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.

 

Dealing with morning sickness - 23 natural ways to fight the nausea.

Morning sickness during pregnancy is largely caused by hormonal changes, however vitamin deficiency, low blood sugar, strong smells, foul odours, lack of exercise, fatigue, stress, constipation, anxiety and worry all add to it as well. Feeling sick is more common with your first pregnancy, if it’s a girl, or if you're carrying multiple babies. It usually turns up at around 6 weeks and lasts until around 12-14 weeks for most people, although some have it start earlier and feel sick right through to labour.

 

Some of the remedies below will help immediately, others help work on possible underlying causes. If you really can't keep food down see your doctor, some mothers get a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum and need to be hospitalised and given IV fluids to re-hydrate.
 

1. Increase B-complex vitamins and iron intake. Vitamin B-6, taken as 25 mg every 8 hours, has been shown to have a significant effect in reducing or stopping nausea and vomiting.

2. Take zinc supplements, 25 mg per day

 

3. Sip on some raspberry leaf, peppermint, or anise tea.

4. Massage your belly with Iti Baby's Mummy Morning Oil - the fresh scent of peppermint and Orange can help quell the nausea.

5. GINGER - Cut or grate some ginger root and pour hot water over it, then drink as a tea. or take ginger root in capsule form. Drink flat, room temperature ginger beer or ginger ale. Chew on crystallised ginger. Eat some ginger chews.

6. Take homoeopathic tablets: Nux vomica 6X or ipecac 30x.

7. Eat a protein-rich snack, especially right before bed.

8. Go for a walk or enjoy some mild exercise to relieve hormonal activity.

9. Keep a box of crackers by your bed and eat a few before getting out of bed in the morning.

10. Avoid spicy, fried, rich, fatty, and greasy foods. Also avoid any caffeine or artificial sweeteners.

 

11. Get outside and get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

12. Suck on 1 drop of peppermint oil on a sugar cube. (Or drop the entire sugar/oil concoction into your tea.)

 

13. Wear motion sickness wrist bands like these.

14. Get some Rescue Remedy. 

15. Eat 5 to 6 small, frequent meals every few hours throughout the day. Make sure to have a balance of carbohydrates and protein to maintain blood sugar. Try not to eat too much at a time, but also avoid an empty stomach. 

16. Suck on lemon drops.

17. Drink brewer's yeast and tomato juice with lemon.

18. NAP! Being over tired makes morning sickness worse.

19. Drink ice cold lemonade.

20. Get acupuncture or acupressure treatments.

21. Chew on fennel seeds.

22. Stay hydrated. If water won't stay down, try frozen natural juice Popsicles, frozen grapes or simple ice chips.

23. Avoid anything that could potentially raise your oestrogen higher - reusing plastic drink bottles, using plastic in the microwave, farmed fish or any animal fed soy products, Soy products.

If you are finding the nausea overwhelming talk with your health care professional, there are some antiemetics that are considered safe during pregnancy if they are really required.