Mommy and Baby Products

I really like my Hooter Hider and I use it constantly. It covers you up while you're nursing, but you can still look down and see your baby and make eye contact because of the special boning in the neckline. I think it's a must-have for mothers who are going to nurse. It costs about $30. I tried a generic brand and it didn't work well after the first time I washed it. I also really like my sling: Over the Shoulder Baby Holder. Check out Kangarookorner.com for ideas and information on all the slings available.
Maybe give the book Babywise about sleeping/eating for new baby. I got the AZ Mama's Handbook with tons of ideas of things to do and places to go here in Arizona and they make this book for other states as well, so they might have one of those for Las Vegas.

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I would suggest Weleda natural baby products. They make a sample bag you can get at Whole Foods of their product line ( diaper cream, lotion, baby oil, soap, etc.). And California Baby bathing products are a great gift idea! They have a wonderful Calming bath and wash formula that is great for those cranky baby days. They also make a sample pack you can order from their website www.californiababy.com

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Someone mentioned Babywise. Definitely recommend it. It is more than a sleep book. It teaches Biblical principles for childrearing. A side affect is the baby sleeps through the night very early. It's better for a shower gift, though, since the system really starts with day one, and most new mothers are sleeping, not reading!

Another one that I swear by is the video "The Happiest Baby on the Block". My cousin read the book and was not impressed. We watched the video and it cured our son's colic in 10 minutes. That one is better as a hospital gift as the mom can watch is while she's there trying to figure out what to do with this new little person. We watched it at home, and that would be fine, too.

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Hi M.. I absolutely cannot live without Arbonne's Baby Care products! They are fabulous! Arbonne has Herbal Diaper Rash Cream, Sunscreen, Hair and Body Wash, Body Oil, and Body Lotion. All of their products are 100% certified vegan with NO chemical dyes, fragrances, or mineral oil. They work so well and are extremely gentle for baby. If you are interested in checking these wonderful products out, please feel free to visit my website at: www.mandyolsen.myarbonne.com. The cool thing too is when you purchase the Arbonne Baby Care product set, you receive a FREE Rejuvenating Cream for mom! So, it's the perfect gift for mom and baby to pamper themselves!
Take care,
M. O.
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.mandyolsen.myarbonne.com

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two necessities are Nursing pads and lansinoh breast cream.

If any of the babies are in the New York area or the the parents are former New Yorkers a new york city themed gift basket would be cute. You could add a onesie from my website http://www.totstops.com/home/tot/smartlist_7/Infant_Cloth...
We also sell NYC picture Books on riding Taxi's and the Subway, which they will grow to love. The Mom's favorite NY snack, such as NY bagels, nuts, b/w cookie, you get the idea.

Best,
J. Sequinot
TotStops.com, Brooklyn, NY

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Motherlove Birth and Baby Oil and Mist - they tend to come together.
California Baby Diaper Area Wash.
Baby Botanicals skin-daddle massage oil.
all Weleda baby products.
Wish Garden Herbs - Baby Blues mood remedy.
Wish Garden Herbs - Pregnancy Immune Boost - can continue using while nursing
Wish Garden Herbs - Colic Ease!!!!
Clean Cantene stainless steel waterbottle - the waterbottles in the hospital are made of bad plastic. Siggs would be good to and prettier.
Bobo Bars, Lara Bars, Baklava

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Hi M.,

Sounds like you've got lots of great ideas. I just wanted to pass along my business for you really. I make posters from children's artwork. See www.dandilyons.com for more details. It would be perfect for your family, not so much for your friends who are pregnant at the moment;)

K.

2 moms found this helpful

Hello! I am also late in responding but wanted to add another idea to all of these fabulous ideas. I've always loved personalized stationery and think it is such a unique gift that shows you put time and effort into finding something special. You can check out my website, www.cloudnineexpresisons.com. I would recommend notecards with the baby's name on it or family notecards or notepads with all the family members' name including of course the newest addition. Also on my website I sell personalized plates and placemats which make another unique gift.
My friend has a fabulous product which I think is perfect for a new mom/baby....http://www.caitimaccreations.com/catalog.php?category=6. It is called the Clingy Cord. You use it to prevent anything from dropping from a high chair, stroller, car seat, etc. It is fabulous and again, very unique.
When I give baby gifts, I always add a board book to go along with the package. There is nothing better than giving a newborn baby, the gift of language and reading!!
Have fun!

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Maria, I wish I had seen your request when you first posted it. I'm responding now so that maybe in the future you will have another idea for an awesome gift for the newborn baby. We own a small country store that does speciality gift baskets for all occassions. Just recently I did a 4-tier diaper cake and no it can't be eaten. I used 80 newborn diapers and created layers, each smaller than the previous. Once the cake was assembled I placed rubber duckies, baby powder, oil, baby wash, baby washcloths, all baby items around the layers. I topped the cake off with a pink teddy bear and had violet and pink lacy ribbon tieing it all together. It was a hit at the baby shower and was used as a centerpiece.

J. Blue Star Mom and Proud Army Mom

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I'm late replying to this too, but had to add in my favorites that saved me:
burp cloths, receiving blankets and wash cloths - seem like boring gifts, but are so great, when you're doing the umpteenth load of laundry, to know that you still have some clean burp cloths if you're too tired to finish that last load.

My Brest Friend (yes, that's the name!) nursing pillow. A ton more comfortable for me than the boppy in those early months, when you still have quite the waistline girth. You don't have to adjust/readjust every time you need to nurse, just snap and go!

if it's a first time mom, I add in nursing pads. That's something a lot of people forget to get.

A sling! I didn't have one with my first, but got a very comfortable (and gorgeous, I might add!) one with my second, and it saved my back. not to mention that it's better than a bjorn for your baby (bjorn is not good for a baby's developing hip flexors), but it's like a sleeping drug for your newborn! I so wish I'd had one with my first. And the one I have can be used to carry your toddler (on your hip or back) as well. The one I have washes easy and rolls up small for fitting in my diaper bag. This was a total life saver! http://www.chicpapoose.com/slings.html

And the other thing that I wish I'd had with my first, but have with my second, is this apron type thing you wear to cover yourself when you're nursing. There are lots of different brands out there. But it's great to have something that covers you and the baby, that the baby can't pull off of you, and that doesn't fall down on your baby's face. I found mine at Segal's For Children, but you can find them at various baby stores: http://shop.bebeaulait.com/bebe?gclid=CInXzo337pECFQwcawo...

Good luck!
Aloha,
L.

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Go to www.susanbrownsbaby.com -- they have baskets with Mom and Baby product already put together in the most beautiful packaging and the most wonderful products. This is a great line.

2 moms found this helpful

Hi M.,

I never saw your original post, so I apologize for the late reply. For me, I didn't even know that items to help you nurse discretely existed. So I think I great baby gift would be items to help the mother be successful with breastfeeding. I am such a believer in them that I started up my own business to sell them. Some great items for baby showers are:
1) Nursing covers (http://www.mothersboutique.com/nursingcover.html) with matching burp cloths (http://www.mothersboutique.com/burpcloths.html)
2) Slings (http://www.mothersboutique.com/slings.html)
3) Breastfeeding advocacy onesies for the baby (http://www.mothersboutique.com/bradon.html)
4) Nursing Reminders (http://www.mothersboutique.com/nure.html)
5) Breastfeeding Books (http://www.mothersboutique.com/brboandre.html)
6) Clothing (http://www.mothersboutique.com/nursingtops.html)

If you need any assistance with specific suggestions, I would be more than happy to help you put something together.

J.

A Mother's Boutique
Breastfeeding clothing, nursing bras, breast pumps, slings and accessories.
MamaSource members receive 10% off their first order (excluding breastpumps) - just mention promo code MAMASOURCE
http://www.mothersboutique.com

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Hi there!

I know I am wayyyyy late in responding but I just saw the update on this post.

I can't live without my Nursing Cover and I now make them along with other great baby accessories. Feel free to check out my site, www.thepitterpatterboutique.com

Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE any car seat toys I could get my hands on. My little girl absolutely hated the car seat but with a few toys, she was a happy camper.

Have a great day and congrats about the new babies coming into your family.

2 moms found this helpful

Hi M.,

Sorry I'm taking so long ins responding I just saw your update as well!! I would agree with the other postings I myself have created really great Arbonne baby gift baskets.

The ABC baby line is amazing safe, pure & beneficial so you can feel content & confident that you are not giving your friends any products with harmful ingredients - like mineral oil!

Fore more information you can check our my website www.TheSkinYourIn.myrbonne.com & even get a 35% discount plus any product for free with our first order!!

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!?

:) A.

____@____.com

1 mom found this helpful

Maybe some nice tea ( caff free of course ) for mom, some bubble bath and a few magazines or books. For baby - diaper rash cream, burp cloths, diapers or wipes.

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Hi, sounds like you have a lot of options. One thing that I enjoy giving to new parents is a handmade baby blanket. I have my own business selling Cameo Paints and accessories, www.raescountrycorner.com , I love to make the baby quilts up and give them as gifts. They are completely washable and last a long time. Besides who doesn't love to receive and handmade gift?. If you have any question please feel free to contact me. ____@____.com

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Wow M., May I first say how impressed I was to see that you are a special person to yourself. I so admire you taking time to value you:)
I was also so taken back by the care you are putting into these baby and mommy gifts. You are so sweet and thoughtful.
I have some fun ideas and some very beneficial ideas too for mom and baby.
I loved and needed burpcloths- ones I would love bringing out in public so I looked pretty with spitup all over me:)
I also so appreciated gifts that were healthy for me and my child. I found Arbonne and their line for babies to be so wonderful. They would not harm my daughter with any toxic ingredients and no mineral oils. I knew that the friend that gave this gift really cared about my daughter and wanted her to have the best start in life. I have then learned that they have a full line of products for mommys too and I love them.
If you have any questions about the baby products my friend Margo can help you with anything. Her number is ###-###-####.
I now get my products at 35% off and I feel so great being able to clean my daughter without harmful side effects. They have a website too www.arbonne.com and remember you dont pay the prices that are listed:)
I also loved baby blankets for my baby- and gift certificates for coffee or tea so when I was out with my friends I could use them and not worry about where my money was.
Best of luck in finding the perfect gift for your friends.
If you have any questions about my experience with the Arbonne baby products I would love to help.
____@____.com
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
D.

1 mom found this helpful

Here's a website that has a great all-natural, non-toxic cleaner that you can use where you use disinfectants and a hand cleaner that you can carry every where you go: www.ForMyKidsOnline.com

I've been giving them as gifts in a natural basket with Tender Care Wipes, Country Comfort Baby Cream (http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/82979/S/1..., and other select all-natural and/or organic products that I use.

1 mom found this helpful

Aloha M.,
What great advice you got!!! I was wondering if you have heard of Arbonne? They make a wonderful product line for babies called ABC (Arbonne Baby Care) Even if you have completed your shopping for your friends, you might want to check it out for yourself and your family. Arbonne has something for everyone.
Check out www.arbonne.com or my personal website at www.tesabartell.myarbonne.com

Feel free to contact me re getting your products at wholesale. I help all of my friends getting a discount :)

Aloha and Blessings,
T.

1 mom found this helpful

Baby's favorite little things:

1. Boudreaux's Butt Paste (for diaper rash)
2. Shea Body Butter from Body Shop (for baby's dry skin.. although if you're in HI, you probably don't need anything)
3. The Super Sooothie pacifier by ChildMed.
4. The Lullabies from Around the World by Putumayo Music

1 mom found this helpful

One of the things that really helped, that I wouldn't have thought to buy for myself, are those baby mittens - so they don't scratch their faces while they sleep.

Maybe some of the Soothies pacifiers (my daughter wouldn't take any other kind).

Also a good blanket.

Perhaps some Berts Bee's baby shampoo, diaper ointment & lotion (all natural).

Good luck
Debbie

1 mom found this helpful

A diaper bag with all of the infant tylenol, motrin, mylicon, oragel...! When your child wakes up with a fever at 2:00am no one wants to have to run out and get any of that! as a first time mom I hadn't even thought about it until we needed it!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.,

I am posting late, and maybe someone said this already, but I found the little mesh laundry bags (often sold for lingerie washing) were great to put baby's socks and mittens in so they wouldn't get lost in the washing machine.

Also nail clippers, people don't always remember those. And meals brought by friends after we came home from the hospital were wonderful!

K. Z.

A little about me:

Married , mom to two teen boys and two cats

1 mom found this helpful

Honestly, I would have loved to leave the hospital with natural baby products, like Burts Bees to care for my baby, Good breast feeding pads like Lansiloh, and natural care products for my skin! I think that another great gift is one that supports the new moms recovery and delicate emotions post baby. A postnatal massage, yummy delivered food to boost energy or even a postpartum doula! New moms can feel really unsupported throughout all of the excitement involving the new baby. I know that A Mellow Mood Spa in Boulder has several postnatal practioners, that even do housecalls, Organic Dish and Beyond Birth does great postnatal care check ups. The list is endless! I hope this helps!

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Hi M. - very late with my response. You had some really good ones. If you need ONE more, I have a small home-based company and we specialize in monogrammed personal gifts. If you ever want something personalized, check out my webpage: www.shopatyounameit.com. Best of luck to you!! K.

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This isn't really a product for the hospital, but I had a "casserole and diaper shower" for my last child (in lieu of gifts. Basically everyone gave a package of diapers (in alldifferent sizes-some gave Newborn all the way to size 3) and a casserole of freezable dish in a foil "tosss away pan". I never had to worry about the 2 things I needed most after my baby was born - Diapers (who wants to run out when you are sleep deprived?) and a easy to make dinner (just remove from the freezer and bake.) on those days when baby is fussy and Mommy is tired.

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Here's a few of my favorites-boppy if breastfeeding, bouncer, I found a swaddle blanket (got mine at Wal-Mart) when I was expecting my first, who is now 3 yrs old, that is one thing I now buy all expecting mommies I know. For when they are a bit older the Snack Trap and Table Toppers (for resturants) both available at ToysRUs.com. I also really like my high chair cover and shopping cart cover-esp during cold and flu season!
C.

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Hi M.,

I just saw your question this morning and thought I would share with you another great baby gift idea. I am a Tupperware consultant and we have some nice kids gifts. The best baby gift (I got it for myself - I have three little ones) is the Children's Set. I love it so much that I bought it for a baby shower gift. It comes with feeding bowls, an awesome baby spoon and carrying case, cups and snack bowls. It's a gift that can be used from baby to preschool years so it's a great investment. I use mine for my 6 month old, 2 1/2 year old and 4 year old. You can see this on my website at www.my.tupperware.com/katrinamcgrail. Just a thought! It's something different and new moms will love it! Looks like you've gotten some great responses! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I had WAY too many clothes! (In fact, I specifically put on our registry no clothes but nobody paid attention to that!) Like so many other moms, I had things with tags on them, long after she outgrew them. I had blankets coming out of my ears (both fluffy and receiving). The only one we truly appreciated was the one that was bigger and had been personalized, Also the one that was the exact size of the bottom of her pack and play (both were hand-made)
I couldn't have gotten enough diapers (would have loved to get the second size too) and wipes refills. We ended up not needing the bottle warmer, wipe warmer, bottle sanitizer (actually never used most of the bottles since breastfeeding eventually worked so well)No more dang powder!!
I couldn't live without her swing (Natures Touch Papasan Swing-LOVED IT), her bouncer (I had the Eddie Bauer bouncette-LOVED IT), stroller with carseat that went in, gift cards were GREAT for Babies R Us, the Floppy shopping cart/high chair cover, combs, baby shampoo/bath (combined use, one bottle), baby towels, nail clippers, crib sheets, waterproof pad, activity bar for her car seat, SPRAY ON diaper cream (so much better than the tube stuff), the mesh tub seat (we got over the whole baby tub really fast), our attaches to the side tub seat, ring sling, etc

Oh and SLEEP SACKS!!! Those were incredible!

But the one thing that I recommend more than anything...is stick to their registry!
They know what they want, follow it and if they say no clothes, NO CLOTHES! :)

1 mom found this helpful

here's one especially for DADS!!! http://www.lullabiesfordads.com

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.!
Of course a lot of this depends on how much you want to spend, but here are some of my suggestions:
A baby carrier- my personal favorite is the Moby Wrap
Natural Baby Products- From Earth Mama Angel Baby, baby bottom balm, shampoos, lotions, tea for mom, etc- wonderful products!
The Baby Book by Drs. Sears- this book covers the first few years, I used it daily those first few months, and I still refer to it regularly and my baby is 9 months old.
A kit that casts baby's hand and/or foot.
I could suggest more, but you will probably get lots of suggestions. I suggest a more natural approach, products that encourage nurturing of the baby, mom and family. To see more, you can go to www.naturalchoices4baby.com There aren't many products for sale yet, but if you find something that you would like, let me know and I would love to extend a discount to you (I can order products, so if you want something that I don't have yet, just let me know). Good Luck!
H. Gaitten

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Without a doubt - THE must-have product is The Miracle Blanket. www.miracleblanket.com Just read the testimonials and their 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and you'll know this is the BEST gift you can give to any new parents ;)

Warm Mahalo!
-C.

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This is for the Moms who like getting different gifts, but that are educational and toxin free as well. Everything in the catalog is currently 12% off, hope this helps you www.DiscoveryToysLink.com/LisaRyan. Great teethers and wonderful sleeping cd.
L.

1 mom found this helpful

We got these baby swaddling things where you put the baby in and it velcros to the other side. So you don't have to use a blanket and the baby can't wiggle out. These were awesome. (I know babies r'us has them and I think Target does too. I loved this for my twins.

Things I absolutely couldn't do without were small hard case for wipes that could fit in my purse, extra diapers and also small folded changing pad that could do the same. Something that my husband wished for was a small masculine diaper bag that he could use when taking boys out. There is actually a nice one real cheap price at target made by Eddie Bauer. Things I couldn't stand were all the unnecessary portable warming stuff and extra bulky things. Anything that downsized motherhood travel was a huge hit with me. Oh and those little biodegradable garbage bags that fit in a small tote for disposal of diapers when out and about, also I never had enough cloth diapers to use as burp rags they are the best!

Hi M.,

I just saw your post and thought it was worth mentioning the blankets that our company makes. I own a business out of Snoqualmie called Earth Babies! I started making them when a bunch of my girlfriends started having babies and I was searching for a really special gift. After an under whelming search I decided to design and make blankets myself. One side is for baby and the other is for Mommy making them the prefect blend of function and fashion! I started receiving orders for more while attending the baby showers. The women loved the great prints I use and the fact that they are so big make them great for swaddling your growing baby or covering up while breast feeding! Since then my Husband and I started Earth Babies and scaled up our production while still maintaining a grassroots mentality. We run our business out of our home and all of our manufacturing is done locally, right here in Seattle! We are an environmentally focused company and use as many renewable and organic resources and materials whenever possible. Check out our website at www.earthbabies.com and let me know if you have any interest. If you live close to Snoqualmie I would be happy to wave any shipping fees and hand deliver blankets to save on gas, money, and our air!

Feel free to contact me directly as well.
M. Hughes
____@____.com

Good Luck in your search for gifts!

I found the Dunstan baby language DVD the best gift I received. The cries of newborns are broken down into 5 distinct cries and you know what they need. I had read many books prior to my daughters birth and felt prepared for motherhood. She was very very fussy and we tried the Happiest Baby on the Block techniques which helped but we had our breakthrough with the baby language DVD. It makes it possible to know what your newborn needs, we got it at 6 weeks and I wish we would have had it in the begining. I will be giving it to everyone even if they are having a second child. My sister in law got ours from Amazon.

Hyland's Kids Kit. It's a homeopathic remedy kit that I wouldn't have wanted to be without. It's about $30. It's my new baby shower gift.

Also, sootheze nipple gel things for breast feeding moms. You can get them at the drug store. Kept one pair in the fridge while using another pair. After each feeding, I had a nice cold compress for my sore nipples. You only use them short term, but they saved me and were worth every penny.

A good breastfeeding book (So That's What They're For!, The Nursing Mother's Companion, and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding come to mind) is invaluable.
Any book that helped me learn to trust myself and my baby was wonderful (Dr. Sears!)
Nursing pads and lanolin could be helpful; a My Brest Friend pillow was great for my first.
I couldn't live without a good sling! I hated the Baby Bjorn, but a Maya Wrap was lovely.
Congrats to everyone. =)

It's been nearly four years since I had a newborn. However, one thing I can say with certainty. Send the stuff to their HOMES, not the hospital. We had SO MUCH to take home from the hospital it was a serious pain in the butt. I appreciated all the stuff, and I wish it had been at home instead of the hospital. Being new parents and having to deal with our own luggage, as well as flowers, as well as a baby, stroller, baby seat, gift baskets, etc. I think it too my husband at least an hour to run back and forth from the hospital parking lot to our car with stuff, until he was able to move the car closer to wheel me and baby out. And having had a C, I really wasn't much help.

Oh, and I also remember we NEVER once had use for baby powder with our girl. I'm not sure if that's different for boys or what. Maybe.

We had so many duplicated little bottles of things, it was absurd. One thing we used a lot of was baby shampoo, diapers, wipes, etc. We would have loved a gift card for Costco so we could get those things month after month. We also went to Baby's R Us, and Target MANY times within the first month of pregnancy.

Anyway, those are my few cents.

Have fun shopping!! :)

I could not live without my Boppy nursing pillow. It mkes nursing easy on your arms and baby and makes the entire experience a relaxing and enjoyable one.

As far as stuff that is not as needed, for me it was bath products. You don't realize how far that stuff goes until you have 4 or 5 large bottles of it still left over from your first! It doesn't go bad and will get used eventually but it isn't something that I would recommend.

Good luck with your gift giving!

I love to give my new mommy friends two things...ok, keep in mind I am a Sensaria Natural Bodycare Independent Rep....first, I love to give the tranquility aromatherapy (it's great for babies and moms to help them sleep and relax) and I love to give moms the Sweat and Smooth sugar salt scrub...it has sweet orange in it which is a natural antidepressent AND its great to use to shave your legs...new mom's don't have a lot of time for self-care and this is a product that really helps new mom's feel super fabulous...and I also like to add the sweet orange lotion as a mom pick me up.

With these self care items I add, the fingernail clippers and cutie cute jammies for baby.

While baby sleeps mommy bathes :o)

Want the products I mentioned...check out my page at www.sensaria.com/amycolson

A Spa Party is also great for new moms to relax!!!!

Can you stand one more response?? I have to add my 2 cents... or two things I could not live without....

The book - What to expect the First year, and the second year....

The Floppy - that covers the grocery cart.

I give these as shower gifts every time.

PS we also LOVED our bouncy seat - we are having ours bronzed! It has been thru two kids, several vacations, couldn't live without that!!

I agree that if she's nursing, that the hooter hider and the soothies were great. If you're looking for some different personal items I ate a lot of the sweet and salty almond bars, found in the granola bar aisle, in the middle of the night to keep me from starving and give me enough energy to keep getting up with my baby. Juice boxes were nice to keep upstairs, too. I also liked to read once I got the hang of nursing so that I could fill that 30-45 min. multi tasking. I read "First Time Mom" by Dr. Kevin Leeman, a Christian psychologist and also "What To Expect in the First Year". I also continued using cocoa butter locian, so that might be nice. If you're going with baby products, I thought the pampers' swaddlers worked best with a newborn.

The two best items I would not want to live without are a sling (there are many great ones online and I have even used one that Target carries by Infantino) and "Nipple Cream" (by Motherlove), a lifesaver for breastfeeding, but also for chapped lips, burns and "boo-boos", sold at natural food stores.

Lansinoh- the product that is marketed to help sore nipples from breast-feeding, but which is also a great healer for baby scratches and marks on their skin- it can be digested, so it is safe for the babies!

Gripe Water- a natural liquid that tastes like licorice that babies love. It helps with all 'gripes' like gas, upset tummy, fussiness, etc. Babies can have it when born and they like the taste given with the dropper or added to the bottle.

These are the 2 things I ALWAYS give to new moms!

things I found helpfull,
onesies in various sizes, baby lotion that is from a good company i.e. shaklee (find on the web) or Arbonne that is not full of bad checmicals; a boppy pillow for nursing with alternate covers, and maybe a gift card to a local store for diapers etc...i.e target if you have one. Maybe some coupons for "babysitting" while mom naps would be appreciated or a home cooked dinner as mom will be too tired to cook. Not needed: Baby powder or hundreds of receiving blankets.
Have fun!

Hello! I found the Baby Bargains book to be extremely helpful in purchasing items for my first baby. Something not in the book that I loved is the Miracle Blanket. It is a great swaddling blanket that works wonders! Also, a book I would recommend is "The Happiest Baby on the Block." I found this to be more helpful than some of the others, like Babywise or the Baby Whisperer, although those are good, too.

The things I think you can never have too many of are plain white onesies and side-snap tees, cloth diapers, receiveing blankets, and cornstarch baby powder.
The one thing that I wish I had not received were disposable diapers. My babies wear them on occasion, but I am very picky about which brand. I received a ton of different sized disposable at my last shower, and ended up giving them all to a local women's shelter.

Aloha M.,
We went through this a year ago. Where everyone was having babies all like 6 months apart.
The bouncer recliner was a favorite for the new born and a break for the Mommies.

Mahalo,

C.

You can't go wrong with diapers. Also, I used those little gowns a lot with my kids, the ones that just have elastic on the bottom so you can change diapers in the middle of the night without having seven little snaps to do. Also, long sleeve undershirts that button on the side are very useful until the umbilical cord falls off. Diaper creme, baby socks... Also, Johnson and Johnson sells lavendar scented bath products that smelled great. Oh, and Mother's Little Helper laundry pretreatment. I don't know what I would have done without that.

The other moms had great suggestions for nursing moms, but you might want to find out if the mom is nursing first. I was not medically able to do so, and it would have been unpleasant to receive a reminder.

I noticed on your "little about me" section, you mentioned you were a Server to God. You might want to add a book of children's prayers to add your own little touch.

bouncy seat and onsie type shirts/pants outfits. bigger sizes of sleepers and no basket delivered to the hospital, you just have to get it home. A short visit to bring the basket, see the baby and fuss over any older siblings. thats what i'd want most.

My niece recently had a baby shower and my daughter gave her things such as baby tylenol, thermomter, dreft baby detergent and baby vaporizer lotion. Gifts no one thinks about that is a must for colds. My daughter in law recently had a baby and bought a sling since she lives in NY and rides the subways. She loves it!

Hi M.,

I may be responding too late, but I wanted you to be aware that Arbonne has products for babies, that have no mineral oils, animal products or animal by products and no harsh chemicals, dyes or frangrances. I wish I would have know this when I was rasing my babies, especially since their skin is so pure, it makes sense to start them on pure, safe and benificial products for their skin and hair. If you would like more information on these products or this company you may conttact me at ____@____.com My boys use products from this company as well as myself and my husband and I have given the baby line as gifts and they have loved them.
God bless,
L.

We also got WAAAYYYY too many clothes. And I wasn't able to breastfeed, and lots of other moms aren't able to, or choose not to, so breastfeeding stuff may be uncomfortable for a new mom to see in front of her. Our FAVORITE baby gift was gift cards to Target and Walmart. That way, we could wade through the stuff that needed to be taken back (clothes, clothes, clothes), and we could add the refund to those gift cards and get what we really needed. And gift cards can go toward the big stuff, such as a crib or stroller/carseat combo. We were able to use gift cards until our son was several months old because we received too much infant stuff that was not useful within one month. Besides gift cards, nail clippers, a bath temperature device (we have a $3 bath crab from Babies R Us that we still use 3 years later), and infant gas drops and infant tylenol are great.

Enjoy putting those baskets together! Blessings, C.

See gembebe.com Most moms get flowers and a stuffed animal. How about giving the mom something different. A luxury Candle that reflects that precious moment in her baby's life. See www.gembebe.com The product can be purchased online or in a local boutique store. You can find the stores that the products are at too online. You will love all of the fragrances. "Mommy loves you", "Kisses and cuddles", "Sweet Memories" are great gifts. Please email me if you have any questions!! We also have great Mother/daugther swarovski bracelet sets that you can find at Bella Carta in RSM.

I think one of the most important things you could do is to introduce these ladies to Melaleuca, Inc. The Wellness Company. It so very important to use safer, more nature products around newborns these days. They are going to be bombarded with chemicals that cause cancers and other health ailments such as asthma and allergies. Everything they can do to reduce the exposure to toxic chemicals is a huge benefit.

Melaleuca will also give them $100 in free products over the first five months they shop. There is over 350 different products - all safer to use and less expensive, so they will save money, which everyone needs who has a newborn. My family is definitely healthier since I switched stores and I have been saving money for the past 2 1/2 years. We shop at wholesale prices without having to buy in bulk. If you, or they, want more information, just visit the sites below.

www.livetotalwellness.com/janislanz
www.melaleuca.com
www.saferforyourhome.com

J. L.
____@____.com

First let me say it is so sweet how thoughtful you are about it! If a nursing mom, I say soothies! I couldn't have lived without these. You can put them in the fridge and they cool and help heal your nipples! Also, I agree...wipes and diapers are always a must, although some parents have prefrences with a brand of product. Something for mom...not baby related! A starbucks card or bubble bath or something just for her! Diaper rash creams come in really handy for even dry skin, so you can't go wrong there and I personally only had luck with BUTT PASTE. Other brands didn't work for my kids. Also the pre soaped disposable wash cloths are great too, especially with newborns. Again...you are sweet for putting so much thought into it. Good luck!

I have not checked all the responses..not sure if anyone mentioned giving the Arbonne baby product line. It is a fabulous, safe baby care line ( highly recommended by doctors) and I have one set in stock call me and I will get it to you or more information. C. ###-###-####

Hi M.,
Though my kids are grown, I thought I could give you a bit of 'old fashioned' ideas.
Items I couldn't live without with a newborn: *receiving blankets - babies love being swaddled tightly after being born, gives them security. * A & D ointment for diaper rash-best of all those products. * Booklet for first time moms on what to expect at the different stages of growth for babies.
Things not needed with babies: *There seems to be too many 'things' moms think they need in order to be a good mom - this is such a lie, you only need the basic stuff. Give lots of loving cuddles with baby, and make sure you get some time for yourself.
Blessings - J.

Hi M.,

I didn't have a chance to finish reading all of the great ideas other mothers had submitted. But, a great gift would be dippers, dippers and more dippers. I remember when my first soon was born (he is 6 yrs old now) a family member came to the hospital with a couple of shopping bags full of diapers. I remember thinking "diapers, what a weird gift to give" but, it was actually the best gift ever. When I got pregnant of my twin boys (they are 2 yrs) the same family member came to the hospital with the same gift (but this time double the amount).

Wow! Everybody has so many ideas, and many different things... just shows that you need to consider individuals as one mom's favorites are not every mom's favorites! I'd like to put in my two cents on newborn and nursing favorites of mine. I got a Milk Bands nursing bracelet for my most recent baby, and I love it so much! I have given them to my friends who were also expecting. These are very inexpensive silicone bracelets that you can leave on all the time (shower, swimming, everything!), and they have an incredibly clever design to keep track of which breast you last nursed and at what time (one side is even textured, so you can tell in the dark!). There are several color choices, and I like to be discreet, so I chose, peach (very close to my skin color). Some people like to get pink or blue if they have boy or girl; there is also yellow and lavendar. These are great for multiples, too, because you could have a different color band for each baby. My other favorite for newborns is the Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe baby swaddling blankets. My babies all loved to be swaddled, but they would almost always kick their feet out. The SwaddleMe blankets are fantastic, and there is fleece for winter, cotton knit (like t-shirt fabric) for warmer weather, and flannel (good for most temperatures and also wraps most tightly, as flannel is not stretchy like the other fabrics). These are both fairly inexpensive (another bonus) Milk Bands are about $6 each ($5 on ebay), and SwaddleMe blankets are about $10 each (easy to find at Babies R Us).

Aloha M.:

I didn't see your post until you replied. But, sounds like you are from Hawaii? I am too - living in Marietta now. I am from Kahuku on O'ahu. There are quite a few "locals" here, suprisingly! Anyway, just wanted to see if you were from Hawaii and make that connection!

Aloha
H.

A few things come to mind right away. The Boppy, The Amazing Miracle Blanket for swaddling (skip the swaddle blankets from BRU, they don't compare at all), a nursing tank, Weleda baby products from WF or VC, they are a little pricey, but so worth it, and finally a Hotsling or other baby pouch.

I also agree about a Dr. Sears book, but I would personally stay away from purchasing a sleep book for another mother. You may not know her parenting style yet and she may not be comfortable with letting her baby CIO or co-sleeping, so let her choose that, or better yet, let her ask you for suggestions later.

LOVED LOVED LOVED the socks that are decorated to look like sneakers or mary janes et cetera by Trumpette. the store on Southern/Gilbert called Baby, Mother and More has some in stock otherwise on line! CUTE and ALWAYS welcomed. Also, some of the "lovies" cuddlie little blanket pieces that have an animal face to snuggle to sleep with at about the toddler age are so sweet and get many oooohs and aaahhs at showers. There is one named angel dear that is good! have fun shopping!

ONe thing I could not live without is my Boppy! I use this everyday for feedings and even just holding my little guy. You can even use it to prop the baby up on. At the hospital I loved having lotion and chapstick. I hope this helps.

M. B

Hi M.,
I say an infant secure sleep, which keesp baby sleeping on their back or side without rolling over to the tummy. It also keeps the baby snuggled up.

A n'night CD is a must. We still fall asleep to soothing music and can't live without it.

And, best of all...a Mommy and Me photo session. I shoot photography wink* wink*. www.carlastephens.com.

Ok! The best gift I ever received, was a baby sling. Not a snuggly, or a bjorn, got those too. The absolute couldn't live without, baby loved the most was a sling, or aka wrap. They can be homemade, or purchased online, I got mine from Maya wrap. Women from this country make them and sell for $30. So reasonable, and you are helping to improve the lives of families in this impoverished country. Wish I could post a pic of this for you to see how it works. Also great for nursing moms, as you can use the extra material to cover up nursing baby and privacy in public.

a little about me:
In the family of the Lord,
married, SAHM
oldest child 12
youngest 3
soon to be, due Nov1, 08

The most meaningful thing for me with my first baby was a Target giftcard for MOMMY. After all the lovely baby shower gifts it was nice to have someone actually say "spend this on mom", thus making me not feel guilty for indulging a bit after a got home from the hospital. Believe me, the last thing new moms need is guilt about anything. Also, a nursing cover like Hooter Hider (if they are nursing) is a must. I didn't have one with my first and now I am SO looking forward to having one with my second. They are a life saver for nursing moms.

My husband's work gave him a shower and gave us diapers, one in each size from newborn up to 4 or 5. They were great to keep up in the attic and know that I had something on hand if they were needed. (I would also suggest a gift receipt, just in case they are not the correct brand that the family is using)
I also loved the nail clippers that had a "bulb" on the end, so was big enough for me to hold onto.
LOVED lots of white onesies, once again in all sizes. Loved footed pants, so we didn't have to worry about kicking off socks, etc (but he was a November baby, so keeping his tosies warm was a priotity =)
Also loved sleep sacks for late night changes.

I have a daughter that is haveing anoughter baby her daughters twins girls are 2 now i dont see how they do it i cant keep up with our 4 yrs old grandgirls

I love the ideas from the nursing mothers - but not all of us are/were able to nurse. Caused quite a few tears on my part, but I just never got any milk.

My things that I loved were a Baby Bjorn carrier. It's like a little backpack, but for the front. It's expensive is the biggest drawback (mine was like $90). But I shared mine with my sister whose 2nd baby had colic. Helped out A LOT there.

The other thing I used a lot with #1 was a bouncy chair. I had one that played music and vibrated. She LOVED that. She could be in the same room with me always and then there was the bouncing, vibrating, music aspect.

And I got a heartbeat bear for #1 when she was about 2 months old. Helped with the sleeping a lot. It's a bear that has a velcro loop so you can "tie" it to the crib, and it has a pouch in the back that has a little box that plays the sound of a mother's heart in-utero. My oldest (now 7) has only just quit using hers. She would turn him on when she was scared or had a bad dream.

Got one right away for #2. They are cuddly, so the kids can play with them. The heartbeat cycles off after about half an hour. I got mine at Target. But they don't carry the Dex brand anymore. Dex does have a website, and if you want it let me know. Those were about $20 each. And, honestly, my second has slept thru the night since about a month old! (First was more like 2.5 to 3 months)

Hi M.,

I also wanted to let you know we have a ton of natural baby products in our spa. I own MoM Spa and many of the items we carry I used when I was pregnant with my 2 boys. HOpe you'll come by and check us out. We're located next to the Starbucks on Houston Northcutt Blvd (right over the Ravenel bridge). Or you can visit: www.themomspa.com.
Take care,

C.

Hi M.. I forget the names of both items. They're both small and inexpensive but very useful. One is the duck dirty diaper bag despenser, and the other is the hand held food mesher. It's a little ring with a little net on it. You can put chunks of veggies or fruit in it and the baby holds on to it theirself and chops away without getting hazerdous pieces in their mouth. I get both products from target. About $5.00 or less. Another gift that I think is great for moms who would use it is a plastic case with all the baby medecine. Baby Tylonal, Baby Oragel, teething tablets, etc. When your baby first needs those things, you usually don't have it. Unless you have another young one at home. Oh, and the gift that everyone gets and hardly ever uses...the comb and brush set. Have fun with the project. I'm sure they'll love everything in it.

I could not live with out teething tablets and the "cold" toys that they can chew on. My daughter got a rubber toothbrush, and she still loves it. Anymore it just seems they start teething so early, and those tablets were a godsend!

Diapers are always appreciated.

If it is someone you know well, breastfeeding supplies are always nice. Storage bags, soothies and that type of thing.

If it is a new mom, baby nail clippers and/or those little mittens would be nice. I didn't bring them with me to the hospital and my son clawed himself up for his first photo.

:-)T.

Just some things I have received and given...
slippers, favorite snack, favorite drink, chapstick, tissues (hospial ones are sandpaper), small toy for older child, lotion, thank you cards (let them get an early start), and a heart felt note of motherhood and the great exciting life they will have.

As a grandmother of 5 and as a quilter, I like to make a crib quilt (even though they can be a hazard in the crib) for the baby to play on on the floor or a wall hanging to be used as a conversation piece when the diapers are being changed. My grandmother always made a collage on a roll-up window blind to hang over the changing table. Either can be coordinated with the mother's planned decor. Either is very special and can become an heirloom. Sterling or stainless infant flatware set is always nice.

I would want some luxurious shower gels so I could get back to being a woman even in the hospital. I had a c-section, and after a day or two with the regular gel, I was ready for something that was rich, and thick!

I'd also suggest some lotion for the babies. A nice organic or natural lotion would really benefit the Colorado babies!

Abundant blessings,

L.
be still & knit
www.bestillandknit.com

If I know my friends are going to be nursing, I give them purlan. I also give gas drops. I use the gas drops in formula to help cut the bubbles so the baby isn't getting alot of air. I put one drop for every 2oz. I also give a pack of huggies newborn diapers as well as baby wipes. I choose to opt out of buying clothes even though they are so cute, I just try to give practical things. I also put in some baby rattles, oh, also some baby oralgel for teething as well as infant tylenol (can't have enough of that). I hope this helps out. Emily

Wow, all these incredible things they have for raising babies now. Wonder what you all would have done if you had to raise kids back in my day. I am 58. Anyhow, I preferred cloth diapers over disposables at that time. Only used them for outings. However, when I had my first set of kids, they were just inventing them. So the diaper service was a wonderful thing even ten years later when I had my twins. I see where some don't like the diaper genie. My dau used and uses it still and I think it is wonderful if you are using disposables. As far as giving a gift for showers or coming home from the hospital, the mittens are definitely a must. You can never get too many either cause you are always loosing those littles things. Again lots of burp clothes (cloth diapers are great for this also) and receiving blankets and onesies. Especially if you breastfeed, diarrhea is a common thing and makes for lots of changes. A basket with a receiving blanket, a onesy or small outfit (probably about a 3 mos size), booties, mittens, cap, etc. Things for the baby to wear home.

Hi M.!
Have to say, my most favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is to do a board book shower and have the little one started out with his/her own new library. It's never to early to start the love of reading. Don't believe me - Check out Jim Trlease's "Read Aloud Handbook". He encourages reading aloud from the delivery room to graduation day in the home. Please check out my website: www.justuzbooks.com

hi M.!
The thing I could not live without was a sling. There are a lot out there, but I got a "Cute Sling". They run about $45 and was worth every penny. I used it until he was about 3 months old. My little guy loved being close to me and it enabled my hands and arms to be free.
The one gadget that I heard was a waste of money was the wipe warmer. Last but not least, you can never have enough burp cloths!
Good Luck - you are so sweet for thinking ahead with this posting!
K.

Aloha M., a friend of mine recently had a baby shower with a registry, (first child), and don't ya know... not one burp rag was listed! Everyone seemed to 'outdo' the next gal... I brought simple things. Burp cloths, baby spoons, onesis (sp?) (3 different sizes)... the simple things! I was constantly changing my own shirt for spit-ups. Sure wish I'd had an unending supply of burp clothes!!! Remember, it's the little things in life...
Love in Christ,
L.

If these are mom's that are going to be breastfeeding, I would include either Lansinoh lanolin or Nipple Cream by the brand Motherlove (can be found at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Vitamin Cottage). The Nipple Cream is great because it can also be used on diaper rash. I don't know what I would have done without those as a new nursing mom. I personally did not want any pacifiers for my newborn, again because I was going to breastfeed. I found I didn't need much more than the basics in those early weeks, a good supply of burp cloths were very handy, maybe a special little treat just for mommy. Good luck!