Baby shower present

[CarolineSA]

In January I will be going to my first ever baby shower and I have no idea what to take as a gift. The baby will be my niece/nephew, so I'm going to be quite involved in its life. This won't be the only gift I ever buy it, but I know the first present needs to be a special one.

Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated.

[kings dream]

you could always get a silver birth cirtifacate holder from h samuels and get it engraved

[Bellenden Belle]

Lamaze soft toys are beautifully made - lots of different textures and subtle multi-sensory elements which mean babies return to them time and time again.

We also received a set of gorgeous books - all very baby friendly as they were small board books which again, almost a year on, we are still using. We received Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, and Peepo.

Some beautiful booties also went down a treat. Have a look at padraig slippers which you can buy on the Born website (gorgeous shop in stoke newington but also online).

http://www.borndirect.com/P123/Padraig-Cottage/Baby-and-Child-Wool-Slippers

[Smiler]

Urgh, baby showers, awful!

Jellycat and lamaze colourful toys are nice.

Or crackly fabric books.

[sillywoman]

Well as it needs to be a special gift, how about something that will last a little longer than the first 6-12 months - a box set of children's classics? or maybe a more personal gift - a children's book that was special to you and is yours? The box set of board books is a lovely idea and you'll get so much use out of them. Though you might want to save the classics or personal stuff for the christening? I do seem to recall that baby-showers are lighthearted events and that the gifts tend to reflect that. How about an expensive bit of designer frippery that the Mum might usually admire from afar but would never usually indulge in?

[RenF]

I'd go for something nice for mum- you'll buy loads for baby once its born, so its sometimes nice to get a bit of a treat for mum whilst she is preganent (depending on budget, a pregnancy massage- Cowshed do lovely ones, nice smellies, a pedicure-great when you can't see your feet)....

[nylonmeals]

My little ones were given beautiful antique compasses when they were born. I thought that this was a really thoughtful present - relating to guidance and direction for their lives. It's something that I know they will keep forever.

[Saffron]

I agree with RenF. The baby shower gift can be for the mother. The baby shower is not just about the baby. It's about celebrating the mother and the beauty of her pregnancy.