[BoobyJuice]

Anyone have any good ideas for baby gifts for non-AP friends and family? I have a sil that's pregnancy with her 3rd. Her parenting choices are just about opposite of mine. I'm having a hard time thinking of baby gifts. I also have 2 friends who aren't at all AP (well these are first babies for both, but I'm guessing) - with them I think I might get them slings. Maybe they'll try them.

Any ideas?

 

[Taedareth]

How about a gift basket with some nice "pampering" items, like organic lavender lotion for mama, a terrycloth baby bath blanket, baby bum cream (she'll need it especially if she's using disposable diapers), a cd of relaxing music, a natural loofah etc? Plus you could be sneaky and throw in The Baby Book by William and Marth Sears heheh...

 

[mamallama]

I say board books and a small quality toy for the new moms, put the gift in a basket and make it look nice, and board books and a book or two for the older kids for the third time mom. I buy good books for cheap at Half Price Books.

I think books are something that every family needs, so I give them as gifts as often as I can. I just can't bring myself to shop from the registry a lot of times...I can't buy one more gadget that puts distance between the parents and a new baby; and most of the registries I see are full of that.

 

[MamaAcorn]

I usually try to put together a basket that includes things that I loved as a new parent. I usually include a little newborn sack bundler, a half dozen cloth diapers (great burp cloths, changing pads, emergency breast pads, ect), a "touch-and feel" board book (I love shopping at Marshall's for board books, wooden toys, and puzzles!), and if they live close by, I'll bring over dinner. With friends that are having subsequent babies, I also include a little something for the big brother/sister.

I didn't have any intentions of being AP (I didn't even know of the term until DS was 6 months old) before becoming a parent, so you never know. I would have loved to have received "The Baby Book," then I wouldn't have been doubting everything that we did by following our hearts in the first six months! And since they just release a new edition, you may be able to find the last edition super cheap in the bargain bins at B&N or Borders. Last I saw, they were going for $5.99.

 

[nova22]

I have a very non-AP friend who had a baby recently. I got her a basket of stuff: a few very cute outfits, some baby board books, a package of cloth diapers with a note that says they make great burp cloths

, and some bibs. For the mommy I gave her some lotions and candles. No mother would turn her nose up at pampering stuff, AP or not! Good luck!

 

[CairaJade]

There are so many baby things that I don't think the AP philosophy difference will matter one bit. You can't go wrong with clothes.

 

[lorijds]

How about a Burt's Bees baby gift pack for baby, and a Burt's Bees foot massage gift pack for mama?

 

[applejuice]

Yes, somthing nice for the new mama that she can pamper herself with - or board books for the new baby or for the older sibling.

 

[georgia]

Food!!!!!

 

[TiredX2]

My standard gifts are robeez (for a 2nd or more baby of the same sex) and boppy pillows (older sibs like those too). I think most >1 time moms appreciate a gift for the big sibling, so matching shirts or the like would be really nice IMO.

 

[Jenne]

I usually give Series EE savings bonds with a note that it is a start for the babe's college fund plus a good children's book like "On the Day I was Born."
I like the savings bonds because they double in value over a few years. Most of the women that *I* know only register for newborn things...I have even had friends who registered for only newborn things but babes were bigger than that, oops! Also, I have been at showers where they received much more then they needed for the baby but nothing that would be memorable or lasting i.e. multiples of most baby containers, disposable diapers in size newborn, too many clothes and bottles, a million rattles etc. so most of the stuff will be in a landfill or fairly useless to them after a few months.

Cool Breezes,
Jenne

 

[CJ 5]

I am not even cloth diapering but I ask my mom for cloth diapers for burp clothes and She has instead bought me probably 100 different burp clothes with matching bibs and wash clothes ( how am I going to keep these clean??? hello I am not that kind of mother!!!)

For mainstream moms I usually just cave and buy something off their registry or now I am thinking of buying a sling for them. I do think that just donating some money as a gift card would be nice. Please no clothes I can't believe how many clothes people give babies.

A nice item might be the changing pad and cover as all moms need and love those. A carrier/sling is another. An offer for a few meals after bith would certanly be welcomed.

I don't know about the video "happiest baby on the block" but I wish someone would buy it for me and DH as it sounds great but is expensive.

Lasinoh is usually welcome as is bb products mentioned above.

Also just asking the mommy if there is something she has wished for with the other two and didn't get or if she is registered would probably be very appreciated.

If I were a third time mom the best thing I could wish for is someone to offer to watch the other little ones for a few hours while I was bonding with the baby)

I also have heard that the Brest friend nursing pillow is a godsend.

 

[melixxa]

The Baby Bjorn was one of the best gifts I got (DP used it exclusively instead of a sling; I used both and liked to have options).

What about the services of a chef and/or a gift certificate for carryout? For one friend's family, I gave them a certificate for many, many pints of Ben & Jerry's. There were an ice cream sort of family.

The services of a professional photographer to take pictures of the baby?

My SIL loves Hanna Andersson clothes (and they are GREAT, so soft - and organic cotton!). She has given me lots for my DS, and the stuff is nice. So expensive, I would never buy it myself. Makes a nice gift.

 

[Rainbow]

Might she still be interested in a sling or bjorn? Maybe some WAHM natural baby soaps? quality baby toy?

ETA- you could always go with a trendy looking pouch- didn't someone famous endorse the new native one? I got my first sling (solid black New Native) from a totally mainstream mom who saw someone famous suggesting it.

 

[sarahmae1]

A bath set for baby and/or mom is always nice, as well as some small teething or developmental toys. I had gotten rid of most of my older ds' little toys that he used to chew on.

Taggies are really hot on my birth club board (www.taggies.com)... I ordered a take-a-long taggie because I do NOT want nor need any more blankets.

Also, I think the books The No-Cry Sleep Solution and The Happiest Baby on the Block are good for both AP and mainstream mamas.

 

[BoobyJuice]

T

Quote:

i knew she only planned to "try" bf

If it makes you feel any better, this SIL of mine bf once - that's right ONCE - because the colostrum is all they need. Then when her daughter was always sick and had ear infactions she claimed it didn't work and so she didn't even bring the next one to her breast.

And that is only one of the crazy things she has done or said! Can you see why I find it frustrating to have to get a gift?

Think I'm going to go with the idea of getting the older sister's something and picking up just a small thing for her or the baby.

 

[Mamid]

I got a fruit basket when I had DS. It was a _perfect_ gift.

I'd recommend it to anyone - and not just fruit, but crackers, jams, etc.