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My sister-in-law has created a way to combine fabrics that stimulate infant development with baby items we use everyday.  Her beautiful burp cloths and other items have been a hit at the showers I've been to.  They allow me to surprise everyone with something a new mom needs in a way no one has ever seen it.  Check out zeebabee.com if you're interested.

My favorite baby item was the Baby Papasan chair.  My son slept in that the first 5 months!  Also, my Tiny Diner silicone dining mat was absolutely wonderful.  After having 2 kids, I also envisioned a product idea that I ended up actually making and now sell called the Take-Along Tether (www.TakeAlongTether.com) .  I think it makes a great baby gift and helps keep the germs away by not allowing children's items to get dropped on the floor.  You can use it to hold virtually any child item on one end and attach the other end to virtually any seating device to keep children's items from getting dropped and dirty or lost.  It also converts to a "buddy system" child tether to keep children safe from wandering off, but is not a leash or harness like others on the market.  Good luck to you!

Jennifer Spencer

President, Inventor, & Mother of 2

www.TakeAlongTether.com

Oh, yes, the Kiddopotamus sleep blanket was very important. My daughter slept in one until 8 months!! Also, my microwave bottle sterilizer was used a lot. Mine was Avent, but there are others, and you can use them to sterilize breast pump parts so fast!!! A good thermometer was a great gift.The Braun thermoscan ear thermometer is what I have, but my friends love their temporal thermometer, which takes a temp in less than 5 seconds. These can be pricey, though. Also, a great gift a friend received once was a Super Suppers gift card. She got to go put together 8 ready to bake meals to store in the freezer. What a time saver!

We have really used our bouncy chair (especially after we figured out to keep a blanket on it as a cover after we had to wash it 2X a day for 3 days). We also use the newborn Boppy a lot (she loves to sleep in it) and "My Brest Friend" is wonderful for helping this new mom keep baby in the right position to nurse.

I have not yet had the pleasure of using this myself, but nearly all of my friends who have babies swear by The Miracle Blanket (http://www.miracleblanket.com/index.htm). It is a swaddle blanket that has a unique patented design. How can you go wrong, the tagline is "the gift of sleep." It is now my go-to baby gift, supplemented by either a pair of Baby Legs (www.babylegs.net), or ADORABLE custom burp cloths from Cutesy Cloths (http://www.cutesycloths.com/). These burp cloths are always a hit with the moms because not only are they cute, but the quality has been found to be superior! The Baby Legs are a great alternative to pants in the cooler seasons and provide great protection to little legs when learning to crawl...they always look best on chunky thighs!

With my 4th baby, I bought a swaddling blanked made by Kiddopotamus (I probably spelled that wrong...).  It had velcro closures so the swaddle could not come undone.  My little guy was secure and settled down in it every time.  I used it until I popped the seams--then I sewed it to try to make it last longer!

 Also, as a first time mom, I thought those shopping-cart covers were a frivolous waste of money, but as I got older and had more kids, I have become more of a germaphobe, so I got one with my latest little one.

Some of my favorite things were bath-related...soap, lotion, hoodie towels, wash cloths, cotton pads....we could use all of them right away. I like giving this kind of thing as a gift, now, because it's something everyone needs.

I used the Boppy a lot, but my husband refused to get near it.

The best gift we received was a travel system comprised of an infant seat with hood and stroller. The infant seat has been stored now that Sam is older, but the stroller is well used.

We received way too many blankets. They were all lovely, but it really isn't that cold here in North Texas. Also, Sam has never warmed to his stuffed animals. Go figure.

While not glamorous, the ton of diapers we received was very helpful. We didn't need to buy any for at least two months.

My absolute fave gift was the Peanut Shell - a fleece sling. It was so easy to use (no straps or ties) and I was able to wear DD all around the house while I got things done.

 I also got a "My Favorite Things" basket from one of my friends - all of her favorite baby things. I've since repeated the gift for friends with my picks: Robeez shoes, Mustela diaper wash, parenting books, etc.

I used the Boppy exactly once. My favorite things (and the most useful things for me) were the bouncy seat and the pack-n-play.