George
I smile sweetly as my dear friend Clarrisa casually invites me to the baby shower BBQ that she is planning for Sarah this weekend. On the surface, I gladly accept the invitation, but inside, I am screaming. Not only because it now means I have to spend a Saturday with a bunch of screaming young children and expectant Mothers, but also because I have to buy Sarah a gift. Don't get me wrong, I like Sarah and want to buy her a gift. The trouble is that my time and money are spent on marathons and travelling the world, so I simply have no clue what a new mother or baby would want. Luckily for you, this isn't my first rodeo, so I have written a list of my three fail-safe gifts that will please any Mum-to-be.
The Ultimate Baby Bag
This one I've actually been using since 2018. As a seasoned traveler I like a large backpack that can be compact, but has lots of compartments to carry many different items. A waterproof section is always a bonus, too. Therefore, when an old colleague of mine got pregnant, my first thought was: wouldn't a baby bag version of this exact style of travel backpack be good for a new Mum? It has multiple compartments for nappies, wipes, bottles, and toys, as well as insulated pockets for keeping bottles cool, stroller straps for easy attachment, and a wipe-clean, water-resistant lining (because babies are messy). I gave this foolproof bag to my work colleague, and she was delighted! She honestly said it helped her so much as a new Mum as she could easily grab it and go, carry everything, and not be rooting around all day in one large bag.
The Summer Baby Essentials Basket
The inspiration for this idea came from the fact that babies always appear to be in fancy woven cribs or baskets these days. Gone are the days of cots, as whenever you go to a baby shower, they are sitting in one of these, proud as punch; okay they are asleep and not proud as punch, but you get the idea. So I figured it would be good to play on this and get a smaller basket and fill it with the small baby essentials, that I do know about. Feel free to do your spin on this, but mine typically include: nappies in bigger sizes (parents already have the new born ones), fragrance-free wipes, baby-friendly high-SPF sunscreen (yes there is a special one), muslin swaddles and a light summery onesie (again in about size 6-9 months to allow for growth). To top this off, I normally slot in a cheeky bar of chocolate too for the Mum, as she certainly deserves a treat!
A Personalised Baby Blanket
This one is probably the easiest to do, but also arguably the most personal. Plus, a baby blanket will get so much use throughout the year, and in years to come; who doesn't still have their baby blanket? What I typically do here is buy a blanket in either blue, pink, white or yellow, depending on the gender and if it is known or not. Then I normally get the initials of the baby embroidered (if they are known) or something cute like 'little ray of sunshine' if the initials are not known. Parents and babies alike appear to love this idea, and literally anyone can execute this simple, yet thoughtful, gift.
You may be wondering, what am I going to get Sarah? I think it will be option B for Sarah: the summer baby essentials basket. This is because she is having a summer baby, and I just know she loves opening gifts, so even all the little individually wrapped presents will bring her joy. My twist on this will be adding a pack of playing cards or a board game for Sarah, as I know she loves a game night. I think I will thrive and not just survive at Sarah's baby shower BBQ afterall.
