We've all been there, baby showers and welcome home parties splattered in shades of lovely pink and baby-boy blue. Watching a new mother open her gifts, attendees "oh" and "aw" over the multitude of blankies and binkies galore. While everything is deliciously cute, many gifts are duplicated and some are downright impractical.

Next time you are scratching your head, unable to come up with a unique and fresh gift idea, trying taking some inspiration from this list:

BATTERY CHARGER/RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
Aside from being "green", these items will come in handy right away and for years to come. Mom and Dad will be relieved from the headache of hunting down good batteries or replacing them in all of those high-tech toys and cameras too. Be sure to select a charger that will work with more than one type of battery and size.

MEMORY CARD
If you know what type of camera the new parents own, why not give them a memory card? It is predictable that they will snap hundreds of shots in those early months, so having an additional card or two will come quite in handy. These items are available at a variety of memory capacities and price points. Throw in some blank, recordable data CD's as well; this way they can transfer their photos from the cards while keeping them off of their computer hard drives.

* This idea also translates to any video-recording equipment they own. Look for one or two new cassettes, or purchase a gift card from their favorite electronics store.

PORTRAIT PACKAGE
Select a reputable studio and one that specializes in family portraits. These studios allot more time to families with small children and infants. They also have the experience to select flattering poses that are age appropriate for little ones.

GIFT CARDS/CERTIFICATES
Some may consider gift cards lacking in the personal touch. But let's name the benefits: they allow the recipient to hand-select anything they desired but didn't receive. They permit the mom to "buy later" - for example, new baby clothes/socks when all of the newborn items have been outgrown. Most notably, they eliminate the hassle of returning gifts that are often given without receipts.

* Be creative. A gift card to cover baby supplies is obvious and certainly useful. Here are some other ideas that would be equally appreciated: grocery store, video rental, movie theater (include a handmade coupon with an offer to baby-sit), restaurant (select one that offers home delivery or pick-up), salon/spa

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