Novel Baby Gift Ideas for the New Mom or Parent to Be

Anyone who has ever shopped for a baby gift - whether aimed at the child itself or to either or both new Mom and Dad - knows how tough it can be to get a present that 15 other people have not already given. Most of us, too, have had to buy for a mom or parents that we don't even know all that well, making a tough purchase that much harder to get right.

That's not to say that traditional baby gifts aren't very much appreciated. Every parent knows all too well that they can never have enough disposal diapers and extra blankets and towels always get used. One too many baby books or silver spoons, however, cry out for store return.

Also, it can be extraordinarily satisfying when you're able to present a gift that is a particularly good value for you as the giver while also being something the recipient(s) will truly appreciate. Add to this the delightful buzz you get when you give something the recipients brags about for months to come, and it can become worth your time to invest some creativity into the process.

But before you buy anything, it helps if you can determine if there is anything the recipient really needs. All too often, many expectant parents do a large amount of shopping - or getting hand-me-downs from family and friends - but they may arrive at the delivery room realizing they have no baby bottles or formula or even the all-vital crib or carseat. Always try to go for parental need over almost any other type of gift.

Once you discover they're fairly well set for necessities, stop and think about what you do know about the expectant mom or parents. A gift that the dad can enjoy equally with the mom is a big plus; men frequently get forgotten at baby gifting time even though they're essential to the process.

Consider some of these ideas for unique, incredibly useful, and/or much appreciated baby gift offerings, grouped by expense categories that include budget, moderate and higher end. But don't forget that you can afford a more expensive gift if you get a few people also planning to buy a gift to go in together with you. It's a great way to get something nicer without breaking your bank account and eliminating the problem for several gift givers at once.

Budget:

A special ornament for the child's first Christmas or other holiday

Combine a smaller practical gift like baby bottles or a blanket with one or two prepared meals to help the new parents get through the first hectic week with the newborn

Start a tree or plant in advance and then, when large enough, place in a nice pot to give the new parents with a little poem or salutation that emphasizes the new life of your gift as well as their child

Put together a keepsake box you decorate or appoint yourself that you can start for the new parents before you present it; a crafts store will have just about everything you need

Buy copies of newspapers or visit the newspapers online and then print a copy of some of the biggest news stories on the day the child is born. Once you have them, assemble the clippings into a scrapbook with the birth date and name of the child listed on the front

Put together a book or portfolio of pictures that document the months before the baby arrives which can become a great keepsake for both parents and the child

RedEnvelope.com and several other shops offer different versions of a baby care kit which includes a comb, a tiny brush, medicine spoon, teether, and other much-needed accessories that new parents don't always have when the child first comes home; for a little bit more, you can usually put one of these kits together yourself, personalized for the specific needs of the parents and child

Use your computer and printer and desktop publishing software to create an artsy or cute booklet of coupons for "services" the new mom or parents can redeem. Here are some suggestions for coupons:
-Three or four coupons for an evening or weekend day of babysitting
- Volunteer to grocery shop or pick up the dry cleaning
- Offer a home made dinner or a drop-off breakfast or lunch
- Offer to return unwanted baby gifts and/or help with thank you notes
- If the new family has not finished their baby room, volunteer to paint or wallpaper or wax the floors
- Offer a morning of house cleaning, rug shampooing, or garage organizing
- Volunteer to groom the family dog when the pet gets a little too dirty to be around the baby

Moderate:

A book store gift certificate (new parents often want to buy books or tapes to learn more about parenting)

A tree or plant or stepping stone that can be placed in the garden or elsewhere in the yard to commemorate the new addition to the family

An assortment of pillows suitable for use with a baby to protect them on a bed or keep them in one place on the floor

A duo or trio of beautiful picture frames that would be great to use with some of the baby pictures; you can find some great buys in used furniture shops that can clean up well

A roomy lap blanket that Mom, Dad and Baby can use as they curl up on the sofa together

A basket of easy to prepare foodstuffs and snacks to help the parents out when they can't get dinner because the baby is fussing

Buy a great carry-all that you fill with great take-along items like baby wipes, diapers, baby lotion, energy snack bars for the parents, and more

Higher End:

A week of prepared, possibly frozen meals that can be reheated

A basket of high energy snacks

A gift certificate for a professional photography session for a baby portrait

Prepaid cell phone for the new parent without one

A super easy digital camera they can dedicate to baby pictures

Scour used furniture shops for a decent rocking chair that can be cleaned up into a beautiful, vintage gift

A gift certificate for an hour of massage, a session at a day spa, or a nice dinner out