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Best Baby Shower Gifts That Are Easy To Make
Published 02.01.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (7)
On Tuesday I shared all sorts of inspiration for your baby shower planning. Today I wanted to show you some excellent DIY baby shower gifts. I tried to find things which don't require sewing or any special skills like knitting. Although, in my opinion, you should learn to knit. It's so relaxing and handmade baby sweaters are the sweetest gift. Also babies are small so their sweaters take nearly no time.
How thoughtful is this gift basket I saw on The Felt Mouse's flickr stream. It's everything you need to make your own homemade baby food. So nice for the new mom who probably has no clue where to even begin making her own food.
These hand towel bibs require a very, teeny, tiny, miniscule amount of sewing. I know I said no sewing, but these are too cute to leave off my list. Aside from finishing the edges where you cut the opening for the bib, these come together with one simple lollipop shaped cut. I had a couple of very drooly little teethers, so I know first hand how handy a lot of bibs are to have around.
If you really refuse to sew, you could put together this simple pretty nightlight shade. This is just cutting and pasting, like in kindergarten!
The DIY network offers up a list of five gifts for baby showers. The one I think would be most effective is a diaper changing station. I never used our changing table (which thankfully was just the top of a dresser with a pad). Instead I kept changing supplies in a basket in the living room where we spent most of our time. This was especially useful when my son was a baby because leaving a two-and-a-half year old alone while changing her rival's diaper could have resulted in serious mayhem. Something like this toy caddy filled with all the diaper changing essentials (including a washable pad to protect the floor or sofa where you change the baby) would make an excellent gift.
Have you seen the beautiful Book Bushels from Storyopolis? I love the look of them, and you could easily make your own by customizing the books and toys you include based on the parents-to-be's preferences. It would be sweet to include all your family's favorites, especially if you have kids of your own. Here's a resource to find the bushel baskets online, they might even be reused in the baby's nursery for toy storage.
Baby Shower season is closing, now you're more ready.
Here's an additional easy to make Baby Shower Gift: How to Make a Really Useful Diaper Cake... Hide Booze Inside.
You may also enjoy reading this... Necessities for Baby's First Year: The Baby-Gift-a-Month Club, Best Baby Shower Ideas and Inspiration (Part 1), Great Baby Shower Ideas, Invites & Favors (Part 2), Skipping the Baby Registry: Yay or Nay?, Because Pregnancy Makes You Crazy, Period
You may also enjoy watching this... Organic Baby video, It's a Boy! video, Enough Plastic Already! video
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About
Melissa Summers was one of five Melissa's throughout her schooling, in her everyday life she is the only Melissa who folds laundry. The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word for Honeybee. The Buzz Off is published weekly on Tuesdays. She writes almost nearly everyday at Suburban Bliss.
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Comments (7):
Meredith said:
I love the idea of a diaper changing station. I have many baby showers coming up. Now for those of us who do not have kids yet- what all goes into the caddy?
Posted on February 1, 2008 12:53
Kate said:
Meredith, I would line it with some cloth diapers (they make great burp cloths) or a receiving blanket, then put in a small folded changing pad, a package of newborn size diapers, a package of wipes, some hand sanitizer, and most importantly, butt paste:
http://www.buttpaste.com/BLButtPaste.php
Posted on February 1, 2008 13:23
A said:
Have you seen the baby sock sushi? I am dying to try this one to give as a gift:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2007/08/sock-and-roll-sushi.html
Posted on February 1, 2008 22:29
j3n said:
The only thing I would add to Kate's list is lap pads for use on top of the lower half of the changing pad cover (unless you want to wash your cover a million times).
http://tinyurl.com/2slb94
Buttpaste didn't work so well for us so we used Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment.
http://tinyurl.com/ytzy7j
I carried their Baby Bee Getting Started Kit in my diaper bag, it was so convenient to have small sizes of everything I used at home that I just kept refilling them when I'd run out.
Posted on February 2, 2008 02:40
Nell said:
I received a basket full of supplies for breastfeeding -- book on the subject, Lanisoh, breast pads, water bottle, snack mix, etc. This was one of the most useful things I got, especially since as a first-time mom I really had no clue.
Posted on February 2, 2008 17:53
FENICLE said:
Tomo & Edie have a great organic baby kimono that would be a great gift to include!
http://www.tomoandedie.com
I'd also add a bottle of wine for the mom!
Posted on February 3, 2008 13:10
KUchick said:
I am totally stupid about crafty stuff like this, but I am intrigued by the hand towel bibs, since regular bibs seem puny. What is the teensy bit of sewing involved that Melissa alludes to? That link to the Martha Stewart site doesn't mention sewing. Do you sew on the tape? Is it not sticky like actual tape? Remember, I told you I am stupid about this stuff!
Posted on February 5, 2008 13:16