Baby Shower Favors: Ideas, Costs, and Whether to Bother

Shower favors are tradition, but are they necessary? Here's the honest take on baby shower party favors — including when to skip them and save your money.

The Truth About Favors

Let's be real: most party favors end up in the trash or forgotten in a drawer. A cheap candle with a "Thank you for showering baby with love" tag isn't adding value to anyone's life.

That said, thoughtful favors can be a lovely touch. The key is edible or actually useful.

Favors That Don't Get Thrown Away

Edible favors (always a hit):

• Homemade cookies in a bag with ribbon ($1–2 each)
• Macarons (splurge option, $3–4 each)
• Mini champagne bottles ($5–8 each)
• Locally roasted coffee bags ($3–5 each)
• Honey jars with custom labels ($2–4 each)
• Small succulents ($3–5 each)

Actually useful favors:

• Nice lip balm (Burt's Bees, $1.50 each)
• Hand sanitizer (post-2020, everyone appreciates this)
• Mini candles from a quality brand
• Seed packets ("Watch love grow")
• Tea bags in a cute package

Favors to Avoid

• Anything with the baby's name on it (useful to exactly one person)
• Cheap plastic items
• Bath bombs (they sit in drawers forever)
• Custom wine glasses or mugs
• Anything that requires explanation

Theme-Matched Favor Ideas

• Garden party: Seed packets, small succulents, or herb plants
• Tropical: Coconut lip balm, mini rum bottles, pineapple-shaped cookies
• Celestial: Star-shaped chocolates, moon-shaped cookies, small candles
• Woodland: Honey jars, acorn chocolates, pinecone decorations
• Minimalist: High-quality chocolate bars, simple candles

Should You Skip Favors Entirely?

Yes, if:

• Your budget is tight and the money is better spent on food
• You're having a small, casual gathering
• You genuinely can't think of something people would actually want

Nobody will judge a shower without favors. Put the $50–100 toward better food or decorations instead.

Budget Guide

• $1–2 per guest: Homemade cookies, seed packets, candy bags
• $3–5 per guest: Succulents, nice candles, mini champagne
• $5+ per guest: Custom items, high-end edibles, plants