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The Best (and Worst!) Baby Shower Gifts

November 26, 2020 | Leave a Comment

baby shower gifts

Baby showers. Some love them, some hate them. While I love buying things for little people, I dislike attending baby showers. Nothing against the expecting family, I really just hate everything about traditional baby shower games. I’m at the age where there is a stark increase in the amount of showers I get invited to, though.

Between the number of showers I’ve attended, and the ones I’ve been on the receiving end of, I feel like a bit of a baby shower expert, and I’m here to give you my opinion on the best, and wors,t baby shower gifts.

Best Baby Shower Gifts

There are some baby gifts that are more useful than others.  These are the ones that almost every new parent will appreciate.

Large, Expensive Gifts

First time parents will likely welcome large, expensive gifts that they have on their registry such as a stroller, crib, playpen, and rocking chair.  These gifts are usually too expensive for one person to buy on their own, so feel free to chip in with other people and give a group gift.

When we were expecting our first, my co-workers went together and bought our stroller/car seat combo.  I was so glad that we didn’t have to buy this ourselves because our money was tight then.

Baby Carrier

baby shower gifts

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Some babies are only consoled when their parents hold them.  This can lead to both tired arms and frustration.  Getting anything done around the house is difficult when the baby fusses as soon as she’s put down.  A baby carrier can be a fabulous gift because it gives parents the opportunity to keep the baby close AND get things done around the house.

Restaurant Gift Certificate

No matter what kind of birth you have, the perfect natural drug free delivery or complicated c-section, no new mom, experienced or not, feels like cooking in those early days. Life is chaotic and having a gift certificate or two to fall back on is a huge help!

Clothes the Kid Can Grow Into

Too many people will show up with exclusively newborn clothes.  Sure, they’re cute, but they’re also impractical.  All three of my babies were nine to ten pounds at birth.  They never fit in newborn clothes, and they only stayed in size 0-3 month clothes for about the first four weeks.  Had I gotten many outfits in those sizes, they would have been wasted.

Having a few outfits/PJ’s in larger sizes the kid can grow into is always appreciated. Kids grow fast, so they’ll get into that cute outfit sooner than you think!  They’ll likely stay in the larger size outfits longer, too.

Burp Pads/Wipes

Newborns make an insane amount of mess. They vomit and spit up everywhere, all of which requires being cleaned up. No mom can have enough burp pads/wipes/bibs for kids since they will go through about 25,721 per day. They also get stained beyond recognition and eventually tossed, so don’t spend too much money on them.

Diapers

Kids need diapers in many sizes. Find out if the parents plan on using disposable or cloth before buying, though.  Even if they get a lot of diapers, it is a gift always well appreciated.

Worst Shower Gift Ideas

And then there are the gifts that well meaning friends and family give you that are, honestly, worthless.

Nursing Bras

Unless you’re in the change room with the new mom, there is no way you’ll get this right. If you think it’s a gift mom would like and want though, get a gift certificate instead.

Expensive or Impractical Baby Clothes

baby shower gifts

Photo by Luke Michael on Unsplash

Babies, especially newborns, are messy. They do not need fancy, expensive and fussy clothes! You are literally wasting money when you buy these clothes, no matter how cute. Same goes for newborn shoes. Unless the kid is walking (usually past 1 year), they don’t need shoes with proper soles. Even in the winter, small children don’t need them; most baby snowsuits will take care of foot coverage.

Likewise, avoid impractical baby clothes.  When I was expecting my first baby, a co-worker bought me a towel and a baby bathrobe.  Sure, the set was cute as can be, but how practical is struggling with a baby to put on a bathrobe only to dry the baby off and put on his clothes?  I returned that gift before I even had the baby.

Non-seasonal baby clothes

Find out when the kid (should) be born before buying seasonal clothes. If the child is born in December there’s a good chance they won’t still be in newborn size swimwear come July. Pay attention to sizes when buying such items.

A Word about Baby Registries

If the parents did create a registry, look it up. Chances are they spent time to figure out what would work and what they need for their family. Sometimes, showers aren’t the best time to be reinventing the wheel, so-to-speak. If they took the time to research a monitor they liked, for example, don’t bother buying a different one because you liked it more; there’s a good chance it will end up getting exchanged.

One More Thought on Gifts

It’s not to say new moms think of everything, though. As a mom myself, there were things I received from experienced friends and family that I never would have thought of and was so appreciative of.  If you go this route, just make sure to include a gift receipt so they can return the item if it turns out not to be something they would want.

Final Thoughts

If you are invited to a baby shower, keep in mind some of the best baby shower gifts to give.  I still remember which of my friends and family gave me the gifts I most appreciate and found  most useful.  Now, when I attend a baby shower, I try to do the same for new moms.

What is your favorite gift to give for a baby shower?

Read More

5 Ways to Add Eco-Friendly Baby Products to Your Routine

After the Shower: How to Save Money with a Young Baby

5 Printable Baby Shower Games

 

Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Shopping Tagged With: Baby, baby carrier, baby expenses, baby gifts, best baby shower gifts, worst baby shower gifts

A Look at Baby Carriers

May 8, 2013 | 1 Comment

beco butterfly carrierThis weekend I finally bought myself a good baby carrier. I like to take walks with baby when the weather is nice and we’re big on camping in the summer, sometimes a stroller isn’t always a great option. A stroller is not ideal in some situations (campground) but for me, most of the time it just bothers my wrists. I suffered from sever carpal tunnel in my pregnancy and still feel some of the effects today, pushing the stroller can be a pain, quite literally.

 

Ring Sling

When baby was a newborn I used my ring-sling religiously. Though I still like the ring-sling, it was never a great option for any real movement like hiking. I still throw it in my bag when we’re out and about in case baby girl gets fussy and just wants to be held. The ring sling can do multiple positions but again isn’t an option if you plan on breaking a good sweat.

 

Infant Carrier

Aside from my ring sling I had an infant carrier that accommodated babies up to 18 pounds. Though my daughter is only 17 pounds, she is much too heavy for me to use this carrier comfortably. This was nice option though in her early days when we would go for our hour-long walks around the neighborhood but as she started gaining weight the carrier wasn’t offering enough support for the front carry position. After a few minutes I would begin to feel the discomfort in my back from lack of support and the straps digging into my shoulders. I knew I needed to look into a better quality carrier that offered more support if I wanted to continue to carry her while we walked.

 

Thank You Online Classifieds

The carrier that I had my eye on was the Beco Butterfly. The price range was anywhere between $150-$180, not cheap, but after much research I had decided it was the one I wanted. Knowing I would use it often, I started saving my pennies to buy one.

This past week one popped up on our online classifieds listed for $80, only a year old. The pictures looked great. I emailed and asked if she would accept $65. She did and I picked it up on Friday. I am so happy with it. It has totally lived up to my expectations.

I did a 5k trail hike today and the carrier was perfect. With this carrier, you have the option of doing a front or back carry depending on what you and baby are feeling. Today baby girl is suffering from a bit of a sinus infection so I put her on a front carry so I could watch her, attached the hood that comes with it to protect her from the wind and sun, and let her nap our hike away. She sleeps while I hike, winning for both of us!

The Beco can accommodate infants as small as five pounds (using an insert) and toddlers as heavy as 45 pounds. The shoulder straps are very well padded and wide to help distribute the load. There is also a thick padding around the waist/back depending on what position you carry. I also like that there is a small pocket that I can stick my keys in.

If you’re in the market for a good baby carrier I highly recommend this carrier. The Beco Butterfly design was re-branded in December 2012 and replaced by the Beco Soliel on the Beco website but you can still buy the Butterfly (new) from stores like Amazon.

I’m very happy with my purchase, more excited that I stole it for $65 and looking froward to many more years with it!

Have you ever used a baby carrier? What’s your favorite?

Catherine
Catherine

Catherine is a first time momma to a rambunctious toddler. When she isn’t soaking up all that motherhood has to offer, you can find her blogging over at Plunged in Debt where she chronicles her and her husbands journey out of debt. You can also follow her on Twitter.

plungedindebt.com

Filed Under: Baby Stuff Tagged With: baby carrier, Beco Butterfly, ring sling

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Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
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