Hello.

Hello... You may be thinking, how is this blog any different to the millions of blogs out there... well, I have created a unique site, unique to me (my pregnancy, my delivery & finally motherhood) which will continue to expand on my experiences, new ideas, challenges & successes along the way! Hope you enjoy. Feel free to look around :)
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Baby Showers 101

My next series of posts will be all about BABY SHOWERS... so if you're going to be attending one, hosting one or on the receiving end of one, forward this to all your friends and watch this space!

When buying a gift? 
Your BEST bet is to find out if there's a gift registry or gift list. Buying off their registry/list is the SAFEST option as you know that whatever you get will be useful & appreciated! If there isn't a list, use the following questions to guide you in your gift buying...
is it a boy or girl? 
is it their first baby? 
what colour is the nursery? 
is there a theme to the party? 
what hasn't the mom bought yet?

Buying a gift for a first-time mom? 
First-time moms are often the easiest to buy for... what doesn't a first-time mom need? See the post 'New Baby Check List' for ideas. However, if you're new to this or have been out of the 'baby thing' for quite some time you might not have heard of half the items on the list! Going into a baby shop can be quite daunting for some, as there's SUCH a large selection, one doesn't know where to begin!

Here is a list of items which I think make great baby shower gifts:
Something for the mom... a massage voucher, some new smellies, creams or bath oils, or even a good book! Something for her to enjoy!
Now for the little one... 
Bibs You just can't have enough, and don't waste your time getting bibs without plastic backings - pointless. Mothercare does a great pack of 10 white bibs with plastic backings. 
Baby Cheeks Reusable Nappies. Buy a beautiful starter pack (organic nappies & accessories) which the mom can add to with a wide variety of colours to choose from. Contact me for more details (shelleywatkinson@gmail.com)
Books There are so many to choose from... waterproof (great for bath time), texture & colour, 123, ABC's, animals etc.
Burp Cloths (unfortunately they don't have a better name :) VERY useful, especially in the early days. H&M do some really nice, small ones which fit perfectly over the shoulder.
Blankets, depending on the climate! If you're in a warm country, I wouldn't bother. However, if you're living in a cold country, they make a perfect gift, and you just can't have enough!
Clothing, atleast 6 months and up! I know the new born and 0-3 sizes look cuter, but EVERYONE else is buying them! So, why not buy an adorable outfit for the little one's first birthday? However, if you cannot resist, buy full length baby grows rather than onesies. (Ok, onesies are the ones without arms or legs! Babygrows are the ones with full arms & full legs). Most people buy onesies, but babygrows are better for cooler climates, or AC'd climates (such as Dubai) and can double up as pyjamas. 
Educational toys! Teddy bears are adorable to look at but not much fun for a baby discovering his world! Anything from the Early Learning Center would make an awesome gift! Just ask the sales assistance for some advice.
Hooded Towels Look for the heavy, fluffy ones! Mothercare have some luxurious individual hooded towels as well as packs of 3.
Keepsakes are very special. You can find quite a variety in Mamas & Papas (Mercato Mall) & BabyShop (Mall of the Emirates)
Music (CD's or even DVD's) Virgin Megastore has a great collection of songs and nursery rhymes for little ones.
Personalized Gifts are always a winner! Pottery Barn in Mirdif City Center and www.dubaibabies.com do some lovely ones.

Buying a gift for 2nd/3rd/4th time mom?
Again, first check to see if there is a gift list/registry. If not, then go for something different. By the 3rd of 4th child, the house is probably FULL of toys and baby products. So look for something new! Check to see if there's a new product on the market which the mom may not have had for her other babies. Once again, perhaps a gift for the mommy would be greatly appreciated! 

Risky gifts... 
1. Sayings on baby clothes (someone mind find it offensive if all your gifts insinuate their little baby is a terror!) Be mindful of the person receiving the gift when selecting clothes with sayings. 
2. A seriously avantgarde look or traditional attire belonging to YOUR home country. Again it all depends on how well you know the mom, but think about THEIR baby wearing the gift and NOT your own. 
3. It may seem obvious to some, but don't buy "BOYISH" gifts for a girl, and "GIRLY" gifts for a boy. Yes, some boys do wear pink, but not  frilly, floral hats! 
4. TOYS make wonderful gifts, but there are some which are a little tricky! Be mindful when buying LARGE gifts... you may find your gift on ebay the following month, especially if it's a 6ft stuffed giraffe (I am not speaking from experience ;). Just bear in mind It might look good in the shops but not necessarily when it takes up half of someone's living room! 
5.Toiletries... unless you know the brand she likes, rather wait to find out. Most mom's know which brands they like and often will prefer one over the other! If you really can't avoid buying toiletries, choose hypoallergenic products which are sensitive on baby's skin. 
6. Bottles, Sterilizer or Breast Pump ... again unless you're certain you know the brand the mom prefers!

Find out the deal on second hand items!
If you're a mom, you may well have LOADS of baby clothes or products which are still in excellent condition. I'm always surprised that there aren't more second hand gifts given at baby showers! Newborn clothes especially are hardly worn and often still look brand new by the time baby has outgrown them. If the mom you're buying for is open to second hand gifts, why don't you go through your baby's 'outgrown' collection and see what you can pass on. Often a baby will try out 3 or 4 different types of bottles before they find one that they like. Why not pass on the bottles that were only used once or twice? An unused blanket, toy, sterilizer, bottle warmer etc. I'm sure a lot of moms have some gifts which they never or hardly used.

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