Baby Gift Baskets: Not Just For Baby Showers
When we think of a baby gift basket being presented, we think of the baby shower. Certainly the baby shower is one of the first gift-giving opportunities for the new parents, but baby gift baskets can be given and are more than appropriate for the many other gift giving occasions that are in store for the new little one.
Just to make it comprehensive, let’s start with the baby shower. Most of the time, this is a first child for the couple and they need practically everything. The expense of a new baby after it arrives can be daunting, especially if the parents need to add items such as baby formula, baby food and diapers to their weekly shopping list. Along with all of the weekly supplies, there are regular doctor visits that need to be afforded and other incidentals that the baby will need. The baby shower is a perfect opportunity to help lessen the burden financially so the parents can concentrate on enjoying every minute with their precious new bundle of joy.
Use the baby shower to give a baby gift basket of items that they will definitely need. Sure, it may be more fun to buy that 6 foot tall giant stuffed panda bear, but what are they going to use it for? More than likely, it will become a new sleeping place for the family pet. The baby shower is an opportunity to ease the overwhelming sense of responsibility and stress that the parents may be beginning to feel as the day of their baby’s arrival looms closer and closer.
Gift baskets, such as traditional layettes or an assortment of one-piece undershirts or even a crafty display of diapers will be most appreciated. If you are especially talented, present the new parents to be with an array of hand made baby items. Hand sewn baby quilts, crocheted or knitted booties and receiving blankets and little toys are not only practical, but because they are hand made, they could become family heirlooms that get passed down to grandchildren. If it is appropriate, this is also a wonderful opportunity to give a hand made baptismal or christening set of a gown, booties, cap and blanket.
Just because the baby shower has passed doesn’t mean that the opportunities for giving baby gift baskets has passed with it. Once the baby arrives is a wonderful excuse to come bearing a gift. Now that the baby’s gender is known, if it wasn’t before, and he or she has a name and is becoming his or her own personality makes putting together a gift even more fun. Now is the time when you can personalize your gift giving and your gift basket can reflect the new child that is actually here.
Now that the baby has arrived, there are still plenty of times that a gift basket can say just the right thing. If the baby is going to be christened, that could be a wonderful time for a small gift basket of Bible story board books, religious jewelry or keepsakes. You could also include a small photo album for the parents to put all of the photographs from the day.
Still the opportunities to give baby gift baskets are upcoming. Throughout the coming year, the baby will be experiencing all kinds of firsts. Every holiday that arrives will be a magical one for the new family. It is always joyful when you can share in these marvelous times with them.
Imagine the possibilities of creating a gift basket for baby’s first Christmas. You could include items such as a tree ornament that represents something that is special to the baby. Or a small nativity set or a Santa’s village that is made of larger soft-sided components. If the baby’s first Christmas is a few months after their birth, this would then be a good time to purchase warmer sleepers for them in their larger size. If the baby is eating solid food now, a gift basket of baby foods, cereals, snacks and formula would really help the parents out especially at this Christmas time. This could also be the perfect opportunity to begin the baby’s movie collection by starting with some of the Christmas classics like Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
Another big holiday for the new baby is Easter time. What a more perfect opportunity to give a gift basket than at Easter. Depending on the child’s age when he or she celebrates their first Easter, you could give appropriate snacks, toys or stuffed animals. This may also be a good time to buy a new spring outfit for them or new shoes. Don’t limit your imagination. Find a beautiful Easter basket that the child could use every year and fill it with everything you can imagine a child of that age appreciating.
Two other holidays that you may not necessarily consider giving a gift basket on are Halloween and Independence Day. These are two holidays where you could really come up with a gift basket that is very unique and special. Again, always shop for items with the baby’s current age in mind and have fun. For Halloween, you could include a small costume or stuffed animal. And of course, don’t forget to add some “treats” that the baby could enjoy. Pop them all in a plastic pumpkin bucket and you are all set. Independence Day gift baskets for the baby could include red, white and blue toys and stuffed animals and some safe celebration toys that do not have any small parts on them like a kazoo or small drum or trumpet. If the child is old enough, he or she will love to add their own noise to the celebration.
And finally, we come to the day of celebration that is all their own, their first birthday. By this time, many babies are crawling and some are even walking. A gift basket at this time could include a small scooter and walker combination that allows the child to push the vehicle or ride it. Many of these are in the shape of small cars, bikes, trains and trucks and have a compartment on them that opens up. Fill this compartment with other items that a one year old would love.
Little ones love to push items like small cars and many are just beginning to experiment with crayons and scribbling. You can find special markers and pad sets that only write if the special marker is used on the special paper. The parents will especially appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Another great gift is a child-safe soft padded plastic mini photo book. These albums usually hold about eight photographs and are equipped with a handle so the toddler can carry it around. Inside it holds pictures of the people who are special to baby, so he or she can open it up any time and see the faces of those they love. This is a wonderful gift especially if the baby has grandparents that live too far away to visit on a regular basis.
As you can see, the life of a new baby is basically one gift-giving experience after another. Use as many opportunities as you can to give the little one a unique gift basket and fill the child’s first year with lots of mementos and small presents. After all of this, if you weren’t a member of the family already, you will be now.
Personalized And Homemade Baby Gifts
A baby shower is always a special occasion filled with happiness for both the parents and the guests. It’s a celebration that marks the life of the unborn child. And what’s a celebration of life without baby gifts?
While moms-to-be will surely appreciate practical baby gifts such as feeding bottles and other store-bought items, you might want to give her a gift that’s unlike any of the stuff she’s going to receive. You wouldn’t want to be the one to give the mom-to-be her fifth bottle set, right?
A great way to make sure that you give out a unique gift that moms-to-be will surely love is to make them yourself or to personalize store-bought gifts.
Homemade Baby Gifts
A homemade gift is often based on your talents and skills, not to mention the extra time you have for making the gift. If you can crochet or knit and you have enough time before the baby shower, you might want to make a blanket or a set of booties and mittens. If you’re good at making scrapbooks and other such things, you can make a special memory box or a scrapbook that the parents can fill in with precious memorabilias after the child is born. Or, you can ask the mom-to-be if you can help out with the baby shower party favors. If you’re good at baking, why not provide the cake for the baby shower?
Now, if you’re not so good at any of these things but you still want to exert the effort at making a homemade baby gift, you need not worry. You can get one of those homemade baby gift sets that come with step-by-step instructions at your local baby store. Skill and talent are not so much as required in this case as patience is. You can also surf the net for various homemade gift ideas and instructions like decorated picture frames or photo albums and diaper cakes.
Personalized Baby Gifts
If you’re not so sure of your skills and your ability to follow instructions and you don’t have enough time to spare for homemade baby gifts, you can head out to a good baby store and pick out items that you can personalize. All it takes is a little imagination to turn a store-bought item into a personal and intimate gift.
Now, before you can personlize your gifts, you’ll have to ask the mom-to-be the baby’s gender, name (if the parents have already decided on one), and the theme of the nursery. Now it’s important that you get the correct spelling of the baby’s name.
Once you have all the information you need, you can go right ahead and shop for a blanket, bib-set, wash cloth set, or any baby clothing, and have the baby’s name embroidered on them. You can also have personal slogans embroidered on the item like “Aunt (insert name)’s adorable niece”, or anything else you might think of.
You can also get baby gifts such as decors for the nursery that can be personalized, like stuffed animals and even furniture. You can have the baby’s name painted on the furniture. Just make sure that it blends well with the nursery’s theme.
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personalized baby shower giftsTop Baby Gift Baskets For The Newest Member Of The Family
Baby gift baskets are a great way to congratulate the parents, whether it be their 5th child or their first, and, of course, to welcome the newborn into the big world. Baby gift baskets have come a long way since about twenty years ago. Big companies have come out with all sorts of different-themed gift baskets that are practical and convenient. Here are some of the most popular baby gift baskets:
All Star Baby Boy Gift Basket
This is one of those classic baby gift baskets for little boys, complete with an adorable puppy and sports-themed layette items – the works. The gift basket is wrapped in tulle with ribbons, and includes Baby’s First Puppy, Sports Booties, Sports Onesie, Sports T-shirt, All Star Bib, 3 Wash Cloths, Cotton Hat, All Star Wrist Rattles, Sports Pants, and your choice of Sports Frame.
Baby Einstein On The Farm Gift Basket
This lovely basket isn’t actually a basket, but a cool little wagon stuffed with fun farm friends. Entertain your baby with the Baby McDonald on the Farm DVD and Playtime Music CD and introduce her to the wonderful sounds that animals make with the nesting puzzle. The basket also includes a Radio Flyer Wagon, Assorted Farm Plush, Plush Cow, Baby Einstein Musical Pop-Up Book, Duck Terry Hooded Towel, Large Farm Bib, and Baby Einstein Farm Teether Book.
Baby Einstein Space Adventure Gift Basket
Although, it’s not really a basket, this is ‘The Basket’ to give if you want the baby to earn a love for learning. There will be no dull moments with the Radio Flyer Rocket – and the stuff that come with it. The rocket alone will keep the baby entertained with flashing lights and cool astronaut sounds.
Older siblings can also share with the Baby Einstein educational toys. There’s a Jane Expedition Baby Einstein Board Book, a Baby Einstein World Traveler Toy, a cute Baby Einstein Puppet, and Baby Galileo Music CD which features classical music by Chopin, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, and Baby Galileo Discovering the Sky DVD which introduces your baby and your toddlers to the world of the sun, moon, stars, and clouds.
Baby Einstein Touch and Discover Deluxe Gift Basket
This is one of those baby gift baskets you give out if you want to make a lasting impression on your recipient. This impressive set is complete with all the Baby Einstein products to guide the baby’s journey of discovery – Touch & Discover Giant Board Book, Nature Discovery Cards, Baby Einstein Animal Discovery Washmitt, Baby’s First Moves DVD, Baby Einstein Link Set, Baby Einstein Touch & Feel Rattle, Baby Einstein Plush Caterpillar Ring Rattle, and Baby Newton Touch and Discover Palstuffed into a classic keepsake tin bucket.
Fattamano Baby Gift Basket
Baby gift baskets by this brand is a favorite among celebrities so it might come a little expensive. But the luxurious, plush products are sure to excite the mom and are all worth the price. Everything is imported from Germany and is made from 100% cotton faux shearling. You get a super soft Fattamano blanket, booties, jacket, hat, a plush teddy bear, sepia roses photo frame, stuffed in a fresh hatbox that can be used as a keepsake box for the babies’ belongings.

