Sammy Says Blog

When my daughter had her first child, I was absolutely thrilled. We all know that grandparents have free rein to spoil their grandchildren. Parents have to take care of all the unpleasant parts of raising a child - instilling discipline, changing diapers and forcing them to eat their vegetables. Then, when it’s time to go to grandma’s house, the kids can be lavished with gifts.

I went to the hospital shortly after my daughter went into labor as I wanted to be ready and waiting with a new baby gift basket. Of course the present was actually intended to help out my daughter and to show my pride and love for her. I’ve seen enough baby baskets in my day to know what to include, so instead of purchasing a premade basket, I compiled one myself, including everything from a nose cleaner to Q-tips to a baby bottle warmer and some plush toys.

Running a daycare can be a dream job at times, but at other times it feels like a nightmare. I specialize in dealing with small children - some of them still babies - who aren’t used to being away from their parents for any extended duration. The best time of the day is usually lunch, when I spoon feed them Gerber baby food and watch as they coo in delight. But the peace and sanity don’t last long.

Despite my large stockpile of toys and baby books, it’s inevitable that at some point in the afternoon the children will become cranky and temperamental. I’ve tried every possible measure to keep them happy - from stuffed animals to cartoons on TV - and it seems that only one method works every time. I keep a heaping supply of baby pacifiers in the closet, each one individually packaged. I buy them in bulk off the Internet, and they’re perfect for setting a baby at ease.

My friend had a baby a couple years ago and I found a unique baby gift for her shower. It’s so hard to buy gifts these days because you never really know what people want and you want to find something special. No one wants to give the same boring gift that someone else is giving. It feels so much better to give a special gift, one that will show how much you care and how thoughtful you were in choosing the gift.

After a few weeks of thoughtful deliberation, I finally decided I would get the new baby a charm bracelet. But not just any charm bracelet, a personalized charm bracelet. I went to a local jewelry store and picked out a sterling silver charm bracelet sized for an infant’s wrist. I had the new baby’s name engraved on the front plate. Next, picked out two plain silver charms and had each parent’s name and birthday engraved on them. I also picked out a little hummingbird charm and a book charm. My friend loved the gift and I know she will always have warm memories when the baby wears it.

Though most couples think about registering for weddings at department stores and online shopping destinations, it’s also a good idea to register for baby showers in the same manner. If you’re having a baby shower, chances are you have several guests who might all want to purchase the same items. The reason for a baby shower is not only to celebrate the birth of a child, but also to offer the parents some help with all the money they’ll have to spend on their newborn. It’s great to receive useful, unique baby gifts that parents won’t need to return because of duplicates.

Most store locations both throughout the United States and online have registration options for baby showers in addition to weddings.  Remember too, some duplicate items are okay; for example, a newborn can never have too many clothing options!

Baby showers are a time of joy and excitement, at least where the mother-to-be is concerned. For her close friends, it can often be stressful and daunting. Party planners must send out the invitations well in advance, secure a venue for the festivities and in some cases take care of the decorations. Such was the case for me when my best friend Eleanor announced she was expecting.

I sprang into action, designing and mailing out invites, reserving tables at her favorite restaurant and otherwise taking charge of the situation. I regret to admit that in the midst of all the hullabaloo I completely forgot to purchase a shower gift. With no time to lose, I went online in search of a unique baby gift. Eventually I settled on a stuffed bear that emits soothing sounds to lull a baby to sleep. I figured Eleanor and her husband would appreciate any help they could get in that department.

My younger sister and her husband recently had their first child – a healthy baby boy. As a mother of two, I feel relatively qualified to dispense parenting advice. The very first thing I told my sister was to enjoy every moment with her baby because he will grow up in no time flat. At her baby shower, I presented her with a gift that reinforced that advice.

A baby sling carrier is both stylish and functional in that it allows new mothers to look great as they tote baby from place to place. For many young mothers, shedding those leftover pounds becomes a top priority. Sling carriers provide a sensible alternative to bulky strollers, and they allow women virtually unrestricted movement during long walks. Best of all, baby sling carriers keep infants within reach of their mothers’ care.

Supermarkets are havens for germs and disease. That’s not to say that the foods we purchase there are unsafe – to the contrary, most packaged foods are sealed to ensure freshness. And produce should always undergo a thorough rinse at home before you eat it. No, it’s not the food in the supermarket that’s unsanitary; it’s the surfaces. Thousands of people file in and out of the same grocery store each day, leaving their unique germs behind on everything they touch.

Shopping cart covers help to protect young children from the effects of these filthy common items. It’s unpleasant to contemplate, but the previous user of your shopping cart may not have washed his or her hands all day. Babies are particularly susceptible to germs, especially considering their propensity for putting things in their mouths. Cart covers keep baby clean and provide parents with pleasant peace of mind.

There’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at a baby shower and watching the mother-to-be open two or three variations on the exact gift that you purchased. After all, one of the biggest benefits of a gift is that it is totally unique. To that end, nobody wants to give a totally generic gift for any event whether it be a birthday gift or a baby show gift. It’s for this reason that so many people are averse to shopping for baby gifts.

Many retailers and outlets peddle the same kinds of baby items. There might be slight differences and variations among these items, but generally speaking, they are the same core of gifts. So if you want to impress this next baby shower, make sure to search around for unique baby gifts. There are many products that fall under this category. You just have to do a bit of searching. Take the search online for an even wider selection of possible baby gifts.

If you’ve been invited to a baby shower but are at a total loss about where to find a high quality and unique baby gift, there are several places you can turn for advice. The first person to ask would be anyone you know that’s been through a baby shower. They will be able to tell you the products they actually used and enjoyed and those that were less appreciated. Your parent friends and relatives are an invaluable source, so use them.

Another way to get baby shower gift ideas is by turning to the internet. Just do a bit of searching around, and you’re sure to find lots of ideas as well as retailers that sell the products of those ideas. If you still can’t think of that perfect gift, break down and ask the mother. While it’s always nice for gifts to be a surprise, it’s even better when they are exactly what the recipient wants and needs!

There’s no shortage of terrific books for infants online or in conventional stores.  The usual baby books are the sturdy board kinds that teem with colorful pictures.  Examples are Bright Baby First Words and My Big Word Book by Roger Priddy.  Some baby books have built-in sounds or music or are paired with a CD such as The Thrift Store Bears Book.  Still, there are others that encourage touching and discovery, with different textures, like Sassy Baby’s Sense-ations Book.  A few volumes are soft and washable and can be attached to teethers, strollers and playpens, or read during bath time.  Miss Gigi Mae Learns to Read: The Letter A is one.
 
Make sure you have a few books on hand to read to or with your son or daughter.  Reading is a brilliant bonding activity for parent and child that also promotes little ones’ language and sensory development and skills.  And it’s never too early to start your youngster’s love affair with books.  As popular children’s author Rosemary Wells advises, “Read to your bunny often…and your bunny will read to you.”