Stand Out In A Sea of Onesies With These Great Baby Gift Ideas

Beneath the rattle-shaped cake, stork-covered tablecloths, and piles of pastel pink and baby blue lies the true raison d'etre of the baby shower...

Mommy needs gifts that she'll, you know, USE.

Socks in a variety of patterns are always appreciated but why not be a little more original? Consult this list next time you've got a shower to attend and your gift is sure to be a hit.

A Mini Library
A small collection of classic children's books is both a thoughtful and practical gift. To make each book a keepsake, write a personalized inscription on the inside covers. Love You Forever (Robert Munsch), The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter), Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak), and the Dr. Seuss collection are a handful of much-beloved titles you may want to include.

A Classy Diaper Bag
This portable toolkit quickly becomes a staple in the day-to-day life of new parents. Forget flowery prints or pastel colours; make sure the new mama will be traveling in style. Pinky and Company and Cheeky Monkey offer a great selection of functional, fashion-forward diaper bags and other baby accessories on their websites.

A Personalized Coupon Book
Remember being a kid and giving your parents handmade coupon books for chores like washing the car and babysitting your little brother? A grown-up version is a perfect gift for a new mom. Create coupons for things such as a few hours of babysitting, a girl's night out, or meal delivery for when the new parents are too tired. Dress it up with pretty paper, coloured ink, and ribbons.

A Bathtime Kit
This cute gift will get extra points for its usefulness. Buy a plastic baby tub and fill it with baby shampoo, a washcloth, a fleecy hooded towel, and a fun bath toy. Wrap it in cellophane and tie with curled ribbon. Voila.

A Vibrating, Rocking Glider
Available in a variety of styles, this gift is comforting for both baby and parents. When babies are fussy or resisting sleep, the vibration or rocking motion of the chair will calm the baby into slumber. Fisher Price's Soothing Motion Glider is a best-seller.

Jaclyn Tersigni
		About the author:
		Jaclyn is a 20-something journalism student at Ryerson University. She traded suburbia for the big city two years ago and enjoys navigating life as a single woman in Toronto. She’s a burgeoning foodie, a borderline music snob, a news junkie, and constant explorer of the world.
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