Not really useful, but it was the best.

My grandma made a little afgan for my daughter when she was born. I never really used it - more because it has so much sentimental value. She's made one for every great grandchild - and finally I had one for my own.

My mother-in-law gave us a pewter cross with a figurine of a little girl praying. It's identical to the the ones my husband (little boy figurine, of course) and his sister had growing up. They loved theirs and the crosses stayed in their rooms until they were married. It's sweet to have something for our little one that meant so much to my husband and his family.

My best friend Amy who lived way too far away gave me a hand-written on construction paper book called, "Mommying 101." It pretty much covered all the stuff that no one else would tell you. Told you what to do when Daddy decided to give the bath and gave it "wrong." Reassured you that yes, your nipples might actually bleed in the early goings of breastfeeding. Told you it was OK to hand the baby off to someone and lock yourself in your room and scream.

Of course it came with her promise that she would be there by phone day or night and she was.

My grandmother knit sweaters, blankets, hats, booties & other little items for my boys. The boys are two now & she is still knitting them sweaters, scarves, & other items. I will cherish those forever.
The second best gift (at least for a mother of multiples) was DIAPERS. Not very sentimental but very much appreciated.

We got a beautiful glass piggy bank with our son. I haven't put it out yet - I'm afraid it will get broken so I keep it in the closet for now. We got several crocheted blankets. I think the ones that are the most meaningful now is one I got with our first, it wasn't crocheted, just sown but I've used it with each one and it's still in perfect condition.

Sarah ~ mother of 5, blessed wife of 9 years

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Biggest tear-jerker shower gift I've seen:
Scrapbook of baby pics of all family members (however far back you want to/are able to go) related to the baby. Entitled "Who Do I Look Like?"... complete with a decorated page with a spot open to put the baby's pic once he/she is born. A crowd-pleaser for sure!

i love making big basket full of useful goodies... it usually doesn't cost much and looks amazing. i like to wrap :)

I haven't had a baby shower yet. I hope I get some great things!

The handmade/ homemade baby shower gifts are better. For me, I like to bring a show stopper! A beautiful tower of gifts. To make this your self is so much more economical and personal! I cover shoe boxes with pink or blue fabric and fill with awesome gifts. I’m Buying Baby Gifts, Stack them like a wedding cake. Then i wrap the entire thing in tulle from the bottom up. A giant bow on top cascading down with little gifts popping out here and there. All eyes on your gift without spending months knitting another blanket. They love it!

Practical gifts can also be sentimental if they are put together in the right way. For example gift hampers are big enough to contain a wide range of useful gifts. The big advantage of these is the thought that goes into them. They have gifts for the new mother to enjoy, such as body lotion and even some bubbly, as well as gifts for baby – an outfit and a teddy for example. Offering gifts to both individuals in a single basket will be a real hit with many new mums, why is why this type of gift is always a winner.