More Babies…More Gifts :: Gift Guide & Giveaway

Whether looking for a gift for a baby “sprinkle” or simply wanting to bring a warm welcome to a friend’s second or third {or maybe fourth, fifth, or sixth!} baby, I’ve always had trouble deciding what to give.  I even struggle with a second {or third} baby’s first birthday gift, especially if the child is the same gender as an older sibling. At the same time, I’ve received some pretty amazing gifts and thought to myself, now why didn’t I think of that?

So I’ve gathered a few ideas from some of the best minds and hearts I know :: friends I’ve known for years and our very own Houston Moms Blog Contributors! Pin away these five categories to sprinkle and spoil those babies to come!

Personalize It!

Two of the greatest suggestions I received are to think long term and bigger picture and keep siblings in mind.  After having our own second, I can totally relate. Our separated by distance group of close friends threw a long distance book shower when I was pregnant with John. Some sent their personal family favorites and others tailored their choices to Wyatt’s interests {anything that flies!}. We were given instructions to open all the packages we received on a certain day and really enjoyed our family time opening new books for the baby and watching big brother’s excitement over being included as we prepared to grow our family.

One friend sent a set of books from frecklebox, and this was especially popular with our older son who loves seeing his and his brother’s name within the pages.  There are a number of other personalized products on the site as well. I See Me! is another great choice for personalized books and products and even has a set of personalized books just for siblings.

Another one of my favorites is handprint or footprint keepsakes. I love having their tiniest moments up in the nursery to remember as they grow. I am especially grateful for one that I received before John was born as in his rush to get his breathing under control, the nursing staff wasn’t so much focused on footprints. Big brother helped me with these after he was home. I stumbled upon this one from personacreations.com and just might have to make it a part of baby 3’s room!

There are so many personalized options out there, and my best suggestion would be to start with Etsy and search for what you want. Our sponsor Too Cute Embroidered and Personalized Gifts has a precious online shop with everything from personalized placemats to monogrammed pacifiers, and there are tons of options to celebrate each unique addition to a family. And of course, finding some special lovies or monthly stickers is another fun idea too.

Use It!

Let’s keep it short and sweet {and practical!}…diapers and wipes, diapers and wipes, diapers and wipes! Or a gift card for such purchases. Enough said.

Share It!

Think back or even look back at pictures to remind yourself of what your own children love and what you appreciate as a parent, whether for a newborn or older infant. Maybe it’s The Miracle Blanket or a white noise machine; maybe you’ve discovered the sweetest smelling baby lotion or found a great new teething invention that wasn’t around for your first children.

Consider sharing your family’s favorite books or CD of lullabies. We love to pass along On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman and Jewel’s CD Lullaby with its soothing sounds for new babies and parents alike.

Speaking of sharing, Houston Moms Blog contributor Sarah’s idea also involved coming together as a family or group of friends to share the giving and contribute to a larger present such as a gift card for pictures with a family photographer {hint…hint… Momma’s Gonna Snap is pretty amazing!} or maybe a Little Tykes bounce house that would help entertain big brother or sister now and the family could enjoy later.  My scattered group of friends has started doing this as well. We’ve chipped in for a double stroller and diaper bag to suit their family’s growing needs.

Be It!

Take note of your gifts and talents and BE the gift! Help stock the pantry before baby arrives and make special considerations for special treats for big brother or sister, checking with parents, of course. Think of “staple” items that will be useful for quick meals on nights when no outside help has provided anything, as well as easy-to-grab, on-the-go snacks and energy boosts that new moms and dads can eat in a crunch.

Other ideas include house-cleaning, errand-running, or babysitting or carpooling other siblings. Are you a baker? Make lactation cookies. Are you handy with a camera? Volunteer to take family pictures.  We all have something to offer or a service to give. Use your time and talents to help new mom out!

{And here’s a hint. HMB contributor Chelsea recommended the “Baby Care Package” that can be purchased from the Junior League of Houston. If you aren’t so much the cook or running low on time, this option definitely can sub in!}

Do It!

Keep mom, dad, and the whole family in mind, and give the gift of an experience. Consider a prenatal massage for mom or offer to pay for a babysitter so the two of you can get pedicures before baby arrives. Include the family and purchase a membership to the Houston Zoo or the Children’s Museum of Houston. Houston Moms Blog contributor Tiffanie’s son received tickets for Hermann Park train rides, and Meagan’s children received Build-A-Bear gift cards. These gifts are nice ways to include siblings and encourage special times spent together before baby arrives or offer ways to help siblings create gifts for their newest brother or sister.

I’d say our contributors have helped me come up with a great list!  But one of my most favorite ideas comes from our very own Sarah and Jessica’s shop The Little Crane! They offer some adorable options for personalizing clothing which would be PERFECT for matching sibling outfits. And they also have a great new addition that makes a perfect baby find – personalized seersucker backpacks!  How great would this be to stuff with some of the ideas above and drop off to a friend who is currently expecting…or how fun would it be to just keep for your own family too?  Well, you are in luck because we are giving a personalized backpack away to one of you!  Enter below to win ::

Winner :: Nicole N.