One Hundred Dollars a Month

One of my husband’s co-workers if having a baby… well, his WIFE is having a baby ;)…twins in fact.  That alone should earn her some sort of award, but since giving her a trophy seems weird, I am going to settle on a practical gift.  I like to give something useful, and my standard gift has always bee a case of diapers, a case of wipes and some handmade burp clothes, or a small toy for on top.

Over the years {and countless baby showers later}, I have seen some pretty creative gifts–some practical and some not so much.  Here’s a few of my favorites:

1. Sleep sacks.  These little zip-on blankets are like baby snuggies.  Baby stays warm and new mom doesn’t need to worry about baby getting tangled in blankets while sleeping.  {Do remember how nerve-wracking being a first time mom was?!}
2. Gift card to a photographer.  What mom doesn’t want to commemorate how perfect her baby is?  A picture package will help her do just that.
3. Gift certificate for a house cleaning.  Between sleep deprivation and a sudden influx of bouncers, cribs, changing pads, diapers, etc., keeping the house clean is near impossible.  About six weeks in, a new mom will think you are the most amazing human being in the world when a simple phone call results in someone else cleaning her house.  This is a great one to “go in” with someone else on–just ask around for a reputable cleaning company and throw a little cash their direction.
4. Freezer meals.  Adjusting to caring for a whole human being is hefty business–not having to cook is a huge load off.  Providing some freezer meals for new mom is huge.
5. Go Oprah on your gift and give a basket of “your favorite things.”  Every mom has their favorites–put your favorite brand of binkies, teethers, washclothes, onesies…or whatever you couldn’t live without when your babies were little.  You’re giving the gift of your experience along with usable items.
6. Red dancing shoes.  Okay, so I’ve never actually seen these gifted at a shower, but They. Are. Awesome.  What a seriously fun way to play with your little ones.
7. Baby mill.  Basically it’s a take-along baby food maker, so mom can grind up what ever is on her plate and make quick, easy homemade baby food on the go.
8. Gyroscopic Bowl.  These are those snack bowls that are virtually impossible to spill.  So, unless you know the new mom just loves vacuuming crushed gold fish out of the back seat of the car, you can rest assure she’ll appreciate this gift.
9. Stroller accessories.  Yep, you can outfit your stroller just like you would any room  in your house.  You can buy clip on cup holders, smartphone compartments, hooks for diaper bags…you name it, you can find a way to attach it to baby’s house on wheels.  And really, thank goodness, because man, babies need a lot of stuff.  {Ever wonder how the pioneers made it through baby rearing without a boppy, bouncer, etc?  I know I do.}
10. Clothing in bigger sizes.  I know how tempting it is to pick out those tiny little outfits, but most likely the baby will grow out of those in about two seconds, and mom and dad will need the next round of clothing in the wait.  Opt for a larger size {make sure to do the math and figure out what season baby is likely to be in when they are ready for that size}.

Those are pretty much my favorites.  What is YOUR favorite gift to give?  What was the BEST gift you received?

~Mavis