When I was looking fro very nice blankets, I was told by many that moms aren’t using blankets much because of the sleep suit things.
Barefoot Dreams makes some very nice baby blankets. My son was very excited to get one of their throws even at 22.
I remember the stroller being a big deal for me. I used it a lot, and spent quite some time picking one out that was comfortable for me to push and easy to collapse.
I’ve read rockers aren’t really a great idea for breast feeding, but my glider rocker and foot stool wer very well used. (My husband actually sits in mine every day, and my youngest is 22.
We loved the hardwood rocker I bought from Sears. It was great for nursing but eventually it just took up too much space and folks would stub their toes on the rocker portion so we donated it to a church nursery program.
Those warm sleep suits would NOT work in warm HI. Babies slept with diaper and T-shirts.
Yes, gliders are the way to go. Much more comfortable than a rocking chair!
The last thing a young couple probably needs is a piece of furniture, or decorative thing, or stroller, or some big ticket item that they don’t really want or need, if they had something else in mind. Especially if it’s from a close family member and they feel like they will be hurting feelings to refuse it or not use it or display it. Even when I buy from a baby registry, I include a gift receipt in case they want to return it . Pregnancy and new parenthood is such a vulnerable time!
When I buy, I also include the receipt AND a check. There suddenly seem to be lots of expenses with new babies. Choices of large items are so personal.
A full time nanny. Ha ha. :))
Blankets aren’t used in cribs, but they are used as covers when in car seats and strollers, on the living room floor.
Years ago a male co-worker was about to become a first time dad. We were all giving advice and another dad was firm that new dad to be needed a swing. Immediately. He absolutely insisted that the second that child came home from the hospital, it needed a swing. A battery one, not a wind up one. He had 3 kids so we figured he knew what he was talking about.
A group I work with stuffs ‘welcome’ bags at the local hospital. Each bags gets about 40 diapers, wipes, lotions, an outfit, socks, hats, a book, a teddy, a sleep sack (with the hospital logo on it), and a hand made blanket. So, many suggestions here are what the ‘experts’ think are important too. They do not include any bottles or pacifiers.
I think it’s also okay to give a present that doesn’t fall into the category “new parents can’t live without.” Seriously, most Americans have enough stuff, but they don’t necessarily have enough affection or love in their lives. Almost any gift says, “I’m thinking about you,” and that is very precious no matter what the underlying present is.
We didn’t use bottles or pacifiers—tried them but they were rejected by both kids. I’m sure whatever you give will be appreciated.
Of course, there are also singles or couples that are happy to take whatever they are offered, if their finances are limited and don’t have family or friends that can help much either. That is a different story and not trying to minimize what that is like for many new parents,.
And a full time nanny! Yeah, didn’t want or need that but would have loved to have family nearby that could have helped. They were great with helping when they could with visits both ways though. An IOU for helping with a night out, babysitting, costs nothing and is so appreciated many times!
To piggy back off @VaBluebird and @rosered55, a rain check to babysit the baby.
Best gift I still remember, a gift certificate to Target, second best, a gift certificate to Baby’s R Us.
I often buy people a two month supply of diapers. I remember diapers were so expensive. I start them with the small sized Pampers and then gift the rest via diapers.com. They drop ship and they arrive in bulk. Everyone has been thrilled with this gift. It’s boring and totally useful. Not like stuffed toys, clothes that don’t fit, ceramic decorative items and plastic toys. If the recipient is into natural diapers, you can send those instead.
For local babies…babysitting AND a gift card to a special restaurant.
Usually put in a favorite children’s classic book
I have yet to encounter a person with a baby registry. When did that become a thing? It seems to me that the gift-grabbing trend is growing beyond all bounds. It’s one thing for friends and relatives to give a baby gift, unprompted, or at a baby shower. It’s another thing to have detailed lists with expensive items. In my experience, it was only grandparents who would give big ticket items, such as strollers and cribs. And they would usually say pick out what you’d like and we will pay for it
I think it’s really unbecoming.
A friend of mine sent a set of soft cloth stuffed baby blocks spelling out S’s name that she made herself. That was just wonderful. (They’re still in his room. 
)
"I have yet to encounter a person with a baby registry. When did that become a thing? "
Even 18 years ago when I had my oldest son, it was a common thing. Especially for people in corporate type jobs where it was normal for the people in the office to pool together fairly large amounts of money to buy group gifts; the groups seemed to want a way to know the $ collected was going for big ticket items that the parents actually wanted.
I understand the hesitation but think it’s no more unbecoming than wedding registries which are common across most American cultures. From what I’ve seen of the registries - and since the turn of the century I haven’t known any new parents who didn’t have a baby registry - people are thoughtful, putting a range of low to high priced items on the registry and of course being gracious and thankful for whatever gift is received, whether it was on the registry or not.
As for who gives big ticket gifts like strollers, around here it appears to be more a function of the closeness of the people and to a large extent the financial means of the gifter. I’ve both received and given big ticket gifts to friends.
I’m glad you received some baby gifts that you and your son enjoy. The blocks sound very nice.
I, too, have seen baby registries. My s and w did not do this, but relatives and friends’ kids have. It makes it easy to see what they want/need. My s/dil got several multiple items of the same things (books, toys, the stool with the baby’s name in it-- yup- 3 of those!) so seeing what has already been purchased can be helpful.
My child is now 24, but I was very grateful for the baby gift registry. No one is forced to buy anything for you off that registry.
I work with many people, they pooled together money and I received a stroller, car seat and bath tub.
I would have been grateful and thankful for anything but these gifts were much more useful than receiving 40 newborn outfits that a baby will outgrow quickly.
When work places pool money together, it is often cheaper to give to a pool than to buy an individual gift.
Well, I am also uneasy with the current style of wedding registry. And with excessive wedding showers. As I have said before, LOL.
I guess I am just a curmudgeon. 
S & DIL had a baby registry because (1)her sisters were throwing her a baby shower, and (2)so family would know what they wanted/needed. The most expensive thing they had on the registery was a pack-n-play, and there were alot of under $15-20 choices. We paid for the car seat/stroller combo that they bought - we wouldn’t have considered making that choice for them. When we visited after the baby was born, we baby sat & gifted them a dinner out.
I think an offer to babysit is fine, but not as a gift as that would sort of be a ‘forced’ gift that they couldn’t return.
There is no way I’d let most of the people I know, even those at my baby shower, babysit. My best friend wasn’t capable of watching my kids until they were about 5 (and she knew it). I wasn’t even comfortable letting my mother watch my baby. Nana did take CPR classes with me, but she wasn’t sure of herself because it had been many years since she’d taken care of one of her own kids, and none of us weighed under 8 pounds. Mine didn’t weigh 8 pounds until she was 8 months old.
Wasn’t letting people near my child until they’d been trained and pass an FBI investigation, CDC testing and clearance for ebola, and whatever else I could think of. Basically, no one got near her.
But I liked the books, outfits, and toys as gifts.