How much should you really spend on a baby shower gift?

It’s a boy! It’s a girl! It’s a surprise line item in your budget!

Few things are more heartfelt than picking out the perfect baby shower gift for a sweet little munchkin. But celebrating a bundle of joy doesn’t need to cost a bundle. If you’re invited to a baby shower, take a moment to figure out the best way to show the parents some love without breaking the piggy bank.

The baby shower registry is your security blanket.

To begin, jump online and peruse the range of things the new parents have carefully chosen, usually in a variety of price ranges. Especially first-time moms and dads have probably researched every item and have only included baby gear they trust. If the new baby will be their second, third or further down the line, still stick to the registry. Chances are they only need what’s on that list and don’t want to clutter up their home.

Consider your relationship with the expectant parents.

While it’s an honor to be invited to a baby shower, what you spend on a gift really depends on how close you are to the baby’s parents. If you’re a grandparent, aunt or uncle, for example, you will want to spend more than a colleague from work or a casual neighbor. Here are some rules of thumb for baby shower etiquette to help guide you:

Coworker, acquaintance, distant cousin

$15 to $25
Consider children’s books, a bottle warmer, nightlight, car mirror, packs of diapers and bottles, bibs and burp cloths, socks, onesies, pacifiers or a changing pad.

Close friend, cousin, relative on a budget

$50 (a good price range for most people)
Latch on to ideas like a diaper bag, bottle set, sound machine, nursery projector, nonbreakable plate and cup set, or clothing.

Grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, closest friends

$100 +
Help the stork deliver bigger-ticket items like a crib, rocker, car seat, stroller, diaper pail, changing table, baby food maker and heirlooms like a silver baby spoon or monogrammed cup.

Money-saving gift hacks that will help you sleep like a baby:

• The most popular idea is to split a large, meaningful gift with a group to make a splash but lessen the pain.

• Search online for coupons and promo codes for great discounts that can be used in stores and online. Just because you find something in one store’s registry doesn't mean you can’t buy it elsewhere. Be sure, however, to check it off the registry to avoid duplicates.

• A lovingly hand-stitched baby cap or blanket has value that just can’t be bought.

• A “voucher” you create for a home-cooked meal, babysitting, errands or laundry services once the baby comes will be worth its weight in gold to exhausted new parents.

• Create a theme. Bath time, nap time, diaper time and meal time are great themes for collections of small, inexpensive items. Consider using an infant tub as a gift box, and a cloth diaper or swaddling wrap as gift wrap.

• Use these smart online shopping tips to make good buying decisions for baby shower gifts you find on the internet.

Cash or gift card? Oh, boy!

New parents no doubt appreciate crisp green bills or gift cards to their favorite big box store or take-out restaurant. And there’s no more convenient baby shower gift! But there’s also no hiding how much you’re spending. In fact, you may be tempted to spend more when the dollar figure is this clear.

Don’t throw the budget out with the bathwater.

While it’s tempting to want to follow your heart, don’t spend more than your budget can bear. The most important thing is show up to celebrate the excitement of a new baby. A card with sage advice for new parents, favorite freezer-meal recipes, and words of encouragement and support always deliver.