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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Baby shower gift idea-help please!
A friend of mine is due in April with her first child(a boy) and her baby shower is coming up. I'd like to spend about $40-$50 on a gift and was wondering if any of you had a certain item(s) that you were really happy have with a newborn.
TIA!!
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Re: Baby shower gift idea-help please!
When I had Leah my friend got me a Moby Wrap and that came in very handy!! I loved it!
I meant to say that, no she doesn't!
I agree- go for the registry first. If you aren't sure if she's registered, check the usual suspects of Target and Babies R Us. Maybe Amazon too.
I like buying a bunch of the small things or boring, practical items from the registry. The small items can be less interesting and can really add up when you suddenly have to buy clippers and nose sucker and brush and lotion and baby wash and pacifiers and a bottle brush and... you get the point. The boring items don't get bought because there is no "Awwwwww!" factor to them, but burp clothes, mattress pads, car shades, and wipes are all very real and necessary needs.
If you are looking for a larger item, diaper pail, monitor, small bouncy seat, shopping cart cover (more of a luxury), diaper bag, and baby bathtub can be in that range and are appreciated. Again- shop from a registry if you can!
If lots of those things are already purchased, generic clothing in larger sizes come in super handy when you realize baby has outgrown everything overnight and the adorable outfit Auntie So and So bought that now fits is the wrong season and you've got nothing to dress the kid in. I'm thinking plain short sleeve onesies (white or colored with a simple design), cotton play pants, socks, zip up sweatshirts. I'v been known to take my chances with sizes on cute seasonal clothing, but only on the clearance rack as you just never know what size the child will be- James is just about 20 months and still fits a lot of his 12 month stuff.
Gift certificates to something like the Sears Portrait Studio can also be a good one.
My last piece of advise is to ALWAYS include the gift receipt. Even with registries, it can be really easy to get duplicates of items or just too many darn blankets, so being able to exchange stuff for cash or credit is a good thing.
My favorite shower gift was a basket of essentials I didn't really think of getting before hand and that can add up cost wise. The last thing I wanted to do was run out and get something. The basket included infant tylenol, infant motrin, aveeno baby wash, aveeno baby cream, alcohol (for wiping the thermometers, diaper cream, petroleum jelly to put on the thermometer, bubble bath for me, stool softener (who thinks to get THAT before you come home), maxi pads (thin and extra absorbent), etc lots more that I can't think of.
The basket came in handy to organize miscellaneous stuff, too.
You can't go wrong with the house cleaning idea. One item we cannot live without is the Fisher Price Rock n' Play sleeper. Another idea would be a set of lullaby CDs and relaxing music for baby and mom.
Gift cards! I wish I had received more b/c then I could get what I "needed" out of the things that I didn't get that I "wanted." Plus, a few weeks after baby comes you realize you need another whole slew of stuff.
Also, Sophie Le Giraffe is a very popular little item. All moms and babies loves Sophie
If you are 300% positive she's not registered anywhere (which seems weird to me as a first-time mom), and you've looked online for registries under her name at the more popular choices - Target, Babies R Us, WalMart, Amazon - and asked around, and asked her if you feel comfortable... I agree to buy something that will be useful to anyone. I always used to buy the extra mirror that clips to the rear-view mirror so you can see in the back seat without compromising your view out the back window. Things that can be used a little later are good ideas too; I think most people get carried away with the tiny outfits and immediate needs. A basket (which can be reused) full of the essentials that a new mom wouldn't want to be bothered with picking up after baby comes is a great idea too.
And, please, please, please include a gift receipt!!!
My Wedding Bio! Not updated in a LONG time!
OMG Please don't flame me...I am such an idiot. After they got pregnant they decided to get married and I have been looking for registries with her maiden name. I am such an A$$. BUT I am still going to get her something off her registry and then do the basket that was mentioned because she didn't have any of that on her registry.
I blame this mistake on my long work week, but I really do appreciate all the ideas and plan on saving them for future gifts and ideas for me someday!
This is awesome! Mommy brain hasn't even set in!! hehehe
Since you probably have a feel for what colors she has in her bedding, etc. A color coordinated basket would work perfectly! Christmas Tree shop is the best place, IMO. :-)
Oh goodness, yep I am already forgettful, that is going to be really bad haha
That's a great idea about the color coordinating, thank you!!
I'm soo late on this! sorry, but I want to add
Thanks for posting...since I have a shower to go to in April.
I ordered a Sophie from Amazon yesterday when I ordered some stuff for Taylor. I'm not sure what else I'm getting but, I loved getting the Fisher Price Seahorse. It makes Taylor cry now but so does her Leap Frog drum, so I'm not sure what that's about.
Anyway, I also loved getting my swing and pack n play. If you can't afford those on your own, you could go in on them with someone else. I would agree with pp, definitely some of the smaller stuff that can add up. One thing that I would think about is waterproof pads for the pnp and extra sheets. You can get both of those for around $20 on Walmart.com and have it shipped to the store for free (yes I know how we all feel about Walmart! lol)
No one bought off my registry even though it was pretty easy to find stuff AND I registered at places where you could walk into the store and buy stuff (so my great aunts, grandparents, etc wouldn't have a hard time with it) and everyone STILL bought oodles of clothes. That was after I told everyone not to buy them.
So, it'll make the momma happy to get stuff from her registry, please buy from it!! Good luck!