inexpensive baby shower gift?

**amomof4** · 01-08-2005, 12:50 AM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

I saw a very cute homemade blanket wrapped around a baby at church last week. All it was was a piece of fleece with an edging sewed around it. If you bought a piece, you could probably get 2 blankets out of it.

I gave flannel blankets with a crochet edging. I had bought premad blankets, but the next time I will make them out of the flannel I already have.

I usually stock up on baby items when they are on clearance at walmart. That way, I have something to give when I need it.

**akaivyleaf** · 01-08-2005, 04:17 AM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

A Bottle Warmer, one they can plug in, next to the bed so they don't have to go trudging to the kitchen, or at least they don't have to stay in the kitchen if they go to retrieve a bottle. Even if she is breast feeding, a bottle warmer will come in handy. You can find one in the dollar store even (If you're in the states), and some even come with a car kit so you can plug it in the cigarette lighter too.

Another practical gift is a bouncer or a jumper. It gives the baby something to do so that mom and dad can get things done around the house and keep the baby close. I saw one just this week for 20.00 at big lots. I brought it, I'm sure one of my friends will get pregnant this year and a 20.00 gift is about my limit. It was a nationally recognized and approved by consumer affairs brand. Who cares that it was last years model... It still bounces the baby.

**lieweheksie** · 01-08-2005, 04:58 AM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

Try and buy something for the baby past the first 3 months- everyone buys baby sizes but some babies are rather large and grow quickly- it's also nice to have clothes when the baby gets bigger and has grown out of all the other shower presents-I usually buy on the sales-lovely clothes cheap price
If you don;t have the time or skill to knit look for handmade garments at craft fairs, and senior citizens fundraisers

**PrincessPerky** · 01-08-2005, 06:22 AM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

As a breastfeeding mother I can say the only use I got out of a bottle warmer was when I watched my neighbors breast fed kid for a time, and for that time it was an absolute lifesaver! I certainly never went to the effort when I was always the right temperature. Though if she is going to use formula it would come in handy I guess, but why not just use warm tap water?

Also having had lots of gifts in the past few years, I can say that blankets are oh so cute, and oh so common a gift. Also the clothes, if you know what the kid is, boy or girl, you can prolly get something but how many green outfits can a kid wear? And I have found that most of the time my newborns wore a teeshirt and diaper, nothing else. So most of the clothes were maybe worn once until late month 2 when they started rolling over and getting around more. So I second the buy big thing. but they sure to get big ooos and awws at the baby shower.

Big equipment type stuff: I never used a sling until I found the perfect one which took a looong time. The one I use and love is a Mayawrap (www.mayawrap.com ?).
Bouncers were usefull for the first 2 months, but the bells and whistles of all myfriends bouncers broke very quickly. Just the bouncy part is a must, the vibrating part is nice, the fish or what have you is not neccessary, though don't try telling a first time mom that.

Some kids like swings some kids hate them, they take up alot of room for something that may or may not be liked. Same with playpens, though it is more the mom who likes or dislikes more than the kid.

I can say the most useful thing I recieved was an extra crib sheet and a waterproof mattress pad. Also diapers.

In the toy department I recieved some wonderful things, the most awesome were ones that grew with my kids, like boomerings(7.99) that were rattles early on and attatched toys to me later on. Also teether type rattles(tootsie footsie 4.99, or Ring Around 9.99), noise and tracking for the younger kid, relief from pain for the older one, and colors recognition for later. Also the worlds greatest gift was a set of stacking cups (measure up cups, 10.99) that is volumetrically correct, so my son still plays with them and is working on adding and such with them. they are great for sorting colors, stacking whatever, and early on they were fun to watch fall down. (I had to stack them at first)

There are a ton more toys, like a pegboard with stars that rattle, and a awesome hide inside, kids love the peek a boo effect, and a stacking tower that is all soft, so babys don't bang their heads when learning to move their arms. (around 20 each)

All those toys are Discovery Toys, I have a website if you want it, but I recomend them even if I didn't. I only sell them to get the discount. You can google it and find a billion reps, or I can leave my link here if you want it. The reason I specifically like DT stuff is the lifetime guarantee, the quality, especially if you stick with classics on the line, and almost all of the toys keep kids occupied for years, non of that 'oops kid out grew the toy in less than a year'.

**akaivyleaf** · 01-08-2005, 12:18 PM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

I know people who didn't like to breastfeeed in public and would express and then warm the bottles up in the car when they went on trips, thus my suggestion. No harm intended since you're absolutely right, mom is always the right temperature.

I've also known breastfeeding moms who went back to work, and expressed, therefore requiring a warmer. For a dollar, can't beat it. That's cheaper than running water until it heated up.

**DivaJen** · 01-08-2005, 02:44 PM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

Foam letters for the bathtub. They're cheap, kids love them and they're educational to boot. My DD loved hers! I'm sure you could find them in any baby aisle or store. If you wanted to do a little more, tuck in a plastic bath book, maybe some wash cloths or a hooded towel.

**PrincessPerky** · 01-08-2005, 04:08 PM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

I didn't think it was bad that you suggested the warmer, I am sorry if I sounded that way, just that you gotta check which kind of breastfeeding mom you have. Come to think of it, most new moms wont breastfeed in public, well here in America that I have noticed. Too worried about guys whos only exposure is R and X rated movies. But that is a whole 'nother rant of mine.

Like I said I used one for my neighbors breast milk for her kid. Was an absolute neccessity for the first few months, well I didn't have it the first month and man he was mad! I was so used to the instant feed with my kids I had no idea how to get a bottle warmed and thawed fast enough! I am sorry but I have no idea how formula mothers do it.

**Momtwo** · 01-08-2005, 05:06 PM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

How about making a cute gift basket with items that you could pick up with doubled coupons like:

Baby Lotion
Baby Oil
Baby Food
Baby Wipes
Other Baby Products

And throw in some things that you could pick up at the $1. store.

Washcloths
Diaper Pins
Bibs
Etc.

**marla** · 01-09-2005, 07:37 AM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

Thank you for all the suggestions. They're exactly what I needed to get my creative juices flowing. I just didn't want to get the same old thing that everyone else would be getting.

**Razzy** · 03-28-2005, 07:38 PM

Re: inexpensive baby shower gift?

The best baby shower gift any parent can get is diapers and burp clothes. When you give diapers they don't have to be the newborn ones, get them anysize because even though the baby will not fit into them today the baby will eventually grow into them and the parents will be grateful for not having to buy a bag diapers.

Razzy

inexpensive baby shower gift?