The Five Best Baby Shower Gifts
Ask first time parents-to-be what baby shower gifts they would like to receive. Watch their response -- you'll quite likely see a look of real confusion on their faces! Or maybe they'll come up with a stock answer like "diapers" or something similar.
Exactly what a new arrival needs is not obvious to someone who's never had a baby before. And many times, guests are in no better position either, when it comes to deciding on baby shower gifts.
Of course, there's a lot more to baby showers than just gifts. But helping parents to stock up for the new arrival is an important part of these celebrations.
That's why the following list of top five baby shower gifts can be quite useful.
Top gift #1: Monitors
Monitors are excellent anxiety-busters, especially for first-time parents. That's why they hold the No.1 position on this list.
Once they can listen to the baby from anywhere in the house, parents find their confidence levels zooming. The latest monitors are very sensitive and can pick up the slightest sound from baby, even her breathing.
If your budget allows for it, take it one step further and buy a video monitor. That'll really ease anxiety. However, they are much more expensive, so perhaps this can be a joint baby shower gift from two or more guests.
Top Gift #2: Playtime mate for baby
Babies love to play. Anything that helps them play and be active not only keeps them engaged, but also stimulates all round development.
One of the best products for them is an activity gym or playpen. This is a soft cloth mat surrounded by a baby-friendly structure of bars and arches with many different toys suspended from various points. Baby gets to play in a safe environment.
Basic activity gyms are excellent baby shower gifts. There are also more advanced ones that include noisemakers and a variety of toys. The suspended objects have different colors and textures to help develop baby's cognitive abilities.
There are also excellent portable gyms and playpens available to help parents move around with baby. These are lightweight and designed to be easy to carry around.
Top Gift #3: Baby sling
Most babies love being carried around in a sling. It's the next best thing to being cuddled in mom's arms. Many parents have had the experience where babies get restless and cry while they use other types of carriers, but immediately calm down when put into a sling.
Baby slings are believed to foster a closer parent-child bond. Whether that's true or not, slings do have another great advantage -- they leave your hands free to do other things. That's definitely a big plus and is a reason why this baby shower gift is highly appreciated.
Top Gift #4: The baby travel pack
Moving around with baby can be a chore -- you have to pack a seemingly endless array of baby stuff even for short outings.
One way to ease this problem is to have one or more baby travel packs handy. What's a travel pack? Essentially, a diaper bag filled with baby necessities. It can include disposable diapers, a small toy or two, bib, complete change of clothes for baby, safety pins, and other supplies.
It's a great advantage if the parents receive more than one travel pack. Then one pack can always be kept ready whenever they want to go. No need to mess around with picking up and stuffing items into a diaper bag at the last minute.
Top gift #5: Car seat
Lots of parents say that a well-designed car seat is a wonderfully useful baby shower gift to receive. In fact, it's useful from the moment they leave hospital with the baby.
There are infant car seats available as well as infant-toddler convertible seats. The former can be used only till the baby is up to 22 pounds or so (typically). While the latter can usually be used till the first birthday.
Both are great baby shower gifts specially designed for the baby on the move!
Make sure these top five baby shower gifts are part of the event you're hosting. The guest of honor will end up thanking you long after the party gets over! About the Author
Jessika Ryder is a successful business writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide tips on baby shower invitations, gifts, party planning and other aspects of these celebrations.
Related News
New Line of Beech-Nut Toddler Foods Makes 'No Junk Promise(TM)' to ... - Earthtimes (press release)
Toddler confirmed with meningococcal - The Australian
Toddler confirmed with meningococcalThe Australian, Australia -18 hours agoThe first symptoms include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet, and abnormal skin colour. Babies with the infection can be irritable, not feed properly ... |
Mother who left tot in car is charged - Daily Breeze
Mother who left tot in car is chargedDaily Breeze, CA -Sep 11, 2008Inga Lvovskaya, 37, allegedly left the toddler inside the black Infiniti SUV and went inside a Babies"R"Us store, reportedly to buy a gift, on Sept. 4. ... |
TODDLER SAVED FROM DROWNING BY 'BIG' SISTER - Lismore Northern Star
TODDLER SAVED FROM DROWNING BY 'BIG' SISTERLismore Northern Star, Australia -56 minutes agoBut her quick thinking and cool head helped save the youngster, who only last summer was one of the most confident water babies imaginable. ... |
Group reminds mothers: Breast milk is best for your babies - ABS CBN News
Urbandale library programs set for babies, toddlers - DesMoinesRegister.com
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month - MarketWatch
October is Down Syndrome Awareness MonthMarketWatch -4 hours agoA family may enroll their infant, toddler or preschooler in Fraser School(R), an inclusive early childhood center serving children 6 weeks to 6 years of age ... |
Leading Child Development Experts Will Gather in Los Angeles to ... - PR Web (press release)
Botox and toyboys, maybe. But rule more babies out - Irish Independent
Botox and toyboys, maybe. But rule more babies outIrish Independent, Ireland -Sep 27, 2008I can't possibly be old, I have a baby/toddler. I was 32 when Number Two was born and evidently my current mid-life crisis is so apparent that I look like a ... |
Playroom helps blind babies light up - The Australian
Playroom helps blind babies light upThe Australian, Australia -Sep 29, 2008A "tactile path" helps stimulate a toddler's ability to distinguish different surfaces using the soles of their feet, while in another corner they can jump ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Baby Shower Gifts Are Not All The Same
When one talk about shower baby gifts, it is clear they can vary from the very practical to the extremely bizarre. If you have ever been invited to a baby shower, you know that there are two different kinds of presents you can give the new mom: the gifts that impress her and are useless, and the very practical stuff. If you choose the latter is best, as things given are useful and the shower baby gifts are about having a baby. When we speak about useful baby gifts, we refer to casseroles, or anything you can just heat up to prepare dinner, or the book "What to Expect the First Year", in which the mother can find a lot of useful information. Commonly baby gifts can vary from extremely practical things, like disposable diapers to things that are bizarre such as a grinder for turning steamed veggies into homemade baby food.
The Baby Crib: Your Child?s First Bed
It is up to you as parents whether you want a baby crib to be your child's first bed or not. Some parents are proponents of "co-sleeping," in which a baby sleeps in bed with the parents, sometimes up to two or more years. Other parents choose a baby crib for their child to sleep in, especially if their baby is an active sleeper or makes lots of noise at night. Remember, it is up to you--don't let anyone make you feel bad about your decision.
Potty Training Readiness Signals - Is Your Child Ready To Be Potty Trained?
So, you are thinking about potty training your toddler and you want to make sure that your child is ready.
The Best Birth Gift
If you are thinking of hiring a nanny, no doubt you plan to choose her very carefully. We have all watched some of these scaring videos showing nannies bullying the children they were expected to take care of. Of course, to choose a woman who will not ill-treat your kid is the first point to consider. Fortunately, most nannies meet this requirement. So, which other points to come to?
Baby Expense: What To Do When Baby
As you probably know, baby expense should be high on your list of things to plan for, before the baby comes. There is no cheap way to have and raise a baby: it takes sweat, work, lots of cash, patience, and more to have a happy, healthy baby. Some studies suggest that you will spend anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000 for your kids by the time they are 18 years old, not including private schools, special lessons, or college.
Baby Shower Game Distraction
The best baby games for baby showers to entertain all of your guests and let the mother-to-be benefit from the experience of others. Your baby shower then will become more than a party. It's an entertaining learning experience.
Car Seats and Newborn Babies
I remember very clearly the first day we brought our oldest daughter home from the hospital. Lucky for me my husband is a car seat technician, so I had no worries that we had installed our Graco infant carrier correctly. Interestingly, my husband procrastinated installing the seat until the day I was scheduled to go in for my induction (my baby was a week overdue).
Baby Shower for Second Baby
Having a shower for second baby used to be considered greedy and unacceptable. But now it is not only acceptable, but it is actually necessary for some families to have a baby shower for second baby. Though mom-to-be may already have a lot of the major items from her first baby. Crib, stroller, high chair - she will need many other items.
Baby Shower Gifts
As a host, you need to consider the people that will be on the invitation list. Sometimes, finances are tight and buying gifts are tough. You have a couple of options. First, you could set the tone on the invitations advising that while gifts are appreciated, they are not mandatory. This way, people know they can attend the shower but not feel embarrassed if they come without a gift.
Planning the Perfect Baby Shower
One of the most exciting events an expecting mother looks forward to is celebrating her baby shower.
Planning a Baby Shower
This article has information for the novice as well as the more experienced. Information is provided pertaining to when to plan the shower, who should give the shower and how to go about planning a baby shower. Also included is some historical background of baby showers for you entertainment.
Baby Gift Registry
A furniture gift registry helps us streamline to the best choice. Through an online gift registry, parents can find out exactly what is required for their baby. The guests could also use the help of the gift registry to make the choice of that perfect gift. It takes 15 minutes to create a furniture baby gift registry and the amount and variety of baby furniture you could possible see has to been seen to be believed. While going through an online gift registry, you could see furniture which would serve the needs of the baby. For example, High chairs are something which would help the baby eat comfortably.
First Birthday Party: Game and Activities for Little Guests
Do you want your baby to be thrilled by his or her first Birthday Party? Then you need to come up with interesting ideas for party games and activities. It's not a problem to entertain one child, but if your guests are brining their babies too, then you better plan party activities in advance. Here are some ideas of the games to play during the party.
Childrens Gift Ideas: Babies, Toddlers, and Beyond
When your time comes to shower a new mom or family with baby gifts, keep in mind that not all gifts are created equally.
Everything You Need To Know About Your Baby?s Teething Process
The teething process can be a difficult period for both the baby and the parents. The process starts at different ages depending on each baby but usually by age of 3 most infants have their primary teeth in place. If by one year your baby still has not got his first tooth it would be wise to see your doctor and dentist.
What Happens When During the Baby Shower?
To be precise, anything can happen anytime as long as everyone enjoys it. There is no right way or wrong way-anything goes well. But the idea should be to make everyone comfortable and make the mom-to-be feel proud and happy at her shower.
The Personality Traits of an Aquarius Baby
Your Aquarius Baby..
Breastfeeding A Baby
Breastfeeding Your Baby..
Baby Shower Recipes
Baby shower recipes are available on the Internet and in various cook books. It is a great idea to have a wide variety of snacks, drinks, and desserts since people enjoy so many different things. Most people who are planning a baby shower plan a few simple appetizers. Some juice, pop, perhaps a punch, and some desserts such as cake and cookies. Try to stick to the baby shower theme and basic flavors and your culinary work will be appreciated by all that attend.
A New Baby can be Expensive!
A new baby brings a lot of joy and hope to a family. It also brings some uncertainty. You may be concerned that your home is too small, or that you need a larger car, among others. Whether you are expecting your first or your fifth child, chances are that you need baby gear! There are hundreds of different items that you need when the baby arrives, and it is important to remember that stocking up doesn't mean you have to clean out the bank account. If you do a little bit of research beforehand, you can get everything that you need at a fraction of the retail price. My favorite money saving tool is the e-coupon. You can sign up for e-coupons at a variety of different retailers, and start savings instantly.
|