by Shari Mead

Created on: July 13, 2007

Finding a gift for a newborn with so much choice around can be hard. I remember getting a lot of newborn clothes, blankets and other gifts that only lasted a short time. These gifts were often expensive and more often than not things that I already had so many of which I didn't want to disappoint any one by not using their gifts.

So when I had my second baby I wrote a list of ideas that people could buy for the baby. All the things on the list were useful things that I used every day and I really needed which made a big difference, no ones gift didn't get used. When my sister In-law had her baby I had a great idea which I have now used several times and every time it has been a great gift.

I buy an inexpensive basket and over the nine months of the pregnancy I buy a different item every week or when I have a little extra cash to put into the basket.
It could be a bottle of lotion, breastpads for the mum, drinking bottle or even a special cup for when the baby is older. All the things in the basket are useful and inexpensive and it is easy. It all ways makes a great gift and you can cover a wide range of products.

Here are some ideas from my latest basket: small bottle of baby powder{great for the nappy bag}, baby wipes in travel sized packet, shampoo, bath gel, baby oil, baby lotion, feeding bottle, bibs, containers and spoons{travel or outings}, socks, teething gel, wash clothes, baby soap, rattle, nappy rash cream, nipple cream for mum, pacifier, chocolates for mum, story book, extra nipples{teats}for the bottle, facial pack for mum and there is so much more you could put into your basket. You can make it as personal as you wish depending on how well you know the new mum.

Also for the crafty people out there why not make your gift it gives your gift that little bit extra because the new mum knows that you have put time and effort in to the gift. I was given a scrapbook covered in material and it had a window on the front for a photo of the baby, inside the blank pages where great for sticking the cards that I received and as my babies grew I would reserved a page so they could draw their first picture or each year I would put their feet in paint and place them on a page so I had a record of how much their feet had grown. It was a simple gift that now we sit and look through and talk about the cards and how old they were when they received them, who they were from and I usually wrote under the card what the gift was that came from the person.

Another idea that I

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