<p>A Flip video camera, so they can easily share video of the newborn with friends and relatives near and far!</p>
<p>Does anyone in your area personalize gifts? I recently had a book rack that sits on the floor personalized with the child’s name and designed to fit the decor of the room. I put a few books in the rack and included a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble to purchase books in the future. I think adding a personal message in the books is a great idea. Classic books are Goodnight Moon, a bunny book with textured pages (I forgot the name), Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Dr. Seuss. You can also get personalize frames with the baby’s name, date of birth and weight or a rocking chair or a rocking horse. I still have the rocking chair and rocking horse from when my children were babies!</p>
<p>Mention of the black and white card for the crib brought back memories! When our oldest was born nearly 24 years ago now, we had a friend who was an “infant stimulation specialist”. We actually didn’t know she was (lived in another state), until we got this large package from her, opening it to find all sorts of “strange” things for the new baby. She had included a set of large flip cards that were black and white for the crib that, as mentioned before, became more complex each month. She also included one of those soft, stuffed “rings” you can prop the baby in on the floor. It was covered with bright colored swatches intermixed with black and white geometric designs. My mother-in-law thought we were mad when we put those cards in the crib. But, two h.s. vals, one NNF, and one Phi Beta Kappa later, I believe in the power of the black and white cards!!</p>
<p>The last thing in the package was something that looked like a dead animal. In fact it was a dead animal of sorts. It was a sheepkin for babies to lie on. At first we thought, what the heck??? Come to find out these sheepskins were expecially treated for babies, machine washable, and babies nestled right into the “fur” when they sleep. It helps them sleep better and the greatest advantage we found was that any bed (as when traveling) became their bed because the sheepskin was there. As an infant, their entire body fit on it, then just their torso and head, and finally they covered their pillow with the sheepskin at night. I don’t remember how many years both girls slept with those things!</p>
<p>I tend to buy books, and give them with gift receipt in case there are duplicates.</p>
<p>My favorite item to give was a baby quilt. I found the first in New Hampshire, and after that I would call the woman to order (and vary color). Favorite gifts I received were from my sister, who can sew. She made flannel blankets and curtains. She chose flannel with stars, animals, & trucks, lined them, with coordinating satin edges. These were all passed around.</p>
<p>I like the idea of a bassinet. I bought one for S1 (it took us 9 years to have him), and we have lent it to various friends and relatives for their newborns. Each baby’s name and birth date is written underneath. There are over a dozen now - S1 is 16. I always get it back, and I hope that S1 and S2 will use it for their children.</p>
<p>I have also given as baby gifts baskets of favorite children’s books, spanning a range of ages. There was a thread not so long ago with book suggestions. You could search on the following titles that I remember contributing to that thread:</p>
<p>Each Peach Pear Plum
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom</p>
<p>The item I most treasured from the baby days: a Graco portable playpen that could be set up in less than a minute with one hand. I used it for travel, visiting friends, childcare at the gym…</p>
<p>northeastmom, one of my friends made S a baby quilt. It’s an incredibly creative work, with PussNBoots on it, and of her own design. </p>
<p>You could probably find someone from whom to commission something similar if you want a one-of-a-kind gift; you could provide input as to what kind of design you wanted, and/or have the name/birthdate, maybe even a family tree, put on the quilt.</p>
<p>I am trying to think of gifts that my kids still cherish after 18+ yrs. For my oldest it is a beautiful wooden rocking horse. (I don’t know if they make them anymore or if it is something that is now considered not safe) The one we have is made of heavy duty wood painted a bright white. It was given to us by my FIL’s best friend. It was way to big for my D at birth but she grew into it. Another gift she loved was a huge Raggedy Ann and Andy. This was also given by a friend of my in laws. The woman said she gave it to all the special babies born into her life.
For my 2 youngest the favorite gift was a handmade blanket made from very nice cotton yarn. My 15 yr old still sleeps with hers.
Do you sew? Another nice gift is to buy two flannel fabrics you like. Sew them together with to make a two sided receiving blanket. Make it larger and they can use it in the stroller. Burp clothes made by sewing some cute trim on cloth diapers.
Jogging stroller.
A night of babysitting.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> KidCo PeaPod Plus Travel Bed - Red: Baby](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/KidCo-PeaPod-Plus-Travel-Bed/dp/B0014WN8CK/ref=pd_sbs_a_2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/KidCo-PeaPod-Plus-Travel-Bed/dp/B0014WN8CK/ref=pd_sbs_a_2)</p>
<p>I always enjoy giving new parents a beautiful picture frame. I’ve never given a digital photo frame - but maybe next time!</p>
<p>cleveland, that looks great! Do you know people who like this travel bed?</p>
<p>I also like the idea of a personalized bookshelf that can be put on the floor. If I bought this, I would definitely fill it with books!</p>
<p>Great ideas! I knew that CC would come through as usual! </p>
<p>Oh, and no, I don’t sew, but the mother “to be” does knit, so there will be plenty of handmade baby items.</p>
<p>Two more books for that bookshelf.</p>
<p>More, more, more said the Baby: Three Love Stories, by Vera Williams
and
Go Away Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley</p>
<p>I never met a kid who didn’t love them.</p>
<p>northeastmom: I go to another website, parenthacks, and people there rave about the tent. Here’s the link: [Family</a> camping hack: For babies sleeping in tents, Peapod travel bed is more compact than a portacrib | Parent Hacks](<a href=“http://www.parenthacks.com/2008/07/family-campin-1.html]Family”>http://www.parenthacks.com/2008/07/family-campin-1.html)</p>
<p>cleveland, thanks. I can see how someone who travels or camps out would like this. This couple does not go camping, but they do enjoy the beach (baby won’t be born til after the summer), and they do travel. This can really come in handy. Thanks.</p>
<p>mathmom, I never heard of those, so thanks. Actually, I might have seen the 2nd book, but it has been years since I have looked at books for toddlers/preschoolers/infants, so I don’t even recall.</p>