Truly Precious Baby Shower Gifts for Your Closest Friends and Family

One of your dearest friends, your sister, or your daughter/ daughter in law, has just announced she's pregnant! She looks radiant and so happy about the news, and you are positively thrilled for her. You are already looking forward to the time when you will shower the new arrival with cuddly toys and cute baby wear, but what if she gets exactly the same outfit or baby toy during the baby shower? What if your budget is already tight and cannot afford a big expense, or the last time you entered a baby store, Reagan was president?

Here are some ideas that will help you show that special mum- to-be how much you care for her, and the best part is that most of these ideas will make a totally original gift that doesn't cost a truck load of cash.

Clothes for mummy

Most probably by the time Baby is born he will have enough outfits to fill a closet, but everyone seems to forget that by the time Mum reaches her 20^th week, most of her clothes will be so tight that she has to invest a hefty buck in getting a new wardrobe. A great idea is a gift voucher from mum's favorite boutique. The advantage of giving a gift card rather than buying the actual clothes is that the mother can choose what she wants from the store and she can try on the clothes before she purchases.

Those first weeks after childbirth and before Mum starts losing those extra pounds, can be pretty nerve wrecking. The new mum is too small to fit in her pregnancy clothes and too big to get in her old jeans. Getting new clothes will be a big morale booster, because after months wearing maternity pants, anything which looks like normal clothes will feel like haute couture to the new mum.

Rather than stick to your personal tastes, think about the mother's style. Do you usually see her in jeans and tee shirts, or does she opt for a more refined look? Choose a store that caters for her style and try to find out what are her favorite stores before getting the gift voucher.

Very special jewelry

No need to shop at Tiffany or Cartier for this one! Keepsake charm bracelets are cute but not very practical if you are doing house work and mums tend to get bored with them when baby grows up. Elegant lockets that can hold baby's picture or a tiny lock of baby's hair have been around for centuries but with so many fuzzy toys and cute outfits we often forget old favorites. There are specialized stores on line where you will be spoilt for choice.

Prices vary according to the material and the size of the locket so it is up to you to decide how much to splurge on your gift,. The best options are elegant gold or silver lockets that will become a keepsake for years to come.

Memories

Collect pictures from Mum and Dad's childhood and teenage years. If the new mum is a close friend or relative it shouldn't be difficult to obtain the pictures - simply ask Baby's Grandmas to help. The next step is to create a personalized baby book where the first few pages are already filled with the pictures you collected. You can also ask Grandma to write down Mum's favorite lullaby from when she was little and include it in your first pages as well.

Making a one of a kind baby book will be a breeze if you have beginner to average crafting skills. You can embellish or personalize a standard scrapbook using cute wrapping paper with a baby theme for the cover. Pastel colored ribbon, a good supply of baby themed craft accessories and your creativity is all you need to make a special gift that will be leave a mark. Remember to leave plenty of space for the parents to attach mum's pregnancy pictures and her notes.

If you have time and money constraints you can try these simple and budget friendly ideas

Expert advice

If your budget does not allow for gold or silver - try paper. Pregnancy can be a daunting experience for a first time mum and books containing expert advice about pregnancy , childbirth and newborn care are always a welcome help. Again if you are uncertain what to get from the bookstore, you can always give a gift voucher.

Music

Noise machines, CD's with gentle lullabies, and musical toys that can be attached to the crib will be an invaluable gift because soothing music will help a grumpy baby sleep and calm mum's nerves. Trust me if you never had babies you underestimate the importance of a good night's rest! Anything that will get a colicky baby to sleep and let Mum catch her breath will be immensely appreciated.

A frame for baby's ultrasound scans

A cute and inexpensive gift, these frames are a great way to show the new mum how thrilled you are about her pregnancy. Any mother will treasure a frame holding her baby's very first picture and there is so much choice out there that you can go anywhere from the silver engraved frames to the less pricey objects you can find online.

Go beyond the baby shower

Baby showers are a nice way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby but the first months after baby's birth will be hectic. The most appreciated gift you can give is support. You can offer to take the baby's older sibling to the park so mum and baby can rest, or babysit the kids and let the new parents have a fun night out. If you are short on ideas, ask the new mum how you can help. It might be the most inexpensive gift you have ever given someone but it will certainly be one of the most appreciated!