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Gift giving is never so exciting as when it's to celebrate the arrival of a brand new baby. Whether the baby is within your family or your circle of friends and co-workers, this is no time to come up with the dud gift. No gift will rival the blessing of a new babe to his parents, so this time it truly is the thought that counts. Parents will remember the unique gifts, not one of the dozen sleepers or bibs, the babies will recall nothing at all. After the utter exhaustion and total euphoria that having a baby brings, the new parent will appreciate all the gifts on this parent pleasing list.
Maid Service - No parent can deny that having a baby puts a crimp in the housecleaning style of any family. Let the new mom nap or bond with the baby while someone else cleans the house. This gift can vary in price depending on the area and how long you would like to pay for the new parents to have their house cleaned. This should average out to $100 for a month of visits.
Diaper Service - If your new parents are leaning towards cloth diapers but just not sure, this is a great way for the family to take cloth on a test drive. And they'll have no diapers to clean. Arrange for a 6 week trial for about $10 a week in areas where this is an option.
Dinners In - If the new mom has no time to clean, she has even less time to cook. You can arrange to have professional caterers to drop off dinner at the the new parents house, or offer coupons for their favorite restaurant to deliver. If you have talent and time to spend in the kitchen, you could even whip up a few dishes yourself. The cost of this gift will vary depending on what service you hire and how long you want to provide meals for whether it's just a night, or a couple of weeks.
Subscriptions - With little time to read the tomes of parenthood, parents will appreciate the gift of a magazine subscription to a parenting magazine that fits their lifestyle. Whether they'd appreciate Parents, Parenting, Mothering, or Working Mother or one of the many others available is your choice and it'll set you back less than $25 for a gift they'll remember every month of the year.
Start a Collection - If the baby is in your family or within a close group of friends you can start a collection for the little one. Coins and Stamps are come in great starter sets and you can add to the collection every year on the baby's birthday. Or you can begin a set of high quality toys like Brio, to add to as baby grows.
Treasure of Memories - Any of those little extras that come engraved with baby's name and birthdate are sure to be appreciated and remembered for years to come. The cost will vary depending on whether you choose to get a blanket, a picture frame, or any of the numerous items of baby memorabilia that are available. The only caveat is that silver mugs and spoons require dusting and cleaning, so unless they are collectors of cutesy avoid the clutter and buy a gift that's useful too.
Pro Shots - Parents will love the gift of a proffessional baby photographer to take pictures of their new arrival. Hire a specialist to drop by when the baby is about 8 weeks old to take pictures that will last a lifetime. The price will vary depending on the area and the package you choose, but you should be able to get the visit and a variety of proofs for $200. It's worth every penny, a picture is worth a thousand words, and it's a luxury few new parents splurge on. For a more budget conscious gift you can arrange for a cast of the baby's hand or foot to be made for about $30.
Time Capsule - While most new parents remember to clip the newspaper on the day of their baby's arrival, most don't have a place to put the clipping. Specialty companies are now creating great boxes and cylinders just for this purpose, and at a cost effective $20-$50, they are a great gift for co-workers.
Lead into Literacy - Buying a good book is never a bad investment. You can go with an old classic like "Goodnight, Moon" by Margeret Wise Brown or a new favorite. Board books, cloth books, or bathtub vinyl books, you can make the choice and buy one book or several to start the new babies library.
No matter what you choose to celebrate the new arrival it's sure to be remembered if it saves time or energy, if it captures or preserves a memory or more, or if it can be added to and grow with the new baby. Allow these things to guide you as you search for the perfect present. And on behalf of parents everywhere, I implore you, please, no more rattles.
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