Grand Magazine - July/August 2008 - (Page 50)

Gift buyiNG do’S & doN’tS Do consider baby basics. The essentials, like diaper cream, onesies and baby wipes, are always well received by new moms. Don’t buy designer duds. Ralph Lauren layettes sure are cute, but babies will get to wear them just once or twice before they’ve outgrown them. Do include a gift receipt. Moms can change their mind about colors or receive more than enough blankets, so include a gift receipt just in case she needs to make an exchange. Don’t buy big-ticket items not on the registry. Moms-to-be spend serious time checking out strollers and play yards. If you choose to buy these items, pick the ones she’s set her heart on. One-of-a-kind quilts (all styles differ), 100 percent cotton with 100 percent polyfiber fill, machine-pieced and hand-tied, with reinforced binding. About $80. www. cozybabyquilts.com received a porcelain baby dish set but ended up so distraught worrying about whether her child would break it that she exchanged it. “I traded it in for a necklace. It turned out to be a great gift after all,” she said. Personalized gifts fall into the Sentimental category. Many baby boutiques and major chain stores can stitch or engrave baby’s monogram or name and birth date onto a sterling silver rattle or even a keepsake quilt. When my first daughter was born, my mother-inlaw bought a small table and four chairs. The first chair had “Clare” painted on the back, and with each child a new name was painted on a chair. As a mom, I can tell you I love seeing my child’s name on just about anything: bath towels, music boxes, rocking chairs, onesies, step stools, growth charts, piggy banks, bracelets, bibs, diaper bags, plush blankets. Heirloom gifts, such as family trees or photo albums, can be enjoyed as the child grows older. Traditional online photo album Web sites, such as www.SnapFish. com, can put these together. Or, for a family history that presents itself more like a coffeetable book, check out www.Blurb.com. If a christening gown is in the family, the baby shower is an ideal time to pass this down. My husband’s grandmother gave me a gown that has been in the family for more than 60 years; each of my daughters has worn it. We also cherish the cape she knitted to go over the gown. Score points with simple gifts Get personal with the new baby The best gifts can be the simplest, but make sure you really know the mom-to-be. Bobbie Carlton of Lexington, Massachusetts, said the worst baby gift she ever received was a basket of all-natural baby wash and lotions. “The lotions were based on nut oils, and I’m deathly allergic to nuts.” A better idea might be to start a 529 savings plan for the new baby. Savings bonds are also a wise choice, though for both you’ll need the baby’s Social Security number. Check out the baby registry Yes, it’s controversial, but contemporary momsto-be register for what they want. They’ve spent hours researching strollers, car seats and high chairs—and spent even longer finding and scanning their items at places like Babies “R” Us and Buy Buy Baby. Sandra Gordon, author of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, says it loud and clear: “Stick to the baby registry.” (When you see how gaga the mom-to-be is when she unwraps the gleaming new jogging stroller she picked out, you’ll realize it was worth it.) And, as it’s common for new parents to register for big-ticket items, consider chipping in with a group. Don’t feel as though you need to go it alone unless that’s what you want to do. Handmade Princess suitcase from Brazilian artisans includes hand-knit jumper and sweater, perfect for a sleepover at the grands! $334. www.greenlittlebeans.com 50 GRAND JULY AUGUST 2008 Nontraditional One prudent alternative to buying off the registry is to buy far off the registry. Toddler toys, a portable DVD player for long car trips in later years, or clothes that will fit in a year are good bets. http://www.cozybabyquilts.com http://www.cozybabyquilts.com http://www.SnapFish.com http://www.SnapFish.com http://www.Blurb.com http://www.greenlittlebeans.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grand Magazine - July/August 2008

Grand Magazine - July/August 2008 Contents Grand View: Love Is All That's Left Isn't It Grand?: Reassessing the Postponed Life Grand Central Just So We Know: One Mixed-Up Lemon Long-Distance Love: Cuttings Ask Grand: Stuck on Stuff Grand Gestures: "Thanks for the Ugly Gift" Tips on Teens: All That Doesn't Meet the Eye Live Long and Propser On the Cover: Peter Yarrow Presents of Mine Thicker Than Water? Reunions: White Water, White Knuckles The Grand Gourmet So We Are Not Alone Looking Grand: Suit-Able Grandbloggers: Why Watch TV When We Can Talk? Grand Bazaar Resources Grand Finale: What Boat

Grand Magazine - July/August 2008

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