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If the new mommy or daddy isn't directly providing you with a new niece or nephew or grandson, it may be difficult to choose a baby gift that is both practical and unique. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Gift Sets
Very rarely will you find baby gift sets or newborn baby gift baskets on a baby gift registry, but they are a great gift for a baby shower. Their presentation makes them stand out on the gift table and saves the new mommy the effort of unwrapping yet another gift and yet give something to look through more thoroughly when they go home.
A new baby gift basket usually focuses on a theme. For example, you might find a set of fun bath toys along with a soft hooded baby towel and washcloth set. Bath toys are always fun and will be used throughout the baby's first two years of life, making it a gift that is both useful and fun. A feeding gift basket with smaller utensils, bibs, plate, and bowl is another useful, cute gift for later in the baby's life – always a shortage of those at baby showers, since most people invest in baby blankets and teeny tiny clothes for the newborn.
Useful Baby Gifts for Parents
Though diapers, baby bottles, binkies, and baby wash may not sound very interesting to you, to the new parents, it could be a godsend. Baby necessities are incredibly expensive, and if you're creative you can make the most basic items into a great baby gift. 'Diaper cakes,' for example, are individual diapers arranged to look like a three tier white cake! Usually using more than 100 diapers and makes a not so exciting (but much needed) gift into something visual and fun. You can even make them yourself and personalize them with binky decorations or include a layer of baby bottles in your 'cake.'
Soothing Baby Gifts
As far as the new baby is concerned, the world is a blurry, bright, very loud place to be. The most soothing thing to her is the sound of mommy's voice and that's hardly something that you can give as a baby gift. However, you can come close. The latest on the market in the way of baby monitors are the kind that not only let you hear what baby is doing, but allow mommy to speak back to baby. More of an intercom system than monitor, the new mommy can calm the baby long before she gets to the room, making the baby more comfortable right away. Purchase the newest, nicest monitor with video capabilities and comfort a new mom even more, allowing her to check in on her new little one without waking her.
Personalize Your Baby Gift
Though we all wish we had the time to create a gorgeous home made baby gift that will stand out from the rest, the reality is that most of us have jobs and families of our own and don't have the time to sit down and crochet a baby blanket every time a new baby joins our family. You can still give a personalized baby gift, though. Choose an engraved baby gift, for example, a bracelet for a new baby girl with her name engraved on it. A plaque or picture frame for her first picture, engraved to mark her birthday.
One Step Ahead, for example, offers a step stool that will make a puzzle out of the baby's name on its top step. Though it will be quite awhile before the little guy can use it, it's a nice gift that will last a lifetime. This same store (items available via catalogue or through their website) offers rain coats, small chairs, and other items personalized with baby's name.
Where can you find the best price?
If all else fails, Google's sister site, Froogle.com, is a great place to compare the prices available on any baby gift you can think of. This works better if you already know exactly what you want. For example, type in 'baby swing' and you'll get a more relevant list of results than if you type in 'baby gift.'
Once you decide upon the exact style and brand as well as the product you'd like to purchase for your baby gift, do a Google search for the exact title. You'll find a long list of sites that offer it for sale and many will even list the prices alongside the description. Don't forget to calculate the shipping charges from the sites. One site may offer the baby swing you want for $10 cheaper than another site, but charge twice as much for shipping.
Also, don't forget to check eBay! Someone could be selling exactly what you're looking for, still in the box and brand new for a fraction of its retail cost.
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