i held a baby shower at my house for a work colleague a few years ago. there was a complete mixture of gifts, most were small practical things like dummies, trainer cups, a small home-made hamper of baby toiletries, a pack of bibs, a couple of hand knitted cardies, a pack of disposable nappies. it was a lovely evening, the mum to be was fussed over and we oldies were all able to tell our 'birth' tales. the evening was about all the girlies getting together rather than any sort of gift competition. and we all bought the baby a proper gift when it was born.