Ack! Help!

[sarea]

My cousin's best friend is throwing her an impromptu surprise baby shower on Sat. and I HAVE NO GIFT. I have no clue what to get her. I know nothing about babies, so I don't know what new parents (it's their first) need. And I also don't want to get her something that someone else is likely to get her. Any suggestions??? Basically, I'd like to get her something she can actually use, that isn't so common someone else is likely to get it for her, at a price that won't make my wallet weep. Or if that's asking too much, I'll settle for ideas on something less original, and maybe she can just return it for something else. Help!!

Comments

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

What I've done before is buy a case of diapers, a case of wipes, and some cute onesies. $30-40, and stuff that will definitely get used.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

What the heck is a onesie???

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

Onesies are all-purpose garments that get worn by babies at pretty much all times. You end up going through them like crazy, because they get stained and worn out, but it's better than having the baby run around naked.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh, okay. Onesies. Who knew.

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

I did, obviously. ;)

[ceilidh]

diapers/wipes are always good, and so are cd's of classical music (my standard gift if I don't want to take the time to make them a quilt).

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Oooh, a quilt!! If only this weren't so last minute, I'd try and commission one from you. :D :-l

[ceilidh]

Maybe next time. :D

I had this gadget that I tried to find on line but can't anymore. Hrm. It's a little thing like a tupperware container with 3 compartments where you can measure out a certain amount of powdered formula and carry it along for easy mixing. I used it for a good while after Claire switched to formula. That way I could carry a bottle of water and not worry about spoiling. but I can't find it anywhere online now, wah!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Ohh that sounds so great!! I'll do a little bit of research and see if I can find something similar. Of course, given the timing, it would have to be something I can find at the mall. :p

[ceilidh]

Yep, I got it at babiesrus or one of those baby stores. A cheap but v. useful gadget. :D

[serpentandlion.livejournal.com]

I had two...got one at the dollar store, the other at meijer, I think. The fairly inexpensive ones are made by Parent's Choice.

[lissannej.livejournal.com]

Check out Baby Gift Idea for some ideas of stuff; I'm going to buy Melissa's new baby this. However, since you're pressed for time, perhaps you can have a look around the site and see if anything strikes you...

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link!!

[curlycutie016.livejournal.com]

hi just to give a few tips

1. don't give a gender centered gift, because even though a baby doesn't know up from down a mum gets upset if her little boy is wearing a shirt that says "Baby Girl" on it or is all pink, stick with yellow, pale green, or pale purple they are gender neutral colours

2. it's better to get a gift for the mom instead of the baby, so a c.d. of her favorite songs or something to cheer her up when baby blues get her down, or a c.d. of soft music for the baby, the baby music c.d.s you can get it from a drug store

3. if worse comes to worse get a sleeper jumper thing, you can never had enough of those when you're a mum. babies spit up all the time so you constantly have to change them

hope that helps :)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Haha, thanks for the warning! I was going to stay away from gender-centric things for that very reason; they've been told it's a girl, but it wouldn't be the first time in history if that didn't turn out to be true...

Thanks for the other suggestions! :D

[jessicakmalfoy.livejournal.com]

DIAPERS!!!!! not premie size, but some newborn & the next size up. wipes are good too, cause she'll need about 10 million of those!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Almost everyone seems agreed that diapers are the way to go ... the ONLY thing holding me back is that she doesn't actually live here, and I think she's flying back home this weekend. So I don't want her to have to drag a ton of diapers onto the plane. Heehee. Maybe a gift certificate for diapers ... but that just doesn't feel the same.

[kstanley.livejournal.com]

Isn't she registered at Buy Buy Baby like every other expectant mother? Because you can buy her stuff off her list.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Doesn't look it. Also, all the names that came up while searching for her name are east-coast based, particularly NY. Either this is more of an east coast thing, or it was a total freakish coincidence.

[ropo.livejournal.com]

I like to throw together a basket of little dorky things... outlet covers (that baby'll be crawling before you know it, just cover the damn things up now), those little bulbous things that suck snot from babies' noses (yes, they make these), teensy nail clippers, socks, diapers (cloth ones, for mom and dad to put over their shoulder so the baby doesn't spit up on their nice clothes), ... that kind of stuff.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thanks d00d! Where can I get a cute basket? I know they must make some that won't cost more than the contents....

[ropo.livejournal.com]

Craft stores like Michael's and Joann's have billions-o-baskets, and also that floofy stuff to put in the bottom, in case you don't have enough baby/mom stuff to fill it up. Poor K, I bet she's freaked out, man. *g*

[aud-woman-in.livejournal.com]

I just got my niece one of those baby bouncy recliners, where it rocks them when they kick - sorta like the one made (in)famous in SATC, when Samantha has to occupy Brady with her Magic Wand. About $25 at Target or BabiesRUs.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, coooool, thanks for the suggestion. Haha, I so remember that episode. It's the one where Samantha kept calling Brady an 'asshole' and it was just hysterical, because who calls babies that??????

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

I supplied krispyxf with bibs of different sizes and types. Newborns wear bibs much of time to catch drool & spitup, so having lots is a good thing. If you get some, get the ones with Velcro closures if you can; they're easier to put on and less likely to get tangled up.

I am also a big fan of getting Pooh things. Every baby should have Pooh. *g*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks for the tips! Maybe Pooh bibs, the best of both worlds. ;)

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

How about baby/family-themed picture frames? Or more upscale baby skincare products? Mustela has some gift sets at Sephora and there's also a Bobbi Brown one at department stores. You can also check out The Right Start for other ideas.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Awesome, there's definitely a Sephora at the mall, so I'll check out the baby skincare products. It's looking more and more like I'm just going to put together a basket of little necessities, so this will be a nice addition. Thanks!

[fearthainn.livejournal.com]

I second Mynuet's suggestion of onesies and/or diapers. I've also bought things like bibs and cloths. Something else I like to do is buy clothes for the kid when it's a little bigger. So, not something sized for a newborn, but for 2-3 months or even older. Cute little outfits, bigger onesies, that sort of thing. 'Cause the baby is only "newborn" size for a few weeks, but will grow into other clothes. (And I'm sure the mom will be grateful to have one less outfit to buy in 3 or 4 months.)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

That's very true, I'll check things out and get varying sizes of things. This basket's going to be awesome! Thank you for the suggestions!

[gianfared.livejournal.com]

Oh jeez, I hope I'm not too late. Care to hear the suggestion of someone who's had three babies? :)

First baby = VERY big deal

As wonderful as diapers are, it's so not cool when it's your first baby. It's like getting a broom for your first house.

I got baby frames galore as well as baby books/calendars (for recording their first this and that). Clothes, bibs, and blankets are also given in mass quantities.

Baby Einstein/Mozart (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005YUPN/qid=1114795422/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-4883728-0294300?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846) is a great gift (DVD) and also the delightful books by Sandra Boyton (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/068982663X/qid=1114795308/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-4883728-0294300?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). I loved the baby bouncer/vibrator seat (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005LZNH/qid=1114795171/sr=8-2/ref=pd_csp_2/104-4883728-0294300?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846) (the vibrating one is a must because it helps fussy babies sleep) or a sound machine (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008439C/qid=1114795966/sr=8-2/ref=pd_csp_2/104-4883728-0294300?v=glance&s=baby&n=507846) is great if you need white noise for the baby to sleep (yeah, I had one that wouldn't sleep LOL but still... those first few months most babies don't sleep). Also, Creative Memories has a great little scrapbook (http://creativememories.com/ProductCollection/ProductCollection.aspx?gid=0&igid=1058) along with a quick decorating kit (called a Snap Pack) (http://creativememories.com/ProductCollection/ProductCollection.aspx?gid=0&igid=910). It's a great little brag book for new moms (and dads) who like to show off their little sprog and I've yet to see a parent who didn't love this as a gift (you have to purchase this via a consultant which you can find here (http://creativememories.com/usa.asp?GID=0), scroll down a bit and then just put in your zip, nothing else, and no worries about being spammed).

That's my two cents. :D

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much for the insight. I was actually a bit wibbly about the more "sensible" things for that very reason -- it's not a very 'sexy' gift. Yet I've never been an expectant mom, so what would I know? Maybe that's actually what new moms want! But it actually makes sense to me that a first-time mom would want something slightly less practical (but still useful).

Love your suggestions, particularly the DVD and books. I think someone else had also mentioned the baby bouncer/seat, so I think I'll get that along with a small basket of necessities. I probably wouldn't have gotten her diapers anyway, because she'd have to take it on the plane and it would so not be worth it. :D *hugs*

[serpentandlion.livejournal.com]

I know it sounds ridiculously easy, but get something inexpensive and cute, like an outfit, sleeper, whatever. I LOVED sleeper gowns. There like nightgowns with aelastic around the bottom and make middle of the night diaper changes a cinch! Walmart carries ones made by McDonald's Kids that have snaps all the way down the middle and can convert into a legged-sleeper for quickie changes. Find out where she's planning on shopping and get her a gift card. Those come in real handy when you need something and just don't have the cash. Then she can get whatever she wants/needs when she gets home!

I also loved the gifts for papmpering me..scented lotions, squishy slippers, etc. Childbirth is tough stuff, ya know?

Good luck!

[myamyme.livejournal.com]

My sister has this stuff that she puts on my neice, it's called Beaudreaux's Butt-Paste. As terrible as it sounds, it apparently works really well. It is supposed to help fight diaper rash and an assortment of other things:

"The product had expanded from treating baby bottoms to a variety of other ailments, including heat rash, acne, bed sores, abrasions, chicken pox, shingles, razor burn, feminine irritation, poison ivy, fever blisters and even chapped lips."

And that's according to their Web site (http://www.buttpaste.com). By the time you read this, you may already have your gift, but I thought you might like to know about it anyway as well as the mothers who have already made their suggestions. Btw, it is sold at Wally-world, Target, and Wal-greens.

So while I can't really advocate its use from personal experience, it might be worth a try.

Of course, I would be willing to bet that a new mother would appreciate something that made her feel special too; it may be her baby's big day, but in a way it is her's as well. Most women enjoy a thing of chocolate(hey, if it works in the HP-verse...) and depending on how well you know them, one of the neatest surprises ever involves a notepad. Post-it notes work great for this; you just flip through it randomly and leave cute little messages. Between family or friends this works great because you reach for your notepad, write what you need, pull off the top sheet, and Ohhh there is a message from someone you love who cares for you too. It is really sweet and can really brighten their day.

Something that just occured to me is that if you got a notepad and brought it to the shower and passed it around and had everyone who was there sign it for her, it would be a special memento to look back on and remember the people who were there and came to see her.

Well, maybe that's kinda different and original; whatever the case, good luck and I hope all goes well.