Spa Time

Nothing soothes the soul better than a day at the spa. If you know an expectant mom who’s feeling uncomfortable or is in pain, treat her to a neck massage or a facial. Just be aware that she may not want to be in a salon where a lot of manicure or hair chemicals are being used, as they can be toxic for pregnant women to breathe. If the spa has a back room that they use for massages, she should have no problem there and can enjoy relaxing. If you’re at all unsure if she’ll love and use your gift, give a gift certificate that she can use any time before or after the birth.

Child-Free Time

If the expectant mother has other children, why not offer to watch her children for the afternoon so she can rest, shop, or just have time for herself? This is one gift that will be priceless to her and she won’t turn down. If her children are older, you can offer to pick them up from school and take them to the mall or out to eat to give mom some alone time.

Cozy Time

An expectant mother would love a pair of cozy slippers and a lush bath robe. She can wear them now and take them to the hospital for the birth as well. Other pampering products she can cuddle up with include a soft blanket (the ones with arms are really handy), a beautiful, soft pillow, a new book or just a nice spa gift basket. These are especially good presents if you’ve got a mom who’s on bed rest.

Dinner Time

As soon as the baby comes, there will be a whirlwind of activity. Why not give an expectant mom a few nights off from cooking? You can give her meals you’ve made (or purchased) that can be frozen and used whenever she needs to prepare a quick supper. Vary your choices so she’s not eating the same thing every night for a week. Your thoughtfulness will be much appreciated.

Little Extras

Depending on whether the expectant mother is having her first child or her fifth, you can vary your gift ideas. If she’s a newbie, give her a bunch of magazines on babies and parenting. She’ll love to have the info. If she’s a seasoned mom, give her a few magazines for pure enjoyment on any of her favorite topics.  Offer to do a mom’s grocery shopping for her. If she’s got someone else to handle that, show up with a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread every so often. It’s hard when you’ve got a new baby on your hands and run out of staple groceries. Anything you can do to make her life easier will be a blessing to any expectant mother. Even offering to drive her to the doctor appointments towards the end when she’s feeling uncomfortable and can’t get around so easily will be greatly appreciated.

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3D Kits

Many online and crafting stores sell kits that allow you to cast baby’s handprint or footprint in plaster of Paris. The basic idea is that you place baby’s hand into the gel that comes with the kit, make an impression, then remove baby’s hand. Now you’ve created a mold. Fill the mold with plaster of Paris and allow to dry. When dry, remove the gel mold and you’ll have a perfectly formed 3-dimensional handprint. You can do the same with footprints. The process itself is very easy. However, you may have a challenge getting baby to stay still long enough for you to make the impression in the gel. It may be a good idea to wait until baby is asleep, then gently place their hand or foot into the mold. Be sure to wash all residue from the gel off baby’s delicate skin.

Flat Impressions

Many companies sell kits that allow you to place baby’s hand or foot in clay or plaster of Paris to make an impression. These kits come with a tin and you usually pour the plaster mixture in and then gently press baby’s hand or foot in. These can be fun and quick to do. They also make nice thank you gifts to people who’ve given baby gifts or attended your baby shower. If you don’t want to purchase a kit, you can easily create the impression yourself.

Mix up some powdered plaster of Paris yourself and pour into a decorative tin. Dip baby’s hand or foot in and allow to dry. The whole process takes just a few minutes and you can save a considerable amount doing it on your own. If you do decide to purchase a kit, you can choose from many options for the final product from teddy bear frames to decorative flowers. Some kits also come with several imprint tins so you can keep a record of baby’s growing prints over a year or two years.

Ink Prints

Another nice way to take an impression of baby’s hands and feet is to use a non-toxic ink pad and some nice paper. Wait until baby is calm, then place her hand or foot onto the ink pad. When you are sure the ink covers the entire surface, gently place the foot or hand on the paper. You can create greeting cards or frame the images. You can even copy the prints onto iron on paper and make t-shirts or bags with the images. You can give them as very special holiday or birthday gifts to aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Etched Glass

Many stores sell kits that will allow you to have baby’s footprint or handprint etched onto glass to create a memorable frame or other decorative item. For this type of product you would make an ink stamped impression of baby’s hands or feet and mail the print to the company doing the etching. They will mail you back a frame with your baby’s prints etched into glass.

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There are different ways to make a baby memory blanket, depending on your level of comfort with sewing machines or embroidery needles.  But regardless of how you are going to make the quilt, whether it's for your baby or to give as a baby gift, the first step is to gather your fabric.  A 36-inch x 6-inch quilt will use about 30 articles of clothing, depending on the size.  Lay out the pieces you want to incorporate into the memory quilt to get an idea of the colors and patterns that are emerging.  Cut squares of the same size: for a 36x36" quilt, for instance, 6x6 inch squares are great. You can supplement your baby clothes with other fabrics: fleece and flannel are especially well-suited to baby quilts.

If you prefer not to use any of your baby’s clothes, you can use other fabrics and embroider them with names or special memories.  You can use fabric paints or pens to decorate the squares, or better yet, to have each family member make a square.  You can also buy photo fabric to incorporate pictures into your quilt or have fabric squares made by photo printing companies.  This certainly lets you remember all the special moments without sacrificing clothing that could be used again.

An easy way to complete the quilt is to sew your squares on a soft blanket.  This gives you the shape and form, not to mention the beautiful texture that you need.  It is a bit easier than assembling everything, basting, quilting, and binding a quilt, although that certainly is an option as well.  It is more time-intensive, but the results can be more traditional and lovely.

After the squares have been sewn or quilted, you can adorn the top by sewing on cute baby socks, hats, mittens, or bibs.  These are cute embellishments, and when your child is grown, you’ll marvel that his feet once fit in these tiny little socks.

If all this talk of sewing has put you in a panic, don’t worry.  You can still make a beautiful baby blanket. Ticche and Bea, for instance, sells a reasonably priced kit that comes with pre-cut squares, batting, cotton backing, templates, straight pins, safety pins, and very clear, detailed instructions.  You simply assemble the quilt, saving untold time.  If this is not calming your sewing fears either, you can send the squares you’ve made from your baby’s clothing back to Ticche and Bea, and they will sew the quilt for you.  This costs about $40 more, which may be well worth it to save you time and pricked fingers.

A baby memory blanket will allow you to preserve treasured memories while making entirely new ones.  They also make wonderful gifts when your baby is all grown up and expecting a baby of his or her own.

Love this article? Try this post on Handmade Baby Gift Ideas.

Pigs seem like a funny shape for a bank to be fashioned after. Pigs don’t save anything like squirrels do. They aren’t symbols of power or wealth. So, why would the humble pig end up as the symbol of saving money?

Back as far as the Middle Ages, people were known to have piggy banks. Because metal was quite precious back then, the average person couldn’t afford to have a bank made out of metal. So, instead, they would choose the next most readily available material—clay. Orange clay that was used to make pottery and dishware during the Middle Ages was called “pygg.” Pygg was used all over Europe for everything from vases and plates to cups and serving bowls. So, it’s only natural that the clay would also be used to fashion banks.

The story goes that as time went on when a craftsman was asked to make a pygg bank, he misunderstood and made a bank in the shape of a pig. The rest is history.

Today, piggy banks can fetch big dollars at auctions and in antique markets. The pig has now been elevated to an art form. Piggy banks come in ornately decorated porcelain styles as well as metal, wooden, and tin styles.

You can find a number of vintage collectible piggy banks online at sites like eBay.com and etsy.com. Collectors now see the value and beauty of the pig in bank form. Some fetch as high as $450 or more at auction. Depending on the shape, size, age and condition of a piggy bank, it may be classified as a valuable antique.

The most rare and valuable piggy banks from yesteryear are the cast iron type. These piggy banks are heavy and were often decoratively painted. A cast iron bank in good condition with the original paint intact can bring in hundreds of dollars. Other cast iron bank shapes that collectors look for are bears, human figures, cats, dogs, and rabbits.

Next time you are out at a flea market or tag sale, keep your eyes peeled for piggy banks. You may be able to pick up a pig for a bargain price. Start your own collection and you will be in good company. Entire web sites and books are devoted to the collection of piggy banks. You can peruse photos of the earliest piggy banks on record and start to train your eye to pick originals out of a crowd.

It’s fun to collect piggy banks as well as to admire them from afar. If you’re thinking of getting your first vintage piggy bank, be sure it’s in good condition. If you are planning on using it for savings, be certain you can access the money without “breaking the bank.” The term comes from the days when a person would have to smash their glass piggy bank with a hammer to access the coins they had saved. If you don’t want to damage your new find to get your change out, choose one with a cork or other stopper that allows you access when you need it.

Want to read more on this? Try this article on Unique Piggy Bank Gifts For Kids.

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.

First, decide if you want new or used. There are some vintage rocking chairs that are adorable and still have years of use in them. If they’ve lasted all these years, they’ll work for you, too. If you’re going for a vintage themed nursery, this is the perfect choice.

Choose a vintage chair that is in good shape. You want to test it out. Sit in it and make sure it doesn’t have an annoying creak and that it is sturdy. If you like its feel but not its color, that can always be changed. Have your husband or a helpful friend do the sanding down and painting of the chair away from where you are. Pregnant women should not be inhaling dust, paint thinners, or paint during this crucial time. And if you’ve already delivered, don’t expose baby to any of these things either.

This is when you might start to consider a new chair instead. Buy it, have it delivered, and you’re set. There are glider chairs on the market today that are fashionable and far beyond the old wooden chair for comfort. They glide from front to back rather than rock. That motion will soothe baby to sleep (and probably you, too!). Sit in it and make sure you like the feel of it. Is it hard to push? Does it feel soft and cushiony where it should?

See if your chair of choice comes with an ottoman. It’s best to buy it at the same time so the fabrics match perfectly. If it doesn’t come with an ottoman, you can always buy one that matches elsewhere.

There are two styles of rocking chair to choose from. One has an exposed frame, usually made of wood and the other is fully upholstered. The fully upholstered ones are gorgeous and plush, but much more expensive. If you’re on a tight budget, go for the exposed frame and you will save a bundle. You can still get comfortable and rock baby off to sleep without spending a small fortune.

There are many different makes and models for you to choose from. Go with one that is sturdy, comfortable, in good condition, and has a nice look to it. Buy from a furniture company that has a warranty so that if you do need to repair or replace it, it will be covered.

Enjoy your time rocking your baby to sleep. These will be some of the best memories of your first few months with your new baby. You may spend a lot of sleepless hours during the night in your new rocking chair, so be sure it’s one you love and that supports you comfortably.

Try online sources to have your new rocking chair delivered. It’s more convenient than lugging it home from a store in the back of your car. (And if you are pregnant, remember; don’t do any heavy lifting yourself!) If you can make it match your other kids furniture, that's great!

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.

1. A Baby Duty Toolbelt

You can find these online. They are such a fun idea. It’s a custom toolbelt that dad can wear as he navigates the job of caring for baby. It includes essentials like a bottle, diapers, etc. A really cute gift that he can actually use.

2. A Hand Print Baseball

For the sport nut dad, give a treasure he will keep forever. There are companies online that will allow you to imprint baby’s little handprint onto a genuine baseball. It's like a sports fan's baby photo album. It’s a really unique idea. Dad will have it forever and watch as baby’s hand grows from tiny to full-sized.

3. The Daddle

This items is hysterical and useful. It’s available online and it’s a soft stuffed saddle that dad can wear on his back as he gives piggybacks. It’s unique, fun and innovative. It’s a sure bet that no one else will give him one.

4. The Man Purse

No dad wants to carry a diaper bag that looks like a lady’s handbag. Give him a bag a man can really use and be proud to carry. Many companies are offering well-designed messenger bags that look highly fashionable and not like baby gear. In colors like silver and black, he won’t mind taking the diaper bag with him to the park. And you can be sure he’ll take everything he really needs.

5. Childproofing Kit

Chances are the duty of childproofing the house will end up on dad’s list. Gift him with everything he needs. Kits come in all sizes and can be used to lock cabinets, the fridge, toilet seats and more.

6. WhyCry Baby Crying Analyzer

This is perhaps the most useful gift you can give a man. When baby cries, this little gadget that looks like an alarm clock inputs the cry and puts it into one of five categories. How it knows what each cry means is a wonder, but it’s been tested to be 90% accurate. It will help alert dad to the best strategy for stopping his child’s crying. With categories like bored, hungry, tired and wet, dad’s got a fighting chance of doing the right thing at the right time.

7. Dinner In

Order up a Dinner of the Month club for dad. Or go for a Lobstergram. Any gourmet meal item will be a much welcomed gift when time for preparing dinner is scarce. Many companies will deliver everything packed in dry ice so they can either eat it right away or freeze it for later. Choose from chowder, baked stuffed shrimp, lobster tails and more. You can even get dessert thrown in. You select a one-time gift or space your baby gifts out so they arrive every month. It’s one gift that will never be returned unopened. If you want to be more cost-conscious, make dinners yourself that can be frozen and heated when the family needs them. If you know dad has a favorite like cheesecake, bake him up a few for the freezer.

Remember, you’re commenting on the joy that surrounds a new baby. If you don’t know the new parents that well, you can still sound upbeat and write a card that comes across as festive and congratulatory.

Feel free to use these words as they are, or tweak them to make them uniquely yours:

• Congratulations on the birth of your first child. You must be beaming with joy. Hope this gift brings you a little more cheer.
• Heard you have the cutest baby on the planet. Hope you enjoy this little gift to celebrate her arrival.
• May the joy you are feeling now last forever. Congratulations on the birth of your new little one.
• As new parents, I am sure you are filled with wonder at those ten little toes and ten little fingers. In this special time in your lives, I wish you all the happiness in the world.
• What could be sweeter than a newborn baby? Here’s to the love and cheer and joy that having a new one brings.
• Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. May the sweetness of a new baby in the house fill your lives with happiness.
• There is nothing so special as the arrival of your first child. These memories will be ones you will return to all your life. Enjoy your new gift from God.
• We couldn’t be more thrilled to have a new addition to our extended family. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get to hold her much when we’re around! Looking forward to being auntie and uncle.
• There is no gift so sweet as a grandchild. We treasure baby Gracie already as the greatest miracle in our lives.
• On the day baby was born, the angels sang. Enjoy the sweetness this heaven-sent darling brings each day.
• You’re up all night and exhausted by day. Isn’t it the best? Congrats on the new bundle of joy.
• Here’s a little something for baby that I hope she will treasure forever. I had it engraved so she’ll always know how precious she was to us from the moment she was born.
• Words cannot express how amazing it is to have Victoria in our lives. Congratulations on bringing this sweet little angel into the world.
• Little boys are a gift from God. Congratulations on your special little one.
• When babies come into our lives, we are forever changed. Enjoy every moment of your new life with your beautiful daughter.
• A son is a blessing from above. As each day passes, enjoy the inexpressible joys that he brings you.
• Congratulations! You’re a new mother and father to the most amazing little boy. May the joy you feel now last forever.
• Here’s just a token of my well-wishes for baby Garth. If you ever need a babysitter, you know where to find me!
• If there were a cuteness award, baby Luke would surely win it. Congrats on the most adorable baby ever!

Start off by measuring the little one’s head. Wrap a piece of string loosely around the widest point of her head. Write down the measurement.

There are two kinds of headbands that are easy to make for baby girls. The first is a cotton one. Using the measurement you just took, subtract two inches for where the elastic will go. Find a cotton fabric in a festive print or seasonal design. You might want to do snowmen for Christmas in a fleece fabric or a Halloween cat in soft material. Cut a length of fabric that matches the measurement you took horizontally. Cut it out as a large square so that there is enough material to double over. Fold the fabric down horizontally so that you have one thick band. Sew it shut. Or, if you’re not one for sewing, use fusible webbing. This is a tape found in sewing or craft stores that goes on like tape and allows you to iron two pieces of fabric closed.

After you have your band sewn, you’ll want to add a two-inch piece of elastic. A wide elastic works best. Sew elastic to each end of the band. That’s it! Now you can embellish it. Use craft flowers or ribbon. But try to avoid using sequins or any embellishment that could pop off and baby could chew on or swallow. Stick to the basics of fabric with elements sewn on for the youngest babies. Soft animals work best like flat little bears or kitties. Also be sure that you take into account the comfort of baby. If a band is too tight or too heavy, she’s going to be uncomfortable and won’t want to wear it no matter how cute it is.

A second way to make a baby headband is to use elastic lace. These bands of lace come in various lengths and widths. Look in a sewing or craft store in the ribbon aisle. You will see a variety of elastic ribbon and lace. Choose a lace that feels soft to the touch and is not going to be tight when it stretches to fit around baby’s head. Some elastics have a harder springback and are much tighter than others. Choose a delicate one. Cut one length of lace to the measurement of your child’s head and sew the ends together. Add a cute flower or other hair adornment like a butterfly.

Of course, if you want, you can always purchase a headband from a discount store and embellish it with your own details. Choose a soft fabric one. Use fabric paint or 3D craft paint to letter baby’s name on the band. Iron-on patches from the craft store come in dogs, cats, and other adorable critters and designs. You can easily create a bunch of iron-on headbands in about an hour, that will go with her little baby clothes and nearly any outfit you could dream up.