Pregnancy, maternity, birth, and baby information » Baby Gifts

Baby Gifts – Personalized Baby Gifts

Author — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:01:07 +0000

There are a dozen beautiful and effective ways to personalize any baby gift and the results change a gift into something truly special.

A gift can be personalized by location: sticker on the bottom, embossed on the side, stitched across the top. It can display the baby’s name, the parents’ or grandparents’ names, or that of the giver.

The baby gift can even be decorated with a personally meaningful phrase, logo or photo. The text can be selected by the giver or conceived by the gift’s designer. A logo can be designed by a professional or by the one who picks out the gift. A photo can be selected from a wide range of stock images or supplied and incorporated into the baby gift.

Personalization transforms an impersonal gift into a keepsake that will be treasured forever. It offers a reminder of joyous occasions and provides incentive to hand the gift down from one generation to the next. Monogramming can add a name to cloth items. Printing can personalize any item that will absorb ink.

A Slumber Bear, for example, makes for a great gift. Children love the soft, teddy bear design and parents feel safe knowing the gift is sturdy and made from good materials. Later in life both parent and former young one can look back on the baby shower or first birthday or other occasion when the gift was received. Personalizing the gift makes that memory all the sweeter.

A Dilly the Duck cashmere booster pillow provides the perfect opportunity to stitch on the baby’s name. In later years that gift will evolve from a cherished nursery item to a memento of those tender years. Years after it has been given both parties can remember back to the many happy moments spent reading a story while the young one’s head rested on it.

Those tales themselves can be personalized in the form of a Fairy Tale book that carries all manner of individual markings. For stories written by the parents, they can be signed with the author’s name. For the child’s favorite tale, he or she can sign the book. The gift giver can sign the book and print the name of the recipient. All these methods and more turn a simple storybook into a treasured memento from childhood.

Birth plates provide an excellent chance to paint the baby’s name across the rim or on the bottom. It can be given in infancy and retained as a keepsake long after. The best option is to print the baby’s name, birth date and weight along the rim to commemorate the birth of that special person who entered life on that day.

Personalize the baby gift and you’ll turn a pleasant object into something unique that will be collected and given again generation after generation.

Baby Gifts – First Birthday Baby Gifts

Author — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:58:59 +0000

Quick quiz: what is more memorable than the baby’s first birthday? That’s too easy! The answer is: nothing. The first year is so full of new experiences for parent and child that little later can compare.

Lightning fast growth, learning new things every day, developing those early habits that persist for a lifetime, offering every cute expression imaginable… The list is endless. Challenges and joys abound every hour of the newborns life and the first birthday is the perfect occasion on which to celebrate them all.

The occasion that marks the end of that first year is something that will be remembered for a lifetime. How can you find a gift that will do full justice to that?

There’s the common t-shirt, of course. But turn an expected first birthday gift into a special joy for giver, baby and parent by selecting the most fun design. Baby boy or girl will look great in this t-shirt covered with colorful balloons and cake. The smiling child on the front offers a preview of the expressions on the faces of all concerned once the box is opened.

What more fun, practical first birthday gift could you imagine than a motorcycle or sports car bank? Made of stylish, durable pewter it’s both a lovely decorative item and a practical toy. With handlebars or a steering wheel that turns and rubber wheels that spin, it will be seen on the nursery floor in no time. But it looks equally good sitting on the shelf where it can hold a dozen small coins or folded bills.

The little ones will need a step stool to reach those toys on the shelf. They could also use a rest after playing with them. The combination steppy stool/chair is the perfect solution. Made of sturdy wood and personalized with the child’s name, it’s practical and stylish. It’s 12″ high by 12 1/2″ wide and 6 1/2″ deep with a seat that measures 5 1/2″. That’s the perfect size for the nursery and the hinges make it easy to tuck away.

Make the baby feel part of the fun when you’re off to the gym or store with their very own personalized sport or duffel bag. They come in a half-dozen different themes, including sports, flowers, butterflies and princess. Colorful and made of sturdy canvas with a polyester lining, they’re practical and lovely. At 15″ long and 7″ in diameter, they make for a great extra bag in which to carry all the baby’s things.

Back home, don’t forget about those plush toys that make for ideal gifts. Skipper the Cowboy Dog or his pal Bojo are just waiting to come out of the toy box. They’ll sit quietly on the little wooden chair while your baby instructs them in the rules of the game in language you can only guess at.

Maybe the young one will have a head for business, who knows? You can start them off with a 5-piece soft briefcase set that holds lots of toys. With a squeaky calculator and a squeezable cell phone, they’ll feel right at home in the office.

Commemorate the occasion with a pewter photo album sporting a fun teddy bear logo. It’s the perfect means of storing all those pictures you took at the first birthday party. See that one there where the baby’s eyes light up after opening your gift…?

Baby Gifts – Baby Shower Cakes

Author — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:57:06 +0000

Maybe you were thinking that baby shower cakes were just a tasty dessert served at the party… Well, that’s certainly one kind. But there’s a different kind of baby shower ‘cake’, one that is filled with all sorts of useful gifts for the about-to-be mom.

One of the most popular choices in this area is a gift that really does resemble a multi-tiered wedding cake. But rather than being made of sugar and flour and eggs, it’s constructed from the one thing a new mom can never have too much of: diapers.

These clever and decorative baby shower cakes make for the perfect gift for the occasion. Everyone thinks of giving diapers to the expectant mother, and she will certainly use them. But giving them in this form turns a needed but mundane gift into an opportunity for laughter for the guests and the guest of honor.

Piled high and covered with decorative items that really do make it look like the genuine article, these diaper cakes are fun and practical. The recipient can peel them off one at a time as needed. Like eating a wedding cake that will last for days or weeks, the gift provides its own storage bin.

The same design idea has been used successfully for lots of other baby shower gifts, though. The faux wedding cake can be filled with all sorts of toys for the baby, gifts for the about-to-be mother and father, and lots more.

It isn’t only diapers, after all, that the happy couple will need soon. Baby powder, lotion, baby oil, ointment and many similar hygiene products are common items in the nursery. At 32 inches high, you’ll find these cakes hold plenty of these necessities. Booties, terry cloth towels, a baby cap and several other clothing items are part of the package, too.

Even the smaller 2-tier baby shower cakes can offer dozens of highly valued gifts. As a centerpiece for the baby shower table, it makes a great decoration. Peel off the outer layers and enjoy the rattle, teething ring, pacifier and more that will definitely get used. Open it up and find socks, a manicure set, brush and comb, and other equally useful presents.

Some baby shower cakes may contain only decorative items, but those too will be highly appreciated by the guest of honor at the baby shower. Ceramic baby blocks, silk roses and more set on a scalloped silver platter make this a gift that won’t be shoved in the closet after the party. You’ll find the blocks decorating the shelf in the baby’s room and the silk roses on the mantle, while the silver platter livens up the table on special occasions.

Take a look at the bear baby cake and you may not be able to resist. Chock full of gifts – like undershirts, hats, hooded towel and more – they’re topped by a stuffed teddy bear that is sure to become the baby’s favorite for a long time.

Check out the full line of baby shower cakes and amaze yourself with all the creative options. And, oh, don’t forget to order the real thing for the party while you’re at it…

Baby Gifts – Mealtime Baby Gifts

Author — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:00:23 +0000

Think a mealtime baby gift has to be dull, nothing but a practical item without style? Think again. There’s a whole line of mealtime baby gifts that combine utility and beauty.

If Dad (or Mom) is a big fan of NASCAR races you can add fun to the list of attributes, too. A baby bib and bottle provide the perfect canvas for a racing theme. Emblazoned with a checkered flag logo, the “Pit Stop” bib and bottle will give that little one an early start on becoming a fan as well. With text that reads “Caution – Frequent Pitstops” they also show a sense of humor.

Maybe you prefer a nature theme. Done. The silver-plated sippy cup sports a bear logo on the side, which provides a cup that is both lovely and practical. It offers a removable plastic liner and comes in a decorative gift box. The whole present makes for a practical item that will later become a keepsake kept forever.

For another lovely and practical gift, consider a pewter bowl and spoon. The material is perfectly safe and long-lasting. That provides a gift that can be given as a thing of beauty that is also useful. It can also be a decorative item kept for a lifetime and passed down to another generation. Available with butterfly or barnyard designs, it echoes a nature theme that many parents appreciate.

Continuing the combination of joining style with usefulness is the “Carryall Diaper Tote”. Made of 100% cotton canvas, it provides a sturdy tote that can carry dozens of bibs, diapers and accessories. That includes a changing pad, powder and more. With plenty of pockets, there are plenty of places to put all those needed items. Available in lime, blue and pink it makes for a great summer bag when heading to the beach or lake with the baby.

‘Style’ can also mean ‘cute’ and that defines the 3-piece ducky plate set. It comes with a duck decor cup, plate and bowl all neatly set in a hat box that will become a keepsake. The dishes are made from safe and sturdy melamine, so there’s no concern about breakage. The vintage hat box container is a great combination of traditional look and current fashion item so it will never go out of style.

Want something simple, stylish and practical? A 2-piece utensil set can be just the ticket. Sporting a royalty theme, the little prince or princess spoon and fork are practical items at mealtime that add a bit of style. Silver-plated with enamel highlights, they look like the tools of a young monarch. Arriving in a gift box of royal blue or pink, they make for a great gift.

For fun and function you can’t do better than an animal-themed 3-piece porcelain dish set. Painted with a drum-playing elephant and rabbit, and offering a frog who loves the cymbals, this fantasy set is a delightful gift. The set comes in a muslin carrying case that is equally a work of art. This gift will be a keepsake long after the baby has grown out of it.

Make mealtime fun and fashionable while you solve your dilemma of what gift to get for the new parents.

Baby Gifts – Bath Time Baby Gifts

Author — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:58:28 +0000

Is there a more natural combination than babies and baths? Sometimes it seems they spend half their early lives in the bath. Sponge bath for the first three months, short tub the first year and regular the next five, the time they spend bathing adds up. Make it easy on Mom, Dad and baby by getting all the bath time items they’ll need.

Brr… Step out on one of those cold mornings and discover that a bathrobe is the first necessity. Keep those little ones warm and comfortable with a gift made of the finest terrycloth. Make the baby and Mom happy by getting the one with a design that brings two smiles at once.

Give the little ones a preview of what’s to come later in life with the spa baby bath set. Slippers to die for, dear, in pink, blue or white. Washcloths that are as soft as they use in Baden Baden where the big girls go for a holiday. But don’t forget there’s a long way to go first, so get the toy frog to match the design on the slippers.

Speaking of amphibians, how about the four-piece turtle hat box set? A lovely pink hat box wrapped in a white silk bow makes for the perfect container. Inside, there are slippers embossed with those cute little hard-shelled green creatures. Nestled alongside is a terry washcloth, a 30-inch hoodie towel and lots of other goodies.

In the tub, there are lots of choices.

Bath soap is a must, of course. But why not turn a practical necessity into a joy? Ducky baby soap is the solution. Decorated with fun looking baby ducks and smelling of English herbs, the container alone will be a keepsake. The soap is formulated specially for baby’s delicate skin and leaves them smelling like a garden.

The beach ball bath set provides a safe, fun option. Made of soft terry, it’s paired with a washcloth and hooded towel that make for the perfect combination of play and hygiene. All cotton, the items are comfortable, warm and highly absorbent.

But before the baby can get out to dry off, you’ll want to be sure to keep them amused in the tub. The puppy puppet is a sure bet to meet that goal. Once they’re ready to come out, the matching puppy hooded towel is ready for the job. Soft, sturdy and hilarious, it will do the deed with style and fun.

Make the drying off a warm and easy breeze with a 3-piece terry set. Made of ultra-soft velour cotton and decorated with a baseball motif, the hooded towel is only the beginning. A matching infant robe and full-sized bib with Velcro latches makes the set practical, luxurious and decorative.

Then let the baby relax and enjoy the post-bath time with a plush play bucket full of fun plush crabs. Or, go for the turtle family and watch two little eyes light up with excitement. Whether as a baby shower gift, a birthday present or just because you care, these baby bath time gifts are sure to be appreciated.

Baby Gifts – Baby Keepsakes

Author — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:56:40 +0000

A baby stays a baby for a vanishingly short time. They grow up faster than even well-read parents expect. Try as they will, parents can’t fully believe how quickly the time goes or how fast the little ones grow up.

That makes a baby keepsake all the more precious. Offering a memento, a memory and a mnemonic all in one, they give parents a treasured object they will always remember and that will remind them of all those irreplaceable days and nights. A keepsake is forever, a frozen moment to hold still the blur of that wonderful period in their child’s life.

Picture, for example, a pewter train coin bank. A practical gift, it will house dozens of coins or bills. A decorative gift, it will sit quietly on a shelf where it adds to the loveliness of the nursery. But it’s more than a means of storing money or livening up the baby’s room. It’s a symbol of the time when the baby was taking its first steps toward entering the world of teens and adults.

Pewter also makes for a lovely bowl and spoon keepsake. It reminds mom and dad of all those sloppy meals they had to clean up, which are amusing long after the fact. But it also is a thing of beauty in itself. It provides a look of shining childhood, decorated with butterflies and personalized on the bottom.

A memory book is yet another excellent gift that offers practicality, beauty and deep symbolism. Designed in pink or blue and topped with a silk bow, it will dress up any room. It will help record those early events in the baby’s life in a way that cold, contemporary computers simply can’t duplicate. It will act as a symbol of the time when that precious and precocious child first developed all those charming habits that become so obvious later.

Baby rattles are another common symbol of infancy. But they can be so in a form that goes far beyond the mundane plastic choices of yesteryear. Done in pewter, but polished to a high sheen, these rattles are practically indestructible. That sturdy frame is the perfect symbol for the enduring memories of the time when the baby was able to first shake it. The baby was fascinated by the sound then. Mothers will be pleased at the memories it brings to mind years later.

Every baby needs a guardian angel and the Irish guardian angel doll fills that role perfectly. Smiling down on the little one swathed in a baby blanket, the doll’s lovely gown and cheerful face will bring a smile from the child, too. With the luck of the Irish ensured by a four leaf clover, it comes with a poem that mom and dad will want to read long after their baby has grown up.

Finding the perfect keepsake to remember the baby’s early days isn’t hard, since there are no bad choices. Choose a lovely gift that harkens back to those times and rest assured that it will be treasured forever.

Baby Gifts – Vintage Baby Gifts

Author — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:02:03 +0000

Vintage baby gifts offer a number of values that continue to appeal generation after generation. Classic style, long-lasting construction and reminders of a simpler time never fade. Popular today, they’ll be keepsakes that are appreciated years from now when they are passed down to later generations.

One delightful example is the “Vintage Shadowbox”. Once a common item in homes, the modern version echoes its ancestral cousin. The figures dangle on a clothesline against a simplified farm background. As the dog appears to wag his tail, the teddy bear dries on the line. Colorful, clever and fun, it’s a reminder of days gone by.

Jack-in-the-box is another classic toy that used to be a part of every child’s experience. Crank the handle, enjoy the amusing tune and in a few seconds up would pop a clown from the box to surprise and delight. The style is echoed by the “Socks in a Box” bunny set.

Sporting pastoral scenes in Earth colors the bunny tag on the lid is done in a delightful style. The colorful set of socks inside continue the design theme. Polka dots, clouds and grass are splashed across the snuggly cotton socks that will be worn week after week. The box forms a keepsake that will long outlast them.

A vintage 3-piece dish set can make the perfect baby gift. Offering a bunny set in a meadow, the design reflects illustrations of children’s books from days long gone. Made from sturdy, contemporary melamine, they will last in perfect shape to be handed down to the next generation. Housed in a vintage hat box decorated with the same color-scheme, the whole set is a gift for the ages.

Nothing says “vintage” quite like a classic blanket design. Made from up-to-date micro-fleece, it warms and comforts with the best modern covers. But the style echoes the classic, traditional themes that will make it a keepsake for decades to come.

The 35″ x 40″ blanket is large enough to serve as a baby blanket for a wide variety of circumstances. The delicate pink or blue with white polka dots allows it to fit perfectly in the nursery. Wrapped with a vintage bunny design band, it makes for a stylish gift. The metal container completes the package and provides a keepsake box that will be treasured forever.

To decorate the nursery in vintage style you couldn’t do better than the 7-piece nursery rhyme gift set. With a 23″-high Mother Goose sitting on a green rocking chair, the gift instantly evokes images of the classics. The tiny cloth Humpty Dumpty and Little Piggy who accompany her add to the fun. Each character comes with a tiny soft book that tells her unique story. Made of washable polyester, they’ll last a lifetime and beyond.

Harken back to yesteryear and discover that some things last forever. Vintage baby gifts show you why.

Baby Gifts – Irish Baby Gifts

Author — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:59:46 +0000

You can have the luck of the Irish and pass it on when you give an Irish baby gift. A whole range of items give delight to giver and recipient.

Every baby needs a guardian angel and there’s no better choice than the Irish Guardian Angel doll. Echoing the low, green hills of Ireland, this lovely doll stands a wee six inches. But its small size holds a big heart that will keep your child safe and happy whenever it’s near. Dressed in a delicate white lace gown, its smiling hand-painted porcelain face brings joy to young and old.

To keep the wee youngin’ warm is simplicity itself, darlin’, with a bodysuit made from 100% cotton. Sporting a four-leafed clover it reminds the older generation of the homeland while it brings comfort to the new. Sturdy snaps keep it snug for babies up to 9 months old. With one of these on hand it won’t be just the baby who is lucky.

Don’t forget who offers the finest keepsakes, either. More heirlooms hail from Ireland than anywhere else. Or, did the man in the pub say ‘hair brooms’? Well, no matter. The fork and spoon set will prove the point even to the most skeptical.

Housed in a box that is itself a keepsake, they’re accompanied by a white satin keeper that is as lovely as the sunrise over the lake near Dublin. The poem inside will tell you all about the history of the fork and spoon keepsake tradition.

Don’t forget that gift for the baby shower while you’re about it, Auntie Colleen. A white cotton corsage sporting a four-leafed clover at the heart may be just the thing. The Irish mum will wear this beauty during the party and treasure it forever after.

Surrounded by a delicate lace and housed in a gift box that echoes its origins, this baby shower gift will be passed down from generation to generation. The package is tied up with a green satin bow that makes it the perfect offering to the expectant mom.

While you’re thinkin’ of it, what better choice for the baby than a bib? Practical, lovely and always appreciated, this linen and lace cover makes for a great keepsake as well. Shamrock applique accents give it a look that is unmistakably Irish. Beautifully packaged and tied up with a green satin ribbon, this heirloom will be among the most treasured of gifts long after the baby is grown.

No matter the heritage of giver or recipient, anyone will fall in love with these baby gifts. After all, when it comes to passion, there’s a bit of the Irish in everyone.

Baby Gifts – Baby Shower Favors

Author — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 05:57:48 +0000

Baby Showers are always full of fun. They’re fun to plan, fun to hold and deliver great memories for a lifetime. Nothing shows that so much as baby shower favors. Selecting favors for the party is a great pleasure. The looks on the faces of the guests and the about-to-be Mom are priceless. The memories these little keepsakes invoke last for years afterward.

Fortunately, there are dozens of different favors that fulfill those goals to a ‘T’.

Favors with a hint of humor are always appreciated by everyone present. The “She’ll Soon See Her Feet Again” flip-flop pedicure set is a good case in point. Designed in pink and black they look great.

A “World’s Gratest Mom” cheese grater is another great example of fun and function in a single gift. Clever, useful and very attractive, these small gifts will look and work ‘grate’ in the kitchen. Housed in a clear container topped with an organza bow, they always inspire lots of “oohs” and “awws”.

Looking for another item for the kitchen that will lend beauty and function for a long time? Teapot timers are always a favorite favor. Made of shiny chrome and topped with perfectly fitting plastic parts, they make for a great decoration. They also deliver years of useful service. Add the “Baby is Brewing” package they come in and you’ve got a great gift with a sense of humor.

While you’re in the kitchen, you might find that the “Baby Chick” salt and pepper shakers suit your fancy. These decorative spice holders come in an “About to Hatch” box that signals the occasion for the gift. Later, they’ll be proudly displayed on the counter or table where they’re within easy reach to perform their useful role in cooking or dining.

Maybe you’d like to start Mom and Baby off in the right direction. The “Li’l Saver” piggy bank is the perfect choice for that purpose. Decorative, yet large enough to hold dozens of coins or bills, it’s a great choice for the baby shower. Wrapped in a delightful black polka dotted white bow, it will bring on smiles from the guests and the guest of honor.

Votive holders are always a great idea, too. Very stylish, they’ll hold delicately scented candles that will burn for hours. At the same time, they produce a light that creates the kind of gentle mood much appreciated by women with a young one on the way. They can be personalized in several ways, either with a sticker on the bottom or via a logo on the side, or even by being etched with the name of the upcoming arrival.

If you’re planning a meal as part of the party, don’t forget to select some great placecard holders. The “Celebrate Baaby” lamb items will fit right in with the theme. Fun, decorative and functional, they also make great keepsakes.

Baby Gifts – Baby Blankets

Author — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:55:39 +0000

It’s always hard to think of a great gift for a baby shower. But a baby blanket can be just the ticket to earning the “most popular gift” award at the party. With a range of clever and original designs available, you can’t go wrong here.

But, what could be more ordinary than a baby blanket, you say? Used for thousands of years to swath a baby and provide needed warmth, it’s hard to imagine anyone coming up with a new idea in this area. Guess again. Baby blankets have entered whole new heights of fun, creativity and usefulness.

“Pigs In a Blanket” is just one example that combines a clever design with a practical gift. This two-piece gift set will generate lots of “oohs” and “awws” when the expectant mom opens the decorative gift box. The box is a delightful vintage container topped with an organza bow.

Inside is a plush blanket that can be embossed with a lovely phrase or even personalized. It’s wrapped around an even lovelier teddy bear-style pig that will soon become the baby’s favorite. Made from stain-resistant polyester and tough construction, it may very well be handed down to the next generation.

The gift also comes with a children’s story book rhyme designed in a similar style to complement the other two items. “This Little Piggy” printed on the back was never so much fun. The five little piggies dancing on the front agree.

Just as fun is the JoJo Giraffe toy that comes with its own special blanket inside a keepsake box. At 20 inches tall it will sit proudly in the corner until the baby can no longer resist playing with it… which will take about three seconds. With his arms and legs wrapped around a colorful keepsake box done in similar style, JoJo is a perfect toy.

The blanket that comes with the gift adds immeasurably to the delight that both mom and baby will receive from this lovely item. Easily personalized with the baby’s name, the sunny yellow fleece is warm and soothing. Embossed with a likeness of JoJo, baby will keep it close when JoJo is resting on the shelf. At 30 inches by 40 inches, it is ample size for a baby blanket or decorative bed cover.

Even baby blankets that are standalone items can make for perfect gifts. The Maddie’s Meadow is a great example. Colorfully decorated with butterflies and flowers on a background of pink, it’s very inviting. The gift box carries the same theme, with fluffy pink clouds and bright green grass that will remind mom of the joys of Spring. Personalization is easily accomplished thanks to the generous satin border surrounding the soft fleece.

Consider the 9-piece layette set and you can give enough blankets and toys to fill a nursery shelf. Booties snuggle next to a baby blanket that matches the design of the three keepsake hat boxes. Years later your ‘baby’ will thank you for keeping this lovely gift long after the baby shower.