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The Etiquette: Do You Have to Bring a Baby Gift?
Well, you don’t have to do anything! All joking aside though, baby gifts are never required—baby gifts are optional, but definitely appreciated by the recipient. Think of it this way: A baby gift is a small token that shows you’re excited about the newest member of their family and are ready to support your loved one in any way possible. New parents have a lot on their minds—and have to purchase a lot, too! By bringing something for baby, you’re automatically easing this burden for them.
How Much to Spend on Baby Gifts
Ready for another ambiguous answer? There is no minimum when it comes to baby gifts. A baby gift is simply a kind gesture. But since this probably isn’t the answer you’re looking for, the information below can help demystify this dilemma a little bit.
When thinking about how much to spend on baby gifts, consider your own budget and your relationship to the family:
- If you want to give a coworker or a neighbor a baby gift but don’t know them very well, $10-20 is probably more than enough.
- If you’re shopping for your sister or best friend, you might stretch that to $20-50—budget permitting, of course.
Try to think beyond the monetary value of your gift. Something extremely useful—like a DIY nipple cream that cost you $5 to make or even the secondhand baby swing that saved your sanity when your child was a baby—may be more valuable than anything else you could buy.