Hi all,
We are expecting our first lil baby boy in December and my SIL is organising our baby shower.
We have approx 40 people coming and my side of the family (5 people) have asked if we need anything bg that they can all put in for.
We have purchased all of bubs furniture for his nursery and have no idea what to tell them to buy us.
Any suggestions???????????????????
Also everyone else is asking us what we want or need. what do we say cause we need everthing :lol:
If you haven't got a car seat yet get them to put in for one of the capsule ones that you can take out of the car....I wish we'd bought one coz there is nothing worse than pulling up at home and having to wake a sleeping baby or sitting in the car til they wake up :)
Could you ask for a gift voucher instead? That way once you know what you are going to need, you can go and pick it out yourselves. Particuarly with larger, more expensive items (like a pram or something), you don't really want them getting something that you aren't going to be happy with.
Or are you able to go to a baby store with your SIL or a member of your family and point out a few things you would be interested in?
My suggestion would be to write up a list then put it in with the invites. What ever you have thought "oh I like that", but can't afford right now put on the list and also be specific as in brand names of items ect.
Hope you have a great baby shower :).
Maybe get them to buy up on wipes, baby bath, nappies, or get them to put in for some cloth nappies? Moogoo? Ummmm, maybe a bumbo? High chair? Even just som e gift vouchers for the days when you think "i wish someone had given us xyz".
big items that are good but not essential - babny bouncer (use ours daily - it vibrates and keeps her content/helps her to resettle when she stirs), a swing - i would be lost without ours - i am "single" a lot of the time as DH works away - gives me time to eat without holding DD. ummmm, if you;r interested in usung a baby carrier (sling/hugabub/ergo) they're exxy
as for other people presents - singlets/bibs/socks/sleepsuits - not all in nb sizes. you'll use them daily. large muslin wraps (we use them everynight for DD), flanellette wraps (not too many though - looks like a summer baby). or simply say "we have x,y,z - everything else we need"
if you intend to use cloth nappies over disposables, let people know in advance just in case they decide to buy nappy stuff (cos you need diff creams etc)
HTH's
You could always get them to setup a gift register at a baby shop (baby bunting etc), they basically buy off a list you pick (fun for you to go looking aswell) OR they put money in and it all goes onto an account for you, then you get to go in and pick whatever you want.
The other option is some people do vouchers for nappies etc, if your going cloth there are services that you can get vouchers for they come and pick-up dirty nappies etc and wash them for you.
I didn't have a baby shower but my friend made up a basket and every time she went shopping she got something little to put in it, baby bath, wipes, ear cleaners, face washers, small bath toys things like that.
Have fun... i'm sure it will be great
FOOD!!!!! Not having to cook with a newborn in the house will be invaluable. Instead of a 'baby shower' we had a 'freezer party' where all the guests brought a contribution for our freezer - we've got about 3 weeks worth of dinners waiting for us and I'm so glad :)
Bouncer or swing (we had 1 of each could not have survived without them)
Ergo carrier
High chair
Exersaucer (fantastic from 6 month onwards)
rocking horse (or any toy for when older)
pay for a cleaner
professional photo shoot
Gymbaroo class (can start from 6 weeks probably a bit early to get much out of it we started at 6 months and love it)
I love the gift voucher idea and gift registry but fell rude in saying that. The invites all went out yesterday so we cant pop in a lil note either.
We are kinda prepared we have our car seat, and pram.
I was thinking of maybe saying the capsule that clips onto our pram.
We really want it but ican't afford it.
Its about $300.
I would also like a sling (I think thats what they are called) but isn't that something I can buy later???
Not too sure
Personally I found that we didn't really need all of the things that we would. I think it is a great idea to ask people to pool money towards the bigger items that you will definitely need - a cot (unless you know you will co-sleep), a pram, a car seat and definitely a sling. Some clothes to get you by in the beginning, baby wraps, bedding for the cot, nappies, wipes, bath wash, nappy cream, a change table if you don't have anything the right height already. And definitely a gift subscription to the ABA which means you'll also get the fantastic book Breastfeeding...Naturally - this is one of the most practicial gifts I got. Most other things I would wait and see how you go, and get them later.
One thing that is incredibly helpful in the early days is help. If I could go back in time, I'd ask people to provide a meal for after the baby is born, or to come around and help out for an hour or so, rather than buy a present up front. Probably more so with number 2, but it is still really helpful with your first as well.
I havn't even thought of a High chair. any recommendations????
Whats an ergo carrier?????
I might suggest to friends and my partners family a bouncer or swing. What great idea's
I would of never thought of any of these :)
That's a good question Bee. Actually, that's another thing that I have learnt from experience. I think a sling is more important in the beginning than a pram! It is a great way to soothe an unsettled baby and means that you get other things done at the same time. And I found it much easier to get around the shops with a sling than with a pram.
We have a fisher-price swing that you can take the seat out of and it becomes a rocker or it can sit still and be a little chair and OMG it was an absolute lifesaver!!!!!!!!! They sell tham at Kmart for about $130.
For the sling, I bought it when she was a few weeks old and I can't believe I had survived the first few weeks hahahaha. Mine's a Bear Hub Baby ring sling, so great! Still using it now! And she's 13kg now!
What sort of sling??? I have googled it and about a million came up lol.
Choices choices choices
Leash,
You must of been reading my mind hahahahaha:lol:
Ergo is a carrier that can be used from newborn up until 4 years of age, I personally didnt like it when DS was a newborn as he never looked comfy (i used a baba sling when he was little) but once he could sit up ergo is fantastic and is great as you can use on your back when they are older.
We have a steelcraft mealtime high chair and love it its been great. ( i bought this one as needed one and the one i wanted was going to be 8 weeks till they would have them in, and one i got was on sale and $220 cheaper than one i wanted!!!)
I used a ring sling too and loved it, but they can take a while to learn how to use easily. I would look at ring slings, Hug a Bub (HAB), Close carrier, Meh Tai etc as a starting point - these are some of the most popular and useful. Stay clear of Baby Bjorn type carriers as they are not nearly as good.
swing we have is fisher price take along swing has batteries in it and 5 speeds and to be honest we got it when he was 6 weeks old and used it everyday till he was 6 months old and have never had to change batteries!!! He was sitting in it other day and battieries still work, it goes till 11.2kg.
Boucncer we were given its a fisher price one that vibrates
Nappies
Baby wipes, moisturiser, shampoo, massage oil for baby, bath products
Baby bath
blankets / muslin wraps
rocker
high chair
baby bjorn
musical mobile for cot
bassinett??
toys!!
clothes
Nappy Bag
swing
cot sheet sets
Vouchers
People to come & do washing, cleaning, etc after bub is born
Freezer meals
Larger size clothing eg 00-1 that you can put away & get out when bub grows into it
Canned food, dry food for you pantry so you dont have to go shopping when bub is born
Toys for when bub is older
board books
I love our fisher price take along swing.
Lots of people dont like to get gift cards, but TBH these were one of the best things that we got as sometimes you might have something in mind thats too pricey to ask for, but this way its a contribution?
IF you make a list of things, put down things to suit all budgets ;)
i really loved having a swing for my son when he was little - and am about to get it out again for DS2. it was one of those non essentials that someone bought after he was born that was a lifesaver. you will use it from about 1 month in until 6+ months. we also used a bouncer a lot (a manual one - baby bjorn do them and ours is a valco). he used this as a seat too and DS2 is also loving it.
i am a sling addict - had an ellaroo ring sling with DS1 and then an ergo. also a ramalama which was not as confy but v good looking so used it for more formal fucntions. i will use all of these again and also bought a close carrier this time which DS2 already loves.
A pram is good - a larger one for early days or an unbrella stroller which you may use more once bub is a bit bigger.
A portacot of you will be going away or even to friends for dinner a lot - we have used ours heaps. they are around $100
I love the idea of ppl bringing meals for the freezer - this is lovely idea. no one has done this for me but i would have loved it and i often drop a meal past someone's house when they get home from hospital
Nappies if you are using sposies can add up - get one box newborn and then some the size up, you may not need many newborn (or you might, we are just about to go up a size and DS2 is 1 month old now - if you need more you can get them but good to have some in stock)
A gymini - play mat thingy - that is about all a newborn will play on for a few months. i have one with a mirror and music - we bought it for ds2. ds1 we had a v basic one and i always wished we got a better one as they do use them for a while (this one was about $120 i think)
Some ppl love the bumbo or bebe pod - i havent used one myself - but think they are used from about when they can support their own neck
Car seat - these can be expensive and you will use from about 6 months onwards (or get a rear facing reversible which you can use from birth - personally i hire a capsule as it is so good for NB and then buy a great car seat later)
High chair - i swear by the ikea one which is $50
gift cards would also be great if ppl would be confortable with this
some great books as reference - i love the baby book by sears but you need to find one that suits you...
A lovely nappy bag - you will use it ALL the time and for a few years...
Hi ladies,
My SIL and MIL threw me a suprise baby shower about a month ago (was very awesome as i hadn't really thought about having one) however they had this MASSIVE wicker basket full of odds and ends - two of the things in there that i hadn't thought to buy were one of the rear-view mirror things that attaches to the back windscreen so you can see bubs in the carseat without too much hassle, and also some window shades for the rear windows. there were also a couple of medicine dropers, some muslin face washers, some baby cutlery for when she is older, some books for us to read to her with and numerous other things that my baby brain won't remember! The best thing is that the wicker basket can now double as a toy basket for later.
HTP! And good luck!
You can ask them to put money together or gift certificate towards a certain store.. that you can shop at when you needs things.. before or after baby.
How to plan an inexpensive baby shower? How to plan a baby shower?
ASK everyone you invite that it is POTLUCK.. which means to bring a plate of something.. so you dont end up with the same foods... tell people.. fruit plate.. cheese plate etc.. People dont have a problem doing that..
Go on ebay etc.. for cheap game ideas.. or google.. its briliant
I recommend gift vouchers. Have a look around and see who stocks the pram/cot etc that you like then tell everyone to get you a gift voucher to that store.
If you don't like gift vouchers, ask people to get you clothing in a variety of sizes. I asked for size 0 and absolutely loved having a wardrobe that covers bubs from newborn to 6mths+. A lot of people bought clothes in 0000 and 000 and they are only in them for a few weeks at best.
I asked the folks at work to put money into a gift voucher and then put the money towards the pram I wanted, which made things a heck of a lot easier.