25 Gifts for a "Baby Shower in a Box" Delivery Package

One of life's happiest occasions is a baby shower, a gathering of dear friends and family members to bestow blankets, booties, toys, and tiny sweaters on an expectant mother so she'll be prepared when her little one arrives. But what if she doesn't live nearby? Or, in light of the current coronavirus pandemic, guests don't feel comfortable gathering together right now. Even if you can't be there in person, you can still celebrate the joyous event.

Enter the themed "shower in a box"—a gift idea devised by our editors for parents-to-be who live far away. Mail a carton loaded with toys, nursery décor, keepsakes, modern baby staples, cute party things, and thoughtful treats for the mom. The idea is even more delightful when there's a theme. In ours, you'll find classic ones like graphic alphabet letters and safari animals. If you like, invite other would-be shower guests to participate virtually. With all the supplies on hand—colorful tissue paper, gift tags, and so on—everyone can have a hand in the wrapping.

The rest of the gifts can be wrapped in tissue paper. For baby, we've included a romper, crocheted booties, striped bib, and toys; for Mom, a few keepsakes to decorate the nursery: framed artwork, a crib mobile, scrapbook, and pretty quilt for hanging. Pack everything in a sturdy cardboard carton as snugly as possible, soft gifts next to breakable ones; this will pad the contents and keep them from moving during shipping. Include a note explaining the premise. Top it all off with a bright helium-filled Mylar balloon to float up and out of the box—like magic—when she opens the package.

Surprise! Fill a balloon with helium and when the Mama-to-be opens her package, it will get her into the party spirits.

Shop Now: Orbz Sphere Balloon, $6, bonjourfete.com.

Welcome home her newest bundle of joy with a thoughtful greeting card. This Rifle Paper Co. card's blank interior lets your handwritten note take center stage.

Shop Now: Rifle Paper Co. "Welcome Little One" Card, $5, riflepaperco.com.

This capsule set makes the perfect gift. It includes four beautiful, yet practical essentials which have been crafted from a blend of bamboo and organic cotton fabric—making it ideal for a newborn's sensitive skin.

Shop Now: MORI "Welcome to the World" Newborn Gift Set, $126, thetot.com.

What could be more charming than a baby's bonnet? With a tie at the neck and scalloped ruffle trim, its sweet details are finely made by skilled craftspeople in North Texas.

Shop Now: Little Goodall Linen Scallop Bonnet in Shell Pink, $33, littlegoodall.com.

This accessory is safe as it is stylish—it's made of BPA-free silicone and organic beach wood, finished in organic beeswax and organic coconut oil. It doubles as a rattle that shakes with a calming sound to soothe the little babe.

Shop Now: Chewable Charm Hayes Silicone + Wood Teether Ring, in Succulent, $25, chewablecharm.com.

It's the album Mom will wish she had when the baby's born, and can't wait to fill out as they grow. Thoughtful details include envelopes for loose keepsakes, a place for "A letter to my baby", month to month milestones, "The way we told everyone you were coming" and "Things I don't want to forget."

Shop Now: Sugar Paper The Baby Book, in Flax, $90, sugarpaper.com.

This vintage-inspired quilt is made with hand-embroidered stitching and the iconic Liberty fabric, one of of our favorites. In the package, it will provide cushioning when it's folded over the gifts. And once opened, it's the perfect thickness to keep the little one dreaming comfortably or for using as a play mat.

Shop Now: Coco & Wolf Liberty Fabric Heirloom Quilt, in Betsy Blue, Rose Quartz, & Capel Turquoise, $145, thetot.com.

With its modern design and neutral palette, this whimsical mobile is an alluring addition to any nursery. It will encourage Baby to develop their hand eye coordination by inviting them to reach and grasp for engaging objects within their view.

Shop Now: Pehr "Surprise Stork" Mini Hoop Mobile, $25, shoppehr.com.

This charming character is heirloom quality, embroidered on 100 percent linen fabric and comes with a small slingshot accessory. Each stuffed toy begins as an original pencil drawing by Coral & Tusk's founder Stephanie Housley.

Shop Now: Coral & Tusk Bear Pocket Doll, $70, coralandtusk.com.

Mailing a triple-tiered baked dessert may not be a possibility, but you can send her everything she needs to make one special. One-by-one, these toppers decorate her cake.

Shop Now: Meri Meri Safari Animals Cupcake Kit, $14, shopmerimeri.com.

This organic cotton is super soft for little ones to play every day, with sweet pointelle stitching and easy snaps for effortless changes.

Shop Now: Hanna Andersson Romper in Organic Cotton, in Sea Salt Pointelle, $32, hannaandersson.com.

These hand-crocheted booties are the precious gift. Sweet details—doe-eyed and rosy-cheeked—make this pair whimsical, comfy, and cute as can be.

Shop Now: Albetta Crochet Deer Booties, $28, maisonette.com.

You just can't go wrong with a zoo concept: Kids adore animals, and the gift possibilities—in these books for their first library—are almost endless.

Shop Now: Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?, $5.89, target.com; I Want My Hat Back, $9, barnesandnoble.com; Creature, $23, amazon.com; Little Owl Lost, $8, barnesandnoble.com; I Am a Bunny, $7, amazon.com.

To stimulate the baby's creativity and imagination, this starter set contains 40 wooden blocks in 6 shapes (18 pastel color pieces and 22 natural wood color pieces). They'll practice stacking the pieces one atop the other and, eventually, build their own worlds.

Shop Now: Plan Toys 40-Piece Block Set, $30, amazon.com.

Gift Mom the cleanest, gentlest, most moisturizing products to smoothly transition through those early months. This set includes hypoallergenic products baby shampoo and wash, lotion, a travel-sized baby oil, and wipes—plus a box for holding all those bottles.

Shop Now: Pipette Welcome Baby Keepsake Set, $36, pipettebaby.com.

And after tub time, she can wrap the little one in warmth, softness, and safety. This hooded towel is made with super absorbent terry-cloth fabric that gets softer with each wash.

Shop Now: Serena & Lily Gingham Banded Hooded Towel, $38, serenaandlily.com.

Baby deserves the best. These innovative bottles are BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free, and made of sustainably produced medical-grade silicone.

Shop Now: Olababy GentleBottle, in Coral, $29 for 2, buybuybaby.com.

First introduced 12 years ago, Upang produces state of the art and eco-friendly baby bottle sterilizers that work with UV light rays and are proven to kill 99.9 percent of harmful bacteria, including the H1N1 flu virus and candida.

Shop Now: Upang Plus UV Baby Bottle Sterilizer, in Beige, $300, amazon.com.

Designed to save clothing from dribbles and drool, this soft terry-cloth bib features a crisp contrasting trim and adjustable tie.

Shop Now: Louelle Circle Bib, in Harbor Island Blue, $29, louelle.co.

Most parents introduce solids to their baby at four to six months of age. This all-in-one placemat set comes with everything they need for mealtime— a bowl, cup, and spoon—all microwave and dishwasher safe.

Shop Now: Ezpz First Foods Set, in Sage, $35, bedbathandbeyond.com.

Swaddling calls for a super-breathable blanket that will keep the little one warm, cozy, and snoozing comfortably. This one comes in an airy floral print.

Shop Now: Copper Pearl "Autumn" Knit Swaddle Blanket, $25, copperpearl.com.

Snuggly, cuddly, and classic in design—this super-soft bunny is a bestseller, so your little one always has their cuddly companion.

Shop Now: Jellycat Small Bashful Bunny Stuffed Animal, $15, nordstrom.com.

Introduce the child to their ABCs with this print that's awash in soft colors and soothing florals. Designed in Sweden, it's the first in a series of prints that combine whimsical themes with modern design.

Shop Now: Mushie Alphabet Floral Poster, $22, mushie.com.

Tied in pretty ribbon, this gift package is perfect for any baby shower in a box. Stuffed inside the tiers of hypoallergenic diapers are even more of the baby and nursery essentials to help Mama get started.

Shop Now: The Honest Company Diaper Cake, in Multi-Colored Giraffes, $100, honest.com.

Handmade from soft seagrass and white recycled plastic weave, this basket is suitable for so many different uses. Our gentle suggestion? Tuck everything into it as the gift basket, and this piece will have life even after the diaper days are over.

Shop Now: Olli Ella Reva Changing Basket, $108, anthropologie.com.