gender reveal gift is still a relatively new phenomenon, so some guests may not even know it's a question to be asked. Don't feel you have to bring a gender reveal party gift. But you could check to see what other guests are doing.
What type of present should I take to a gender reveal party?
If you do choose to buy a gender reveal party gift, think about what you'd get for a baby shower. Something cute for the baby, something to help the mother relax in the final few weeks and months before the birth, something thoughtful for the dad, or something for both parents to do after the birth.
If I get a gender reveal party gift, do I still need to get one for a baby shower?
It all depends if they're having a baby shower or not. Many parents are choosing to have a gender reveal party instead of a baby shower. If they are having both, I'm sure most parents wouldn't expect you to buy two gifts. But, if you're worried about being the only person not to bring a gift to both, maybe check with other guests in the lead-up.
