Baby Shower Gift Ideas

As a last post in this series - Baby Showers. What do you buy that won't just get popped in the trash?

1. Cloth Nappies. Modern Cloth Nappies (diapers) are becoming hugely popular, which is wonderful for our environment as well as much healthier for baby bums. But it can also be a huge investment to get started. Receiving a couple quality covers or package of prefolds is a huge help.
2. Baby Soap/ Nappy creams. Try and buy local and natural. A good quality product is worth it's weight in gold.
3. Restaurant gift cards. Some days it’s just a juggling act and to have dinner taken care of is a complete relief. Grocery store gift cards and coffee shop gift cards are also very nice to receive.
4. Spa Packages. Being a parent of a new baby is pretty exhausting. Most days are considered a success if everyone got fed and mom got a shower. Giving a massage, hair appointment or facial/manicure/pedicure are all great gifts that celebrate the mum.   
5. White Noise maker. For first time parents, it’s nice to have baby used to noise while sleeping, so parents can vacuum, have the doorbell ring or talk on the phone while baby is napping and not worry about waking baby. It’s also great for the baby with older siblings, so baby can nap and the siblings can play.
6. Baby Proofing. Plug outlet covers are great, or a baby gate.
7. Camera. If you know the parents well and know what their camera situation is, this is an excellent idea.  Having a nice camera makes a big difference in picture quality.
8. Photo Session. There are many wonderfully creative photographers these days, and having sweet pictures of your family is really special.
9. Pamper with Smells. Gift an essential oil diffuser and a bottle of essential oil. 
10. Blankets. Just to warn you, most babies get a lot of blankets. But a good quality swaddle can be a life saver- these swaddling blankets are fantastic.
11. Books. It’s never too early for books.
12. Clothes. Ok, I’m going to be honest here: people love baby clothes and love buying baby clothes. The issue is that most of the clothes they give baby, just aren’t practical. I always had plenty of dresses for my daughter and cute sweater vest outfits for my sons, but what I really needed were some basics: Sleepers, bodysuits, pants, socks, a jacket and wool tie-on hat. Think ahead about what size you buy for what season, a summer baby won't want a summer dress in size 6 months!
13. Meals. Dinners are great, but if the family has a good support network and is receiving meals, how about some easy breakfast and lunches? Yogurt parfaits, granola, artisan bread, butter and jam or bagels and cream cheese are lovely gifts. 
14. Doula Service. If mom hasn’t given birth yet, doulas are amazing to have with you, Dad’s particularly love this gift. An experienced doula will help set the new parents mind at ease, and assist any support people in helping mom the best way possible.
15. A voucher for a cleaner for the first few weeks. Getting out of bed is hard enough in the first few weeks, knowing that someone will come in and vaacume and clean the toilet can be a big relief.
16. Offer to babysit the older kids. A day at the park or the museum so mum and baby can just sleep. 
17. A older sibling bag of goodies. simple activities and books/puzzles to keep the older ones occupied while mum tends to the baby.

 

Interesting Gifts for Adults

How hard is it to buy for that adult in your life that HAS EVERYTHING?! Here are some different ideas that won't just sit around and gather dust!

1. Gift cards. For some this may be too impersonal, but it is a great way to support local sales, rather than the big multi-national companies. Suggestions: Local Farmers market, local coffee roaster, restaurants.
2. Get creative. Make pillow cases with fabric that resembles their interests. Knit or crochet wash clothes for their kitchen or nice wool socks.
3. Give color coded towel sets. Using their favorite color or monogram each person’s towel. Make sure you buy quality, thick, large towels.
4. Events. Tickets to a play, concert, dance or sports event, yearly membership to a zoo, museum, children’s museum, science center.
5. Natural skincare. Find a local supplier of handcrafted items.
6. Food items. Homemade is coveted by many. Homemade jams, jellies, quick breads, cookies, candy and jerky are great. For the real food friends: Peanut Butter Bites, Sprouted Lentils in a jar, dehydrated fruits and veggies make a beautiful gift. Who wouldn’t love a jar of dehydrated chili peppers? An excellent coffee or wine is enjoyable if you don’t have time to spend in the kitchen, many times you can find local options.
7. Lessons. Often times people are interested in learning a musical instrument, dance or taking a photography, art or quilting class, but don’t splurge on themselves.   
8. Give a gift of love. Safe drinking water, animals, food, medical care, etc. for those in need around the world. Compassion, World Vision and Samaritan’s Purse are great organizations and have many gift options.
9. Service. A gift certificate for car-detailing, manicure & pedicure or a message. An AA membership.
10. Magazine subscriptions. There are many many choices - find one to fit with their interests.
11. Give time. Homemade gift certificates for a coffee date, game of checkers, babysitting or a walk through a park.
12. Joint activities. Give a cookbook and ingredients for a dinner. Set a date to cook together. This works for adults as well as children.
13. Give a family photo or family portrait session. Most grandparents just want an updated family photo, perhaps one from each family, or photography session over the holidays when all the extended family is together and a group photo can be captured. A calendar made with special photos of family members is wonderful as well.
14. Heirloom seed packs are great for the avid gardener or an essential oil starter kit for those interested in natural healing.  

 

Interesting gift ideas for toddlers

Following on from my last post, here are some ideas for gifts for toddlers. Toddlers have shorter attention spans and endless bounds of energy. Take advantage of these and tailor your choices to the individual child.

 

1. Puzzles. I’ve always been surprised at how early little ones understand puzzles and really enjoy them. Keep them simple - try wooden ones as they will withstand the not-quite-so-fine motor skills of a little one.
2. Books. It’s never too early for books. Did you know that reading to babies and toddlers changes the way their brains develop?
3. Photo Album. Little ones love looking at picture of family members and of themselves doing things or at special places. You could go on an adventure and take photos during the day and turn it into their very own story book.
4. Good Quality skincare or novelty soaps. Try and find locally made, handcrafted items. 
5. Pajamas. Kids love pajamas - mine will spend all day in them so days!
6.  Lessons and Classes. Swim lessons, dance, gymnastics are all great ideas and benefit little ones.
7. Sprinklers. Some good old fashion fun right there!
8. Bird Feeder and Seed. Having a bird feeder outside a winder is very entertaining for kids to watch and helps get them interested in wildlife.
9.  Memberships. Children’s Museums, the zoo  or family gyms are all wonderful.
10. Artwork Picture Frame. Displaying our children’s artwork is important and also very fun. But the fridge tends to get filled up and parents at times feel guilty for throwing anything away. 
11. Towel Set. My kids love their hooded towels - they have a variety of animals and princess ones.
12. Waterproof swimming bag. And maybe a trip to the pool or beach to go with it!
13. Math Counters in a small bucket/bag. Stack colors together,  make patterns, practice adding and subtracting.
14. Savings Account or Stocks. Setting money aside each birthday or holiday may not be very exciting for these little people right now, but when they turn 18 and realize the amazing start they have in life, it will be a huge blessing. You can give a small token gift that they can open and enjoy on their special day, but put the majority of the gift into a savings program.
15. Music. Kids love music! Some great kid-geared artists are: Raffi, Tom Chaplin, Sandra Boynton.
16. Sleeping Bag/portable bed. Having their own sleeping bag can make little ones pretty excited about sleepovers, trips or camping out family nights.
17. Piggy Bank and Coins. This may take some supervision, but all the little people I know absolutely love putting coins into their piggy banks!
18. Play Silk scarves. These can be used as capes for super heros, skirts, dresses, wraps to carry their baby dolls, over chairs and couches to make a fort, the possibilities are endless.

 

Gift Ideas For Children

So it has been quite some time since my last blog post. 14 weeks of feeling like sleeping and spewing kind of puts one off writing (or doing anything for that matter!). We are now 20 weeks into a third healthy pregnancy and feel very blessed for this.

Many parents spend this time of year working out what they will be getting for their children at Christmas, and working out a budget to suit. Below are so low/no plastic, high positive memory ideas for both Christmas and Birthday ideas:

1. Memberships. Zoo, science museum, children’s museum, etc. These are particularly great for family gifts! Many young families want to enjoy day outings, but affording them can be a challenge, so give them the gift of a yearly membership.
2. Subscriptions. Kids enjoy getting things in the mail. Why not encourage their reading by getting them a magazine subscription for something they are interested in!
3. Events. Movie tickets, tickets to a play, concert or sports event are really exciting! Having an event to look forward to makes the rest of life more enjoyable.
4. Activities. Mini golf, bowling, skating rink. These are so much fun! And a big part of the fun is going together. Children love spending time with the adults in their lives, they want to see you enjoying your time as well as enjoying them.
5. Classes. Music, dance, riding, drawing, classes are a great way to encourage children in their interests and let them know that you pay attention to them and what they enjoy.
6. Recipe and Ingredients. Kids love cooking with their parents. Baking something special or cooking dinner is an ideal time to spend together and learn life skills. Print out a recipe, purchase all the ingredients and set a date for cooking together. Or do a cookie in a jar gift.
7. Crafting Date. Our daughter loves making crafts. I do to, I really do enjoy the creative aspect. But I rarely take time out to do it with her. These crafting dates mean the world to our creative little girl. Keep a basket of craft supplies and get out a book for inspiration.
8. Arts and Craft supplies. If your craft box is running low, stock up a little on things you need. Add in something fun the kids haven’t used before. A gift of art and craft supplies often brings on the imagination and kids can’t wait to get to work!
9. Coupons. An envelope of coupons that they can “spend” at any time: I’ll do one chore- no questions asked, movie and popcorn night, you pick the movie!, 1:1 game of cards or basketball (whatever the child’s interest is in), sit and read a book with me, Stay up 1/2 hour past bedtime
10. Restaurant Gift Card. Dinner, ice cream, coffee, cupcake- whatever suits their fancy! Give them the freedom of inviting whoever they wish: it may be mom or dad, it may be a grandparent, aunt or even teacher that they would like to spend more time with.
11. Dress Up Clothes. These do need to be limited, but  2 dresses and couple play scarves can get hours and hours of play!
12. Calendar. Many children like to know what is going on, what day it is, how many days until ____. They can write down their own classes, appointments, play dates, etc. And if they ask you, send them to their calendar so they can get used to being in control of their own schedule. You can even schedule “spontaneous days”, so they know that something different will happen that day. Trust me, it will help them enjoy the spontaneous outings!
13. Books. We get a lot of books from the library, but there are some that I just can’t find there, or it takes us longer to read through.
14. Clothes. When kids only have a certain amount of clothes, they often enjoy getting clothes. Make it a point to get something that fits their style. That may mean western clothes, super-hero, fancy dresses, etc.
15. Snacks. If your child is a foodie, they will love this! Some homemade granola or cookies made just for them, is a special treat!
16. Outdoor Supplies. If you are an outdoorsy family, giving kids their own fishing tackle or gardening equipment can be a big deal. It’s also something that gets left on the shelf in the garage, so you always know right where to find it.
17. Telling Time. The average child these days doesn’t know how to read analog, or finds it takes too long to think about it, so they search for a digital watch. Getting them a cool watch makes them want to be able to tell time on it.
18. Games and Puzzles. Games and puzzles are great activities for when kids have to be indoors. It’s a good practice to have individual quiet times during the day, and having a puzzle to sit and work on by themselves helps brain development and problem solving skills.

 

 

 

What makes a good baby swaddle?

 

Choosing swaddle for yourself or a loved one's baby can be a daunting task! We have looked at the 3 main types of wrap, weighing up the good and the bad points of each. First things first: What is swaddling? Swaddling a baby is simply wrapping them firmly in some sort of cloth to help aide sleep. Babies under 3 months sleep better swaddled, and many prefer to be swaddled much later than this. Swaddling increases the length of sleep, makes it easier to get baby to sleep and can reduce the symptoms of colic. So getting it right may make your sleepy times much easier.  There are so many different styles of swaddle available to choose from and they fall in to three main categories:

A simple flat blanket:

http://www.itibaby.co.nz/

Wings and a pocket for the feet:

http://www.miracleblanket.com/index.htm

or one that zips up the front/acts like an all in one suit:

 

http://www.ergopouch.com.au/swaddles/aircocoon-swaddle.html

There are good and bad points for all of these choices, and you need to think what works best for you and your situation.

A simple flat blanket

With a simple flat blanket there are endless ways to swaddle, a simple Youtube search will bring up many tutorials. These can get confusing and can be difficult to execute quickly and efficiently when they are required. They do need some practise to master - I recommend practising on a baby sized doll until you are confident. See the Iti Baby website for 2 methods that I recommend trying. There are some ways of folding that means their top half can stay swaddled while you change their nappies, other folds will have to be totally re-done each nappy change.
Flat swaddles come in a range of sizes and fabrics. You need a natural fabric with a good diagonal stretch, that is not too thick and can breathe when baby gets hot - ideal fabrics are merino, bamboo and cotton. Square swaddles are much easier to use than rectangle ones. In regards to size - I would not recommend any swaddle under 95cm square for a baby under 12 weeks. After 10-12 weeks babies need a wrap over 120cm square Any swaddle under these sizes are pretty useless to wrap with and you will get frustrated, and baby will escape. A larger swaddle can be used right from birth - making it a great investment. A merino swaddle can then be used as a great cot, TV, or travel blanket. 

Side note: Please do not use polar fleece to swaddle - babies overheat and are at greater risk of SIDS.

A swaddle with wings and feet pouches

These are great for Houdini babies, you strap their arms down and swaddle around them. Many people swear by them. However the aren't so helpful for babies who like their hands across their chest or near their mouths to self soothe. You need to be aware that babies will grow out of these - always check that baby has plenty of foot room. Many of these style swaddles you can change a nappy without removing the whole swaddle. These come in a range of fabrics, but are usually made from either merino or cotton knit - both of which are natural breathable fibres.

All-in-one swaddles

Similar in concept to the above swaddle, but they allow baby to have their hands up by their chest or face depending on the brand. They are nice and quick to put on, with no tricky manoeuvres to master. Again they have a size limit - you may think they are a cheaper option, until you find you need to buy several different sizes. These are very Houdini proof, but some babies find they allow too much movement to settle easily - defeating the purpose of swaddling altogether.

Many babies enjoy being swaddled well into the second half of their first year, some continue to sleep better swaddled over one year of age, so which swaddle you choose may be with you for a while - choose quality. A good quality wrap will last several children. Whichever choice you make, you need to make sure that baby can relax into a hip-healthy position when asleep.

Please remember: It is important that baby's face is kept clear at all times, and that a swaddled baby always sleeps on their back!

 

I hope this make swaddle choosing a little easier.

 

 

The meaning of life

 

I was reading one of my favourite blogs today and came across this quote (see original post here). It resonated with me all the way to my core. How true is it that we spend our lives wanting bigger and better things, more of this, fancier that. While managing to ignore or get annoyed at the most amazing simple little things in life. How many times do I brush off the kids because I'm busy right now? How often do I sit on the couch (or the floor) instead of being out enjoying the wonderful sunshine on bare feet before it goes and hides for the winter?
I guess the message today is simple. Take stock, what do you reaaaaallly want to be doing right now? Maybe you should just get up and do it. Sit and play with your kids, walk or sit in the sunshine, visit a friend, read a book just because you want to. Enjoy the week that is coming, find the good bits that are happening around you and relish in them. Live in the now, it really is all we have.

Perfectly Pink Princess Party

My eldest 'baby' turned 5 last weekend. As a girly girly girl she of course wanted a pink princess party. How I managed to get two girly girls, I will never know! I have learnt to embrace the pink and the frills and the dancing and to go with it. Here is a summary of her big day:

Pink, Pink and more Pink (and white, and gold)

 

I find parties much easier to plan for with a colour theme, pick one or two colours and go for it. This year miss princess wanted pink, white and gold. Easter eggs in a glass preserving jar added a little sparkle.

 

Cupcakes!

 

 

My best friend is awesome at bringing a plate to add to the offerings, it makes for one less thing that I have to make. This year it was a plate of mini cupcakes. She makes the most delicious cupcakes! We added a few mini white chocolate crowns and some silver balls and it became a plate to serve a princess.

 

Personalised Cookies

 



 

I love icing cookies! This is a simple sugar biscuit made a few days ahead of time, iced with royal icing.

 

Jelly Time

 



 

What is a party without jelly? I made a double batch, with 1/2 a cup less water and set it in a lined cake tin, then its not too tricky to cut into squares and sprinkle with sparkles.

 

Princess Tiara Cake

 



 

I love making cakes, the white chocolate crown was fun to make, however it was pretty scary trying to get it off the baking paper! The bottom is iced with marshmallow fondant, much tastier than bought fondant, and quite a bit cheaper to make! I used Pascal marshmallows, they made nice soft icing.

 

Pink Roses, Pink Juice, Pink Everthing

 



 

The girls got a little tiara each on their plates to take home. The plastic roses were a warehouse bargain and the little milk bottles I got from a glass wholesaler.

 

 

We played a simple round of pass the parcel (known in our house as "castle-castle" thanks to miss 3's  mis-interpretation of the words) and a hunt-for-the-chocolate bars in the garden. Other than that the kids just played in the lounge. This was also the first time we have held a party over lunchtime (11-1). It was great, they were all gone by 1.30 and I wasn't up until midnight cleaning and tidying up, and we got to spend the afternoon playing with her new toys. Miss 5 really enjoyed her party, in fact her exact words were "that was my best day EVER!" I encourage you to go out of your comfort zone with parties, try something you have never tried before, you only get each party once, make it memorable.

20 Great Baby Shower Gifts that make life Easier

 

 

Baby showers are a lot of fun. It is an exciting time that friends and family get together to celebrate the beautiful new life that will be earth-side soon.
The biggest problem I always have is finding a good gift! Below are some of the newest and ingenious baby and parenting products I have found. The wonders of Internet shopping is you are not limited to what you can buy locally. Many of these products are, however, NZ designed and NZ made.

1) A swaddle or wrap (or two)

 

www.itibaby.co.nz

Get a large sized one, made of all natural fabrics - merino, cotton or bamboo. Get one with stretch, and anything under 95cm square is pretty well useless for swaddling properly, so save mummy some frustration and get her a goody!

2) Contour Burp Cloths

 

http://www.kiwiindustries.com/proddetail.php?prod=B_BPDPTDS

Fashion need not be ruined by streams of baby spew down a new mummy's back, get her one of these contoured burp cloths.

3) Kai Carrier


 

http://www.kaicarrier.co.nz/shop.html#!/~/product/category=0&id=27711960


The innovative multi-use reusable Kiwi food pouch, Kai Carriers are fun and environmentally friendly!

4) Sippy Strap with Suction Cup

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/102789007/bottle-tether-toy-tether-sippy-strap

 

All kids go through the "throw it all on the floor" stage at one point or another, this will save a mothers floor, her sippy cups and her sanity!

 5) Hold Me Close Nursing Scarf

http://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/130048641/ready-to-ship-hold-me-close-nursing

 

Super fashionable and very handy to have when a new mum is out and about! It will make her confident to feed anywhere.

 

6) The Baby Shusher

 

http://www.babyshusher.com/index.php/products/baby-shusher.html



Safely calms the baby down with a rhythmic “shushing” sound, for the times she just can't go "SHHHH" any more!

7) Gentle Battery-Operated Nail Trimmer

http://www.hipbabygear.com/Buzz-B-battery-operated-nail-trimmer-by-ZoLi_p_1702.html

 It safely trims nails with a gentle yet effective oscillating action. The cushioned pads are specially designed for baby's nails so it won't harm surrounding skin.


8) A Sibling Ride-a-Long Board

 

http://www.hipbabygear.com/Stokke-Xplory-Rider-Sibling-Board_p_1118.html

This handy gadget attaches to the axle of your pushchair and allows an older kid to jump on for a ride when their legs inevitably get tired.

9) On-the-Go Changing Mat

 

http://www.quirky.com/products/141-toob-baby-changing-station/timeline

Handy and portable for when you are out and about, protecting the baby from the floor, and the floor from baby!

10) The Safe Sippy

 

http://www.mumiandbubi.co.nz/safesippy2.htm

Invented by a kiwi mum, the BEST drink bottle we have ever bought! You can even buy spare parts.

11) Solids starter Kit

 

http://www.mumiandbubi.co.nz/solidsstarterkit.htm

Help the mum-to-be save hundreds of dollars by making her own baby food!

12)The Travelling Crib

 

http://travelheroes.no/b2c_no/Servlet?page=11&parent=sD117&sort=10&anr=RO855000

Sheer genius! Unfortunately its European, so shipping will be extravagant!

13) Good Quality bibs

 

http://www.littlekiwis.co.nz/#!bibs/c1gim

Good quality bibs will last and last. They need to be large, thick and well constructed!

14) Reusable breast pads

 

http://www.breastmates.co.nz/shop-management/products/h/breastmates-breast-pads-(multipack).aspx?cat=8900

Whether mum to be plans to breastfeed or not, these will come in very handy for those leaky days.

15) Clip-on Cami

 

http://www.breastmates.co.nz/shop-management/products/f/clip-on-cami-(colours).aspx?cat=8925

Turn any maternity bra into a feeding singlet. Great idea!

16) A ring sling or moby carrier

 

http://kiwibabyshop.com/products/easycare-wrap-conversion-ring-sling-with-sbp-shoulder

For the unsettled baby nothing works better than a sling or wrap carrier! Buy quality and it will last for many children.

17) Felted Soap

http://www.itibaby.co.nz/#!felted-soap/c1fdg

What better gift is there than an infant soap and cloth all in one!

18) Baby Kauri Teething Peg

 

http://www.cleverbastards.co.nz/the-store/kids/baby-kauri-teething-peg/36940

A NZ made keepsake handcrafted & a comfort for teething times to soothe sore gums.

19) A Personal Assistant kit

http://www.littleandsorted.co.nz/our-kits/

A handy little kit of everything that you can keep in your purse or car for those moments you wish you had a ....


20) An Iti Baby Giftbox

 

www.itibaby.co.nz

For those times you really can't decide, Iti Baby has you covered - quality products, great price and beautifully gift wrapped.