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Do you have a baby shower coming up? Did you just find out that you are going to be a grandparent? As a new Mom who has thoroughly tested all of her baby shower gifts, here are five of my favorite gifts under $35.
# 1 Reusable Table Mat
This is seriously the coolest invention for self-feeding babies. Complete strangers (most are recent grandparents) interrupt our meals all of the time to ask where to buy it. This dishwasher-safe placemat has suction cups on the bottom and sticks to most restaurant tables. It’s perfect for eating out. The price is $10-15, which is only a few extra dollars than the disposable placemats on the market. You can find them online at Amazon.com or at Babies-R-Us. I haven’t seen them in Target or Wal-Mart stores.
#2 Dishwasher Basket
If you love to give practical gifts and don't want to spend a lot, get these. These baskets are great to hold the many parts of baby’s bottles, sippy cups and silverware. You’ll use this well into their toddler years. These cost around $5, so be sure to get a couple. The best part is that you won’t have to worry about washing anything by hand!
#3 Footed Pajamas
A new baby can never have too many footed pajamas. They are so cute and if you haven’t bought any in a long while (grandma), they now have cute animals on the feet. See the monkey feet! And, please, if these are gifts, buy many different sizes (0-18 months). They grow out of them so quickly. You can find these at nearly all stores that sell baby clothes. Carter’s outlet stores sell them for $6 each; you can also find them at Target for $8 or so on clearance.
#4 Boppy Nursing Pillow
This is an absolute MUST purchase for any mom who will be breastfeeding. I’ve used mine every single day for eleven months. Yes, you could use a pillow, but no, it does not work as good as this. You can also rest your laptop on it quite nicely. Don’t bother with buying multiple slipcovers. You’ll probably just need one. You can find these at Target for around $30.
#5 Cool Mist Humidifier
A humidifier is not exactly a “fun” baby gift but it's a lifesaver when your little one is sick. When our baby became sick for the first time (with the croup!), the humidifier made a significant improvement in his sleeping. He breathed better throughout the night and woke up happier. Be sure to get cool mist instead of hot, in case your baby or toddler put their hand over the vent. I've been told that you want a “visible” mist; if it’s not a “visible” mist, then it’s not putting enough moisture into the air. You will have to clean it on a regular basis (every couple of weeks) with a vinegar solution to clear out the calcium deposit. If you wait too long (couple of months), it will begin to smell like mildew. We purchased this one at Wal-Mart for $35.
