Baby Shower - New York,NY

Hi K.
I did this for my daughters first birthday, but it would would work for a shower just as well...I made a quilt (you can buy them all ready made at Jo-Ann Fabrics, It's where I got the idea.) It has blank boxes with a border of your choice around them. I had all the guests sign the empty boxes, except the middle one. I then had a picture from her party transfered onto the middle square. You could have all the guests do the same then when the baby is born, have your friend pick her favorite new born picture. It should last forever, pretty much like any other quilt. The kit comes with some kind of pens to use, but I used Sharpie markers for everyone to sign/leave a message.I found a variety pack that had pretty much every color in it. You could buy shades of blue or pink accordingly or a bunch of colors. They sell them in all colors individually too. I think my daughter will appreciate it when she is older, and right now she loves it beacuse it is her special blankie! Good luck, I hope you find just the right idea!(plus, I can't wait to read all the ideas you get!)

The best gift I got at my baby shower, from my best friend, was a gift certificate for a facial and manicure, to be used after the baby was born. She included a poem, that she wrote, explaining the gift. It was so thoughtful, because she knew that taking care of myself would not be a priority after the baby and she was trying to help me do just that! All the attention and gifts are for the baby, and none for mom. I was so grateful for that gift.

I love the idea of a diaper bag, or similar, filled with necessities. My sister did that for me, and it was great to also have her favorites on hand--because what new mom knows which diaper cream works best??? But my sis had four kids already, so I loved having her recommendations. I also love the idea of dinners prepared, because that's a huge help. You could also, as an alternative, get her a gift cert. to one of those dinner prep places--most of them give you the option to come in and prepare the dinners, or just pick them up already prepared.

Personally, I don't like the book, "Love You Forever. I find it really sad and depressing--a friend gave it to me at my own shower and, with the hormones, I was so sad. I never could read it again, and I ended up giving it away. I think people either love or hate that book.

My friend is having a shower in October, and she is a first time mom, and not into "baby" things, baby colors, prints, pastels, scrapbooks, etc. So, I bought her a pair of Levi jeans for the baby--they can be for a girl or a boy, and are adorable, fashionable, and unique as a present. They're bootcut, and dark denim, faded in spots, just like grownup ones--very cool. (I think they even say "My First Levi's" on the tag!) BTW, I got them in size 24 months--I really appreciated when people bought me clothes in bigger sizes when my son was born, because you get soooo much newborn stuff! I also looked forward to the day when he would actually be able to wear those adorable duds. I did write in my friend's card something like, "I know it's hard to imagine your baby will ever be this big, but 24 months will be here before you know it!"

Good luck and have fun choosing your gift!

At my baby shower the host provided blank greeting cards and supplies to decorate them. each card was in an envelpoe numbered 1-18. Each person at the shower got to decorate and write a card for my daughter to open on each of her birtdays. Its really fun to open a card each year and remember her shower and read all the advice and nice words from the people who love us. My daughter is only 2 now but I expect she will look forward to opening those cards each year on her birthday. The guests loved it because they got to think about what might be going on in her life when she is a big kid and teeneager.

For my sisters shower my mom asked made a book with a page for each letter of the alphabet. She assigned each guest a letter and asked them to make the page and feature an animal that used their letter. Guests could go as simple or involved as they wanted. She also had materials at the shower to finish the book if someone hadn't gotten a chance to do it ahead of time. My sister has a lovely book that she can read with the baby when she has it.

What about buying a Calendar and having all the other friends,and relatives pick a day...once a month to babysit...then she doesn't have to ask or feel guilty about needing some time to herself. Start small with a lunch date that you and she go on together while her mother(or some one she she's extremely close with) watches the baby. You could even make one that she could add the pictures to each month... a baby's first year, every time she flips to the new month she'll be reminded to take a picture of baby to add to it.

I have been to many showers and always try to do something different. The most recent being I bought the diaper bag off the registry and filled it. I put everything you would need in a bag. I also once bought the changing table and stocked that ( a little more expensive but another friend and I went in together) Also if you have any of those home meal delivery or like a Susie's kitchen. New moms don't want to cook the first few days.

I once rec'd a gift certificate for a photo package I really enjoyed that gift.

How about a big basket with twenty-six items in it. One for each letter of the alphabet. You'd need to get creative on a few of the letters but I'm sure lots of moms out there would help with ideas!

Hi K.,

My friend's shower theme was along the lines of the baby library idea...I decided to create a story of our own for the new parents-to-be & baby. I emailed every guest & had them contribute a portion of the story...it's sort of like playing telephone...someone starts the story & sends their paragraph to the next guest & then that guest adds to the story. Once the story was completed, I created a cover & a few illustrations along with the story & had it printed at my local Kinko's on cardstock & then cut it & glued it into a boardbook to present to the guest of honor as a surprise.

For my own shower, guests were asked to decorate various sized plain white onesies. Once they were all decorated (with fabric markers), we hung them on a clothesline & took a picture!

Bloomin' Belly Soaps makes Birthing Necklace Kits, which are really cool-it's a one of a kind bead that looks like a pregnant mom, and has a crystal in the belly. It comes with a poem to read, lots of glass and wooden beads, and instructions on how to make the birthing necklace. Basically, everyone picks a bead, writes it down in the included card-what the bead looks like, their name, and a wish for the mom. They string it on the necklace, and then the mom has a keepsake she can wear during labor, use as a focal point, or just keep to remember her pregnancy by!

;)

M.

You could make a scrapbook with baby pictures of the mom-to-be's family & friends along with their best wishes, advice, favorite baby food recipe, fav acivity or best family vacation, etc.

If you can see if you can get some of her baby pictures and make an album with those in the front, then some older ones you may be able to get your hands on, also if she's married maybe include some wedding pics & other ones but be sure to leave room for the baby. I did this with my friend's and it went over really well. The one I had gotten had blank lines on the side so I could do a story as I went along. Hallmark sells them. Good luck!

You can invite her and her friends to a Discovery Toys party. When she arrives a DT consultant can give a presentation, with a large display of everything you could imagine all set up. After the presentation, she will get everyone playing the telephone game (where one person whispers something to another and they go around the room to see how much the message gets messed up). Try to position the mommy to be the last person to get the message : "this isn't really a Discovery Toys party, it's a baby shower for you!" Then ask her if she likes the things on display. Well, of course she will! Tell her, "well that's good, because it all belongs to you!" Everyone will have ordered stuff for her ahead of time and then showed up for the ‘party’." Check out http://www.toysofdiscovery.com for more info.

Hi K.,

My favorite thing to do for a baby shower is to take a step stool, flip it over and fill it with all of my favorite items. I also like to include diapers for the height it gives in the presentation. When I have it filled, I wrap it with cellophane,and tie ribbons and teething toys around it. It looks beautiful plus you can include things you found to be useful with your son. My 6 year old daughter still uses her step stool.

I live in sherburne also, why not get your a gift set to pamper herself after she has the baby. She needs some pampering too. I am a mother of 3 and I wish I had more of that time, and when I do I take full advantage of it. I have a great line of products for pampering. I sell Spa Girl Parties. If you would like I could do a get together with you and some friends and see what you think and if you like the products we carry. Best of all they are all natural, so they wont harm the baby if on her skin. Let me know what you think hun. I also sell scentsy wickless candles and those are a great idea too. Feel free to let me know. I will post both links for you to take a look.

www.myspagirlparties.com/jenfitch

www.scentsy.com/12548

then click on Place an order
then click select next to J. Fitch
then feel free to look around and do some shopping.

If you have questions about either one of these feel free to call or email me. ###-###-#### or ____@____.com

Hi there! For my sisters baby shower I did ALL of the things you listed AND I purchased a beautiful piggy bank in her nursery theme and I contacted everyone of the guests, through the RSVP list, and had them bring their loose change to start the baby's first bank account. This way you aren't tied down to bring in something you can't afford but you can contribute the few pennies you find in your car on the way over:) I also purchased a memory box and had them all bring in funny stories, pictures, the children drew pictures, or any special memories about my sister so the baby will get to know what their mom was like before she was a mommy:) Good luck!

Hi!
How about putting together a 'date night' basket. Maybe a gift certificate to the movie theater near her, some candy snacks (raisinets etc.), and/or blockbuster gift card with microwave popcorn/soda etc. and the most important thing - a coupon for FREE BABYSITTING and maybe a bottle of wine!?
Hey every new Mom needs a break now and then!
Have fun,
C.

I like to get gift certificates for someplace at their local mall to get pictures taken. It is something she will always have, buy you don't always have the money for.

Get a picture of your frind and her babys father AS BABIES and have them put on a cake. You could also do a baby dvd of fotos of them both as babies

the best (and longest lasting) gift I ever gave was a cloth-bound book-available at Hallmark and the like, that I had everyone...and I DO mean everyone I met write their advise on raising children in. I would ask cashiers, the mailman, friends, friends of friends etc. I took it to church and passed it around there as well. It wouldn't be too hard to take that idea and expand it. What if all your prospective guests did the same? Or have each take one "era" of child rearing, ie. infants, toddlers, elementary aged, teens...

ok the one thing I love to do is see if I can get the inviation list and contact all of the Mommy to be's friends and family (that she likes) and have them all sign up for meals to bring to Mommy hot and fresh after baby comes home. Make the list starting with 1st day at home and go from there, the only restriction is you bring dinner with no intention of visiting. This gives family hot healthy meal with no obligation to entertain unless expressly invited.

I also by the diaper pail with diapers, wipes, desitin, powder, and garbage bags. Mattering on the sence of humer and how close I am with mommy I also give a clothes pin and air freshiner. I also give a gift certificate that I make up for a free babysitting day of mommies choosing and free diaper changes during all my future visits.

I would also talk to daddy if he is in the picture and see how the house is doing and if she would like a cleaning service to come in and blitz the house while she is in the hospital. Coming home to a spotless house is priceless to mommies that can surender the control of her house.

Well it is hippish LOL but we have Blessing Ways. All her closest friends gather. we light candles and incense, read poems and give bits of wisdom. tell the new momma why she is important to the guest and what.The mother gets pampered one with perhaps a massage or a foot bath and pedicure but one of the guest. We did henna tatoos to I think. Anyway here is a link http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/blessingway/a/aa102202a.htm

Oh and every one brings a dinner that can be frozen to stock her freezer.

My favorite baby shower gift was a beaded necklace. A friend had gone to a bead store and bought the wire and a bunch of glass beads that went together. During the shower, everyone added a bead or two along with a blessing/advice. It's a very sentimental gift, and because the beads were so pretty I wear the necklace even now - 4 years later. Every time I wear it I think of those special people in my life supporting me as a mom and watching out for my family.

Ideas: an "Itzbeen" device -- tells you how long since baby ate, how many wet diapers in past 24 hours, all kinds of info, so both parents know "itzbeen" 2 hours since last feed. Hugely helpful. Also, I always give the Portable Pediatrician book -- helpful in all aspects of parenting and well-written with humor. You can take square cloth diapers and sew two ribbons down the center (like 1/2 of a tic-tac-toe board) -- makes them look fun or classy, depending on the ribbon (don't use ribbon with wire). An hour of maid service is nice, too... Baby sign language stuff is great (lots of books and DVD's out there).

This sling saved my life. Well, not literally, but I wore it daily from month 1-month 4. DD can sleep for hours in it. http://www.mykarmababy.com/catalog.php?item=25&all=ye....
If you don't like that idea, i would say board books. Lot's of people got me books, goodnight moon, dr. suess, etc, but I can't read them to my 6 month old because she wants to eat them. So I went out and bought the heavy duty tiny board books, so she can hold them and eat them a little without tearing the pages. I didn't receive any, and they're great.

for my sisters shower, when i sent out the invitations i included a blank page of a book and asked the guests to write down words of wisdom or wishes for the new mom. they brought the completed pages with them to the shower and i put them into a wish book for her. she got everything from advice on diaper rash to prayers to "i remember whens" ... lots of very heartfelt things from the people who love her, i think because people really had time to think about it. very sweet. goods luck and congrats on your little one, too.

Well, I just threw a shower and I tried to do a lot with my little two hands. Instead of favors, I made chocolate ducks as the favors. Although it's so old, the mother wanted the ribbons to pin on people and I made those by hand as well. I didn't want the typical theme, so I picked rubber duckies. There are games, you can do. If you want more information, contact me.

how about a cooking class, or a cooking circle where you and all her friends can prepare meals for her and her family for when she gets home with the baby and is figuring out how to negotiate her new life with baby? (I do these things for a living so I'd be honored to participate, though you can do something much less formal)

Hi K.,

Before my daughter was born, my best friend sent me a mother's bracelet. It is made by Paco Designs and can be found online. It had my daughter's name in block letters. When my son was born, I added a strand with his name. I cherish this gift.

it works best if a name has been chosen.

Margie

I just made a diaper sub! I make the diaper cakes, but was also getting used to seeing them at parties, so now I make "sub sandwiches" instead! If you want a picture, just email me and I'll send you one. All of the party guests were amazed and LOVED the uniqueness of the gift. Plus it can be personalized by what you want to include.

Good luck!

Hi! I have two ideas that went over big @ both my sisters baby showers. First being a scrapbook with premade page, so she can just put future photos in and journal. You could have the book @ the shower for all the guests to sign. The second is I went to the fabric store and got a couple of yards of fabric, a light solid color. Then picked out and fabric to go with the theme of the room. I took the solid fabric and a sharpie marker (laundry), put the fabric on a piece of cardboard. I took it to the shower and had people write something to the baby. When the shower was over took it how and sewed it together and you have a one of a kind gift and one that will be cherished for years to come. Hope this helps.

I don't know when the shower is, but I made my sister in law a scrapbook for her shower. I made a page for every month of the year, starting with the month she was due. I decorated it according to what happens in that month (eg. beach and sun for July) then I left spaces for her to put her pictures of her son. A friend used this same idea for her sister in law and made each page a "first" (first bath, first solid food, etc). It is a little time consuming, but actually fun to do. If you have too little time, you can have other guests participate by having them do a page.
Good luck

My all time favorite gift to give anyone expecting a baby is the book "Love You Forever". It is such a sweet story, and it will make anyone cry. My kids even love it! You can find it in the kids section of most big book stores. I can't remember the author, but any associate should be able to look it up on the store computer if you cant find it. I also usually make a diaper wreath, and/or a gift basket to go along with it. If you get the book make sure you write an inscription. She'll treasure it forever!