<p>Dear friend just had a beautiful baby girl. I was out of town for the sex unknown shower, so now it’s time to catch up and do something special. Any ideas???</p>
<p>I like to give a personalized baby blanket: [Ultra</a> Personalized Baby Blankets | Best Baby Gift | Baptisms & Christenings](<a href=“http://fillintheblankie.com/]Ultra”>http://fillintheblankie.com/)</p>
<p>I’ve given nearly a dozen of these and am always happy with the quality.</p>
<p>I usually give three books. </p>
<p>One is a book by Tana Hobin, she does the Black and White books which babies can enjoy just a few weeks after being born. Then I also buy a board and regular version of the same book, usually Time for Bed by Mem Fox. That way the baby can read (ie teeth and drool over!) the board book while I inscribe the hard back version as a keepsake.</p>
<p>New Baby Gift Basket from Khiel’s. Shampoo, Shower gel, Lotion and something for Mom.</p>
<p>I send something from Hanna Anderson, a line of Swedish, mostly organic clothing. Wonderful quality, great style and most often I get a second thank you years later for introducing them to the company. It was a sad day in our house when the boys outgrew Hanna. <a href=“http://www.HannaAnderson.com%5B/url%5D”>www.HannaAnderson.com</a> Warning: really cute babies on this website</p>
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<p>Here’s a more interesting topic: the best gifts for an old baby.</p>
<p>THINGS are nice but services can be life-savers!</p>
<p>How about: a few months of – diaper service/cleaning lady/Netflix </p>
<p>Also: gift certificates to popular take-out restaurants</p>
<p>It was a sad day in our house when the boys outgrew Hanna.</p>
<p>My daughter used to look at the catalog and say " I want that baby- come to my house!".
;)</p>
<p>Books! I give my kids’ favorite classics: </p>
<p>Goodnight Moon
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
If you Give a Moose a Muffin (or the one volume Laura Numeroff collection)
Barnyard Dance (single or in a Sandra Boyton collection)</p>
<p>These will last much longer than any clothes and the parents will likely be remember who gave it to them.</p>
<p>the last time i went to one, we ended up getting a pack and play, as we were leaving the mom to be told us that was something she wanted the most (she was showered with clothes and dipers (she was having twins)).</p>
<p>I am never going to argue against books- but my kids took books everywhere with them, so even the cardboard ones eventually got trashed- but the Hannas still look as good as new ( practically)</p>
<p>My favorite board book ["More, more, more " said the baby.](<a href=“http://www.chinaberry.com/prod.cfm/pgc/11000/sbc/11000/inv/7272”>http://www.chinaberry.com/prod.cfm/pgc/11000/sbc/11000/inv/7272</a>)</p>
<p>Great books to give to new parents: Margaret Wise Brown’s “The Little Fur Family” – fur edition! Also “Jamberry” by Bruce Degan. The latter comes in a board version. </p>
<p>I think books with rollicking rhythms, where you can bounce the child on your knee while reading, are great, and Jamberry is a gem that way.</p>
<p>If it’s near the winter holidays and the parents are at all the religious/spiritual type, “The Donkey’s Dream,” by Barbara Berger could be a wonderful gift. To me, the book is as much a celebration of the wonder of new life as it is a (gently implied) celebration of the Nativity.</p>
<p>I also send Hanna Andersson clothing. It was my favorite when my babies were little and it lasts forever. Great hand-me-downs.</p>
<p>Special Christmas Ornament. My kids still have the ornaments they received as babies. They go on the tree every year and will eventually go to their houses when they have their own trees.</p>
<p>I love to give a big, brightly illustrated book of Mother Goose rhymes…there’s nothing cuter than hearing your little one say, “I’ve been to London to look at the pween…”</p>
<p>I like to fill a cute diaper bag with baby things… books, pacifiers, cute little outfits, etc.</p>
<p>1) Hanna Andersson. A few things in larger sizes. It’s so nice to have something available for age 1, or even 2. You can’t outgrow Hannas, they sell their most fabulous product (striped cotton long johns, wonderful as PJs) in all sizes. Makes for a great family photo. :)</p>
<p>2) Gift certificate for Chinaberry Books. They are full price, but their catalog is a marvel. That’s where I learned about “Little Fur Family” (covered in fur, even!) and “More, More More, said the baby”, among many others. </p>
<p>3) Gift certificate for local take-out eatery.</p>
<p>My d’s favorite gifts were: a carousel that holds bottles after washing, a basket that you put bottle parts in so they don’t get lost in the dishwasher and a sling to carry the baby around in. A monitor was also a great item.</p>
<p>Another Hanna A fan here! We all had Hanna pj’s…H refused to wear his. Somehow he didn’t get the ‘cute’ factor of it all.</p>
<p>Sometimes I go to Marshall’s or the Home Goods store (which is next door and owned by them) and buy a pretty box, then fill it with a receiving blanket, bookends, books or whatever they have that looks cute. Wrap and send it. Yesterday I found an adorable towel set with embroidered red white and blue sailboats on it…total price, twelve dollars. Surprisingly they have some very cute things in the baby section, even Ralph Lauren outfits for a fraction of the retail price.</p>