From DIY honey jars to themed favor bags — find the right token of appreciation for every budget, theme, and guest list.
Every ShowerPop bundle includes party favors — coordinated with decorations and tableware in one order.
Browse Bundles →Baby shower favors are a small gesture that leaves a lasting impression. Done well, they tie the whole event together — a tiny package that guests take home as a reminder of the celebration. Done poorly, they become something that ends up in the trash. This guide covers what actually works: DIY ideas your guests will keep, themed favor options for every color palette, and the thank you messages that feel genuine rather than generic.
The best favors have three things in common: they're usable (not purely decorative), they're on-theme, and they feel personal. A jar of local honey with a "Sweet on You" tag hits all three. A generic candle in an uncoordinated tin hits none. Budget is secondary to thoughtfulness — a $2 seed packet with a handwritten label outperforms a $10 impersonal item every time.
Homemade favors have a warmth that store-bought items struggle to match. These options are budget-friendly, scalable for large guest lists, and easy to customize for any theme color.
Small 2 oz honey jars with kraft paper labels reading "Sweet as Can Bee" or "A Little Something Sweet." Source from bulk honey suppliers or Costco. Tie with twine and a dried flower for a polished finish.
Homemade bath bombs in theme colors (pink, blue, or lavender) wrapped in cellophane with a ribbon. Molds from Amazon, ingredients from Bulk Apothecary. Makes 24 bombs for under $30 total — highly impressive return.
Wildflower or herb seed packets in custom envelopes with a "Watch It Grow" or "Planted with Love" tag. Wildflower mixes are especially popular — guests actually plant them. Print custom envelopes from Canva for under $15.
Mini soy candles poured into 2 oz aluminum tins with custom labels. Use theme-matching scents: lavender for girl showers, cedar for boy, eucalyptus for neutral. A batch of 30 costs roughly $60–$90 in materials.
Two or three homemade cookies in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon. Sugar cookies with royal icing in theme colors are the most visual option — or brownie bites for a no-fuss alternative. Make ahead and freeze up to 2 weeks.
Individually wrapped premium tea bags in custom printed envelopes with "Sip Sip Hooray" or "Brewing with Love." Order a tea variety pack from Harney & Sons and repackage for a clean, elegant look that costs almost nothing.
Pink-themed favors range from romantic and floral to playful and bold. The key is consistency — match the favor packaging to your overall color palette so everything on the favor table looks cohesive.
For floral and princess themes: blush pink candle tins with gold label, rosewater lip balm in pink twist tubes, or macarons in pastel pink and lavender tied with a satin bow. For a garden party theme, potted mini succulents with a "Sprout of Love" tag work beautifully — they're useful, long-lasting, and photograph well against a white tablecloth. Adventure themes pair well with pink S'mores kits: graham crackers, pink marshmallows, and chocolate in a clear favor box tied with a matching ribbon.
Blue-themed favors work best when they lean into the specific sub-theme rather than just "blue things." Nautical, woodland, sports, and adventure themes each suggest different favor categories.
Nautical themes: navy and white striped mini popcorn bags sealed with an anchor tag, or small tin pails filled with blue Jordan almonds and tied with rope twine. Sports themes: personalized baseball or football mini pennants, or custom sports-themed seed packs (grass seed labeled "Future MVP"). Woodland themes: honey jars with bear-themed labels, acorn ornaments, or pine cone fire starters tied with navy ribbon. Adventure themes: mini compasses or small LED lanterns with a "Let the Adventure Begin" hang tag — available in bulk from party wholesale sites.
Neutral themes give you the widest favor range because you're not locked into a color. Earthy greens, warm yellows, natural kraft paper, and linen textures all work beautifully together without feeling gender-coded.
Boho and rustic themes: beeswax wraps tied with jute twine, wildflower seed paper embedded cards that guests can plant, or small succulent pots in terracotta with a kraft paper label. Garden party themes: herb seed kits (basil, mint, thyme) in small kraft envelopes, or lemon-scented soap bars wrapped in linen. Sunshine and cloud themes: small yellow honey jars with "You Are My Sunshine" labels, or lemon shortbread cookies in wax paper bags tied with yellow raffia. Safari themes: mini wooden animals as place card holders that double as take-home favors — functional, memorable, and universally loved by guests with kids.
Thank you notes are the most underrated part of baby shower planning. Send them within 2–3 weeks of the shower — before the baby arrives if possible, since newborn life makes everything harder. Specific is always better than generic: mention the gift and how you plan to use it.
"Thank you so much for the [gift] — we're so grateful to have you in our corner as we welcome baby [name]. Your generosity means the world to us. We can't wait to introduce you to the little one!"
"We put your gift card to work right away — we picked up [specific item] that we've already been using! Thank you for thinking of us so practically. It's the kind of gift that makes a real difference in those first weeks."
"It meant so much that you made the trip out for the shower. Having you there made the day feel complete. Thank you for the beautiful [gift] — we'll treasure it."
"I know a handwritten card is coming your way, but I wanted to say thank you today. The [gift] was exactly what we needed and you're so thoughtful for thinking of us! 💕"
Timing tip: Write thank you cards in batches within 48 hours of the shower while details are fresh. Keep the guest list, a pen, and your card stash in one place so you're not hunting for supplies. Aim to send all cards within 2 weeks — before 3 weeks is the etiquette standard, before 1 week makes a memorable impression.
Packaging is half the appeal of a favor. A plain honey jar becomes a keepsake when it has a custom kraft label and a sprig of dried lavender tucked under the twine. Presentation is where budget-friendly favors become impressive ones.
Arrange favors on a tiered tray or wooden crate for visual height. Add a small "Please Take One" sign in a matching font. A coordinated tablecloth and one small floral arrangement turn the table into a photo backdrop.
Canva's free tier has dozens of label templates. Print on sticker paper at home or order from Canva's print service. Even plain kraft labels with a single line of text in a clean font elevate any favor instantly.
A 3" piece of jute twine or satin ribbon tied in a simple bow costs pennies per favor and signals thoughtfulness. Match ribbon color to your palette exactly — blush for pink themes, navy for nautical, sage for neutral.
Cellophane bags with twist ties or organza drawstring bags allow you to prep 30–50 favors in one sitting. Fill, twist, label, done. Organza bags add a higher-end feel for under $0.30 per bag in bulk.
More planning resources: Use our complete baby shower checklist to track favors alongside all other planning tasks. Browse 18 baby shower themes with color palettes to match your favor style to the full event look. Need decoration ideas? See our baby shower decoration ideas guide → Planning the menu too? See our baby shower food & menu ideas → Shopping for gifts? See our baby shower gift ideas guide →
Every ShowerPop bundle includes coordinated party favors, decorations, and tableware — one order, one theme, ships in 5–7 business days from Albuquerque, NM.