How much to spend on baby shower gifts?

How much to spend on a baby shower present will be determined by two main factors. These are;

• Your relationship with the person — The closer you are to the parents to be the more likely you are to spend on them.
• Your Budget — Spend as much as you feel comfortable giving. Just because a blog or someone else says you should spend a certain amount doesn’t mean you have to.

Below we have given a guideline on how much to spend. Note, that these are in Australian dollars and are based on 2024 prices.

Friend

Below we have outlined rough pricing on how much you should spend on a friend based on your relationship with them

• Distant Friend — You might be wondering why you received an invoice at all. So if you are a distant friend, maybe an old school friend or someone from their past you are not expected to splash out. Budget between $20 and $40 for their baby shower present.

• Neighbours — A good amount to give as a neighbour would be between $30 and $50. Remember you will be seeing them regularly so you don’t want to give a cheap present. I’m sure the parents-to-be will be asking for lots of favours once the baby is born. So don’t feel too guilty about how much you spend.

• Friends of Partner — You may have been invited as your partner is a friend of the mum-to-be. In this case, spending between $30 and $50 is an acceptable amount.

• Friends — If you consider yourself a good friend of the couple who is about to have the baby expect to pay around $50 to $80.

• Close Friend — You might be part of their inner circle, who catch up regularly and spend lots of time together. In this case, you would buy a more expensive gift. Consider spending between $60 to $100 on something you know they will love.

• Group Gift — You and your friends might want to pool your money together and buy something big. Depending on how many people contribute to the gift, spending around $150 to $200 is fine.

Family member

Most people invite members of their families to the baby shower. So here is a guide on how much each of them should spend.

• Distant Relative — As a distant relative that doesn’t see the mum-to-be much. Don’t go overboard with a baby gift. Spending $20 to $40 is enough.

• Niece — If your niece has invited you to the baby shower expect to spend between $30 and $50 on her.

• Cousin — Like the niece, if your cousin has invited you spend $30 to $50 on a present for them.

• Aunty — Aunties are normally invited to baby showers, especially if they are close to the parents-to-be. So expect to pay a little more than a niece or cousin, around the $40 to $60 mark. We have some gift ideas from Aunties for you to explore.

• Sister in Law — Depending on the relationship you have with the sister in law you are expected to buy a good gift. As a sister in law, you will have a fair bit to do with the baby. Therefore spending between $50 and $70 is an appropriate value to spend on a sister-in-law baby gift.

• Grandmother —Grandparents will be a huge part of the baby’s life. So don’t worry too much about how much you spend but a good amount is between $60 to $90. Here we have some baby gift ideas from grandparents which you might like.

• Mother-in-Law — Like grandparents, a mother-in-law will be a big part of the baby’s life. Thus expectations may be a little higher. Spending between $90 and $130 is enough.

• Sister — As a sister, and soon to be Auntie you will want to spoil your niece or nephew. And rightly so. You will be a huge part of the baby’s development and life. And when it comes to buying a baby shower present expect to pay around $100 to $150.

Work Colleague

The mum to be spends lots of time at work and builds lifelong friendships. So it’s common for work colleagues to be invited to the baby shower. It is also customary for the employer to buy a maternity leave gift for the mum or newborn gift on the baby’s arrival. Below we have outlined what you can expect to pay.

• Coworker — It is quite common for coworkers to be invited to baby showers. So it’s nice to buy a small gift and expect to spend between $20-$40.

• Employee — You may be tasked with buying the gift for an employee’s baby shower. And you will most likely be spending the company’s money. It’s best to check how much the manager wants to spend but a figure between $130 and $150 is common.

• Client — If a client of yours has invited you to the shower. Or if they have recently had a new baby it’s nice to celebrate with a gift. Your business doesn’t want to come off looking cheap. So expect to spend between $130 and $150 for a client’s baby gift.

Now you have decided how much you want to spend on a baby shower gift it’s time to choose the perfect present. We have a guide on 17 practical baby shower present ideas that will help you decide. I hope these suggestions have been helpful. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me.

This article was written by Luisa Figueroa. She is the owner, designer and maker of the My Little Love Heart range of baby gifts and accessories. She has been working within the fashion industry for over 15 years and specialising in baby accessories for the last 7.