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OK. I need a great idea or two for a baby shower gift for a baby girl. Here is the deal.
Mom is 18, dad is 19. They both just graduated from high school. They just got married. Pretty much dirt poor, but are both working min wage jobs. The state will pay their childcare.
They don't need anything at all for the baby. Seriously. Mom won a baby contest off the radio and got brand new EVERYTHING-including bed thata converts to a toddler then a twin, 2 carseats (parents each have a vehicle, but vehicles actually belong to their parents), stroller, dresser with changing table top, a years supply of diapers, bottles, warmer, diaper pail, clothing, toys.....literally she has it all. (the prize she won was a $1500 shopping trip to babies r us) In fact, she still has a store credit of several hundred dollars left to spend.
I am trying to find a gift that would be meaningful besides cash, yet still needed. I thought of a savings bond, but most likely mom and dad will cash it in, so may as well do cash. Plus, since they also get WIC and food stamps to help out, any cash or food items they receive at the shower HAS to be reported to the state, and will come out of their next months food stamps allowance (which is only $84)--EVEN if it is given for the baby in the babies name, since the baby will be a member of their househould...
One lady at church is a photographer and is giving them 3 photo shoots with packages.
I will add, these kids are really trying. They are not the party type, not smoking or drinking their money, thinking ahead (last weekend he built several raised garden beds - they plan to grow part of their food). They are renting a small 3 bedroom home, with a yard, thru an assisted rent program.
Any ideas??
In addition I always give parents a hand crochet baby blanket (I usually make 1 a week) and a gift certificate for a free infant cpr class.
Mom is 18, dad is 19. They both just graduated from high school. They just got married. Pretty much dirt poor, but are both working min wage jobs. The state will pay their childcare.
They don't need anything at all for the baby. Seriously. Mom won a baby contest off the radio and got brand new EVERYTHING-including bed thata converts to a toddler then a twin, 2 carseats (parents each have a vehicle, but vehicles actually belong to their parents), stroller, dresser with changing table top, a years supply of diapers, bottles, warmer, diaper pail, clothing, toys.....literally she has it all. (the prize she won was a $1500 shopping trip to babies r us) In fact, she still has a store credit of several hundred dollars left to spend.
I am trying to find a gift that would be meaningful besides cash, yet still needed. I thought of a savings bond, but most likely mom and dad will cash it in, so may as well do cash. Plus, since they also get WIC and food stamps to help out, any cash or food items they receive at the shower HAS to be reported to the state, and will come out of their next months food stamps allowance (which is only $84)--EVEN if it is given for the baby in the babies name, since the baby will be a member of their househould...
One lady at church is a photographer and is giving them 3 photo shoots with packages.
I will add, these kids are really trying. They are not the party type, not smoking or drinking their money, thinking ahead (last weekend he built several raised garden beds - they plan to grow part of their food). They are renting a small 3 bedroom home, with a yard, thru an assisted rent program.
Any ideas??
In addition I always give parents a hand crochet baby blanket (I usually make 1 a week) and a gift certificate for a free infant cpr class.
But a help-them-out, low key and non-reportable thing to give them would be laundry detergent. Not a fun thing, but tremendously useful. Maybe a clothesline and clothespins, too.
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