Favorite baby gifts? Shower favor ideas???

[virginiamama]

I got so many great responses on a thread about graduation gifts I thought I'd ask here about baby gifts and party favors.

I'm going to have a new nephew! What were your favorite baby shower gifts you've given/gotten or wish you'd given/gotten. I'm pretty crafty. I made a diaper cake one time, and I plan on making a plaque with his name. The theme is classic pooh. I was thinking maybe a gift basket of something but I didn't want to do the usual baby bath, shampoo, etc. Something practical or creative would be good.

Also - any good baby shower party favor ideas? I made duck shaped soaps last time and they turned out cute but I don't know if anyone actually got any use out of them.

Thanks so much!

 

[lewdyan1]

Being a crafty group, this is a fun idea for a baby shower activity. Have some plain white diaper clothes and some fabric markers. Have the guest decorate the these spit-up clothes for the Mommy-to-be. This is especially good if the sex is known, and even more so if the name is known. Then the Mommy-to-be will have a usable reminder of her shower.

 

[virginiamama]

Have the guest decorate the these spit-up clothes for the Mommy-to-be.

See, I knew this was the right place to ask!!! That is a great idea lewdyan1!

 

[pattyT]

I just made this...
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/layouts/layout_images/581976.jpg
for a babyshower gift and it was a HUGE hit!
Everyone was amazed at how much stuff I could fit in there!

You could also make centerpieces with the quart size cans....

amazing things you can do with paper these days

CONGRATS btw!

 

[ljb9539]

one the same idea as lewdyan1 - we had the entire party decorate onesies of various sizes with fabric paint (non-toxic/etc) ---

As for a gift - I have built blank scrabooks where the mom just has to place the photos and write in the details...

Another idea is get a large gift bag (box/basket will work also) --- take a large clothesline and use clothespins to attached many outfits (we did various sizes starting small and going to big) --- then place it meatly in the bag ... tie the clothesline to a rubber duck that hangs out of the bad with a note attached that says "Pull Me" - then the mom will pull out a clothesline full of clothes

As for favors - edible is always good b/c then you can eat it... I personally am not one for nick naky things --- so something I can use - the other idea (we did this for our wedding) is instead of giving a favor donate it to a baby charity (Make a wish, local hospital, etc) and give little cards that instead of favors donations were made so a little one can meet Winnie the Pooh! Just an idea - Have fun! and Congats Auntie!

Laura

 

[Carolinagirl1063]

Classic Pooh! I did DDs room in that, stuff will be easy to find! My favorite shower gift was probably a gold bracelet and my favorite gift in the hospital was my best friend gave DD a sterling silver Pooh bank and gave me a silver charm bracelet with one starter charm...charm had booties with "A day to Remember" on one side and DDs name and date of birth on the other. DD and I both have keepsakes to remember her by forever. I like to give baby bathtubs filled with anything I can find I think they may like...rattles,books,onesies,powder,lotion,soap,shampoo,sleepers,drawer liners just stuff I like or can find on sale. I start buying stuff the minute I find they are expecting! I also think if you are buying clothes, buy the 6month or 9month size, everyone buys newborn or 3months, same with diapers.

 

[mskay]

...Have some plain white diaper clothes and some fabric markers. Have the guest decorate the these spit-up clothes for the Mommy-to-be...QUOTE]
Great idea. I'm gonna use this for the baby shower I'm hosting next weekend.

 

[TN Traveler]

I have 3 girls ages 14 in Aug, 9 and 6 in Sept. W/my oldest daughter we tried for 6 yrs to get pregnant went through all the infertility stuff. When we finally found out we were having a child, we were so excited we didn't care if she was a boy or a girl. As you can imagine we had a HUGE baby shower. One of the nicest things I rec'd was a laundry hamper full of useful things such as oneses, wipes, diapers, baby shampoo, hooded towels, etc. Another thing I got that I really appreciated was a bath set w/hooded towels, an bath mit and baby soap. I love hooded towels. Have no use for the wash cloths but love the towels.

After DD was about 3 mths old my mom's co-workers gave her a "Grandma Shower". Was her first grandbaby. By this time I had started feeding her formula and rec'd several cans of formula and pkgs of diapers. All the little outfits are cute but the formula and diapers helped the most!!

When the other 2 came along I really didn't need as much but loved getting the stretch and play outfits and diapers. I think diapers and wipes are probably the most sensible thing you can give a new mom. The outifts are nice and everyoen ohhs and ahhs over them but diapers help the most. Even if it's not the right size or brand you prefer, most places will allow you to swap for a different brand or size.

Another idea -- a friend of mine told me her grandmother hired a housekeeper to come in once every 2 weeks for 6 mths to clean house. That really helped her alot--especially during the first few weeks when your emotions are all messed up, you're recovering from delivery and everything is topsy turvy.

One gift I gave a girl at church that was expecting was a pack of 35 mm film, a disposable camera and a 4 x 6 picture frame. This was several years ago before everyone went digital but she said she really appreciated it b/c they had forgotten to buy film! She packed it in the bag to take to the hospital along w/the disposable.

Don't forget big brother or sister. When #2 daughter was on the way, a friend bought a t-shirt for #1 that said "I'm the Big Sister" She proudly wore that to the hospital the day after #2 was born!!

When I was in a younger Sunday School class at church it seemed someone was having a new baby every month. We would make a meal once a week for the next 2 or 3 weeks ater the new baby got home and deliver it to the family. That helps too.

Love the idea of the duck w/the clothesline and clothes. CUTE!!

Hope these are some helpful ideas!

Karen

 

[bclydia]

Let's see, I think two of my favourite gifts to receive as a new Mum were Robeez shoes and the Bumbo seat. Both are just so great. Already Matthew can sit up in his seat and watch what his sister is up to! I also love the "Lamaze" clutch cube. A great toy that Matthew is already showing interest in.
I think buying any baby clothes in a size less than 6 months is a total waste. I have several things -lovely things- that Matthew never wore because he just outgrew them before I had a chance to put him in them. If you're going to buy diapers, get size 3. Most babies wear size 3 for the longest time. Eleora was in them for over a year.
Hope that helps!
Lydia

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

The best gift I ever received was a case of newborn diapers. We went through tons of these.
We did a basket auction at school with baby stuff. I'm a cross stitcher so I did onsies with bears, lions, and a kangaroo. My mom knitted a blanket and we put in some hats, socks and bibs. We also did a christmas basket and these were to 2 top selling baskets in the auction. Walmart has outfits that are a jacket and pants. I have done cross stitch on these as well. Everyone loves these.
Don't forget bottles we didn't buy enough of those. We used tons of receiving blankets too.
Our bus driver is having a baby and I bought the cutest stuffed Dumbo at Target. They have some really nice vintage looking Disney stuff.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I too am a "practical gift" giver person. I hate to purchase wrapping paper etc because it ends up in the trash so I have taken to trying to find creative gift giving ideas. I have done the clothesline - huge hit and fun to do. If you know far enough in advance you can purchase clothes at clearance prices and it makes a great gift. I have also made boo boo bunnies with face clothes, baby face cloth lollipops, and the diaper cakes. I think the most fun is the diaper cakes because if you know the sex of the baby (which most do these days) it can alot of fun decorating - sock flowers, hair bows for girls, etc. Nice thing is presentation is really neat and everything is usuable - no waste. The best gift I recv'd as a mom to be was diapers, wipes and formula as you can never have too much and time to myself. My friends and family would "babysit" - even if I was just in the next room taking a nap or so that I could go to the store by myself and get a breather - this really does help to stay sane in those can't get a wink of sleep because by the time I fall asleep the baby needs to be fed again times Another best gift is a vaporizer - everyone seems to forget to register/ask for one but is a necessity with young ones - when I give this gift I also give infant tylenol, infant medicine dropper/syringe, thermometer, basically a sick kid kit.

 

[clh2]

My DD and I will be going to my cousin's baby shower in a few weeks. On the invite, we were asked if we could purchase a baby book, and inscribe it, instead of a baby shower card.

I personally think this is a great idea, because a nice greeting card already costs about $2-3. A book will probably set me back $5. The fact that the book will be used is great.

The people who planned my baby shower did a diaper cake. It was wonderful, and so practical. Every baby shower I've been involved in has also had a diaper cake for the table centerpiece.

Since you are a crafty person, do you know how to make the hooded-towel things? They start with a washcloth and a towel. They are very easy to make - requiring only 3 seams to be sewn. My DD actually made one for her 4th grade teacher, when she was having a baby.

I was at a baby shower that had these: Make cute little pink & blue "baby diaper favors" and filled them with little candies (M&M's, mini mints, etc.) for each guest. All you need for each one is a paper napkin and a little safety pin. Take a napkin, leave it folded as it is when you buy it and then fold it in half again at opposite corners, making it into a "triangle", bring the three points together (middle point first, followed by the opposite two) , overlapping them slightly so that it forms a little pouch and pin it at that point, then fill the "little diaper" the candy. There were really cute, the shower hosts filled them with pink and blue pastel buttermints, but these sound more putsy than I like.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

A cute favor idea I did for my stepsister was:
Clean baby food jars - I had two under 2 so I had plenty myself to supply.
I found a recipe for the gel air fresheners that you buy at the store - you purchase the scent from a craft store and we did baby powder scent. Used a glue gun to put blue (she was having a boy) lace around the top of baby food jars and made gel fresheners for the favors. I spray painted covers because I wanted to close the jars and put the in boxes but you could even just place them onto tables as is. I completed this by putting them each into a "chinese" food takeout container decorated with baby stamps and added a couple of Lindt chocolates (the blue wrapped ones again) to the box. W/O the chocolates I think 50 items cost less than .50 each and with the chocolate - because I worked next door to a store they gave me their discount so they were maybe 1.00 per favor. Unique and fun and could just do the fresheners because there cute enough on their own. Other ideas I came across while planning 2 showers are storybook themed shower - each table centerpiece is a storybook or every one brings their favorite storybook as part of the gift. Use the baby food jars but make a pin cushion out of it.
I have also wanted to make a memory quilt but haven't had the chance yet. Purchase cloth markers/paint cut up or purchase quilting squares. Make a separate table for just this stuff and have all the guests at the shower make a square for the baby quilt - thoughts, wishes, love grandma, whatever the guest chooses to do on their square. Then put the quilt together and present to mom after the baby is born. Great keepsake idea instead of a sign in/guestbook and useable or hang in nursery.

 

[babylisa4]

At my husband's office when a guy is having a baby- they always do a Daddy's diaper shower. Everyone is supposed to bring a bag of diapers. Its easy fo working folks and they just tell everyone to buy diapers, all sizes, any brand and one day the dad walks in and his cube is filled with diapers. Then on that same day they have cake but they just don't do all of the foo foo stuff like you might with a lady's baby shower.