Quick answer: most Australians spend between $30 and $80 on a baby shower gift. Close friends and family usually land between $50 and $150, coworkers around $20 to $40, and group gifts typically total $80 to $150. There's no rule that says you have to hit a certain number. A thoughtful $30 gift beats an expensive one that ends up in the regift cupboard.
Here's a proper breakdown so you can stop second-guessing yourself and get back to the fun part.
How much to spend, by relationship
• Coworker or acquaintance: $20 to $40. A card and something small and thoughtful is plenty.
• Friend: $30 to $80. This is the most common range at Aussie baby showers.
• Close friend: $50 to $100. If you're stuck, around $80 is a safe, generous middle.
• Sister or close family: $100 to $150, or a bigger gift the parents have actually asked for.
• Group gift: $80 to $150 total, split between everyone chipping in.
One caveat: these are averages, not obligations. Baby showers are never meant to cause financial stress. Spend what feels right for you.
Does spending more mean a better gift?
Not really. Ask any mum what she still has from her baby shower five years on and it won't be the $90 bundle of size 000 onesies. Clothes get outgrown in weeks, nappies get used, and half the plush toys never leave the shelf.
The gifts that survive are the ones tied to a memory. Something that captures how impossibly small that baby was in the first weeks. That's why keepsake gifts punch well above their price tag, whatever your budget.
Baby shower gift ideas for every budget
Under $30
The Baby Inkless Print Kit ($29.95) is the one we'd grab every time. It captures baby's hand and footprints with no ink, no paint and no mess, using the same system trusted by Australian maternity hospitals. It fits in the hospital bag, so parents can take prints in those very first days when hands and feet are at their tiniest.
Around $50
Pair the Inkless Print Kit with an Ultrasound Scan Frame or a Baby Imprint Kit. Two small gifts that cover the whole journey, from first scan to first prints.
$75 to $100
The Baby Shower Gift Pack ($75) bundles the Inkless Print Kit, Baby Imprint Kit and Ultrasound Frame into one ready-to-wrap gift. Or go the DIY Baby Hands & Feet Casting Kit ($74.95), which creates 3D sculptures of baby's hands and feet, every wrinkle and dimple included.
Group gifts
If a few of you are chipping in, the Premium Baby Keepsake Gift Set or Newborn Memory Gift Set make an impressive gift without anyone spending big individually. You'll find the full range in our baby gift packs collection.
Is it okay to just give cash?
Completely fine, and always appreciated. New parents are staring down prams, car seats and cots, so cash goes where it's needed. If a plain envelope feels a bit impersonal, tuck it inside a card with a small keepsake so there's still something to unwrap.
Baby shower gift FAQs
Should I still send a gift if I can't attend?
It's a lovely gesture, but not compulsory. If you're close to the mum-to-be, sending a small gift or card shows you're thinking of her. Most online stores, ours included, can ship straight to her door anywhere in Australia.
How much should I spend for a second baby?
Less is normal. $30 to $60 is completely fine. Second babies inherit most of the big-ticket items, so a gift that's unique to this baby, like a print or casting kit, tends to mean more than more stuff.
Do I bring the gift to the shower or send it ahead?
Bring it along. Gift opening is usually part of the event in Australia. If you can't make it, posting it before the shower is the safest bet.
Baby Made is an Australian keepsake brand based in Melbourne. We've been helping families capture tiny hands and feet for over 20 years, and we ship Australia-wide, with free shipping on orders over $120.
