by Nicole Battles

Created on: February 23, 2010

Have you ever been invited to a baby shower and not known what to get?  Even for the person who has everything for baby, here are some thoughtful and practical ideas for shower gifts that both mom and baby will appreciate.

Diapers
Every baby needs diapers, yet many people do not think about buying them for a shower gift.  The trick about diapers that only experienced moms know about is that each diaper fits each baby differently.  I spent months finding the right diaper for my son, often only using one or two out of a pack.  A great gift, especially for a first time mom, is a diaper sample basket.  Buy one small pack of several different brands so she can use them and decide what will work best.  Even if she has already found a favorite brand, there is nothing like running out of diapers in the middle of the night, and then realizing that there is half of a pack in the bottom of the closet.  Be sure to buy size 1 or 2, as most babies are only in the newborn size for a few weeks.

Savings Bond
I had never thought of getting someone a savings bond until I received one when my son was born.  It is such a great way to start saving for their future and to teach them about money when they get older.  Most savings bonds can be purchased for less than their face value and will earn interest for up to 30 years.  You can usually take the money out after 5 years without penalty.

Books
Books are a great shower gift.  Although the baby is not old enough to understand the words, reading to young children teaches them about speech patterns and can foster a lifelong enjoyment of reading.  Books will also grow with the child.  Soon they will be able to look at the pictures and then read them on their own.  Choose a variety of books, or a set by a favorite author.  Sandra Boynton is a favorite in our house.  Her books are funny and incorporate animals and general learning like sounds, shapes and bedtime.  Board books are great for babies and toddlers because the pages are easy to turn and will not easily rip.

Online Photo Store Gift Certificate
Having a new baby means taking a lot of pictures.  Getting a new mom a gift certificate to an online photo store such as Snapfish.com or Shutterfly.com will allow her to save, print and create memorable items with all of the pictures of her baby.  These sites have hundreds of items at a variety of prices from single prints to calendars and photo books, so no matter what value you select, she is sure to get something great.

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