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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Moms: Baby shower gift
My SIL is having her first shower this weekend. It's her first baby, a girl. Can you suggest what you liked getting? I don't want to just get her clothes or something that she won't use or need. She does have a registry but there are so many things to choose from and I'm not a mom. TIA!
Re: Moms: Baby shower gift
I always liked getting presents that were an assortment, like finding a cute basket or a holder that's on the registry and filling it with other registry items.
Burp cloths
White Carter's onesies [great for layering]
Socks
Headband/Hat
Towels
Baby shampoo or lotion
Baby care kit (thermometer and nail clipper)
Bigger purchase items:
Boppy [if planning to breastfeed]
Bottle sterilizer
Ergo or baby carrier
While yes, these can be the "boring" items they are the most used as well. I remember those who bought presents like this and tend to have forgotten some of the cute clothes, toys or other novelty givers.
BFP#1 - 8/26/2008 | Isaac Levi @39w 4/26/09 :: BFP#2 - 6/22/2010 | natural MC @9w 7/28/10 :: BFP#3 - 10/25/2010 | Ezra John @39w 6/26/11 :: BFP#4 - 8/7/2012 | EDD 4/17/13
This! I'm throwing a shower for my sister in February and I think that this is what we're doing. I also tend to give gifts that baby will grow into. It is totally tempting to get them cutsie newborn clothes but they wear that stuff for all of 2 seconds before they outgrow it and then mom/dad have to get new clothes. I tend to buy bigger sizes of staple items like onesies. I also like to buy a handful of books that were standbys in my house growing up (velveteen rabbit, Animalia, little engine that could, etc.) and a board book or two for them to grow into.
I just gave this to my SIL for her baby shower, and she LOVED it.
http://www.creativememories.com/MainMenu/Shop/Quick-Photo-Solutions/Keepsakes/Photo-Displays/Magnetic-Everyday-Display-White
It is a frame that has a magnetic backing. She can hang it anywhere in her house and change pictures in it. I have seen it with baby pictures, like an announcement board, super cute. It comes in Brown, black and white. --Let me know if you want more information!
one item that I wish I had gotten as a gift was a Sophie (link below). Aiden LOVE his so much. You can find it at Baby on Grand & other some shops around town. but also make sure to get a "leash" the 2nd link is the one we use & I just picked it up at babies R us.
I would also recommend getting her things like Socks & oncies (Carter they are the best one)
http://www.sophiegiraffeusa.com/sophie.html
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3942007
Good luck on your hunt for a great gift
It's hard...every mom is so different. I'm not a onesie kind of mom...my girls are either in outfits, or pajamas all the time. So, we have tons of onesies that really haven't been used (other than plain white ones for under outfits).
I like having lots of comfy PJ's for the girls. And, personally, I liked getting outfits...I didn't want to spend money on clothes, but they need clothes, so I'd rather get it as gifts
Like a pp said, the people who bought bigger sized outfits were life savers (as long as they remembered seasons of course).
Boppy's are GREAT gifts. Even if not breastfeeding, lots of uses. We use ours to prop the baby up next to us on the couch all the time. And, for tummy time! You definitely can't lose with diapers either (kinda boring though, I know).
Baskets are great too. You can never get too much shampoo/body wash. We've never really used lotion on the girls, so we have a ton of bottles, but most people use lotion. Washcloths, burp clothes, nice THICK bath towels are all great. I usually do some kind of bath gift basket for baby showers.
If the mom is a massage kind of gal, that would be a great option. It most likely would have gone unused if someone would have gotten me one though.
BFP#1 - 8/26/2008 | Isaac Levi @39w 4/26/09 :: BFP#2 - 6/22/2010 | natural MC @9w 7/28/10 :: BFP#3 - 10/25/2010 | Ezra John @39w 6/26/11 :: BFP#4 - 8/7/2012 | EDD 4/17/13
I would probably stick to her registry. There were a lot of things I was given second hand- boppy, wrap, carrier, etc so I would probably stick to the registry to make sure she doesn't already have one of those items.
A newborn photography session would be a good idea too. She may be too stressed right away to think of it and then misses out on the best age to capture those itty-bitty sleepy baby pics.
I think the massage is a good idea too. Another big thing that was so helpful after Greta was born was meals. It's something so simple but when the baby is first home you forget to eat until you are starving and then it's nice to have something to just heat up.
ETA: I think a sleep sack is a must for babies. They're on sale on babysteals.com today. We used the 2-in-1 swaddle Halo sack when she was first home for probably the first 3 months. It really gives you a tight swaddle and was one of the only ones she couldn't get out of. At night, dd still sleeps in a sleep sack and probably will until she's at least one. They are also nice because once they start rolling with them being in a sack it's harder for their legs to get caught between the crib slats.
http://www.babysteals.com/?utm_source=babysteals&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20101007
I keep thinking of things- These stickers are nice so you can capture a picture each month. I wish I would have gotten these. We started with blocks with her age in front of her every month and have just kept doing that.
http://www.pickysticky.com/
Diapers (I'd get size 1 or 2) and wipes are nice too- if you know she's using disposable.
Photo taken at 16 months old
A Boppy was one of our best gifts.
A gift card to shutterfly or some sort of photo developing service because we took literally 1000+ pics in the first six months and everyone expects us to send them out on a regular basis.
Burp rags and bibs are fantastic.
We loved getting books.
Basics in a larger size. We got a ton of white onsies in nb size but nothing larger. Because the ones we got we each a little different style, we didn't even bother to exchange them.
I'd second PP that said stick with the registry...
I got so much "stuff" that people "thought" I needed because it "worked" for them and "their" kids...and ended up having to go out after two showers and buy a whole ton of things I ACTUALLY needed because I didn't get them...
And to the PP who said bigger sizes (seasonally appropriate) and sleep sacks, those were a godsend because most people don't think outside of the newborn sizing and its nice to have some bigger clothes and not have to buy so much when that time comes around.
Yeah I meant that I would only get stuff off her registry but her registry has so much stuff on it that I was hoping to get suggestions to narrow it down.
I agree that it is really smart to buy larger size clothing according to the season, I bought about 7-8 summer clearanced outfits for her that should fit her baby at 6-9 months.
My favorites are robeez shoes (the only thing that will keep my boys' socks on), dishwasher baskets for bottles, steamer bags for breast pump parts/bottles, any of the bigger baby stuff like spoons, big bibs, board books, and play mat.
Both my boys have hated being swaddled, so the big swaddle blankets and swaddle blanks were such a waste of money for me.
Depending on how much you want to spend may help to decide what to purchase off the registry. I always liked practicle gifts. Here are some ideas depending on your price point:
Bouncy chair, monitor, bottles, bottle drying rack, burp cloths, diapers, wipes, manicure kit, baby wash, towel and washcloths.
I liked the pp idea of a newborn photo session. If you do this I would find someone that's willing to travel to your sister's house.
I loved the Miracle Blanket. I've bought this as a shower gift and everyone I have given it to loves it. However, each baby is different depending on if they like to be swaddled. I also love the FP Glow Seahorse. Both of my kids absolutely loved this. We know own five.
I would stay away from regular everyday blankets. We got so many of those that I don't know what to do with them all.
Children Photography Photo Credit: Heather Barta Photography