I could use gift suggestions for a couple that is expecting

[nam78_two]

This is the first couple in my acquaintance that is having kids and they are fairly good friends of ours. I am clean out of ideas for a gift :evilfrown:. I am not finding anything really appealing when I google this.

Ideally, I would like to buy them something useful and <$150.00. I would like to buy something relatively useful, but not completely boring like stacks of diapers or anything of that nature ;).

I would appreciate any suggestions.

[fizzgig]

1. i got a friend a little baby bath kit thing

i know it had clippers for baby nails, but i can't remember what else.

are they registered anywhere?

[flvegan]

2. How about a nice evening out together?

They aren't likely to have many of those for some time.

[skygazer]

8. I agree with this idea

A gift certificate to a nice restaurant would no doubt be appreciated. Say, the Olive Garden. :P

[MrsMatt]

3. My suggestions

Well stocked first aid kit, along with a book on infant/toddler first aid.

Tee shirts that open in the front (kimono style) - first time parents are generally squeamish about pulling clothing over the heads of their infants.

Clothing 2T and up - most people give newborn clothing.

[davsand]

4. Those babies grow so fast clothing gets tossed pretty soon.

So that means you MUST buy a bunch of infant clothing...

:evilgrin:


Now that I got that out of the way, I think that if you are ok with the idea of babysitting for an infant I'd suggest a couple of gift cards for restaurants and movies along with a "coupon book" for stuff like dinner and a movie while you keep the baby. Throw in a couple of "I'll keep the kid whenever you ask" coupons and you will be a HUGE hero. (If anyone had done that for us, I'd have loved them forever!) If you want to shop for a little bit of baby stuff too, I'd suggest that you maybe buy three or four little one piece outfits (depending on the due date) with feet in them. I would not buy "newborn" size, I'd suggest 3-6 months size.


Have fun! Babies are a gift in their own right!


Laura

[applegrove]

5. Get them a big baby tote bag and fill it with underwear (baby will need

layers for the winter time), facecloths, rattles and toys. A full bag of little things.

[XemaSab]

6. Target gift card

Yes, it's impersonal, but they will be sure to use it. :)

[democracyindanger]

7. Easy.

http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/gifts/kiehls-baby.htm

What I get all my friends who have babies. Well, except for the couple I gave http://www.babytoupee.com/

[nam78_two]

9. Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone

:hi:

I really liked some of these ideas. I have something to work with now.

Thanks all :pals:.

[Breeze54]

10. Get them something to keep baby happy...like this...

This comes in really handy when you have a cranky, crying, teething, drooling,
hair pulling 7 month old baby and you just can't hold them anymore.

Pugubop's Baby Jumper



http://www.kushiesonline.com/Pugabop-Baby-Jumper-p/p799.htm

The ultimate jumper for the special little one in your life, however, the worker bees at Pugubop believe that there is more to a product than meets the eye. The PUGUBOP BABY JUMPER IS MADE WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION knowing that the lucky baby who will bounce in this jumper will undoubtedly never let go. We hope that our jumper can help you take your baby to places that make your heart happy, and that the smile on their face makes your life a better place to live. So come on out of your shell, take a deep breath, and leap into our world, a world where babies have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of big air.

Price $70.00
Sale $30.50

-----------

Saved me from losing (most) of my mind quite a few times! ;)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Those are great...though they need to be attached to door frames with molding around them...

My kids both loved theirs.

[SoCalDem]

11. If they have frames on their inside doorways.. They will LOVE you for this one

http://www.evenflo.com/Homepage/ProductList/tabid/203/display/uses/navid/4/Default.aspx

[MrsMatt]

21. Maybe - neither of my children got into these

They didn't care for the swing either. I was glad I only had loaners!

[GirlinContempt]

12. Burts Bees makes some really nice baby stuff

natural and safe :) I love their products, and their baby stuff is great

http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=10008

Lots of stores carry their stuff :)

[IdaBriggs]

13. As the mother of 9-1/2 month old twins...

-- The "rainforest" bouncer seat (or whatever one they like) -- worked great, especially because my babies had reflux, and slept in it.

-- Case of diaper wipes. Seriously. A case. It costs about $10 and it was fabulous! You don't have time to run out and get stuff in an "emergency" (which is when you always run out of them!).

-- Case(s) of diaper. Okay, we've got twins. See above comment.

-- Clothes that are seasonally appropriate for the "next size up" because "new" is good when the kids grow so quickly!

-- Lotions, shampoos, teething anything (not toys, but tablets, gripe water, etc.), baby tylenol/motrin -- all of the "emergency" things.

-- Learning toys for approximate 6 months. (Mine slept for the first few months, and its still a shock that they are so active now at 9-1/2 months!)

-- A Saucer (not a walker); Or a walk-a-bout -- my son's favorite toy. Also, a "keyboard" musical toy is a *huge* favorite at our house.

-- Anything "handmade" is treasured and shown off like crazy.

-- A fabulous book called "Baby Bargains" -- a True Lifesaver. Freaked me out about cribs, though! :)

If they end up with a preemie, pm me -- I've got the scoop down on that, too! :)

Best, Ida

[BlueIris]

18. Great list, Ida. I saved it!

[kwassa]

26. Baby Bargains is a great book.

like Consumer Reports for the baby world.

[IdaBriggs]

30. Somebody on DU reminded me about it last year.

I used the "wedding" one but forgot they also put out baby/toddler books. Fabulous book. :)

[hippywife]

14. Baby swing.

Best gift you could possibly give them. Insert baby and wind it up, pretty soon baby is asleep.

[LeftyMom]

15. Britax car seat.

Best baby gear ever.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. if they have two cars, a second car seat is a good idea.

however, a gift certificate for some professional photography to have portraits made at 3/6/9/12 months is nice..or your own photography services if you are good at it.

picture frames, you never have enough.

my favorite baby shower gifts are hooded baby towels, little washcloths, and the baby feeding spoons that look like miniature iced tea spoons. Handy as hell and useful when baby is long gone. I still have one of my daughters feeding spoons and it is damn handy for scooping stuff out of skinny jars etc. This one is silverplate but they come in stainless steel and plastic too.

If she is planning to breastfeed and will be returning to the work force, a good breast pump would be a godsend

[qwertyMike]

17. Crib

and if they already have on - LOTSA Pampers

and baby rash ointment (Zinc Stuff)

been there
Not romantic but practical

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. Cloth diapers and a diaper service so they don't have to kill the earth with disposables.

Or if not that, a couple gift certificates to nice restaurants, to kind of help force them to get away from the child once in a while and go enjoy themselves as a couple and keep that romance a'sparkin'.

[Felix Mala]

23. There's still gas to pick up diapers. Heating water to wash and

soap for suds that gets dumped back into rivers.

Plus you've got the leakage and rash factors.

[LeftyMom]

31. On both water and fossil fuels, cloth wins. "Disposable" diapers get trucked to stores

and most families will have to make a few dedicated trips to the store to buy more. It takes more water to make a disposable than to wash a cloth diaper.

Quality modern cloth diapers are a huge improvement over both older cloth and disposables in preventing rashes and leaks. They also don't have the problems containing runny newborn poo that disposables do, which prevents a lot of huge messes and ruined onesies.

They are, in short, not only a superior option from a standpoint of environmental impact, but also in terms of convenience and performance.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Gifts.com always has great ideas

Like this!

ts.com/search/product/Clean-n-Cozy-Shopping-Cart-Cover?ideaID=11130&prodID=142614






The baby part of the site:
ts.com/occasions/baby-shower/6ohraicp

[nam78_two]

22. Thanks so much for the suggestions again everyone

I wanted to thank everyone individually for their helpful ideas, but didn't want to keep kicking my own thread.
This has been a very useful thread for me :).

[kwassa]

24. Pack 'n play.

Travelling crib/bassinet systems.

Very useful.

example:



Car seats, and frames.

Frame converts car seat into a stroller.

example of frame:

[BOSSHOG]

27. Tell them you would like to

open a savings account for their newborn. A college fund if you will, that they can suggest others add to. The parents can be co-owners. We did that for a neighbors new born and they love it because their child has received tons of toys.

[badgerpup]

28. Gave some friends of mine a bright quilt for the baby...

...and some credit with the local best Chicago-style pizza place that delivers.
My thinking was that what with the little guy on Little Guy schedule, Mom and Working Dad are going to be tired, and there are going to be days when nobody's going to have the energy to make dinner.

Any good delivery or takeout would work for this, methinks...

This seemed a practical gift, there when needed, but not until needed.

[nadine_mn]

29. Food - prepared meals for awhile

everyone loves buying the baby gifts, then forget the parents. For my friend I got her a spa treatment and also cooked a week's worth of food for her and hubby so they could have a break.