Parenting & New Baby Advice Blog

Archive for the ‘Baby Gifts’ Category

Even a bad party can be transformed into a good time with the right food!  Food is a crucial component of any party, whether a wedding reception or your child’s first birthday party.  Fortunately, babies and toddlers are a lot less demanding and fussy than their adult party-going counterparts.  Planning a menu for a first birthday party is easy – and relatively mess-free.  What should you include on the menu?

The most important thing to remember when it comes to a first birthday party is that it should be short.  You needn’t serve a five course meal to impress your guests.  Your guest of honor, in fact, will probably be more impressed with the bright balloons, first birthday gifts and gooey, messy cake.  This relieves the pressure of planning a menu.

To keep your little guests happy and fed, try the following toddler-friendly snacks:

• Cheerios.  These are an all-time favorite toddler finger food.  Chances are the adults won’t like picking at them much, but there are plenty of other foods to try.
• Animal crackers or Goldfish.  Fun for everyone, these are a great, minimally-messy choice.
• Apple wedges without the skin.
• Soft cheese cubes.
• Juice boxes.
• Cookies.

This will probably be more than enough to keep your little one satisfied.  You can always set a bowl of chips and dip, veggies, fruits, or candies out on the table or countertop for the adults and older children to enjoy.

If you want to serve a meal, or your party will work best at lunch or dinnertime, serve a meal that your child likes.  Well-cooked noodles are always great, and for the other guests, you can simply add a sauce so you don’t have to make separate meals.  You can also try chicken and steamed vegetables (soft enough for your child), pot pie, or other child-friendly foods.

The cake is the most important food you will serve at your child’s first birthday party.  You can always pick up a cake from your local bakery or a mix from the grocery store.  But if you want to continue the healthy eating habits that your baby has developed, why not try this healthier ice cream cake?

You will need:

• An angel food cake (which has less fat and fewer calories than regular cake)
• ½ gallon of vanilla frozen yogurt
• Fresh strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or bananas
• Sugar to taste

Cut the angel food cake in half and tear one half into small pieces.  Set this aside and slice the other half into thin slices.  You’ll probably have 12 to 14.  Arrange the slices in the bottom of a baking pan lined with wax paper.  Spread the frozen yogurt over the cake.  Try to smooth it as much as possible.  Then press the cake bits into the yogurt.  Cover and put the dish into the freezer.  When it’s time to serve dessert, slice the strawberries (or bananas if you do not want to introduce berries to your child yet).  Cut the dessert into squares and put the fruit on top.  Light a candle, and you have a great dessert.

Planning a child’s birthday party can be stressful, but a one year old is very easy to please.  Give her some finger food, birthday party favors, some balloons and streamers, and a piece of cake, and you have the makings of a great first birthday party.

Related Articles:

• Baby's First Tooth
• First Birthday Party Decoration Ideas
• First Birthday Party Favors

When your little cutie pie comes into the world, you’ll start taking hundreds of photos of him. There’s not a thing he can do that isn’t considered extremely adorable. You’ll find photo opportunities all the time. Where are you going to put your photos? Why not make a frame so you can print out at least one great digital photo to keep on your desk?

These days most people forget to upload their digital photos or have them printed. Instead of letting your precious pictures linger in your camera unseen, choose one or two that are your favorites and print them out.  Then plan your baby picture frame around it.

Decide on your frame size, style, and color by the photo it’s going to house. If you’ve got a great black and white to showcase, you can work with any colors. If you’ve got a color photo, try to match one color in the photo and it will make that color really stand out. Don’t try to match every color or it will get too busy.

What can you make a photo frame out of? Just about anything! The first thing that may come to your mind is to buy a frame at a craft store. That’s fine and craft stores carry many different types and sizes. But start looking around your house for ideas, too. You can use recycled cardboard but why not think outside the box? Try different materials. Do you have an old glass frame that you’re not planning on using again? Why not make it into a baby photo frame. Are you sick of one of your old, outdated frames but don’t want to throw it out? Make it over for baby’s photo.

Use any materials you can find. You can cut a frame out of an old record album, a pretty storage bin, or an old box that has a vintage appeal. There’s nothing you can’t use as long as you can cut an opening for baby’s photo. Or, if you can’t cut the opening, you can lacquer baby’s photo onto it.

Say you want to use an old frame and revamp it. Think about all the materials that you can finish it with. Use paint to cover the old surface, but then add polymer clay details. Make bears or a train out of clay and glue to the frame. Or make the whole frame out of polymer clay and glue it on top of the old frame.

If you want to use a surface that isn’t right for cutting, use shellac designed for photos. You’ll find it at the craft store near the scrapbooking supplies.  Prepare your frame by sanding it down and painting it or cleaning the surface. Then, shellac your photo right on top of the surface. Decorate the edges of the photo with ribbon trim, paper cut outs, clay rolled into snakes and other embellishments.

There are so many frames out there that are just boring. Make your handmade frame exciting by spicing it up with details that could only come from you. No matter what you use, you’ll need a good easel back so that it stands. You can find them at craft stores. Or, just hang it on the wall without a stand.

You may be new to the baby market or you may be a wise and seasoned mom or grandmother looking for something new to make for baby to play with. Either way, it’s time you get in on the Taggie sensation that’s sweeping the country.

Originally invented by two moms, Taggie blankets are fleece or cotton blankets that have loops or tags sewn around the edges. The allure? Babies love playing with tags more than the toys you buy them, so why not give them what they really want? A baby blanket that has tags all around the edges is a gift that will keep baby occupied for hours.

You can buy Taggies just about anywhere.  However, it’s so easy to make them yourself, why would you want to buy them? All you really need is a sewing machine, some fleece and ribbon, and a little creativity.

Supplies for Making a Fleece Taggie Blanket

• 2 squares of soft fleece material big enough for baby to lay on
• A few different kinds of ribbon. Use different textures, sizes and colors for the most appeal.
• A sewing machine
• Scissors

1.      Gather your fleece fabric and ribbons together on a table. You’re going to need 2 large squares of fleece. One will be for the front of the blanket and one will be for the back. Choose a fleece that is soft, cuddly, and will wash well. You might choose to wash it first to avoid shrinkage later.

2.      You’ll need ribbons of various sizes, textures and colors. The reason babies love these blankets is because the tags are so interesting to feel and to mouth. One thing you’ll want to ensure as a safety precaution is that your ribbons are thick enough so they won’t fray and turn into choking hazards. Choose grosgrain or other fat ribbons, so you can be sure they’ll stay intact. Stay away from shiny, thin ribbon whose threads may fray. You can also use strips of fabric that have a nice texture or feel. You’re going to make little loops out of the ribbon or fabric strips.

3.      Turn the right sides (the nice sides) of the fleece so that they face together. Lay ribbon loops down on the edges of the fabric and pin so that the loose ends are inside the blanket and the loop portions are facing out. You’ll sew over the ribbon so that they are secure and the loose ends remain inside.

4.      Once you have pinned the ribbon loops down, begin to sew around the edge of the blanket. Be sure you double stitch the loops down so there is no chance they can fall out or come undone while baby is chewing on them or playing with them. Sew until you come to about 4 inches from the final edge closure. Turn the blanket right side out and either hand sew or stitch the final 4 inches of the blanket closed.

You will end up with an adorable Taggie baby blanket that you can give to the little one in your life. The beauty of these blankets is that kids never outgrow them. You can also make pillows in the same way. Just use stuffing from the craft store instead of sewing the edges together without a filling.

You know how adorable babies are when they come out of their baths. They look darling wrapped up in hooded towels.  The towels actually help them to keep from catching a chill. Since babies need to be bathed so often, it’s great for a mom to have a number of hooded baby towels in rotation so she doesn’t always have to rush to do the laundry just to find a clean one.

You can give a mom to be a lovely set of hooded towels. The hooded towel is one item that you can never have too many of. It can always be put to good use.

There are many sources online for hooded baby towels. Try to select a set that’s made of lush terrycloth. You want an absorbent towel that will soak up lots of water. You also want one that’s big enough to wrap baby in now and when he’s older too. Babies don’t have to outgrow a good hooded towel until they’re toddlers if you purchase a big enough one.

Select colors that are appropriate for baby. You’ll find not only pink and blue but also yellow, purple and an assortment of adorable prints. If you know the type of nursery décor mom has selected, try to match it with the pattern of the towels. If not, just go for plush and cute.

You can easily make your own hooded towels to give as a great baby gift. It’s so easy and cheaper than purchasing pre-made hooded towels.

You will need a big towel such as a bath towel and a smaller washcloth in the same color. Try to buy the softest towels you can find. The plusher the towel, the better it will feel against baby’s skin. You may want to wash the towels first not only to get any shrinking out of the way, but also so that baby’s delicate skin won’t be irritated by any chemicals on the towels. Wash in light detergent meant for babies.

Cut your big towel in half vertically so you have two squares. Take the washcloth and fold it in half so that it forms a triangle. Sew the washcloth down to the center top of the square, larger towel. You want to make it a hood, so tie down the longest side of the triangle. You can sew a cute ribbon on each side of the hood so that mom can tie it around baby’s chin. You can also add piping to the outer edges of the towel so that it’s even more decorative.

When you make hooded baby towels, try to make them out of different colored towels. You can get two out of a big bath towel, but you will need to buy a second wash cloth. It’s cheap enough and easy enough so you can make three or four to give to the new mom. Include some other bath time treats and you’ve got yourself a present. Fold up the hoodies and stash some baby lotion, baby bath, a comb or little brush set, and a rubber ducky on top of the hoodies. Tie it all up with ribbon or arrange it in a decorative basket. Your thoughtfulness will be much appreciated every time baby’s busy splashing water out of the tub!

If one baby is fun, two are double the joy. If you know a mom who is having twins, there are so many adorable gifts you can purchase for the new siblings.

Go for items that have a cute saying or theme. Onesies and t-shirts are available with sayings just perfect for twin babies gifts. You can order them online with sayings such as “I’m with her” and “I’m with him” with arrows pointing to the other baby. Other shirts say “Older and Wiser” and “Younger and Cuter” on individual shirts. These items are darling and will definitely get a laugh at the baby shower. Choose any clothing items in a larger size (such as 6 months) so that the babies will get more wear out of them. Babies grow out of newborn sizes so quickly.

Equipment designed for twins also makes for great baby gifts. Get the new parents a twin jogging stroller and you’ll be on their gratitude list forever. These handy strollers are meant to ride twins around in comfort. You can get them with extra padded seats, special storage and folding options and more extras than you’d find on a new car. Choose from side by side seating or front and back. These strollers can be pricey, but there are other options than brand new. You can search Yard Sales and thrift stores. Often these strollers (which can run up and over $300) can be had for $20! Check the condition of any used stroller. Make sure the tires are not too worn and the fabric is not frayed. If there’s a spot or two on it, you can always use a fabric cleaner on it before you gift it. Depending on the mom, a used stroller can often be just as good a gift as a new one. And often moms of twins like to leave one stroller in the car and another at the grandparents’ home. So it’s a good source for an extra twin stroller as well.

Diapers are another good choice. Moms go through hundreds of diapers with newborns. Double that for moms of twins. She’ll thank you for providing boxes of diapers. This will mean one less trip to the store to stock up. Choose smaller as well as bigger sizes of diapers so mom can use them now and as the twins grow.

If the twins are going to be a boy and a girl, you can have fun with the personalization. Instead of getting identical items, get one in blue and one in pink. Consider making a baby gift basket for each. One can be filled with blue items and one can have pink. Choose romper outfits, toys, baby bath products, tiny shoes, and blankets in each child’s color. They make a great presentation because they look so cute side by side and it also shows that each child is an individual and you didn’t just group them together in one gift.

Mom’s going to need two of everything, so use your head. Can you and a friend chip in and get her two high chairs? Two car seats? Two winter coats? Two bouncy seats? Two baby bath tubs (one for mom to use with one child at bath time and one for dad to bathe the other child)? The more you can buy in duplicate the easier the first few weeks and months will be for the new mom and dad.