ALT-7 Great Gift Ideas for a Baby Shower
Baby showers are a great way to celebrate a new life and to spotlight the mom-to-be. Friends and family come together, the room is decorated, yummy foods and tasty beverages are prepared, and gifts are given. It's as old as humanity. When you are invited to a baby shower, you will want to bring a gift that will be appreciated and memorable.
The first question to ask yourself, when selecting a gift, is whether or not this is the expectant mother's first child. First-time moms need everything: furniture, clothes, diapers, wipes, bedding, strollers, you name it. Moms who already have children usually already have many of the bigger items. You also need to keep in mind the type of person you are buying for. Many people these days are feeling overwhelmed with "stuff" and even the most well-intended knick-knack may find itself sent to the local thrift store (which is actually a great place to shop).
Consumable gifts are the most useful and can be presented in an attractive way. Many mothers-to-be are opting for cloth diapers to prevent diaper rash and land-fill problems, and these can be gifted as an adorable "cake" made from cloth diapers rolled together and "decorated" with diaper pins and little washcloth and baby sock "flowers". Everyone will love to look at it and the new mom will be grateful for both the diapers and the effort. Items used each day, such as lotion, wipes, powder, and ointments can all be collected into a beautiful basket for a useful, as well as attractive baby shower gift.
Service gifts that help the expecting mom feel pampered are always nice. Massages, dinners, spa visits, makeovers, manicures and pedicures, and babysitting "coupons" are great ways for mom to get a much needed break at a time when sleep is in short supply. In the same way, homemade frozen meals, bubble bath baskets complete with pumice stone and scented candles, or maid service will all be greatly appreciated.
Other unique baby shower gifts can include a certificate good for a portrait of the new family, an offer to pay for the birth announcements, or, a DVD copy of the humorous movie, Nine Months, in which it is the father who must endure the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth.
As with any gift giving situation, keep the recipient in mind when you shop for a gift. Find out if they have registered anywhere and be sure to leek at what they have listed. You might be surprised at what they really want. Be creative and thoughtful. It's not how much you spend, but how well thought out your gift is that will make it appreciated and memorable.
