I have had lots of friends and family ask me for my advice on gifts to get new expecting parents as the amount of baby stuff and lists out there can be a little overwhelming. I thought I would provide a list of some unusual but totally practical gifts I found incredibly useful these last 8 months with Luke that you wouldn't typically find on a baby registry.
In no particular order:
1.
Sophie the Giraffe - I initially didn't get all the hype behind this soft teething toy and thought it was a bit overpriced for chewy rubber, that is until it became Luke's favorite teething toy. I don't know what it is about this gal, but everyone has her, and babies love it.
2.
White noise machine - Many phones have a sleep app that has a fan noise or other soft sounds which work well when traveling with a baby or when away from home, but I have found this machine to be a sleep miracle and with a small house, it's nice to not have to tiptoe down the hallway or worry about the dogs occasionally barking and the baby waking up startled.
3.
Snot Sucker Upper - They say on average babies get 6-8 colds their first year. When Luke got his first cold, I tired relentlessly to suck out the snot using the standard bulb they give you at the hospital, but I could never get it all out. Enter the Nosefrida, a little Swedish gem which you gently push to the outside of the babies nose and literally suck out the snot with your mouth. It sounds totally gross, but it's completely sanitary and there's a filter that prevents the snot from traveling up the tube into your mouth, which scared the crap out of me the first time I used it.
4.
Baby Wrap Carrier - There are tons of different brands, colors, and styles to choose from, but the concept is pretty much the same. The nice thing about the wrap over the BabyBjorn or bulkier carriers is that it allows the baby to hear your heartbeat, spreads the weight evenly and swaddles the baby to your body. This was great for making trips to the grocery store, walking the dogs or helping Luke go to sleep if he got really fussy.
5.
BabyBjorn Soft Bib - The key to this bib is the deep pocket that catches all food droppings. I used this bib for the first 2-3 weeks when Luke started eating solids (as seen
here) and it was so much cleaner than using cloth bibs and is easy to wipe down after each meal.
7.
Car Mirror - I went all of 3 trips without this mirror until I realized every time the baby cried in the car, I would panic and pull over so I could see why he was upset. The mirror allows you to see the baby by peering safely into your rear view mirror, and find a fallen paci or toy in a few seconds and continue on your way.
8.
Hooter Hider - This simple but great invention is perfect for new Mom's that don't want to stay at home all day but want to be able to breastfeed on the go. It allows you to see your baby down the front , but keeps strangers from staring at your boobs.
9.
Pop Up Bins - Babies come with lot of stuff and all that stuff needs a home. I received similar bins as a baby shower gift from the Company Store, monogrammed with Luke's name, and they are perfect for storing Luke's toys and stuffed animals, acting as laundry bin, and easy for throwing Luke's clothing/diapers/toys in for short weekend getaways.
10.
Hallmark Recordable Storybooks - These are great gift ideas with a personal touch. You record your voice reading the story page by page and it saves forever. I received a book from my dad, step-mom and brother reading All The Ways I Love You and it gets me choked up every time.
Lastly, Gift Cards - When in doubt, gift cards are great. Target is a new moms home away from home, but a few other fun options are shutterfly or another photo site for all those baby pictures, birth announcements etc, a gift certificate for a mani/pedi or a great restaurant that delivers.
I hope this helps give some fun and unique options for those of you shopping for new parents and feel free to add a comment with any other unique but useful gift ideas.
