tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post2149236680963949092..comments2024-02-02T07:13:37.313-06:00Comments on Like Merchant Ships: Standardized baby giftsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-78535554317226253522008-11-26T08:55:00.000-06:002008-11-26T08:55:00.000-06:00hello, I just happened on your blog last night, ou...hello, I just happened on your blog last night, our church service Sunday featured all our local food pantry, clothing bank, nursing home, etc.where we always need help. I wish we had had this video, thank you for putting it on, I would like to pass it on if that's okay. I'll be visiting with you often. best wishes.peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06824597131148093565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-84260217344441707922008-08-14T16:28:00.000-05:002008-08-14T16:28:00.000-05:00I usually do a baby towel as someone described - w...I usually do a baby towel as someone described - with a regular towel and a washcloth. This was my mom's signature gift (along with a red washcloth for boo-boo's down the road!), and we, too, always get positive comments down the road.<BR/><BR/>But I like the onesie idea, too. Nearly everyone uses onesies. If your babies don't wear them "out," they wear them as underclothes. Whether you use medicine or just herbals, the baby still wears clothes. Whether you breastfeed or formula-feed, the baby still wears clothes. Regardless of which brand of diaper you use, or if you use cloth, the baby still wears clothes. These basics are usually helpful regardless of the mama's overall taste in clothing, and gets worn out fastest, so it's useful even for a 2nd, 3rd, 5th, or 10th baby. (Just my 2 cents, from a babywearing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, no-meds mama who had a hard time even *making* a registry because I use hardly anything "mainstream.")<BR/><BR/>I also like giving or receiving board books, especially classics.<BR/><BR/>And I was so up to my ears in pastels that I was thrilled when someone gave my girls clothes that were purple (not lavender, but *purple* purple) or red!<BR/><BR/>Bumkins' Superbibs are another of my favorite gifts to give. I think these are the best "eating" (as opposed to "drool") bibs of all time! But they're a bit pricey, IMO, to give as a "stock" gift.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-3080976313039146402008-08-06T08:36:00.000-05:002008-08-06T08:36:00.000-05:00mama 2: Inscriptions bring out anothe problem thou...mama 2: Inscriptions bring out anothe problem though. I have SO many books with inscriptions in them to and from people I don't want. After all, I bought them at Half Price Books. Or Salvation army<BR/>...SchrefflerFamilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16250571296052594274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-34773511578050995482008-08-04T22:38:00.000-05:002008-08-04T22:38:00.000-05:00I love giving - and receiving - books as gifts! P...I love giving - and receiving - books as gifts! Please consider adding an inscription: to, from, and the date. Recently I went through stacks of books my mom had saved from my own childhood for my children to read. So wonderful to read who gave which books on which occasion. Makes for special memories!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-22813283402143800762008-08-04T05:33:00.000-05:002008-08-04T05:33:00.000-05:00Of late, my standard present has been a basket ful...Of late, my standard present has been a basket full of odds and ends. Each week when I am grocery shopping I'll pick up something little. Especially for friends who are having their second, and have a small space. And also for friends who I knew would be having an enormous baby shower and would get more baby gear than they could ever need, "consumable" stuff (or disposable) was better. There are always one or two little things in there that aren't throw away items though.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367480942380414529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-60782817062581954612008-08-04T02:08:00.000-05:002008-08-04T02:08:00.000-05:00I received tons of tiny outfits at my babyshower t...I received tons of tiny outfits at my babyshower that my 9 pound baby never got to wear, so now I'm a practical gift giver. <BR/><BR/>Either diapers and wipes, or a gift bag with various medicines. Kroger has buy one get one free sales on store brand pretty regularly, and I stock up on gas drops and infant tylenol.<BR/><BR/>I received several different types of diapers at my shower, and it was great to be able to try them out and see what brand we liked best. A friend had gotten me a baby medicine kit and it was a lifesaver when I needed something in the middle of the night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-82036277434788299022008-08-03T15:02:00.000-05:002008-08-03T15:02:00.000-05:00I would have appreciated this, so now I've made th...I would have appreciated this, so now I've made this my standard gift to people who aren't close friends or family: a baby medicine kit. I usually include infant Tylenol, teething medicine, diaper rash cream (the kind for really bad diaper rash), gas medicine, and then maybe a book or small toy.<BR/> We didn't know to have those things around the house when our little one was born. Having them would have saved many late night trips to the drug store.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17877230464280349405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-20884431690241209722008-08-03T11:00:00.000-05:002008-08-03T11:00:00.000-05:00I always do the same thing which might seem boring...I always do the same thing which might seem boring to some but I like to get a nice stash of great condition books and put in the closet for the new baby. Classics, and really neat vintage nursery ryhme books that I spend very little money mostly under a buck. I always like to write in pencil on the front page a little poem,verse, or just a nice welcome sentence along with the month, year, and out names. I still have books that my grandmother and grandfather wrote in that I look at and it brings smiles to my face after reading it, that she took the time to personalize and write something special in the book.<BR/><BR/>Another is the wholesome, and nutrious meal which I double alot of meals sometimes if I have extra.The key here is healthy.<BR/><BR/>There was such a kind woman that 3 children when I had my first daughter in 02'. She was in part in my local La Leche League which I came to every month.<BR/><BR/>What is the most memorable gift was that she knew I was struggling so much with postpartum depression and had no family, or friends to help so she came over with homemade stuffed shells, a bagged dole veggie salad, and fresh baked bread. It is the gift that meant so much to me and I will always remember her and her family.<BR/><BR/>My leader came a few days later with homemade lavender shortbread cookies, her daughter's precious white lace bonnet, and homemade lemonade since it was hot and in July with no AC. It's the little things that we treasure and hold to our hearts so I always try to put my heart, and not always think about price as this sometimes distorts things for me. But price is a factor.Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07365628016260943621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-47787280536284954022008-08-02T22:56:00.000-05:002008-08-02T22:56:00.000-05:00OK, I'm reading some of the new comments....NOBODY...OK, I'm reading some of the new comments....NOBODY told me that mom's should get gifts, too! My baby is 9yo---is it too late to ask for some gifts just for me, now? LOL :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-44412435215770303502008-08-02T20:44:00.000-05:002008-08-02T20:44:00.000-05:00I have very few diaper preferences -- name brand o...I have very few diaper preferences -- name brand or generic, I am always grateful for diapers. <BR/><BR/>I think it partly depends upon what number baby this is. With my first child, almost any gift was something I could use. Now with my fifth, we seem to even have most of the books people like to give for presents. Therefore, I'd rather get disposable things or a meal or maybe something for me. If someone is going to give us something special that is not consumable, something like a special outfit or a photo session or something like that would be really nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-28327857321410800292008-08-02T18:52:00.000-05:002008-08-02T18:52:00.000-05:00Totally agree with april and the idea of baby medi...Totally agree with april and the idea of baby medicine. Gas drops and teething medicine are things you only think about when you're having problems in the middle of the night. Giving them as a gift is a fantastic idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-68976400705596743222008-08-02T15:19:00.000-05:002008-08-02T15:19:00.000-05:00Just reading through the comments - and I LOVE the...Just reading through the comments - and I LOVE the crockpot idea! I'll have to keep that in mind in the future.Christihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17732288654277612085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-2934815659385015092008-08-02T14:52:00.000-05:002008-08-02T14:52:00.000-05:00Diapers(name brand) and a book sound great to me. ...Diapers(name brand) and a book sound great to me. Or a meal. I was just thankful for anything we got, especially with the second.<BR/><BR/>I do have a signature baby gift. I decorate a wipes case with fabric like you find in boutiques. They are super easy and always a big hit.It's a Mom Thinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09642873910749206412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-50236850664205181292008-08-02T14:19:00.000-05:002008-08-02T14:19:00.000-05:00I usually make up an emergency supply package...in...I usually make up an emergency supply package...infant tylenol, motrin, teething medicine, gas drops, diaper cream, baby vapor rub,hand sanitizer, and usually include burp cloths, wipes, a freezer teether, a soothing cd, some relaxing tea for mom and dad and nice bath salts, and even freezer gel packs for boo boos(or mom's headache). Many moms have told me how this came in handy in the middle of the night and they didn't have to rush out and buy something.Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07401189480682586544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-46907331339912981252008-08-02T11:41:00.000-05:002008-08-02T11:41:00.000-05:00If you're nixing the diaper idea, what about embel...If you're nixing the diaper idea, what about embellished onesies? Buy up a bunch of onesies when they're on sale, which I assume even baby clothes are on sale during back-to-school time. Buy some cute iron-ons and dress them up a bit. This would be inexpensive, but it looks a tad more extravagant due to the embellishment. I've done this before, and it was well-received. You can buy packs with several little iron-on applique thingies. <BR/><BR/>We attended the baby shower for one of my husband's Star Wars-loving friends, and a guy made iron-ons with the computer and special transfer paper. All the onesies said, "I am a Jedi Knight like my father before me." Those were the hit of the party.Anne Marie@Married to the Empirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16600919522369171555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1773983668181302122008-08-02T11:15:00.000-05:002008-08-02T11:15:00.000-05:00I'm pregnant with number 7 now, and I have to say...I'm pregnant with number 7 now, and I have to say that my favorite gifts were always things for me! So that's what I always give, along with something for the other siblings. <BR/><BR/>Meals are nice, but I'm not opposed to giving my kids sandwiches or frozen pizza, etc, so many times warming a meal that someone else prepared is actually more work than making a big salad. Medicines, baby wash, wipes, etc are appreciated also, but I never buy that stuff normally so in a way I feel like they are wasting their money on stuff I wouldn't ordinarily use.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273307757381135560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-53719583112697109882008-08-02T10:41:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:41:00.000-05:00I tend to buy favorite books that my kids enjoyed ...I tend to buy favorite books that my kids enjoyed when they were little, like the Sandra Boynton books. I also sometimes make personalized baby gifts on my Cafepress store.<BR/><BR/>http://www.cafepress.com/grandparentgiftFatcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10687367589610368444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-59641246111476529032008-08-02T10:37:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:37:00.000-05:00Meredith ~In reading through almost all of the com...Meredith ~<BR/><BR/>In reading through almost all of the comments...thinking about consumable vs. enduring gifts...and meals for the busy mom/family...and gifts for the mom, as opposed to something specifically "baby"...<BR/><BR/>What about a *crockpot*, and some of your favorite recipes to be used with it? <BR/><BR/>The timing may not be right for this particular group of babies, but I've often seen them on "Black Friday" sales priced well below the cost of a package of disposable diapers...and it's a gift that would likely be used for years. <BR/><BR/>It can be a lifesaver in encouraging the new mom to try to follow the nap-when-the-baby-naps advice that sounds so good until naptime's up, and dinner prep is still waiting...or the morning after a nighttime of walking the floor with a wakeful baby...and even the most novice-in-the-kitchen new dad can salt, pepper, and season a roast and toss in some bagged baby carrots for a really decent supper at the end of a long day. :)<BR/><BR/>Not entirely anonymous, but still working on a blog name here on the mountaintop... ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-74713812689999780282008-08-02T10:28:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:28:00.000-05:00I just went back and read some comments. Regina a...I just went back and read some comments. Regina and I think alike! LOLmama khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05070909433011566246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-69785932436703990032008-08-02T10:25:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:25:00.000-05:00I tend to go all out with gifts for close friends....I tend to go all out with gifts for close friends. I prepare a pamper mama/nursing supply basket for the new mom with stuff like breast pads, a breastfeeding book, nipple cream, cozy socks, snacks, a water bottle, lip balm and some "pampering" items just for mama.<BR/><BR/>For someone I don't know as well, I make a stack of burpcloths. <A HREF="http://stashjunkiecrochetblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/easy-baby-burpcloth-burpie-tutorial.html" REL="nofollow">I embellish Gerber Prefold Dipes with fabric.</A> They cost less than $2 each and are always very well recieved.<BR/>Sometimes I pair it with some nice baby soap or something practical like that.<BR/><BR/>I'm not to keen on the disposable diapers, but I think a book and a meal would be a fabulous gift!mama khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05070909433011566246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-59999009979096940502008-08-02T10:21:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:21:00.000-05:00I tend to make baby gifts ... crocheted blanket, x...I tend to make baby gifts ... crocheted blanket, x-stitched bibs, etc. :o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-29891199183915233822008-08-02T10:08:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:08:00.000-05:00p.s. forgot to mention, if it wasn't apparent, tha...p.s. forgot to mention, if it wasn't apparent, that the cloth diaper is a burp cloth :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-40790886194737608922008-08-02T10:07:00.000-05:002008-08-02T10:07:00.000-05:00Meredith, you have some good ideas here, but like ...Meredith, you have some good ideas here, but like you said the hard part of your question is how to gift as a BOSS? Even if a mom isn't going to nurse, she certainly is going to be up at all hours of the night feeding the baby, and a "mommy care kit" would be appreciated by any mom. Healthy and yummy snacks in one of your fabulous looking baskets would be great. You could add a touch for baby by putting in a few custom onesies or two. Something I've done is get some Gerber cloth diapers (cheap) and sew a strip of fabric down the center panel. Then I buy blank onesies from Beverly's Fabrics and they have the CUTEST iron-on transfers for babies, and hey presto, out of a 2-pack I can make 2 "custom" baby onesies. Just a few thoughts. With possibly a few exceptions, these are going to be women you don't know at all, let alone very well, so it's going to be impossible to know if they will nurse or not, whether they are opposed to disposables or to cloth diapering, whether they would be opposed to medicines for baby... yadda yadda. Oh, something someone mentioned about how she picked books might help: ask God for guidance! :) And I love the board book idea, I got such a plethora of blankets that I was tickled with each gift that included books. And it's funny, I don't think I got any "Mama" gifts at the shower, but I have to say that's my favorite thing to do is to gift the mom! Everyone wants to give cute baby clothes, but I recall after having my baby that it seemed like I was now chopped liver and all that anyone cared about was the baby (baby blues didn't help this line of thought), so it's nice for the mom to have a reminder that she is the one who is still the nourisher of her sweet babe. Sorry to go on for so long, hopefully some of this helps!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-27947632788806009082008-08-02T09:09:00.000-05:002008-08-02T09:09:00.000-05:00I second the comment about BabyGap! Just last week...I second the comment about BabyGap! Just last week I got some very adorable onesies for $1.97 each, so I stocked up! I usually get a few that somehow coordinate (color, pattern, etc) and are in different sizes (usually 6-12 mos, 12-18 mos, then 18-24) and use the store's awesome packaging. Then, we make some sweets for the new parents' freezer...a batch of cookies and a jar of puppy chow, etc. <BR/><BR/>I've also gotten some fun package tie-ons from Pottery Barn kids - stuffed rattles, etc. Sometimes they have these on super clearance by the register!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-45782713750181858042008-08-02T08:47:00.000-05:002008-08-02T08:47:00.000-05:00PS I also regift anything I didn't use because the...PS I also regift anything I didn't use because they never fit into it, etc.Zombiemommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12484880804068329390noreply@blogger.com