So you got invited to a baby shower.
Truth be told, such events make me break into cold sweat. Not that I'm a scrooge. It's just that it's a baby. And I haven't exactly been friends with babies for too long to know what they like. If you are like me, read on and spare yourself from the grudge of a hormonal expectant momma.
Before you start convincing yourself that saying "But the baby IS the gift! Now let's eat!" is acceptable, here are things that you need to remember. For starters, simply put, a baby shower is a gathering of friends and loved ones of the mom-to-be to celebrate her mom-to-be-hood. As the name suggests, during a baby shower, the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts for her and her baby. Gifts include baby gear, of course, but guests can also feel free to share wisdom and experiences on parenthood.
For the rest of us who don't have the latter, forget about the baby bottles and baby blankets. She is likely to receive a good number of those from other guests--or may have even bought for herself already. It will be helpful to know what she needs but doesn't have yet and what the baby's gender is. Of course, don't be a party pooper and just directly ask her what she wants. Let her experience the thrill of a surprise come baby shower day.
Here are some fun baby gear that you can give:
BABY MONITOR
A first-time mom would absolutely love this, as it will allow her to hear whatever her baby is up to when she absolutely cannot be with him/her. Lately, these gadgets have become more sophisticated, with some cool models able to pick up a baby's faintest breath within a range of 600 feet or more, some with sensors that sound an alarm if the baby has not moved in a period of time, and some with video monitors.
BOUNCY SEAT
For reasons unfathomable to humanity, babies love to wiggle and jiggle. When mommy has other stuff to do (or is about to break her arms from wiggling and jiggling all day), a bouncy seat comes to the rescue. This portable baby gear features soft but durable fabric stretched across a metal or plastic frame with straps to ensure safety. Some battery-powered models make a rhythmic and soothing bounce, so the baby remains entertained.
BABY HAIR ACCESSORIES
If it's a baby girl, no mom in her right mind would NOT want to dress her up. The thing with babies is they love the suspense--their hair grows oh, so painfully slow and when it does grow, all a mom gets are thin, wispy, barely-there strands. This shouldn't stop mommy from making her pretty, though. Baby boutiques now carry hair accessories specially designed for babies' thin hair.
Some brands have designed their hair accessories to be non-slip by lining them with high-quality velvet. Now you no longer have to deal with comments from neighbors about how handsome your baby BOY is. Some baby hair accessories are also very lightweight, so your baby barely notices they're on her head and won't try pulling them out.
STARTER LIBRARY
Fancy helping develop a future genius? Then this is the perfect gift to give. Any mom-to-be would love a shelf full of classic children's books. Not only does reading to her child strengthen their bond, giving books also helps the baby begin to appreciate the written word and motivate his/her imagination.
OUT-AND-ABOUT KIT
Any hassled and frazzled parent knows that it's impossible to leave the house without leaving something important behind. Be the superhero and help the new mom avoid such mishaps with an ever-ready outdoor kit. Start with a diaper bag: add a couple of diapers, some wipes, an outfit for the baby, a baby bottle, a pacifier and small toys. Go the extra mile and throw in a shirt for mom an extra set of keys (be sure to return the original set!) Now she's battle-ready.
With a little imagination (and raw ambition to become favorite aunt/uncle), you can easily make one woman's exciting and journey through parenthood even more meaningful.