Congratulations on New Baby

New babies are a joy -- not only for the new parents, but for everyone whose lives they touch. Even strangers smile at the sight of a pregnant mother or of a mother with a new baby. 

Why is that? Maybe the sight of a new little person in the world is a sign of hope for all of us. Yes, babies are adorable and we love to see their wide eyes and their chubby cheeks, but it's more than that, too. When so much in the world pulls us down, a baby can still make us smile. There will be a tomorrow, and this child will be part of it.

Everyone around the expecting couple shares in the wonder of the event. We can't help but wish the couple well. And they sure need those well wishes and those helping hands!

Sometimes we throw new parents a baby shower to "shower" them with gifts. But even more important than the gifts are the encouraging words, the message that the new parents are not entering this new phase of their lives alone. They will have those around them to support them emotionally as well as physically through the early trying months of having a new baby in their lives.

The gifts are just the symbol of that encouragement.

There are many ways to let people know your child is born, but choosing a card that you love is a great idea. Grandparents and aunties and uncles will save that card forever. It is a precious reminder of the new life among us.

Some people like to make their own cards and this is a wonderful, personal things to do. But maybe you are just too exhausted from all that having a new baby entails, and despite your best intentions, you just cannot get to making those baby announcement cards. 

Zazzle cards are a great choice because you can either design your own card or personalize a card someone else has designed, adding in your baby's name, date, weight, etc., and the new cards will arrive all ready to address and put in the mail. 

Or you can order them ahead of time and add the information by hand. 

The choice is up to you.

(Psst! These cards can be changed on the inside and used as a shower invitation if you are planning the shower rather than having the baby!)

One of the points of giving a gift to the parents of a new baby is to set them up with all the things they will need. Let's face it: babies are expensive! They go through diaper after diaper, and if those diapers leak, they can go through many onesies and sleepers a day. That's just to keep the baby clean, not to make them fancy!

But although a baby onesie is a very practical gift, a onesie can do double duty as a fun gift, too.

Do you remember getting up at three A.M. night after night to a crying baby? Being sleep deprived as a new parent is no joke, but if you could lighten the mood a little, and reassure the parents that other parents have gone through this before, you may help them put this nightly ritual into perspective. Humor helps lift the spirits.

The second onesie featured here is fun and useful, too.

Babies benefit from hearing rhymes, and rhymes and songs are a fun way to play and bond with your baby, too. But how often does a new Mom or Dad forget the words to the rhyme just when they need them? Here is a onesie that will help you remember those fleeting words! (P.S. the second verse is on the back!)  

Lack of sleep is one of the biggest issues a new parent has to face. If the baby does not sleep at night -- and few babies do -- the parents don't sleep at night either. This is an issue when Mom and Dad have to get up to go to work in the morning, but even if a parent stays home with the baby, there still may not be enough opportunity to catch up on sleep during the day. 

Some families struggle with this lack of sleep more than others, but everyone is touched by it in one way or another.

This DVD is one of the best helps I have seen on how to calm baby down so that everyone gets enough sleep.

I have included a couple of swaddling blankets here, too.

Best Gifts for Babies
Toys, blankies, rattles, cloth diapers and diaper covers -- these and more can be found here.

Night Lights
Here are some night lights for your little one's room.

Then there are all the other things a new parent may not even know that they'll need. A way to carry a baby around so that they are comforted is essential. You can carry a baby in your arms, but as most women in the world have figured out, if you have to carry the baby in your arms all day, you'll never get anything done. There are meals to be made, laundry to do, many things that take your two hands to accomplish.

Women in different cultures have found different solutions to accomplish this. Some use a long piece of fabric to make a sling to keep baby close. Others have devised frames to hold baby on their back, others to hold baby on the front. A new mother and dad will find what is most comfortable for them, but you may be able to offer some help in choosing.

Babybjorn Baby Carrier Original - Black, Classic

These baby carriers are some of the more popular varieties for new parents. Carrying baby on your chest keeps baby in the comfort of an embrace, yet lets you have your hands free for doing your chores or whatever else you need to do.

These two choices reflect two different approaches to wearing a baby. The baby carrier above gives more external support, while the one below is a natural choice that is similar to what women have done across the planet for centuries.

It all comes down to personal choice. Some families I know have had both carriers available (maybe they received them as shower gifts) and have used both at different times. Sometimes one parent has a preference that is different from the other parent's comfort level. That's why I've included both options here. 

Moby Wrap Original 100% Cotton Solid Baby Carrier, Moss

I hope you have found some helpful comments and suggestions on this page, whether you are the parent expecting your new little one or whether you are trying to help someone else welcome a new baby to their family. I wish you well!

Please write a message below and let me know what you think. Your comments may help someone else, too.