Baby Shower Hosting Tips and Advice

Are you in need of a baby shower gift, for a sweet little girl? Believe it or not, girls are usually easier to buy for than boys. Why? Retail stores ALWAYS stock more merchandise for infant girls than boys. Ask the department manager the next time you go shopping for a baby shower gift, he or she will verify that fact.

There are two types of gifts that can be purchased for the new baby, traditional gifts and gifts that are a bit more unique.

Traditional gifts are a great option, if you don’t have a lot of time to shop. There are dresses and bonnets and pink plush animals. There are blankets and booties and tiny little rings or earrings. These baby shower gifts for girls can usually be purchased in just about any store that has an infant department.

Remember, you don’t necessarily HAVE TO purchase a gift for a tiny infant. If there is something you really want to purchase for the baby that she can use at a later date, there is no set in stone rule saying that you can’t. Although, it should be something she can enjoy during her first two years.

There are more unique baby shower gifts for girls that you can consider, as well. These are usually hand-crafted or found online or in a more upscale establishment. This is probably a good time to remind you… it’s not the cost of the gift, but the sentiment behind it. There is no need to get a second job, in order for you to pay for your purchase.

More unique gifts are something like a star named after the baby or a young tree, planted in the back yard. As impractical as it might seem, this type of gift will mean something to the child, as she gets older. What little girl wouldn’t be impressed to have a star named after her!

Still other unique gifts include beautiful hand crafted sweaters embellished with roses and lace. Or personalized items such as quilts or silver drinking cups.

If you choose a more unique gift, you might want to purchase a small, more practical, item to give along with it. Something that can be used shortly after the baby is born… even extra items like a few boxes of baby cereal or a couple of cans of formula are very much appreciated.

With the vast selection of products available today, it really isn’t difficult to find perfect baby shower gifts for girls.

Are you in search of the perfect baby shower gift, but find yourself on a limited budget? You’ll be happy to know that regardless of the weight of your piggy bank, it is still fairly simple to find inexpensive baby shower gifts, for the joyous occasion.

You can always choose a more traditional gift such as clothing, diapers, infant toys, or even a year’s subscription to a popular baby or parenting magazine.

If you have a more unique baby shower gift in mind, you might choose a gift, which can be engraved or personalized, in some manner.

If you are crafty, a baby quilt is a wonderful option. The simple nine patch pattern can even be sewn by hand, tied off with colorful yarn and personalized with the baby’s name and birth information. You will find the supplies for this project are quite reasonable in price.

Baby shower registries are more popular, than ever before. Especially since you can now access the majority of them online… where you can choose the perfect, lower cost, gift and order it from the comfort of your own home. Most major department stores and stores which cater to children offer the use of their baby shower registry, at no charge.

When you are working with a smaller budget you might want to consider pooling your funds with another friend or family member, who is also in the same situation. This way, you can buy a gift that is a bit more expensive. Simply, buy one card sign it from the two of you.

Another option for fairly inexpensive baby shower gifts, when you are unsure what to purchase, is a savings bond or a savings account. If opting for the savings account, an opening deposit is all that is necessary. Of course, you can always add to it on birthdays, Christmas time and other occasions.

If you’re working with almost no budget at all, make the parents-to-be a coupon book. This is also an idea you can utilize if you have no time to go out and actually purchase a gift.

Create coupons for things such as free babysitting, a home-cooked meal, housecleaning services, etc… anything you can think of that the new parents will appreciate… is fair game. You can print these out, punch a hole in the corner of each one and tie with a ribbon. This is a thoughtful gift and only cost you what you paid for the paper and ink.

These are just a few examples of inexpensive baby shower gifts. Remember, it doesn’t cost a lot of money to show how much you care!

There are two schools of thought when it comes to sending out baby shower thank you cards. There are those who believe that there is no need to send out thank you notes, for any occasion, as long as the gift was opened in front of the giver, who has been thanked in person.

On the other hand, there are those who feel that thank you notes should be sent regardless of the occasion. When it comes time for you to send out thank you notes to the attendees of your baby shower, it is really up to you to decide how to handle the situation. Remembering, of course, to send out notes to gift givers who did not attend the event.

If you are creative you may decide to create your own baby shower thank you cards. However, you’ll probably want to do this before the baby arrives. If you have time, you can even create customized notes for the guests that you are certain will attend.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own thank you notes, chances are you can easily find a style, which fits your personality, at a very reasonable cost.

The most important thing to remember about writing proper baby shower thank you cards, for that matter, is to avoid being generic. It is almost as bad to send out a note that says… “Thank you for the generous gift”, than to send nothing at all.

In the event, you receive a gift which is non-returnable and of likelihood of its use questionable…there is still an acceptable response that is perfect for the situation. You do need to acknowledge the fact that the gift was personally selected for you and the baby.

You can say something like:

Dear Mary,
Thank you for the heartfelt (fill in the blank). I will think of you each time it is used
Love,
Susie

Never hand out generic thank you notes, at the close of the shower, in effort to save time. No guest wants to be made to feel that they are just another spoke, in the wheel. Even worse, your guests will never know just how much their specific gift was appreciated… especially if it’s an exceptionally great one!

It is important to try and mail out your baby shower thank you cards, as close to shower date as possible. Although, your guests will certainly understand if they don’t receive one right away it’s best to show your appreciation, in a timely manner.

If you find you are in a quandary, when it comes to deciding on a baby shower gift, take a look at the many mealtime baby shower gifts available today. Why?… you might ask. The answer is simple. Any product in this category is practical and will no doubt be used even if it turns out to be a duplicate gift. Let’s face it, a new Mom can never have enough bibs, burp cloths, formula or baby food.

A traditional baby shower gift, especially in Irish families, is a keepsake fork and spoon gift set. This high-quality gift will last for years to come and can even be passed down from generation to generation. Its small size is perfect for little hands and hungry mouths.

Some of these sets include a silver drinking cup in addition to the silverware. These can be engraved with the baby’s name and other information, many times for just a few dollars more.

Personalized bibs and burp cloths are also appreciated mealtime baby shower gifts. They are relatively inexpensive and an excellent gift idea for those, on a limited budget. They are available in many different themes and color options. Of course, in the event that the baby’s name is still an uncertainty, bibs and burp cloths can be purchased un-personalized, as well.

Another nifty mealtime baby shower gift is a place setting. The majority of these are crafted from porcelain or melamine. Porcelain dish sets are considered more of a keepsake gift, whereas melamine is very sturdy and can be used on a continuous basis.

If you are thinking about picking up a place setting, as a gift, consider purchasing one of each type. That way the porcelain set can be used on special occasions and the second set used every day.

You can always purchase food, as a gift. Most baby food products on the market today have an expiration date of, at least, several months. If you purchase formula, baby cereal, or first stage food chances are it will be used long before its expiration date.

If you are worried about spoilage, you have the option of purchasing gift cards for the new baby. These can obviously be used for baby food or any other necessities Mom may need for her new bundle of joy.

If Mom likes to cook why not buy her a cookbook that centers on making homemade baby food or cooking for small children? You can make the gift more special by writing a heartfelt note or a few words of wisdom, on the inside front cover.

As you can see, there are many mealtime baby shower gifts available today… all of them guaranteed to be met with approval and a great deal of appreciation.