Baby Advice @ Cuddles 'n Gifts sending smiles!

If you’re looking for a baby gift that is out of the ordinary, a good choice is to look into something on a more personal level. It’s common knowledge that everyone is going to think of crib sheets, blankets, bottles, and other kinds of common gifts, so it may be a little more difficult to find something that deviates from the ordinary. Even the once unique diaper cake has now become so ordinary that it needs an upgrade. Of course, if you are good with crafts and other projects, it is easier than for the person who is not quite so talented.

Choosing a baby gift that you are certain no one else will give is easier if you have more time to prepare. For friends or relatives who know about the impending birth several months in advance the choice is easy, but for those who were notified with nothing more that an invitation to the shower such as co-workers or business associates, the process can be a little more difficult. However, always remember that hand crafted or personalized gifts are always appreciated more than something you go to the store and pick off the shelf. One very unique gift that was mentioned online was that of a mural on the wall in the baby’s room. Instead of buying wall decorations of bunnies, baby animals, or cartoon characters, you can contract with someone to paint the mural for the parents to hang on the wall. It’s unique in a very attractive way and not something most people would think to do.

If you want to wait a while to give your gift, you can certainly present the proud parents with photographs of their pride and joy in a collage that you can personalize with dates. Other possibilities may include some of the following:

• A framed imprint of the baby’s footprints denoting the name, date or birth, birth weight, and length at birth.
• A silver or gold picture frame that is engraved with all of the information about the baby’s birth.
• A personalized pillow with the baby’s pictures and birth details.
• If it is close to Christmas, you can choose a decoration and engrave it with the baby’s name and date of birth.

Of course, some of the selections require waiting until after the birth of the baby, but there are many other possibilities you may come across that are perfect selections as gifts different from what others may choose. For those who enjoy embroidery, you can create personalized towels and blankets for the new baby.

For those who enjoy working with pottery or ceramics, making a lamp for baby’s room is a great welcome home gift. The choices are limited only by your imagination and talent. The choices are endless and go far beyond anything you can find in any store. In fact, this is the kind of think you can think of before there is an impending birth and put it in action when the time arrives.

Planning a baby shower for the expectant mother is the best way to congratulate her blessed event.

Who plans the baby shower? Any relative, close friend or coworker can host the baby shower.

Most baby showers are held before the baby is born. Some are held after the conception but, more often than not, most baby showers are held toward the end of pregnancy. It is a welcome diversion for the expecting mom to have her baby shower in the last trimester. It also brings more enjoyment and fun as the new mom is sporting a big belly towards the end.

However, before setting a date for the party, ensure to consult with the parents-to-be first and foremost. It would be a shame if a party is planned and invitations are sent and then find out that the most important people cannot make it.

Send out invitations early enough to give the guests a few weeks’ notice. This allows the guests to free up their schedules as well as to shop for the perfect gift.

In the traditional way, baby showers were held for the mother-to-be. However, there is increasing popularity for co-ed baby showers. In my opinion, a co-ed baby shower is probably more enjoyable and it is wonderful if the father-to-be is included. A father often feels left out throughout the pregnancy and after the birth of the newborn baby. A co-ed baby shower is a wonderful way to congratulate the father as well!

Themed baby showers are also very popular and makes the party more festive. Plan your theme and purchase matching invitations, napkins, plates and decorations. Although it takes more work to plan, a themed baby shower can make the party seem more organized.

The most favorite and enjoyable tradition of a baby shower are the activities and games. Here are some popular and fun games:

1. Baby Food Taste Test - Buy eight jars of baby food - cereal, fruit, veggies, and meat. Cover the jars with foil and write a number on the side of each jar. Pass out plastic spoons, paper plates, and paper and pencil for each player. Ask players to write the numbers 1 through 8 around the outside of the plate. Pass around each jar of baby food and have players drop a spoonful next to each number. They must taste the globs and try to identify each flavor. Remove the foil to reveal the answers. Whoever has the most correct answers wins a prize.
2. How Big is Baby? - Bring a roll of toilet paper pass it around and have everyone tear off the exact amount that they think will go around the expectant mother. The person with the length of toilet paper that is the closest wins of course.
3. Diaper Doo Doo - Take 6 disposable diapers and put a different kind of candybar (½ a bar will usually do) in each one and let them sit in the sun or a warm place to melt. Label them 1 through 6. Pass the “dirty diapers” around and the winner is the one who can identify the most correctly.
4. Don’t say “Baby” - When the guests arrive, give each a clothespin to wear. Tell each guest that they can’t say the word “baby”. If a guest catches someone saying “baby”, they may take the clothespin away from them. If, for example, a guest has 3 pins from previously taking them away from others and someone catches her saying “baby” then that guest now gets to take all 3 of her pins. The person with the most clothes pins at the end of the shower wins the game.
5. Baby Pictionary - This game is based upon the original Pictionary board game. Before the shower, place words relating to baby activities and items on small cards. (ex: Changing a diaper, giving birth, feeding time) At the shower, create teams and give each one a pad of paper and pencil. Let one member of the team see a card, then tell them to draw the word or phrase for their partners to guess. Use a timer or just play until someone guesses. When the time is up, the teams total up the number of words they have guessed correctly and the one who has the most wins a prize.

There are many, many other baby shower games and activities that you can choose to make your baby shower fun and exciting.

Lastly, what makes for a great baby shower gift? Chances are the new mother requires many baby necessities including clothing, bottles, a car seat, bibs, blankets, and more.

Cuddles ‘n Gifts has charming baby gift baskets that are guaranteed to make the new baby squeal in delight, functional gift baskets filled with baby necessities that every new parent wants and needs and personalized baby gifts that make exceptional keepsakes of the blessed event. Be sure to browse our adorable musical crib mobiles and soft, cuddly baby blankets.

Make the new mom’s baby shower one to remember. This is a wonderful event in her life and what better way to congratulate her!

Although the origin of the modern baby shower is unknown, there is evidence that the ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and the Romans, often bestowed gifts upon the newborn or presented the parents with handmade gifts after the child was born. Baby showers as we know them today didn’t become popular until after World War 2. Baby showers today are a fun and exciting way for friends and family to celebrate the arrival of the new baby and help the mommy and daddy-to-be get prepared. If you are considering planning a shower for a friend or relative there are many things that you can do to make it a memorable celebration.

Traditionally it was unacceptable for a family member to throw the shower because it was viewed as the family asking for gifts, however over time this rule has been relaxed and it is perfectly acceptable for anyone be it friend, co-worker or relative, to throw a baby shower.

When planning the shower be sure to check with the expectant parents to find a time that is convenient for them and let them make the guest list. Find out if they are registered at a store or what specific baby items they still need. It is important that you mail the invitations at least 3-4 weeks before the party date, so guest are more likely to have an open schedule.

A theme is a fun part of any shower. Themes may be as simple as what character is on the plates and napkins or much more elaborate. Take into consideration the mothers interests when planning the theme, some mothers would be happy with a very formal tea and brunch while others would enjoy something a little more casual. Here are a few fun ideas to get you started.

Baby IQ Party

Center this party on learning. You could decorate in red, black, and white (colors thought to stimulate the baby’s vision) or with an alphabet, nursery rhyme or book theme. Serve foods that start with letters of the alphabet and put cute alphabet blocks by each food. Play word games. List scrambled words related to pregnancy, labor, and babies and see who can unscramble them first. Play bingo with baby words. List both parents’ names and see how many baby names people can make out of the letters. Pick lines from nursery rhymes and see who can name the nursery rhyme. Bonus points if they can say the whole thing. Gifts could be as simple as everyone bringing a book or learning video. If you want to get more complicated assign guests with a letter of the alphabet and have them bring a gift that coincides with that letter.

Pamper Mommy Shower

This shower is great for an expectant mother who already has children. Sometimes pregnancy can make you feel like your whole life has become about the baby. Mothers already sacrifice a lot of things that they might have done before to pamper themselves when they have children so this is a great way to remind them they deserve some attention too. Serve the mothers absolute favorite foods; if she loves chocolate base the party around chocolate. Gifts could include scented candles, spa certificates, robes, gowns, jewelry, baskets full or items to make mommy feel great, or any item that is designed to bring comfort and happiness. Instead of the usual baby shower games, plan to have a make up consultant come and give a makeover, or arrange for at home spa services such as manicures and facials. Take her out to her favorite restaurant, anything to make her feel special.

Around the Clock Shower

This is a cute way to celebrate the everyday rituals that the mommy is going to be responsible for once the baby is born. Assign each guest with a time of the day and have him or her bring a gift that will be appropriate for that time. Gifts could include breakfast or lunchtime feeding items such as a cute set of plates, cups, bottles, etc. Nap time blankets, pillows, bassinets, or stuffed animals and bedtime story books or night-lights. Play games that are centered on the baby’s daily routine. Get a true-to-life size baby doll, a receiving blanket, a cloth diaper, and a baby shirt. Give each guest the doll and all the clothing, and see how fast each person can put all the clothes on the baby, finishing with swaddling the baby in the blanket. Whoever dresses the baby the fastest wins a prize. Have a baby food taste test, get jars of baby food, remove labels or cover with tape; number each jar. Give each guest a pen, a piece of paper, and a paper plate. Pass the jars of baby food around and ask the guests to place a little of each on their plate. Then ask them to taste each food and name it according to its corresponding number on the jar. The guest with the most correct answers wins a prize (and we bet it’s a person with kids!).

So what are you waiting for! Start planning a baby shower for the mommy-to-be in your life and have fun!

Cuddles ‘n Gifts has a diverse selection of baby gift baskets that would make any baby shower extra special!