What's a Good Gift for a 3Rd Baby?

Hi,
As a mother of four, let me just say YOU ROCK for even thinking of a gift for baby #3!!! My third child got nothing. No shower, no presents, zip. And from what I hear, that's not uncommon! The fact that you think to get anything for this child will make you a hero, so don't stress.

Also remember to think in terms of the gifts you would get for a first baby. The sad part of being child number three is that you're pretty much destined for hand-me-downs. Having things typical of a new baby -- that are yours and yours alone -- becomes a priceless thing when you're a later child. Something to keep or to cuddle or to bear the child's name/accomplishments -- these are the things my third and fourth kids treasure now that they are older. There are so few things they have that were ONLY theirs from the beginning. Even though the baby won't notice yet, the mother will be touched that you gave her third child the same special treatment a first child would get. It'll make mom smile right down to her toes. I speak from experience. Good luck!

:-)

1 mom found this helpful

Well, it's not so much a gift for the baby, but for the entire family, okay, it's for the Mom so she doesn't have to worry about cooking;) You could go to Super Suppers and buy some pre-prepared meals for the family. They just stick 'em in their freezer and pop 'em in the oven when they're ready to eat. No hassle, no cleaning, and great for a busy Mom with a newborn who doesn't have time for a shower let alone time to make dinner. And, healthy, made from fresh ingredients. They're located in Tierrasanta and you can find them online to see the current menu and pre-order what you want to pick up: www.sssdtierrasantaca.com.

1 mom found this helpful

Here is a terrific idea for a gift... a gift certificate to Love Printz! Love Printz captures handprints/footprints in ceramic and they are gorgeous! The new parents can do just the newborn (they are soooo cute when the prints are so tiny!), or you can do multiple kids on one piece, or the child's hand captured inside the parent's hand, or any other combination that you can think of. I've had a couple pieces made by her and the quality is second to none. She is a perfectionist and it shows! I got a gift card for a friend who just had a baby and it was really appreciated. You can get contact info and check out examples in the Love Printz gallery at the following link: http://www.loveprintz.com/ Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi
Diapers and wipes are always needed.
Good luck

How about a Teddy Bear? They probably have all the clothes & other stuff they need, and a good Teddy Bear will stay with the child for years.
Good luck, L.

Coupons for local restaurants/food delivery/take out! Or coupons to watch the older ones!
I'm sure they don't need any "things", but help with food, shopping, or baby care is probably the best. If you're out of town, see if they use a diaper service, or would like fresh fruit/fresh flower delivery or something.

Well I had my 3rd boy a year or so ago. I actually wanted this little guy to have his own room, so I opted not to hand me down the bedding from his brothers. I registered for it at Pottery Barn, so ask her if that is something she is interested in--his/her own room decorations. I am more of a sentimental type, so the personalized things are right up my alley. But it is true, bibs, burp cloths, socks, shoes dont make it thru 2 kids. And diapers are great, especially those bigger sizes. You could also do something like a basket of green/organic baby products. You could get some 7th generation diapers, Earths Best Baby food, and Jason by Earths Best diaper cream, shampoo/body wash etc. That might turn her on to being more "green" if she isnt already. How about a puzzle made with the baby's name? Good luck deciding, Im sure you got tons of ideas from this request!

When we had our 3rd I appreciated everything, but the best gifts were the practical ones. Not having to spend money on formula and diapers for a while is great.

How about a new baby book? Or some diapers & other supplies? Or perhaps something personalized, like silver rattle or spoon with baby's name or initials?

I know if I were having another, I would need new onesies. My son wore those for the first year and most of them have little stains or something. It would be nice to have new ones for a new baby.

Diapers,Diapers,and more Diapers!!!! Or maybe some homemade certificates good for baby sitting. Or even as distasteful as they maybe- a gift card with a little gift, so they can get what they need. Hope maybe these ideas help.

Offer to babysit the two older kids so the parents can have time with just the baby.
Or, offer to help out with laundry, dishes, shopping or cooking so the mom can have some rest.
If you rally want to give a gift to the baby, what about a gift certificate to a portrait studio, or a baby album. Some things may have worn out from the older kids, such as clothes, bedding, towels, washcloths, etc.
Don't forget a carseat is only good 3-5 years.

I always give something to pamper the mom. Nice lotions, or bubble bath, or even a mani-pedi gift cert. Then I'd add a little something for the baby like a special blanket or unusual onsie.

Buy a package of diapers and create your own diaper cake tucking in a few goodies especially for the 3rd baby (spoon, pacifier, rattle, etc.) You just take and put the diaper ends facing in and get some wide ribbon to tie around it to make the circle. You can easily make a 1 or 2 layer looking cake. Then put this inside of some netting or tooling and tie with some more ribbon in a bow. There are a lot of websites that show you how to do these and it is a personal and a gift they will use and you made it.

Purchase a Kiddie Kangaroo Car seat and or Stroller Accessory. This great item provides pockets on the infant carrier that mom can use while running errands thus avoiding carrying purse, diaper bags in addition to trying to herd the other 2 children. Can also be used on car seats and toddler seats providing a storage area accessible by the child thus avoiding lost items on the floor. Prevents whining and increases safety as mom's attention remains on the road and hands on the wheel! Go to www.kiddiekangaroo.com for a store in your area.

Gift certificates to their favorite food place. My friend just had her 4th baby and it was her first girl. And while she enjoyed the girly clothes, I gave her $100 gift card to In-N-Out and she raved about....not to mention, it will be one of the few gifts she remembers.

My favorite gift with my third baby was a pink personalized blanket, it was a lap blanket and had her first and middle name on it with her birthdate. I still have it and it is all hers so she loves it!

How about a personalized piece of jewelry? I make jewelry that is perfect for the mom that has everything - www.threesistersjewelrydesign.com

Thanks!
Z.

A fantastic gift for a third baby is a gift for the mom. I have four kids so I know of what I speak. ;0)

Hi S.,

I see you've already received lots of great responses. I'm a family photographer, and often people will purchase gift certificates from me for a family photo session. It does not expire and includes my time and select prints. I'm a mother myself and know the importance of preserving memories! Please see my website www.hpmphoto.com

Thanks,
H.

After having just one I notice that for the next all my swaddling blankets and some cloth diapers (for spit up) need to be replaced. Not too many pairs of socks or hooded towels survived either. Or you might just want to get a savings bond or gift card (which can be used for clothes and food).

I am a mother of three myself, and there is only 14 months between the second and the third (both boys) but I will tell you that diapers, wipes, baby soaps, lotions, onsies, and all those things that you so easliy run out of are the best gifts. And with three kids it is even harder to get to the store to keep replacing all those items. The other great gift is prepared, frozen meals!! No one ever thinks of that and that is a wonderful gift for the entire family.

I like getting a special gift for mom. Something to pamper her. Or maybe even a gift card to the couple's favorite restaurant for a date night out. After all, mom's the one who did all the work!

How about a basket of practical stuff every mom needs with each new baby-diapers, shampoo, lotion, etc. Make it special. Buy organic. Check out Whole Foods. Check out
Burt's Bees. They even have a gift basket for new moms on their website.
http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Produc...

as simple as it sounds, i always give clothes. give 3-6 month size as others usually give newborn sizes. yes, this baby may have 'all it needs' because of its older sibs, and that includes its share of hand me downs, so a nice outfit or two just for the new baby is always nice.
hth!
A.

I'm sure some of their stuff is outdated from the other two and their our so many wonderful new stuff out there. Ask someone they know what they have and what they could really use new. Carseats, Strollers are always great. But clothes and beautiful blankets are always nice. Bigger clothes of course.

Take them a few meals they can heat and eat. It sounds like they have their hands full and it's always nice to have something quick and easy to make at the last minute. My sister gave me a weeks work of meals after my daughter arrived and they were a life saver.

i'd say a gift card or money. I know its not very personal but its practical and definately appreciate i'm sure. Good luck!

I agree with the house cleaner and diapers!!

My sister-in-law got me a cover (kind of like a slip cover) to go over my car seat/baby carrier for my third child. It was an awsome way to turn the very expensive baby carrier that I had gotten when my son was born into a brand new-looking one for my new daughter! I like the other suggestions of a gift for mom too.

Hi S.,
If you're looking for a unique gift, check out my Web site: www.BurpieBlocker.com. I make and sell baby burp cloths with an innovative twist - a comfortable elasticized neck strap so the burp cloth stays in place over your shoulder while in use.

I think they make great gifts and are perfect for new and experienced moms. My son was a big spitter-upper and the burp cloth would never stay put. I thought "there had to be a better way!" and went to work designing the BurpieBlocker.

They're all 100% cotton, made here in Orange County, machine washable and feature an hourglass shape as well so they fit nicely over your shoulder.

There's 12 designs in all and they sell for $15 each or 2 for $25. I'd like to offer you a discount code for 10% off your entire order as a MamaSource Reader. Use code mama10 at checkout.

Please email me or call me if you have any questions. Good luck! Your friends are lucky to have such a generous friend.

A. Chase
###-###-####
____@____.com

i would go for giving them diapers and all the beginning things people need...wipes..diapers...new swaddle blanket...the bare necessities you know?

maybe a special keeepsake engraved with the babies name. Or time with a photographer for some family portraits.

A great idea that I think is a wonderful gift is a gift certificate or a purchased package for pictures. I received a photo gift package for my 2nd child to kiddie kandids and I thought that was the greatest gift!!

Check out www.guardiansleeper.com. It is a great one piece cover and positioner that promotes increased sleep. What a great gift!
C. :-)

You have a lot of great ideas. I am pregnant with my third and have had a little bit of a chance to think about what I would like. The picture gift certificates are a great idea, as are anything that will eliminate dinner preparations, whether you bring dinner, babysit the older ones or give gift certificates. I don't know if you have a Dream Dinners or something like it near you, but a gift certificate there could really be helpful. Good luck and how sweet you are to really think about this for your friend.

HOnestly, I would give a gift to the parents. Maybe a Starbucks card or other dining gc w/ a note that says something like "Since your free time is so precious use this to get out for a little bit and have a treat" I know even after our 2nd we had plenty of stuff & when a friend gave us a gc to Chilis & told us to "get to happy hour whenever we got the chance" I almost burst out sobbing with gratitude ;)
If you still REALLY want to get the baby something, what about a classic book in hard back, like Curious George or Where the wild things are? A special message written on the cover by you makes it much more personal.

Spoil the mom! Get some lotions or any self-care stuff, a gift certificate for a massage or a pedicure, a baby-sitting voucher for the mom to redeem when she needs a break... Or offer to bring a meal... Those things will mean a lot and are always needed and welcome when a newborn has just arrived. As for the baby, if it's a different gender from the other two, a cute little outfit would make sense. But I would focus on the mom if there are gonna be a lot of hand-me-downs between siblings...

A diaper cake would be a great idea for someone who has it all because they are made of diapers and feature a few extra items that come in handy. I happen to make them them in several different themes so contact me if you are interested: ____@____.com

When I had my babies, I always enjoyed getting diapers because they were so expensive. There are even cute ways you could give them, such as a diaper cake or wreath. I'm sure you could find any number of ideas online.

Personalized items are always fun--especially since 3rd children may receive a lot of hand-me-downs. I especially like to give hooded animal towels with the baby's name on it--good for both bath time and swimming lessons. Pottery Barn Kids sells these.

Oh--and books, books, books are always a great idea. I don't think you can ever have too many of those--unlike stuffed animals or baby blankets.

Hi S.,

Please check out my website...www.OffRampPublishing.com. I am the self-published author of What Haven't They Told Me? Practical Tips for Surviving and Thriving During Baby's First Year. It contains tips from parents (and grandparents) all over the country on everything from diapering to traveling, sleeping and feeding. There might just be some helpful hints that your friends haven't heard before!

All the best,
L.
www.OffRampPublishing.com

DIAPERS!!!! You always need those no matter how many kids you've had. Dinners once they have they baby...and Babies R Us gift certificates are always good...I'm sure after two kids there are some new things they may want and also some things they may need to replace...if they've taken a beating over time!

A session with a cleaning service! My Manager gave us 2 hours with a local service after our first and again with our 2nd...incredible! Good luck!

I really loved this picture frame my sister gave me. It has my son's name and birth info all over it in a contemporary way. Personalizing makes it special.

How about a gift certificate for a portrait place, like The Picture People or something? I got that once and LOVED it!

Hi S.,
At my babyshower, I received a membership to Picture People for my sons first year of life. It had great perks, like so much off of each visit, free picture sheets and I thought it was a wonderful gift. It's not the normal baby gift to give =) I had my sons pictures professionaly taken once a month for his first year with this membership =)
Take care,
H.

consumables of some kind... a costco size box of diapers, wipes, baby food, a basket of various creams, baby washes, infants tylenol, mylecon drops, you know, just all that stuff that you go through.

Gift Cards allow the family to purchase what they need (diapers, wipes, etc) A cute personalized piggy bank with a little cash seeping from the top. (one of my favorite gifts from my shower) Good luck

I think you need to think about what kind of mom this is. is she practical? then go w/ basics that will be consumed, like diapers, wipes, rash cream etc...Or is she more sentimental? Then go w/ personalized stuff. Or if you are not sure -a gift card. To a usefiul baby place, like babies r us or target. I know everyone can use diapers.

diapers & wipes - no matter how many children you have - you can't go wrong. Buy size 1 or 2 and they will grow into them.

I always appreciate gift certificates to stores where I would need to buy diapers, food, or clothes.
Don't do an on-line gift certificate to Target, I found out the hard way that you can't buy items like that on their web site.
Good luck!

Diapers...........lots of them. Things that have been pooped/peed on or spit up on for the last two babies. People always forget about the "non-cute" stuff. You can always make it cute in how you wrap/present it.

How bout a basket of all the stuff that gets worn out/used up with each kid. Burp rags, wash cloths, diaper cream, diapers, wipes, binkys. Or maybe just get them a gift card to Target or somewhere and wrap in a newborn sized diaper (then give them the rest of the pack too of course).

How about a gift certificate to a kiddie portrait studio? Also, Christmas is coming up so maybe a special outfit for him/her to wear during the holiday season?

I'm actually dealing with the same situation. I purchased an adorable Noah's Arc fleece fabric and am making a soft baby blanket for her. I'm just making one of the tie blankets where you square it (which I'm far from perfect at doing) and then you cut and tie the edges. I made one for a couple of friends when they had their first child, and they found it a very special keepsake that they rave about to this day. I figure that every child will appreciate something made with love just for them when they get older. They are super easy to make, I'm sure you can find instructions online! Just buy 2 yards of the fabric and follow the instructions. I also made some more mature ones for her two older girls (ages 2 and 4) so that they have something special to celebrate the birth of their brother/sister. I've made a couple of them for my four year old son, and he adores these soft blankets. It's nice because the child can use it as they grow older by making it a two yard size. Just use a scrap of the fabric to tie it into a roll and attach a label that says "Made with love by ..." It's sure to be a hit, especially for the third child! Just so you know, I can make an entire blanket in just a couple of hours, so they aren't real time consuming! I hope that suggestion helps!

One tip: You can often find great buys on fleece fabric on e-bay! That's where I buy most of my fabric these days! You'll pay a little more, but Jo-Ann Fabric also carries a nice selection.

New, clean soft towels and washcloths. That was one of my favorite gifts with my 3rd. By the time she was born the older ones were quite worn.

You're right that all the practical things have probably already been purchased. The greatest gift I got with my third was the offer to take my older two off my hands for an evening. New babies sleep so much and not having the older two along with us allowed my husbabnd and I to have a very lovely evening out. We had a lovely dinner and just having the baby was easy. Because really it's the older two that require the most attention. :)

A Target gift card. :)

Diapers!!
That was my favorite gift when #'s 2 and 3 (twins) came along.

Another idea is gender specific clothing.
Or special Keepsake type things look at Thingsremembered.com

Any consumables are greatly appreciated - disposable diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, baby detergent, a basket with baby cereal, juice etc.

Anything personalized is also a good idea. It makes for a sweet keepsake to have a photo frame, blanket or anything else with the baby's name (and maybe birth date) on it.

You can get a gift album that has multiple baby items in it and they can choose what they want from it. Go to we-us.mychoices.biz and search for Gift Albums. I am a military wife and use them for many occasions. The gifts are high quality and usually cost more in the store than the gift album costs. I love them!!

A gift certificate saying that you or someone they trust will babysit one night soon so they can have a night out together without the kids, the cost, or the worry.

Diapers or a gift card to like Target so they can pick up what they need.

Cute little burp clothes. Several boutiques have great ones. Or a gift card to Target for diapers.

A gift certificate for house cleaning!!! I have registered with merry maid service for just this gift. Who has time to clean a house with three kids.

Do you know the name of the baby and the birth date? There is a store in Encinitas called "Magical Child" that has the most gorgeous heirloom-quality wooden rattles. They are handcrafted and personalized with a beautifully-scripted carving of the baby's name and birth date. It runs around $40.00. It's also environmentally sound and not made of toxic materials. I purchased one for each of my children, as well as gave it as a gift for others. It's something special that would be kept forever. It's personal too. That's what I would recommend. :) I hope you post your choice and how it went over!

I usually get gifts for the siblings in cases like these. I make cards that say "For (Austin) - Congratulations on becoming a Big Brother ! ! ! Perhaps a small token gift for baby, but I really try to focus on the sibs.

how about a massage for the mother!