So I've come to share some favorites!
Obviously, people register for showers ... so you could just go the safe route, and buy something off the registry. Easy enough! I like to do a combo gift -- maybe a little something the couple asked for, and pair it with a personal touch. At my shower, it seemed like hardly anyone picked from our registry (and that was fine!), so I figured it was acceptable to do your own thing. Also, I liked getting the tried-and-true gifts from other moms, which came with specific recommendations like, "oh yeah, just give that to her in the carseat, she'll be preoccupied for an hour!"
Or like, maybe you just want to bring a gift to a new mom, but you're not sure what. Or you don't know where she's registered. (Bring food).
Orrrrr that'll bring us to the first recco! And the rest of the list, for that matter --
Baby crack, as it's known in our house. My cousin Jenny got this for us when Ana was born and said Molly LOVED it as a baby. Then Candace came over within a few weeks, spotted it, and was like, "yeah, that thing is MAGICAL." Apparently the little boy she was nannying for at the time also was obsessed! Our batteries are just about dead (although it's been 11 months, so that's understandable), but Analisa remains pretty captivated by it. Even when she was a teeny baby, we'd hand her the toy, and she'd just like, FOCUS on it. James and I used to be all, "what in the world is this sorcery?" It's made by Baby Einstein, there's something about it with healing, attention-grabbing powers, and the song isn't even annoying. Plus, at $5.99, you could just like, attach this to your card for the shower. (Assuming you do cards. Our family does not).
Hanna Andersson PJs -- (if you're shopping online, look under Baby --> Sleeper Outfits). K, I just discovered these a few months ago! They are everything. The prints are adorable, they get softer with every wash, and they seem to sort of stretch and grow with the baby. Ana only has the Dr. Seuss pair, but I probably visit Hanna's website three times a week, scoping for sales. They're normally like, $38 a pair, which is pretty expensive in my book, but I got Ana's half-off when I finally bit the bullet and purchased. I'm dying to get her a holiday pair, but ... #savingforthehouse. Also, note that HA does NOT provide free shipping, but you can get around that by having your order shipped to a store, if you happen to live near one. (Detroit-area friends, there's a store at Twelve Oaks!) So, gifters: these are great PJs for a newborn, also super cute outfits (and PJs) if you want to give a mom something for when her baby gets a bit bigger. Really high quality stuff, really classic and cute.
Aden and Anais bamboo swaddles -- Hey all you other swaddles, go home. You just cannot compete with these. They are SO SOFT (like, unbelievably!) and so silky. Ana's blue one is kind of "her blanket." I bought three boxes of these for baby showers this summer (they run $45 for a box of three swaddles), but you can pick your prints, and I just think these are theeeeee best present. Swaddles are NOT just for swaddling your baby (although we swore by swaddling). They can also be used as covers to breastfeed (if you're into that sort of thing), burp cloths, carseat blankets, covers for your changing table, and just like, good staples for your diaper bag. I swear we have probably 12-15 swaddles. But nothing stacks up against the A&A bamboo.
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| Driving home from the hospital! Ana's blue blankie has been there since day one : ) |
Parasol diapers or an Honest Company subscription. OK, admittedly, a diaper subscription is probably something you'd only consider if you're like, the grandparents to this baby, or insanely generous. But I thought the idea was worth mentioning! Also, at my work shower, someone made a diaper cake AND the group pitched in for a huge box of Honest diaps (the anchor/nautical kind, which matched our theme!) We appreciated both gifts immensely. It probably goes without saying that diapers are an essential, and sure, they might seem kind of boring, but trust me when I say they'll be valued and USED! You can buy a pack of Parasols online (see the link above), and these are my favorite diaps in the world. They're a little pricy to buy regularly, but I've splurged once or twice. The prints are really pretty and they are so so so incredibly soft (do you see a theme here? I'm into soft things). But yeah, I've never felt anything like them. Also, although I'm not thrilled with The Honest Company -- really cute prints but a little scratchy -- the bundles are convenient and easy. Just a little something to consider! Nice diaps are fun, but you could always crutch on a box of Target Up&Ups too (our value-brand of choice).*
*You'll just want to make sure you know for a fact that the family is doing disposables, over cloth diapers.
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| Parasols! |
A Bumbo seat. LOVE! Honestly, I've been really surprised to see the Bumbo pop up on several lists online titled shit like, "stuff you really don't need for your baby." Sorry, but a Bumbo is NOT a wipe-warmer! (Yes, I'm judging you for that one). I fully credit the Bumbo for helping teach Ana how to sit independently. It just kind of props the baby into the correct position, so that she gets a feel for it. From probably five months on -- yes, even to current day -- we've used our Bumbo a ton. Some examples: need to get dinner going? Pop the baby into the Bumbo on the counter and let her bang a spoon up against the cupboard.*
*Just make sure you're able to keep a good eye on her if the Bumbo's off the floor, plz. (Ana can get out of hers, but she won't do it if she's entertained).
And when Ana was about 6-7 months, I used to put the Bumbo on the bathroom floor and take a shower while she sat just outside the curtain. We'd play peekaboo. It was a thing. Even at 11 months, we'll use it as a high chair if we're out and about, or we don't want to lug our full-sized version to a relative's for Thanksgiving. You CAN buy a tray for your Bumbo (which we never did but probably should have), but we're also known to just put the seat up on the table or on a chair, so Ana can eat like one of us. Bumbos are so small and easy to travel with. Also great for photo shoots!
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| Five-month baby. |
Clothes for when they're older. I know, everything in the newborn size is like, ridiculously teeny and cute. So tempting, right? But I will say, we were gifted a few items in the 3-6 months size (which fit Analisa like, three weeks after birth, ha), and even an adorable outfit from a Northern California boutique in the 12-18 months size. We were just able to put Ana in that for the first time on Thanksgiving! It's fun to have clothes to look forward to. Plus, you realize every few months (if you have a ginormous baby like we do) that you need to buy (what feels like) a whole new wardrobe, so ... buying big is always appreciated! And buying for when they're older is an added bonus. My favorite brands are H&M, baby Ralph Lauren (don't scoff; there are actually REALLY good deals online and at Macy's), Old Navy, Hanna Andersson and Cat&Jack (relatively new at Target).
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| I remember thinking this looked HUGE! |
Bigger-ticket items: Again, if you're like, a grandparent or a close friend or a sibling, and you're looking to do something really nice for the mom-to-be/expecting parents: check the registry. I'd recommend a baby carrier -- if the family wants one of course -- a stroller, or a baby monitor. Sure, you CAN find cheap-ish versions of all three, but if you're going to splurge, make sure you're getting something off the actual wish-list.
Books. Can't go wrong! No matter how old the baby is, it's safe to say the parents could use more books. I used to think we had a TON, but now that Ana is almost 1, I think it's time for us to upgrade, as well. Some of our favorites up until this point have included:
--The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen (and there are a few cute PP spinoffs, too).
--Where is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz (OK, there's something about her illustrations that Ana lovvvvvves. All Karen Katz books are a win in our house, tbh).
--Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton (again, same deal with Sandra. We love all her stuff!)
--Brown Bear/Polar Bear/Panda Bear ... (samesies on Eric Carle -- he must know what captivates babies).
--Elmer by David McKee
--Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
--More, More, More, Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams
--Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
--I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman
--Global Babies by The Global Fund for Children (this is mostly faces, but as it turns out, babies love faces).
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| Reading is so important. |
Or, I recently saw this on Buzzfeed -- 13 Children's Books that Encourage Kindness Toward Others (Seems appropriate based on the current political climate).
Also, I put this together for ClickOnDetroit this summer -- some really great suggestions!
And whenever possible, buy board books! Babies are freaking animals who want to rip out the pages and destroy all literature. RIP, half the books in our collection.
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| #ovaries |
For my final few suggestions ...
A Rock n Play. We got SO MUCH USE out of this thing. It was so valuable. Ana wasn't into it for the first month, so I got discouraged ... I thought those soothing vibrations would solve anything. But then around month two, it just started working. It clicked! She loved it. For most moms, I think we feel like, physically attached to the baby for the first 10-12 weeks (Ana wouldn't sleep without me, wouldn't get set down, wouldn't nap anywhere but my chest), but this thing helped. Sometimes you just need somewhere safe to set her while you pee. Or pump! She spent many a 25-minute pump sesh in here, swatting at the mobile or jamming out to the music. I've heard of some babies sleeping in their Rock n Plays, too (Fisher Price makes a sleeper version). Ana never did that, but I wish she would have. Regardless, we endorse this thing!
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| Baby boo. |
V-Tech learning table or sit-to-stand learning walker. Again, something the mom won't pull out until at least six-ish months in ... but we got the table on loan from our friend Heather, and the walker from my mother-in-law. I swear by both items! Ana flocks to each one often. At some point, the baby's going to start pulling up on EVERYTHING -- your coffee table, drawers in the kitchen, etc. Having the learning table and the walker at least help grow her skills. The song on the table is a liiiiittle annoying, but not awful.
Bumkins bibs. Another inexpensive item! I've blogged about these before, but it's so helpful to just wipe 'em clean during and after meals. I don't know why anyone would use cloth bibs once the baby's eating solids. Plus, the prints are ADORBS. Dr. Seuss, Disney, DC Comics, the list goes on. I'm browsing the website now and could probably use another pack. Washing machine friendly, too!
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| What a little model. |
OK, I think that's where I'll cap it. I could write about baby products all day!
Good luck out there : )
