If you are attending a baby shower in the near future, warm up with a little baby shower bingo before you gift shop! Sure, you could order from the registry. Or you could consider the possibilities and come up with custom items to perfectly suit the new mom's tastes and habits.
If you are already a mom, baby shower bingo will help remind you of what you really wanted and needed when you first had a precious infant to snuggle. Why not go with a shower gift that has personal significance to you? No doubt the new mom-to-be will appreciate your hard- won insight. And if your gift choice is too much for your budget, find some friends or family members to go in on it with you.
When you are the gift-giver, remember, thoughtfulness counts. When I was a new mother, anything that helped me get hands-free was appreciated most. I did not even realize how much a sling or backpack might help until my hands were no longer available. I also still recall some of the sweet stuffed animals and board books we received that were thoughtfully packaged or came with a supportive note.
No matter what you buy, remember to get gift receipts. If you buy a large item, consider adding a few inexpensive items to make a set. Or if you buy a little bit of everything rather than one thing, put the gifts in a container that will come in handy like a baby bathtub, a sealable garbage can, or a small laundry basket.
If you are unsure about a mother's position regarding feeding, diapering, and pacifiers, steer clear of those areas all together. Even if you are certain this mom would think breast was best or pacifiers are crucial, you'd better wait and let her make the call. Ditto with avoiding perfumed soaps or creams that might set off a sensitive skin reaction.
The most common shower gifts are adorable outfits, so try to think beyond that impulse. When it comes to shower shopping, think helpful, loving, and supportive and you can't go wrong. A little forethought and introspection will likely lead you to choices any new mother would cherish and this list can help. Happy shopping!
Sturdy and comfortable rocking chair
Changing table with plenty of bibs, washcloths and burp cloths
Car seat and a rolling carrier to go with it
Pack-up-and-go-anywhere playpen
High chair with a no-mess matt for underneath
Baby swing or bouncy seat
Bassinet with blankets
Stroller with stroller organizer
Stationary stand-up entertainer like an Exersaucer
Baby monitor
Baby carrier, sling or backpack
Baby bathtub, hooded towels, washcloths, and water toys
Mobiles for the crib and changing table
Baby food mill with food storage containers
A nuzzling pillow, like a Boppy, that doubles as a sitting-up pillow
Teethers, baby-safe feeder, rattles, toy chains and clips
Travel diaper bag with changing mat
Medical supplies, cold pack, thermometer, and medicine-dispensing dropper and sippy cup
Growth chart, memory book, and baby journal • Baby-proofing kit for the whole house
Baby plate, cup, bowl, sippy cup, and easy-to-hold cutlery
Onesies - sizes newborn to three-months, onesie extenders, and assorted mix-and-match socks
Board books and short illustrated classic children's books
Bouquet of food and restaurant gift certificates
Streaming subscriptions
10 Classic Baby Shower Board Books
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
The Wheels On The Bus by Jerry Smath
Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Annie Kubler
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle
Pat The Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
The Best Gift Of All
Go to a fabric store and order a large sheet of rubberized flannel. Cut the flannel into smaller pieces with pinking sheers that are just right for covering baby's changing station. These handy sheets will save parents lots of extra laundry duty!
Christina put a lot of mileage on that ol' Lazy Boy rocker, had her sanity saved on many occasions by a baby swing, and would have loved it if someone had gotten her a baby monitor.
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