Back in December I shared
my top 5 gifts for a new mother and today I thought I would share my top 5 "go to" newborn gifts. It seems everyone around me is having babies this time of year so having these tried and true items on standby make gift giving easy!
1) Sophie La Giraffe teething toys:
I'm sure you all know about Sophie La Giraffe. Every child should have one of these very popular non-toxic rubber toys for teething and playing. See this Wall Street Journal
article for the back story on Sophie.
Most will receive this as a gift at their baby shower and so I now go with the lesser known Sophie La Giraffe teething rings. They have all the same benefits but are easier to hold for the smaller fingers and more compact to bring along while traveling. You can find the teething ring at Nordstroms
here:
I also found this set at
Toys R Us:
Or these bath time versions also at
Toys R Us.
2) Aden + Anais receiving blankets:
They are soft and light and perfect to use alone in warmer months as well as an extra layer in the cooler months. Their sized generously at 47"*47". They have different collections made from either 100% cotton which is nice to avoid overheating or 100% bamboo which means they breath very well and resist mold or mildew.
You can never have enough receiving blankets that first year. Whether used as a swaddler, as a blanket for tummy time, in the crib or in the stroller, or even as a burp cloth they are indispensable to new parents.
3) Something knit to be treasured for generations to come.
Now I am very lucky because my grand mother knits and loves knitting blankets and matching accessories (hats, gloves, socks) for friends and family. It's become a tradition that she will knit a blanket for my close friends when they have their first child. I love that it's something that stands the test of time. A classic heirloom gift.
For those who don't have grandmother's to knit for them or who don't have the patience or skill to do so themselves, I highly recommend
Etsy. I think I've mentioned
Etsy before. It's a website that hosts a huge variety of handmade goods being sold globally.
When my friend Diana was due to have twins she put some knit booties made by
kraftyladycreations on her registry. Kathy custom made
cute retro knit booties with matching tuque in the colours of my choice. One set for each twin. Needless to say the gift was hit!
4) Infant Seat & Stroller seasonal travel accessories:
These are items that I did not think of purchasing in advance but received as gifts after my son was born found so very useful. Both items below are from Jolly Jumper but can be found with other brands as well.
The first item is the Jolly Jumper Cuddle Bag with Head Hugger. I loved knowing my son was comfy, cozy and warm all winter long in his. It's also so convenient as you don't have to overdress your infant in bulky winter wear and then find a way to "stuff" them in their seat. The Cuddle Bag keeps them toasty warm and protects from wind and cold as you take them from the house to the car to your final destination.
The second item is the Jolly Jumper Solar Safe Stroller Net. This allows for worry free strolls during beautiful sunny spring and summer days. This net protects against harmful UV rays and insects. The one piece net fits most strollers and play-yards. It also folds into a compact pouch for storage. It can be found at
Toys R Us.
5) What to Expect the First Year & What to Expect the Toddler Years:
Most new parents will have received
What to Expect When You're Expecting or a similar "new parent" informative book.
I really like the format they use for this collection because you don't have to read the whole book start to finish to get the information you're looking for. The information is broken up by month and so you can quickly check the chapter of your child's age by month and review which milestones he could be reaching and what's to come in the upcoming months.
I recommend these follow-up books to What to Expect When You're Expecting as they are so very useful as the months quickly fly by and your child's needs change so quickly. As a new parent it's nice to be reassured by the question and answer sections to see that other parents are experiencing the same dilemmas or issues. Like any parenting book you can choose to take the advice or use it as a starting point for discussing a particular concern with your significant other or even with your paediatrician.
