Gender Reveal Party Etiquette: What (& What Not) to Bring as a Present

Co-authored by Kayla Tschumper

Last Updated: November 7, 2024 References

You’ve just been invited to a gender reveal party, and it’s your first time. If you’re wondering if you should bring a gift, then rest assured that the decision is entirely up to you! A gender reveal party is all about the celebration, which means that the only gift expected of you is to show up ready to celebrate the reveal! However, it’s not uncommon to bring a gift, and the soon-to-be parents will be very appreciative of this gesture. If you want to bring something, we have compiled the best suggestions for what is acceptable to bring to a gender reveal party.

1

Maternity Clothes

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If you’re friends with the mom, then you know her style. Get a color you know she likes, and pick something that looks comfortable. Both of these pieces are effortless and universally flattering!

2

Fuzzy Slippers

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Mom will love a pair of cozy, warm fuzzy slippers. A pregnant woman is carrying a heavy load, and will appreciate any effort to lessen that. Consider getting her something that will provide her comfort, or something that she will be able to use during her pregnancy.
- Pregnancy can cause foot swelling and pain, so a comfortable pair of slippers will come in handy. ^{[1]
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3

Self Care Products

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Pick out a skin care set or some soothing bath salts to help with relaxation. Self care is especially important during pregnancy, so pick something soothing and high quality.
- If you want to get bath salts or a bath bomb, get something containing epsom salt that’s either all-natural, or specifically designated for pregnancy. Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is believed to help relieve some pregnancy aches and pains. ^{[2]
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4

Tactical Baby Carrier

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Pick something out that looks secure, and will allow them to move around hands-free with a baby on board. You’re looking for practicality and safety here, but get one that looks cute!

5

Gender-Neutral Baby Clothes

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Get the baby gender neutral clothing, like a jumpsuit, so that they’ll wear it no matter what. It is a better idea to get the parents something at a gender reveal party, since the baby shower has yet to happen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the baby something! A jumpsuit is always a great and safe choice.
- Orange, yellow, white, brown, and green are all great gender neutral colors to choose from. ^{[3]
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6

Wooden Toys

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Wooden toys like a rattle are effortless, practical, and trendy gifts. Baby's won’t care if their toys are gendered, but their parents might. Get a simple wooden toy; they look nice, and the color is definitely gender neutral! Wooden rattles make great baby toys because they are stimulating and safe. Babies like to put everything in their mouth, and well made wood is generally thought to be safer than plastic for this. ^{[4]
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- A set of wooden building blocks is another terrific option.

7

Matching Pajama Sets

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Get the soon-to-be parents something cute and matching like pajamas, or oversize t-shirts. These parents are about to be a power team, so get them something to prove it. If you want, you could throw in an extra matching item for the baby for extra cuteness levels.
- Look for something that will be worn around the house, since they likely won’t be going out in public wearing matching outfits very often.
- Matching wine glasses or coffee mugs can make for a similarly fantastic and easy gift.

8

Sonogram Frame

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These little frames can hold three pictures, one for each trimester!^{[5]
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9

Baby Hand Casting Kit

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These unique kits are easy to use, and will allow the parents to cast an adorable mold of their babies hands and feet.

10

Delicious Food

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If the party is held outdoors or at a house, bring a food item. These celebrations are usually just a good reason to hang out with friends and eat good food. If you’re a good cook, bring a dish you prepared. If you don’t trust your cooking, or if you just don’t have the time to make something, then pick up some hors d'oeuvres at the supermarket.
- Bring snacks and finger food. The host will likely have something planned as a main course, so it’s best to bring snacks!
- Bring something you know the hosts enjoy. If you don’t know their tastes, then bring something that’s easy on the palette and you think everyone will enjoy.

11

Gift Cards

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The soon-to-be parents can never have too many gift cards. Consider getting them a gift card to Amazon, or to a local shop. If you can’t decide on what to get them, a gift card will let them decide for themselves! It can feel a little awkward to gift straight up cash, so instead pick a specific store for them to shop at.
- Support local businesses by buying a gift card for a store in your hometown. This makes for a great gift, since it helps local businesses and the new parents at the same time.
- An Amazon gift card is a good option because it lets the new parents pick out pretty much anything they want.

12

Food Delivery Subscriptions

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A food delivery subscription is a great idea for busy parents. There is a lot to do during and after pregnancy, so not having to worry about cooking food can reduce a lot of that stress. Make sure to get something that can be redeemed/saved for the final trimester, or for after the baby has been born, since those are the most difficult times.
- Get a giftcard to a food ordering and delivery service, like Uber Eats or Grubhub. These can be redeemed at any time, so they are a good option.
- Support local restaurants directly by getting a gift card to one nearby that delivers.
- Get a subscription to a pre-prepped meal kit delivery service. These are great because there are so many healthy options to choose from.

13

Clean-Up Help

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Gender reveal parties can be messy, so offer to help clean up. Whether its a smoke bomb, confetti, silly string, or glitter, something is probably going to explode and get all over the place. It’s part of the fun, but a pain to clean up. Tell the hosts that you are going to help them clean up when you greet them, and even if they tell you not to worry about it, they’ll appreciate the gesture.
- If the party is happening somewhere in nature, like a public park, consider bringing your own trash bags for clean-up. The hosts have a lot to plan and may have forgotten, and you don’t want to litter confetti and glitter everywhere.

14

Avoid Alcohol and Gendered Clothing

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Don’t worry, there will be a baby shower and plenty of time to buy gender-specific baby clothes. You should also avoid gifting the mom alcohol. Usually something like a bottle of champagne is a great and easy gift, but remember that the mom is sober for the next half year or more, so dangling a delicious bottle of wine in front of her may feel like torture.

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Tips

Bring a guest only if it feels appropriate. Gender reveal parties are often more intimate events, so only bring a guest if the invitation specifies a “plus-one.” If it doesn’t, then consider reaching out ahead of time to the hosts, or just come alone.

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