Baby showers are a time for great celebration! When throwing a baby shower, receiving gifts is a great way to head into parenthood. That being said, not all parents-to-be need baby shower gifts. They might not have the space to keep a lot of new items in their home or have enough stuff for the first few months of parenthood.
If that’s the case a gift card is in order! Gift cards make phenomenal gifts, and there are lots of recurring expenses associated with raising a baby. We assure you that parents love seeing gift cards pile up in the months before childbirth and they will thank you with a big smile.
For the parents, is it okay to ask for gift cards as a baby shower gift? Absolutely! This article will cover the right way to ask for gift cards before going into some of the best gift cards for baby showers.
Before we get into this article, let’s talk about Gift Card Granny — your one-stop-shop for gift cards for baby showers.
Earn Cash Back On Gift Cards for a Baby Shower with Gift Card Granny
As a quick reminder, we’ve pointed out all of the retailers on this list that you can find on Gift Card Granny. Gift Card Granny makes it easy to buy and send customized gift cards online and earn cash back while you do. Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands, including Visa gift cards, Mastercard gift cards, and gift cards for many of the awesome spots on this list.
Now that we’re on the same page let’s jump right into our list!
How to Ask for a Gift Card in for Baby Shower
While traditional etiquette states that asking for gift cards or other monetary gifts for a baby shower isn’t proper, we think that traditional etiquette is a little out-of-touch. There are many circ*mstances where the absolute best gift for parents is a gift card or other monetary donation. Gift cards for parents-to-be ensure that all the gifts they receive are put to their best use.
All the gifts given at a baby shower help the parents prepare for their baby. While some parents have specific items they can list for purchase, others are more or less set at the moment. Those parents benefit the most from a stockpile of gift cards to go out and buy new diapers, food, clothes, and toys.
As a Parent it is Up to You
When you throw a baby shower, do not be ashamed to ask for the gifts that are best for you. Cute clothes and a bin brimming with toys are great, but if that’s not what you need it is absolutely okay to ask for something more pragmatic. Gift cards are excellent choices for the recurring expenses of raising a child. As you get closer and closer to the due date or already have a child you will have a perfect idea about what will best help your lives. Your guests, likely family and close friends, will understand any request for a gift and happily provide all the support they can.
Can You Ask for a Gift Card?
Absolutely! Even though it is not the traditional way to host a baby shower it is a very acceptable way to ask for gifts and all your guests should understand. The baby shower is all about celebrating the new baby, and your friends and family should know that the celebration starts with them helping you out in the best way they can. The flexibility of gift cards make them fantastic gifts for any parents.
The Right Way to Ask for Gift Cards
While there is nothing wrong with filling your baby shower registry with gift cards, know that some people may be a bit put out, especially if they were really excited about getting your baby an outfit, a toy, or a book. There are two ways to go about this. One is to word it in a way that serves as a simple explanation as to why you want the gift cards, and another is to leave open the possibility for more traditional gifts.
Honesty is the Best Policy
You don’t want to undersell the gifts you want for your baby shower. Being left with stuff you can’t use or don’t want will only make things worse. If you feel comfortable, tell your guests straight away that you would rather gift cards or other monetary donations to your cause. If you do this, we recommend being upfront about the reasoning behind your decision, as it will sooth any people particularly sold on the idea of getting you a physical gift. There’s no need to go into great detail, but touching on the fact that money will serve you better at this time or that you already have a lot of the stuff you’ll need initially and are running low on space or something along those lines goes a long way. We’d wager that all your guests want to help you, and part of that is finding you the right gift.
A Few Gifts cannot Hurt
If there are a few guests whom you know want to get you gift-gifts you can talk to them individually and let them purchase a lovely gift for you. As long as the majority of your guests are coming with gift cards, the last few being regular gifts can go a long way to sooth the few guests who might really want to give you a gift. Maybe they have a favorite book or a onesie that they simply cannot go without giving to you.
Example Ways to Word the Invitation
When you ask for gift cards you want to be succinct and to the point. Here are a few templates to ask for gift cards for a baby shower.
“We are beyond excited to welcome our baby… we already have everything we need for the first period together, so no need to bring a gift. Gift cards or other monetary donations are welcome but not required. See you there!”
“We hope to see you at our baby shower! We are beyond excited and have purchased all we need for the newborn and your big smiles are the only gift necessary at our baby shower. Any contribution to our supply fund is appreciated but not required.”
There are many possibilities for wording specific to each guest or your situation, but you want to keep the line open so they can buy gift cards but the specific amount remains unspecified.
5 Best Gift Cards for Baby Shower
1. Amazon
A staple for parents
No surprise here. AnAmazon gift card is always a safe choice for parents because there’s always something they need to be delivered. Amazon is a great place for all sorts of miscellaneous materials with which to babyproof the house. If you are still in babyproofing mode, the last few months are a great time to grab all the assorted items you need from Amazon. Foam corners, kid locks, gates, and much more are available on Amazon.
Gift cards from Amazon are something you can be absolutely certain will go towards something that helps you with your new child.
2. Target
There are baby supplies aplenty at this nationwide superstore
ATarget gift card fulfills a similar niche as an Amazon one with the added ability to shop in-store. If you like to shop, this could be a great opportunity to take a little trip and walk through the store grabbing the necessary supplies in the future.
Gift cards like Target and Amazon gift cards are amazing for new parents because there are so many items that they need constantly, like diapers, baby food, clothes, and much more. A gift card that parents can spend on one of these consumable staples is always a welcome sight as it lets them get a bit of a break in their monthly budgeting. Gift cards specifically are great because you might already have enough diapers for the near future. Parents will not lose a gift card as good as this, so if they wait a few months before spending the card that’s okay!
Unfortunately, you can’t get a Target gift card on Gift Card Granny quite yet, but check back soon! We’re always adding more retailers.
3. Old Navy
A gift card for new clothes
Buy an Old Navy gift card
Your new kid will always need new clothes. While it is likely that you’ve gotten a lot of clothes from friends and family for the first few months, a few Old Navy gift cards in your pocket is excellent for any time you need either a specific piece of clothing or to stock up for their next growth period. For years and years parents have a constant need for gift cards. We assure you that you will not regret having Old Navy gift cards.
Buy an Old Navy gift card
4. Prepaid Visa Gift Card
New parents will never have enough gift cards
Buy a Visa gift card
A prepaid Visa gift card is an excellent gift for a baby shower because it lets their parents take it and use it however they want. This card is especially good if you are entirely uncertain about which avenue to take. Do they need clothing or toys? Food or diapers? With a Visa gift card, they’ve got it all! These gift cards are a safe bet to ensure that they put the gift card towards something immediately and nullify the risk that it sits around for months and months until they forget about it.
Parents are busy. The last few months before childbirth are filled with preparation, and the months after are filled with baby care. You don’t want to get parents-to-be a gift card that takes a lot of effort for them to spend. There are a tremendous amount of gift cards out in the world that have never had the chance to get used because they weren’t able to be used right away. A Visa gift card takes that risk and removes it completely!
Buy a Visa gift card
5. Bed Bath and Beyond
An excellent gift card for parents and their babies
Bed Bath and Beyond has a huge selection of items for daily use or decoration around their home. Getting the baby’s parents a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond is perfect due to the wide variety of items the store has for sale. With in-store and online shopping, a gift card here opens up a ton of doors for them to pick out the right item and ease the financial burden of those staple purchases just a little.
This lets parents take the time to find some items that they really want and rest easy knowing that they can slice a chunk of the total cost off due to your gift card. Babies need a lot of items that parents wouldn’t have on hand, and a gift card to a local store that’s stocked with those sorts of items is a great way to show your appreciation to the new parents.
How to Ask for Gift Cards for Baby Shower — Final Thoughts
While your guests should not be weird about seeing a gift card request for your baby shower we absolutely understand if you don’t want to reference that in the invitation. The final wording, and how you reference your desire for gift cards instead of more supplies, is all up to you. We hope that this article has assisted in your wish to ask for gift cards for your baby shower and given you some ideas as to the best stores for you.
