Ideas For A Baby Gift Basket

							?Are you going to give a baby shower soon? Or have you just been invited to one and
you are not certain what to do? If so, you will be expected to give a present to the
baby to help welcome him or her into the world. This is fine, but a great deal of
individuals, particularly single men, wonder what it is precisely that a baby so
desperately needs.

If you fall into this category or if you would like to take a scatter-gun approach to
giving a gift in the hope that something will be of use, then you should consider
procuring the baby a baby gift basket. You see, a baby gift basket contains a great deal
of small items or big objects or a mixture of the two. Whatever you can come up with
or afford in fact.

There are two ways of getting a baby gift basket. You can either purchase one
taylor-made or you can purchase a basket and pick-and-mix the contents yourself. So,
let us suppose that you are going to avoid duplication and pack your own basket.

First the basket. A traditional wicker basket like the ones they show on toffee tins, in
which a maid is carrying eggs is pretty, but also pretty expensive. You could get a
plastic version, but perhaps the box that the gifts are in is not as significant as the gifts
themselves. You could make your own by lining and wrapping a suitably-sized box
and finishing it with a bow.

The contents. What do babies require? Or are you going to put some things in there
for the parents too? If you are going to add a few items for the parents as well, I will
leave that up to you as you know them better than I do, I should imagine.

What can you get for the baby then? Something instructive is a must; something to
occupy the baby's attention, perhaps like a mobile or a fancy abacus to string across
the pram. How about music? Brahm's Lullaby is excellent, with or without voices, in
German or in English, but get it sung by a choir or a solo, but professionally-trained
singer - not Lady Gaga.

Whilst selecting music remember that by the time the baby can understand the words,
the CD will have been lost, scratched or worn out. Go for peaceful music, classical is
best in this case.

Other items that always come in handy are bibs, teething rings, baby beakers and a
small plate or dish. I do not think it is a good thing to do to get shampoos and soaps, it
is better to let mum buy them or you might be blamed for allergic reactions and
dandruff. However, talcum powder is a pretty safe bet, but do not buy anything
strongly perfumed.

Personalized bedding is a good idea. If you buy a cot blanket, try to get one the same
size as the cot for safety reasons. A lovely touch is to have the baby's monogram or
initials embroidered on it. That does not work well for clothing, because kids grow
out of them, but it is fantastic for quilts and pillow cases.

Buy the bedding and ask (or pay) someone to do the embroidery for you. The child
will grow out of the cot, but the blanket can then be used as a comforter. Embroidered
pillow cases have a similarly long life.

Some people give sweets and biscuits, but personally I am not in favour of helping
someone to rot their teeth, encouraging a sweet tooth or overweight babies. A decent
bottle of wine though is another matter, but you will need to take advice on whether it
will be at its peak in twenty years time. Good Port is a safe bet. Spirits do not mature
in a bottle.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on several topics, but is now involved
with the Satin Baby Blankets. If you want to know more, please visit our website at
Woollen Blankets.