Help! Need budget ideas for very cute baby gift..

[Trixiezzz]

My DH just got laid off and we are struggling just to pay our bills. I just got a baby announcement from a fairly close relative ~ and I'd like to send a nice gift. But I can't afford to go out and buy something.

Have any of you seen any sort of clever or creative gift that a new mom would really like. I am kind of crafty and can sew, etc. What do nowaday's moms like???

I'd appreciate ANY ideas!!!

 

[ZPT1022]

If you live close by and know their tastes, call them and tell them that you'll be dropping off dinner on such and such a night and then drop off a hot freshly made dinner. I had one person do that for me when my twins were born and it was such a nice thing to not have to cook that night when I was so busy with newborns. She brought a lasagna, fresh baked bread and a salad. It was nice that she had called that morning and told me so I didn't bother taking something out or getting something started.

 

[deva]

My DH just got laid off and we are struggling just to pay our bills. I just got a baby announcement from a fairly close relative ~ and I'd like to send a nice gift. But I can't afford to go out and buy something.

Have any of you seen any sort of clever or creative gift that a new mom would really like. I am kind of crafty and can sew, etc. What do nowaday's moms like???

I'd appreciate ANY ideas!!!

I just made the no sew fleece blankets for Project Linus for the Give a Day promotion and now plan on making a few as baby gifts (directions are on the Project Linus website). I remember that as a new mother I could never have enough blankets and all 3 of my kids have fleece blankets as their favorites - so soft, cuddly and warm (my DS8 got his as a gift when he was born and he still uses it). Walmart has some very nice fleece for under $5/yd. You might also find some on clearance at fabric stores this time of year.

 

[belle's mom]

What about a scrapbook? You could make the pages ahead of time and she just needs to put a picture in each spot. Maybe a different page for each month of the first year and a space to record the milestones of each month.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I love the cooking idea too. Or are you crafty at all? I knit my friends hats or baby booties. Homemade gifts are the most special when it comes to babies (I think). You could easily make them a little no-sew fleece blanket for cheap. There are some great websites if you do a search and fleece would only cost you a few bucks for a yard of fabric.

 

[FarmDisney]

I also love the meal idea. Also, you could make a coupon(s) for babysitting. My father-in-law gives me two every year for my birthday - one for overnight and one for day time use. I love it and look forward to it every year!

 

[emh1129]

If you live close by and know their tastes, call them and tell them that you'll be dropping off dinner on such and such a night and then drop off a hot freshly made dinner. I had one person do that for me when my twins were born and it was such a nice thing to not have to cook that night when I was so busy with newborns. She brought a lasagna, fresh baked bread and a salad. It was nice that she had called that morning and told me so I didn't bother taking something out or getting something started.

That's a great idea, especially if you know ahead of time their likes/dislikes, etc.
Budget-friendly and very helpful!

 

[Marianne0310]

Take a look at these two links, they are free sewing patterns.

I hope these help.

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/free/Free-YCSTProjectPart-2 Burpies.htm


http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/free/Free-Receiving-Blanket-Part-1YCST-Project.htm

 

[micheleq]

I agree! Dinner is the best gift ever!

Five of my friends and I were pregnant two years ago and all due within 5 months of each other (first baby was late Jan. and the last was late June). All of us, and the other women in the playgroup made a schedule and did dinner drop offs after each baby was born. I had a dinner dropped off every other night for almost two weeks. It was the best gift ever.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well if you sew:

maybe a toy tote bag with babys name

book tote bag with babys name, (appliqued etc)

a nursing cover up type thing. I have seen them advertised for at least $30 up etc.

Cheap frame where you can write babys name, birthdate etc, with a paint pen etc.

 

[poohs_hunny]

I have been to quite a few baby showers, but I haven't seen this done until my sister-in-law's a couple of months ago when TWO people did it. You can make it as budget as you want. They took a clothesline and clothespins and pinned baby clothes/accessories to it. You could do more accessories than outfits to keep the cost down (socks, bibs, booties, onesies, etc.). When she opened them, it was so cute since the line just kept on coming! Everyone loved it!

 

[boymommyx2]

a nursing cover would be really easy to make if you sew
A nice blanket or lovie- minky
anything personalized - burp cloths, bibs, onsies etc. You can do an applique with a sewing machine - don't need a monogram machine. They also have lots of stuff at JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby to make cute baby things.
a decorated wipes case in a really cute fabric
a diaper cake or wreath

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

I have been to quite a few baby showers, but I haven't seen this done until my sister-in-law's a couple of months ago when TWO people did it. You can make it as budget as you want. They took a clothesline and clothespins and pinned baby clothes/accessories to it. You could do more accessories than outfits to keep the cost down (socks, bibs, booties, onesies, etc.). When she opened them, it was so cute since the line just kept on coming! Everyone loved it!

I just did this for the last 3 showers I went to. You can get a huge roll of jute at Joanne's for $1.99, clothespins at Dollar Tree, and a laundry basket at Walmart for a few bucks too. If you go to Target they sell the Carter's triple pack of onesies (I think they are on clearance right now too!), bibs, and socks that all match. The set I bought said "I love Mommy" "I love Daddy" and "Aren't I cute?" and the bibs said the same. I pinned them all to the clothesline in order with the onesie, then the bib, then the socks. Repeat. I saved the packaging in case they wanted to return any of it and put it in the bottom of the basket. Simply stack the clothes gently on top of each other. I used a small cupcake card I had and wrote "pull up" on it and taped it to the line. Viola! No need to wrap, just add some tissue.

Homemade burp towels. Get a 12 pack of Gerber prefolded cloth diapers ($9-10). Go to Joanne's and get a few prints of flannel or cotton (I got 1/2 yard in 3 different patterns) they were just on sale for $1.99 a yard. Use a sewing machine to sew the material to the middle of the diaper. OR buy a few yards of ric-rak or finishing ribbon (no wire) and sew down the ribbons around the edges, or down the sides of the middle section. They sell super cute ribbons with little feet, hands, it's a boy, it's a girl, and baby prints at Hobby Lobby and they are 50% off all the time. They would be $1-2 for each roll of ribbon. I can't tell you how nice it is to have a ton of these especially when a bunch are being washed. I only registered for a few sets and it wasn't enough. You could also easily add these to a clothes line for cuteness.

ETA: I totally forgot one! If she's a nursing mom, you can get a nursing cover for about $10 from uddercovers.com. Just use the code "onefree" at the checkout, and pay shipping and handling. I just ordered a new one in December and use it all the time. I got the black and white one, Rockwell. They aren't the fanciest of fabrics but they get the job done.

 

[Forevryoung]

I sew and when my best friend had her son, I started making a ton of baby items. Her favorite has definitely been the HUGE flannel receiving blankets. They can be used to wrap baby in, put on the floor during play time, cover baby outside... These blankets are definitely thicker/warmer than regular receiving blankets because they are 2-ply. After a year of weekly washing, they have held up amazingly well.

To make: I buy 2 matching 1.5 yards of flannel, prewash and then square off, sew wrong sides facing and turn right side out and then top stitch.... use coupon to get fleece for 2.50 a yard at Joann's and make 2 blankets totaling $12.50 and you will have a little left over for burp-cloths etc

 

[dougsmom98]

If you are crafty, check out this blog that a co-worker of mine does. Be sure to scroll down because she has baby things in between non-baby things.
http://www.craftyteacherlady.blogspot.com/
I think she does some great things that you could probably copy if you can sew.

 

[irisesareblue]

How about a polar fleece baby quilt? I found a pattern on the "Project Linus" website - I hope this link works:

http://www.projectlinus.org/patterns/pdf/NoSewFB.pdf

It looks relatively easy and would be cheap if you found the fabric on sale.

 

[Ennazus8810]

As a new mom I love the scrapbook idea!!!!!!! I want to do one, just don't have the time. If all I had to do was insert pictures, it would be sooooo much easier.

 

[finz2left]

I could NEVER have enough bibs.... babies spit up a TON and if you could make cute ones...even better .

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

I sew and when my best friend had her son, I started making a ton of baby items. Her favorite has definitely been the HUGE flannel receiving blankets. They can be used to wrap baby in, put on the floor during play time, cover baby outside... These blankets are definitely thicker/warmer than regular receiving blankets because they are 2-ply. After a year of weekly washing, they have held up amazingly well.

To make: I buy 2 matching 1.5 yards of flannel, prewash and then square off, sew wrong sides facing and turn right side out and then top stitch.... use coupon to get fleece for 2.50 a yard at Joann's and make 2 blankets totaling $12.50 and you will have a little left over for burp-cloths etc

This is an awesome idea! When my son was born I used our flannel receiving blankets all the time for everything but wrapping him up (he was a big baby). I always wished I had bigger ones.

I also agree with the dinner idea. I also like the idea of making muffins/cookies/granola bars. I was so tired the first month I could barely heat up food when I was nursing and ravenous.

 

[sherry7]

In case you decide not to make something, check out your local Target. I was at mine today, and they had a lot of baby stuff on clearance.

Do you crochet? A friend recently sent me a beautiful handmade crocheted baby blanket. I actually cried when I opened it.

As an expecting mother, I would love the idea of the dinners dropped by my house. I would make some sort of cute coupon/certificate for it though to give her.