Home Gifts for baby shower hostesses?

[Kay]

My baby shower is coming up soon and I have a dilemma. In the past, I have seen the guest of honor at some showers give a gift (bottle of wine, spa stuff, etc.) to the party hostess. My problem is that technically there are now 5 hostesses for my shower! It started when 3 women from my office offered to throw me a shower. None of their houses were big enough for the party, so the head of my department very generously offered the use of her house. Then another friend volunteered to help, so they put her in charge of games. I don''t want to spend crazy sums buying gifts for 5 people (they are all professionals with expensive taste). What is the standard protocal for showers? Any suggestions? TIA!

 

[gailrmv]

I hosted a shower for a friend last year and she gave me a nice gift basket of Aveda products. I really appreciated it because I did not expect anything! I co-hosted another shower with several other friends and did not receive a gift, which was also fine. The most recent shower that I helped with (I was not even an official host, I just helped out) I was later given a very nice and unexpected thank you gift. Anyway, point is that I don't know if there is an official etiquette standard. I think if you give something high quality of a brand they like, but not crazy expensive to all 5 (i.e. a fancy candle, a nice lotion, gift set from Aveda with small sized products, etc) they will surely appreciate it. Congrats and have a fun shower!

 

[FireGoddess]

I think anything you do in the way of a thank you gift will be appreciated. It is a very nice gesture! I have hosted several baby showers and have never received a hostess gift, so I would have been thrilled no matter how inexpensive it was!! It''s the thought that counts!

 

[msb700]

I hosted a baby shower for a friend of mine and she gave me a bath/body lotion set which smelled absolutely heavenly..the box contained: Shower gel, lotion, soap, loofa and scrub...it was simple, but yet so sweet...

maybe u can do something similar?? 5 small bags of bath & body items?

 

[divergrrl]

My shower had 5 hostesses. I found these really cute books (all non-baby related) at Anthropologie (great resource for neat gifts in all price ranges) about what your shoes say about you. (all my friends love shoes) It was a great book. I also put in a cool mini lip gloss (bought a mini gloss set from MAC, stuck one in each bag) and then included some candy necklaces (because I liked the whimsy of it--you could do truffles if you wanted something more elegant). Oh, I also found some great post it notes at Franklin Covey one day -- all marked down from $10 to $1.99 that had a single letter on it, so I got them each one with their intitial on it. I didn''t go too crazy. I think the books were $15 each & then everything else was small stuff.

Thin scarves are hot for fall???

At the very least, a nice thank you note is always appreciated. One of my girlfriends blew me away with a $50 gift card to Z Gallerie when I threw hers.

 

[oobiecoo]

What about a small plant... maybe an african violet in a cute pot? Or a book like divergrrl mentioned. For me, nice bath products and candles are always appreciated. Maybe just a small box of Godiva chocolates with a "thank you" note? I''m sure they will appreciate anything you put though into!

 

[somethingshiny]

I think it''s a lovely idea to give a gift to the hostess, but in my opinion it is unnecessary. I''ve given several bridal and baby showers and I''ve never rec''d a gift. I never expected to. When I was given a baby shower, I just sent a personalized card and note to the hostesses.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

If someone hosted a shower for me (wedding or baby) I ALWAYS got them something. ALWAYS. In the past it has been bud vases with hand painted cards (those were a hit), cute photo albums, gift card, vera bradley wallets...etc...Since they were always jointly thrown I tried to spend about $20 per person. I figured it was the least I could do.

 

[appletini]

the last one I was hostess for the mom-to-be gave everyone the awesome williams-sonoma waffleweave microfiber bar towels and then a sesonal decorative kitchen towel. I have the WS towels and always rave about them b/c they are great when you have to hand wash/dry things. So I was her inspriation for the gift.

Another shower we got some monagrammed pj''s but that could get pricey.

I''ve also gotten a bath pillow, and a bath ball. Its the thought that counts.