The 5 best baby shower gifts to buy for a first-time mother

First-time moms especially need ample new baby items and clothing, so here are a number of wonderful gifts to offer.

If you know an expectant mom, you're probably thinking about what gifts to give her at her baby shower. Baby showers are great opportunities to let soon-to-be moms know that you're thinking of them, which also helps ease their way into motherhood. First-time moms especially need ample new baby items and clothing, so here are a number of wonderful gifts to offer.

Moms say that the gifts they appreciate most are either those that are practical and can help them in a pinch, or those that come from the heart. Choosing a gift with sentimental value can include anything from a special monogrammed baby blanket to a handmade baby hat. The new mother will be able to save these gifts and the baby will appreciate them once he or she grows up.

New moms are both excited and nervous about their soon-to-be-child. A great gift to give mom is a coupon for a day of pampering. You can take her out for a pedicure and a massage, take her to lunch, or even take her shopping — whatever her idea of a fun day might be.

Moms don't always know what they're going to need for the new baby, especially if they're having a child for the first time. For this reason, it can be a great idea to give them a gift certificate, so that they can purchase the items they may have forgotten to put on the registry. A $50 or $100 gift certificate to a baby store or megastore will definitely come in handy for a new mom.

Moms can never get enough diapers. Helping a new mom load up on supplies is helpful, as she'll likely be too busy and exhausted to get to the store frequently. Buying a few boxes of diapers will help take one chore off her plate for the first few weeks.

First-time moms will want to build a baby library so that they can read to their babies in the years to come. Pick a few of classic baby books or those that you loved as a child.