By Jimmie Sue, founder of Loud Little Outlaws
Short answer: Bring something that sounds like the parents, not a novelty. A bodysuit or toddler tee with original art that nods to riffs, honky tonks or the open road beats band merch, because it reads as taste, not a costume. Buy 6-12 months so it fits after the newborn blur, and add one small piece for the parents.
I sleep upstairs from a honky tonk, and on a Saturday night I can always spot the folks who came straight from a baby shower. They walk in holding an empty gift bag. Earlier that day the bag had a swaddle in it. Maybe a bottle warmer. Useful, every bit of it. None of it said the parents are still the same two people who used to close this place down on a Tuesday.
Somebody at that shower ought to bring the gift that does. Might as well be you.
Why skip band merch for a baby gift?
Because every relative already had the same idea. Band baby clothes are the first thing people grab, so the parents end up with four of the same logo and one polite smile. It also signs the kid up for a band before the kid has an opinion about anything but milk.
Original art that borrows the attitude (the denim, the flames, the rodeo, the bad sleep) fits a metal family, a punk family and a country family all at once. And it doesn't go stale when the parents' playlist changes, which it will.
Everything we make at Loud Little Outlaws is original art. No band logos, no lyrics, no borrowed album covers. I wanted it that way from the start, and I still do.
What are the best gift picks for a rock or metal family?
- Headbangin' Buckaroo Baby Bodysuit: the flagship. A tiny cowpoke mid headbang. Covers the metal parent and the cowboy parent in one shot.
- Naps Are for Posers Baby Bodysuit: for parents who still have opinions about posers. They do. Don't ask unless you have an hour.
- Wanted: For Crimes Against Sleep Baby Bodysuit: a wanted poster for the smallest repeat offender in the house.
- Nap Riot Poster: for the nursery wall or the garage. A poster never needs a size guess, which is the nicest thing about a poster.
Browse the full Headbangin' collection for more.
What are the best gift picks for a country or outlaw country family?
- Too Loud for the Rodeo Baby Bodysuit: a little rodeo kid who has clearly been asked to leave. I've asked a few grown men to leave. They had that exact look.
- Small Town, Loud Baby Bodysuit: for the family that moved back home and turned it up.
- Livin' a Little Country Song Baby Bodysuit: steel guitar energy, no cover charge.
- Country Roots, Cowboy Boots Baby Bodysuit: boots before walking.
See the Honky Tonk collection for the rest.
What size should you buy for a baby shower gift?
Our size guide recommends 6-12 months for shower gifts, and so do I. Babies outgrow the smallest sizes about as fast as you can fold them, and parents get stacks of early sizes anyway. A 6-12m piece comes into play a few months in, right around when the parents have the energy to dress the kid on purpose.
Our standard bodysuits come in 3-6m, 6-12m and 12-18m. There's no newborn size. Exact measurements, taken from our print partner's charts, are on the size guide. Stuck between sizes? Email hello@loudlittleoutlaws.com and we'll help you sort it out.
Should you get something for the parents too?
Yes. The parents are the ones who will notice, and the ones who will be awake. A shower gift with a piece for mom or dad lands harder than one more bodysuit. A few that pair well:
- Headbangin' Mama Mug for the 3 a.m. coffee shift. I know that shift well.
- Outlaw Papa Embroidered Trucker Hat for the dad who hasn't had time for a haircut.
- Headbangin' Mama Tote, because it will become the diaper bag whether anybody plans it or not.
The Matching Sets collection lines up baby, toddler and parent pieces by design, so you can build a set without guessing.
How early should you order a baby shower gift?
Earlier than you think. Nothing we make sits in a warehouse waiting on you. It gets printed after you order it. Production takes 2-5 business days, and standard shipping usually adds about 3-5 business days. The organic bodysuits are printed by a partner overseas and take longer, roughly 8-14 business days. Check the estimate at checkout against the shower date and give yourself room. Showers don't move, and neither does the mail.
Shipping is free on orders of $75 or more (merch subtotal, after discounts). Under that, it's a flat $9.99. We ship within the US, including APO/FPO addresses.
What if the size is wrong?
Because everything is made to order, we don't take change-of-mind returns. Each sized item gets one size exchange within 30 days for a $9.99 fee, and the family keeps the original, so it can go to a cousin or a younger sibling. If something arrives damaged or misprinted, we reprint it or refund it at no cost within 30 days. Full details are on our FAQ.
And if anybody at that shower ends up awake at 3 a.m. with something to get off their chest, the hotline is for confessions, not orders: 1-866-BAD-NAPS.
FAQ
Is a band-free baby gift still a good gift for a metal family?
Yes. Original art keeps the attitude without picking a band for the kid, and it won't duplicate what the relatives bring.
What size is best for a baby shower gift?
We recommend 6-12 months. Our bodysuits come in 3-6m, 6-12m and 12-18m.
How long does a Loud Little Outlaws order take?
Printing takes 2-5 business days, then about 3-5 business days to ship. Organic bodysuits take about 8-14 business days.
Do you sell anything besides baby clothes?
Yes. Toddler tees and hoodies, parent apparel, mugs, totes, posters and stickers.
xo, Jimmie Sue
