Baby shower favors are a thoughtful way to say thanks to guests for attending — and for showering the mom-to-be with gifts, of course. The only problem is that as the guest list grows, the total cost of favors can quickly skyrocket. The best way to get favors on the cheap is to DIY, and the good news is that no one has to be a skilled crafter to make favors that will be much appreciated.
The degree of DIYing for each of these favors is totally up to the host or hostess planning the shower. Some can be purchased fully assembled and just need a pretty sticker or tag. Others have some assembly required. A few are total DIY crafts that might require a bit of cribbing an online tutorial or recipe. Either way, any of us can create these homemade favors, whether we're super-crafty or just wannabe crafty. And they can be done at a super low cost.
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From potted succulents to homemade body scrubs — and don't forget a lot of tasty sweets — there's a baby shower favor idea for every mom-to-be here. Just make note of the event's style, theme and crowd, and choose the take-home trinket that'll be the best fit. We promise no folks will look down their noses at these DIY favors; in fact, they'll probably be impressed and will feel extra special taking home something personalized that was made just for them.
Mini Potted Succulents
Here, mini potted succulents are made extra adorable by adding colorful patterned paper wraps and tags.
DIY Bath Bombs
Making bath bombs is easier than many people think, and it's an extra personal gift for guests to take home.
Cake Pop Rattles
We promise making cake pops is not only for the pros, and dressing them up to look like rattles makes them perfectly themed for a baby shower favor.
'Ready to Pop' Popcorn Bags
For a cute nod to baby's upcoming arrival, fill favor bags with tasty popcorn (caramel- or chocolate-covered for a sweet-and-salty fix), and stick on cute stickers that say "Ready to pop!"
Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Chocolate-covered pretzels get dressed up for a baby shower with the addition of blue or pink swirls. Guests will love going home with this sweet treat.
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Mini Candy Jars
It doesn't get much simpler than this! Fill mini jars with cute candies, add a sweet ribbon, and voilà! Baby shower favors guests will adore.
Hand Sanitizer Bottles
Everyone could probably use an extra little bottle of hand sanitizer to pop in her purse or keep in her car. Personalize the bottles with custom labels that are simple to DIY (or purchase).
Custom Canned Candles
Canned candles can be accented with a blank sticker and personalized by anyone who knows how to do calligraphy (or who can print out pretty stickers on their computer).
Cones Filled With Sweets
A little creative packaging can make a favor feel extra special. Here, cone-shaped bags are filled with sweets to create beautiful gifts for baby shower guests.
'Baby Is Brewing' Tea Favors
We're suckers for plays on words, and so we're really hot for this idea (sorry — couldn't help it). Tuck teabags into a pretty box and then add a tag that says "Baby is brewing." Totally cute!
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Farm-Themed Tags
If the parents-to-be are planning a farm-themed nursery, carry the theme into the baby shower. Favors can be adorned with tags with sweet tractors and a punny message: "You're a Deere. Thanks for being here!"
Mini Champagne Bottles
Give guests mini champagne bottles they can pop open to celebrate when baby arrives. Dress them up with a patterned straw, sparkly ribbon, and label that says "About to Pop"!
Lip Balm Favors
Honey lip balm favors are a fun way to pamper guests and tell them "Thank you for bee-ing here."
DIY Lemon Scrub
A refreshing all-natural lemon scrub is a pinch to make. Just mix granulated sugar, coconut oil, and lemon oil or peel, and package it for guests in pretty glass jars. (Here's the how-to.)
Apple Pie Jam
Whip up a batch of apple pie jam, which is the perfect take-home treat for an autumn baby shower.
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Potted Flowers
A potted flower straight from a nursery becomes a pretty favor with the addition of some burlap, a tulle ribbon, and a decorative sign that says "Watch me grow."
Shea & Lavender Soaps
Handmade soap is totally doable! Here's a tutorial for how to make these gorgeous shea and lavender soaps.
Lip Balm Favors
How dreamy is this idea?! Round lip balms are attached to decorated cards, so that they look like moons in the sky. And they perfectly fit this baby shower's theme, "Love you to the moon and back," which is a line from the adorable children's book Guess How Much I Love You.
Cinnamon Buns
Love to bake? Whip up some sweet cinnamon buns for guests, and then box them up with a message that says "Bun in the oven" (of course)!
Cookie Favors
A simple (and totally delicious) cookie is sometimes all that's needed to tell guests "Thank you."
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Decorated Tea Lights
Here's an easy peasy baby shower party favor that's picture-perfect. Just a little washi tape gives simple, affordable tea lights tons of personality.
Origami Teddy Bears
Some origami paper and a good tutorial (here's one of many) is all that's needed to create cute origami teddy bears for guests. They can be packaged in bottles decorated with confetti and ribbon.
Cereal Bars
Cereal bars are super easy and cheap to make — and there's no baking required! Make them with a bit of honey, or use honey cereal, and then decorate each one with a nod to the "mommy to bee."
Gummy Bears
Baby shower favors don't have to be complicated. Nostalgic candies, such as gummy bears, are whimsical and remind guests of being a kid again.
Pink or Blue Nail Polish
Pink or blue nail polish makes a fun favor for any baby shower. If the mom-to-be doesn't know the baby's gender, or if the shower is also a gender reveal, offer both colors!
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Homemade Chamomile Salve
This chamomile and coconut oil salve is super soothing for skin and can be easily made in a Crock-Pot using just a few ingredients.
Colored Popcorn
Homemade popcorn can be easily colored to match the baby shower colors with a touch of food coloring (and maybe sweetened up with vanilla or melted white chocolate — yum).
Mini Strawberry Shortcakes
Pack mini strawberry shortcakes for a sweet treat to take home after a summer shower.
Lip Balm Snowflake
Apropos for a winter baby shower, these cards have lip balms attached and say, "Thank you snow much!"
Vanilla Coconut Sugar Scrub
This vanilla coconut sugar scrub is a cinch to make and super affordable too.
More from CafeMom: How can I host a baby shower without breaking the bank?
Finger & Toe Nail Polish
Nail polish baby shower favors can get gussied up with cute onesie tags that say "Here's to 10 little fingers and 10 little toes!"
Lemonade Mix
Summer baby shower? Wrap up a single serving packet of lemonade mix for each guest.
Trail Mix
For the outdoorsy mom-to-be's shower, little bags of trail mix make ideal favors.
Honey Jars
Jars of honey can be accented with pretty ribbon, wooden spreaders, and personalized labels to thank guests.
Brown Sugar Face Scrub
This homemade brown sugar scrub cleans pores, smells delicious, and can be made from everyday pantry staples. (Get the recipe here.)
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Succulent Place Card Holders
Pretty planted succulents can be packaged in takeout containers and do double duty as decorative place card holders.
Gold & Silver Oreos
Guests will feel extra lucky when they get to take home gold and silver "coins" — Oreos sprayed with metallic aerosol food coloring.
Painted Mini Flower Pots
Affordable mini flower pots are easy to paint and give to guests as one-of-a-kind baby shower favors. Perfect for a spring event!
Cupcakes Sprinkle with Love
Individually wrapped cupcakes "sprinkled with love" are a sweet send-off for baby shower (or sprinkle) guests.
Pampering Kits
Send each guest home with her very own pampering kit. These mason jars are filled with lip balm, hydrating face masks, body lotion and chocolate truffles.
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Lavender Sachets
Lavender sachets will smell amazing in guests' drawers or closets after the shower. Here, pretty stamped packaging makes them extra special.
S'mores Kit
Adding s'more love to the family? Fill a jar with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, so guests can make their own s'mores post-shower.
Bottles of Jelly Beans
Fill mini baby bottles with jelly beans for a shower favor that's totally baby-themed.
Nutter Butter Cookies
Nutter Butters in small pails tell guests "A little peanut is on her way."
Chocolate Kisses
We're sure every guest will ooh and aah after receiving "sweet thank-you kisses from the baby."
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Blue Velvet Cake in a Jar
Having a boy? How about some blue velvet cake in a jar? These individual desserts are easy for guests to take home and enjoy.
Mini Body Wash Bottles
Mini bottles of body wash can be decorated with ribbon and cute tags. Bonus points if the scent is "sweet pea!"
Candy Butterflies
Little bags of jelly beans — or another candy of choice — become butterflies with the clever placement of clothespins (with eyes and antennae, of course).
Baby-Making Potion
For shower guests with a light sense of humor, "baby-making potion" — aka a bottle of liquor — is sure to drum up a few laughs.
Light Bulb Filled With Sweets
The future is bright! Remind guests of that sentiment with light-bulb-shaped jars filled with sweets.
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