This may be a little short notice, but what about classes for Mama and Baby massages.
I came across this article yesterday on
www.babycenter.com.
Top 10 Baby Shower gifts.
Baby showers can be a simple gathering of a few friends for a cup of afternoon tea, or you can go whole hog with decorations, themes, cakes, and games. But no matter what the characteristics of the shower, the basic motivation behind them is the same: Pregnant women deserve a party. (Heck, a few presents wouldn't be so bad either.) Next time you're invited to one, be sure to turn to our list of the top 10 shower gifts:
--------------
BOUNCY SEAT
Keep baby rockin', not rollin'
Keep a newborn and his parents happy with a bouncy seat — the baby can wiggle and jiggle to his heart's content, and his parents can squeeze in a chore or two knowing he's safe and entertained. This versatile, portable piece of baby gear features cheerful fabric stretched across a metal or plastic frame, with straps to ensure safety. Some models are battery powered for a rhythmic and more soothing bounce.
Listening in on the little one
Nervous first-time moms and dads will appreciate the reassuring presence of a portable baby monitor receiver on their bedside table. These increasingly sophisticated gadgets — some models can pick up a baby's faintest breaths within a range of up to 400 feet — are particularly comforting for parents whose babies are sleeping in another room. If you have lots of money to spend, look into a video monitor, which lets parents see as well as hear the baby.
BABYCENTER STORE
Monitors
--------------
BEDDING
Soft and snuggly slumber
Pastel sheets covered in teddy bears, lambs, ducks, and other friendly critters are a perfect addition to any nursery, and soft fuzzy throws will help keep the baby warm (they should be saved for out-of-the-crib cuddling, though, as soft bedding is a potential SIDS risk). And you can be sure that any new mom or mom-to-be will be grateful to have extra linens come laundry day!
BABYCENTER STORE
Patterned Bedding
Solid Bedding and Blankets
--------------
BABY SLING OR FRONT CARRIER
Make like a kangaroo
One of the handiest ways a new mother can tote her baby around is in a sling or front carrier. Babies love the feeling of being snuggled up close to a parent's warmth, and the ingeniously simple design leaves a mom's arms free to do housework or errands while her little one sits protected in a makeshift pouch. As a bonus, some experts, including Dr. William Sears, swear that the close contact encouraged by slings and front carriers helps strengthen the parent-child bond.
BABYCENTER STORE
Carriers
--------------
ACTIVITY GYM
Developing brawn — and brains
Babies are enthralled by their environment in general, but you can make it even more fascinating with an activity gym — a contraption that typically includes a cloth mat and toys suspended from soft bars or arches. Colorful mirrors, noisemakers, and other objects of different shapes, sizes, and colors dangle within the baby's grasp, encouraging his developing eyesight and growing physical skills. Portable and lightweight, activity gyms are travel-friendly, whether you're shuttling between rooms or across the country.
BABYCENTER STORE
Developmental toys
--------------
BATH KIT
The gift that makes a splash
For a gift that's both fun and practical, grab a baby tub and fill it with all the essentials a new mother will need to keep her child squeaky clean. Be sure to include baby shampoo, a mild soap that won't irritate a newborn's sensitive skin, a soft washcloth (or sponge) and hooded towel, and a bright yellow rubber ducky for good measure. A baby comb and brush are nice additions, as are a couple of simple bath toys, even though infants won't be able to really play with them for several more months. Toss in a bottle of bubble bath for Mom to use when the baby's asleep, and you're done.
BABYCENTER STORE
Bathing gear
--------------
STARTER LIBRARY
Fill baby's shelves with the classics
A shelf full of classic children's books is a gift sure to win any mom-to-be's heart. Reading them to her child will strengthen their bond, and the baby will begin to learn to appreciate the beauty of the written word. Some of the best are Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny, Guess How Much I Love You?. If you love the idea of giving books, consider making it the theme of the shower; have everyone bring their favorite with a note to the baby tucked inside. Be sure to mix some baby-friendly board books in with the traditional hardcover variety — that way newborns will be able to truly appreciate both the sound and the taste of your gift.
--------------
OUT-AND-ABOUT KIT
Preparation in a bag
If you're a parent — or even if you aren't — you know it's virtually impossible to get out of the house without leaving something essential behind. Help the happy new parents avoid mishaps with an assembled out-and-about kit. Start with a diaper bag; add a couple of diapers, some wipes, an extra outfit (or two) for the baby, a bottle of ready-to-feed formula (if she's formula feeding), a couple of small toys (rattles and chew toys are perfect), and a pacifier; toss in an extra T-shirt for mom; and finish it off with a pencil, a pad of paper, an extra set of keys (if you can get her originals to make copies), and a packet of safety pins. Now she'll be prepared for anything.
BABYCENTER STORE
Diaper bags
--------------
SLEEP KIT
From the sandman's bag o' tricks
Why do newborns cry at night? Perhaps it's because no one at their moms' baby shower gave them a basket full of all the things that make a nursery so much more fun after dark... (Well, actually, probably not, but that doesn't mean it's not a great gift.) Fill your sleep kit with a comforting nightlight, a soft blanket (for out-of-the-crib cuddling only, as soft bedding is a potential SIDS risk), and a tape recorder and soothing tape of music made just for babies (For Crying Out Loud and Baby Go to Sleep are great examples). If you want to splurge, include a white noise sound machine or a special mobile that plays music and projects dancing light pictures on nursery walls. The baby will be enthralled, and his parents may look a little perkier in the morning.
--------------
SET UP A GROUP OF DINNER PROVIDERS
A friend-ly catering service
When the beds are still unmade at five in the afternoon and the baby's having a good end-of-the-day cry, the last thing a new mom (or dad) will want to do is make a meal. So give new parents what they really want — dinner on someone else. Before you go to the shower, organize a group of the mom-to-be's friends to volunteer to make the new family dinner after the baby's born. Depending on the number of people involved, you can either plan to have hot meals dropped off nightly or every few days for the first couple of weeks postpartum.
Susan C.M.
