Category: Frugal Living

Time

You can also give the gift of time in a number of ways,  If you live close to the couple or have some free time and want to develop a close relationship with the baby, you can offer to babysit so that couples can have a date night—studies have shown that this plays a significant part in avoiding drifting apart after baby is born.

You can also volunteer to help sign up the couple for free giveaways of coupons, baby products and more. You can offer to run errands for mom or keep an eye on the baby while she gets out of the house to do her essential chores without carting the infant all over the place. (Parents should NEVER ever leave a baby alone in a car.)

Buying a baby gift can be expensive if you are not careful, and a waste of time, money and effort if you buy the wrong thing that they will really have no use for. When in doubt, opt for a baby gift basket you can put together yourself. It will look impressive, but only you have to know what great bargains you got.

Another consideration when choosing items is to consider how ‘green’ both you and the new parents are in terms of how much you want to consume and how much of an impact it will have on the Earth. Many moms are getting back to basics and using cloth diapers, breast feeding, and avoiding using formula because of the increasing rate of food allergies amongst children and the amount of waste that it generates. Green parents are also turning to natural, sustainable fabrics like cotton  and avoiding scratchy synthetics that stain easily.

One final consideration when choosing the gift is the culture of a couple. Some cultures feel it is bad luck to buy anything for the baby until it is safely born. For other cultures, they want things to be as natural as possible and there are ‘benchmarks’ for the baby that are marked with special occasions. For Christians, for example, the baptism or christening is important to some sects, while others believe in adult baptism. When in doubt, ask, to make sure that couples are getting something they really need or want, which will give you even more value for your baby gift budget.

 

FURTHER READING
How to Slash Costs and Save Money on Everyday Expenses

How to Use the Internet to Save Money

Going Green for New Moms: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Your Baby in an Eco-Friendly Way

Green Mother’s Guide: How to Raise a Child More Greenly and Naturally

The New Green Family Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green as a Family

Keepsake Gifts

Keepsake gifts can include personalized items which mark the baby’s birthday in some way, such as a sterling silver engraved rattle, picture frame, or a special baby album or scrapbook. If you are the creative type, ask for photos of the baby/digital photos (couples will usually put together a digital album these days to share with everyone) and print out the best photos on high-quality photo paper on a good printer. Then use your scrapbooking talents to create a book full of memories. You can also choose from a range of pre-made baby books and add the photos. Many baby books will have a theme like baby’s first year, a sports theme, Hello Kitty and so on, so choose one you think will suit the tastes of the parents.

Money

A gift card or gift certificate can help contribute towards all of the items a newborn  will require. Cash in a card is also greatly appreciated, even if it seems unimaginative. We have heard several complaints recently about couples barely able to make ends meet because they had no idea how expensive things were and how fast they burned through them.

Continued in Part 5

FURTHER READING:

How to Slash Costs and Save Money on Everyday Expenses

How to Use the Internet to Save Money

Going Green for New Moms: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Your Baby in an Eco-Friendly Way

Green Mother’s Guide: How to Raise a Child More Greenly and Naturally

The New Green Family Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green as a Family

Toys and Books

Stuffed animals and dolls are a welcome gift for any newborn. A classic set of children’s books also makes an excellent gift. A child’s first Bible might also be appropriate depending on the religious orientation of the family and the gift giver’s relationship with the newborn’s parents.

 

Fun colorful baby bath books or sets of books in a handy travel box can help an infant become interested in books at an early age. Avoid so-called educational DVDs. TV has been proven to be just a distraction to infants that does not teach them anything, and in fact can hinder their progress in learning how to interact with people through speaking and listening because the television does not provide ‘emotional cues’ or prompts to help baby learn how to talk.

Continued in Part 4

FURTHER READING
How to Slash Costs and Save Money on Everyday Expenses

How to Use the Internet to Save Money

Going Green for New Moms: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Your Baby in an Eco-Friendly Way

Green Mother’s Guide: How to Raise a Child More Greenly and Naturally

The New Green Family Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green as a Family

Baby Equipment

An infant car seat for a child up to twenty pounds is required to take infants home from most hospitals. Infant strollers in which the baby can sit up and the seat can be removed and even converted to a place where the baby can recline are extremely useful for parents. They can be costly but are essential for newborns. The Peg Pergo brand might be a bit more expensive than the others but in our extensive collective experience with many babies, it can’t be beaten for sensibility and above all safety. If this is the couple’s first child, it will also offer good value, since it can certainly be handed down to other siblings as and when they arrive, and eventually sold in good condition second-hand and snapped up for a good price.

Baby bouncers, a baby boppy if the mother plans to breast feed, a diaper bag, and a bottle sterilizer and rapid bottle and jar warmer are also essentials which any mother will appreciate. Again, set your budget and shop around for the best value. Check the special deals at Amazon and read the reviews from real moms with real babies. We once got the most amazing Winnie the Pooh teething blanket for only a few dollars that was worth its weight in gold.

Baby Clothing

In addition to the usual layettes which a newborn will need for the first three months of its life, hat, booties, a blanket and little jacket or top, the baby might also need seasonal outerwear, soft shoes, hats and mittens.  Most doctors do not want baby to go out until they are well into their sets of vaccinations, but they will have to go to the doctor, to visit family, and so on.

Baby undershirts, sleep sacks for easy changing of the baby, and baby pajamas and socks are essential for newborns. Believe us, there is nothing more convenient than a sleep sack. They are comfortable and the hem can be flipped up for easy diaper changes without having to worry about getting pants on and off the flailing legs of a small infant.

Special bibs, sweaters, dresses and outfits for special holidays coming up, such as  a Christmas bib, also make great gifts. There are many bibs with pictures and slogans on them too. When in doubt, aim for classy, not crass;  cute, not crude.  Not everyone has the same sense of humor, after all.

Continued in Part 3

FURTHER READING
How to Slash Costs and Save Money on Everyday Expenses

How to Use the Internet to Save Money

Going Green for New Moms: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Your Baby in an Eco-Friendly Way

Green Mother’s Guide: How to Raise a Child More Greenly and Naturally

The New Green Family Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green as a Family

The arrival of a new baby is a time of great joy and is marked by gift giving by family and friends. Many expecting couples register with various stores online to take the guesswork out of finding the best gifts for baby.

However, not all couples do so, or even know themselves what items will be in most demand once the new baby arrives. Depending on a person’s budget and how close they are to the happy couple, there are a variety of appropriate gifts which new parents will appreciate without you having to spend too much money.

Decide first if you want to buy baby consumables that will be used up almost as soon as the infant arrives, or prefer to purchase a gift that will be more long-lasting, such as a baby keepsake. You might do both depending on how close you are to the couple and what your budget is. Decide what you can realistically afford and then start shopping for the best bargains.

Baby Essentials

Diapers, diaper wipes, baby soap, baby lotion,  burp cloths, bibs and layettes will be needed several times a day for at least the first month.  Layettes will usually include a hat, blanket and booties. They will come in a variety of prices and styles, from inexpensive and fun, to elegant and formal enough to be used for a child’s christening or other special occasion when people will want to dress up baby to show him or her off.

Attractive baby baskets and starter kits with all these essentials organized for you at one low price are an easy way to gift these items without spending too much money. But don’t be lured by gift basket sites which charge a fortune for shipping and handling unless you need to send the gift out of state. Otherwise, if you will be seeing the couple and their newborn in person, consider shopping at your local warehouse clubs for all the essentials and pack them yourself in a pretty wicker basket with a colorful bow. An inexpensive stuffed animal can be the finishing touch and will also serve as a keepsake to remind them of your thoughtfulness.

Continued in Part 2

FURTHER READING

How to Slash Costs and Save Money on Everyday Expenses

How to Use the Internet to Save Money

Going Green for New Moms: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Your Baby in an Eco-Friendly Way

Green Mother’s Guide: How to Raise a Child More Greenly and Naturally

The New Green Family Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green as a Family