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Party Planning: Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Dear Penelope,
Help! I’ve been invited to a baby shower, and the gift I ordered for my friend won’t arrive until three days after the shower. This is one of my closest friends, who’s always given me great baby presents. What can I put together that will serve as an interim present so I don’t look like a horrible person? Thanks!
Meg
Windsor, CT

Dear Meg,
Believe it or not, I’ve been in your shoes. I kept putting off buying a gift for my friend's shower and then all of a sudden it was two days before the event and I couldn’t find anything I liked.

My last minute baby shower gift solution felt silly at the time, but ended up being just the right present for my friend, who was pregnant with her first child and scared out of her mind.

I bought a simple empty black journal, and decoupaged the cover with images of babies and other light and fluffy things (rattles, storks, cupcakes, you get the idea) from magazines.

Then, I dedicated each page to writing a tip that I wished someone had given me when I was first pregnant or a story from my own experience as a new mom.

I started with some simple and slightly cheesy tips such as a reminder that, while childbirth is painful and scary for a first time mom, the reward you get will fill your life with endless joy and wonder.

Then, I moved into the world of Don't Worry tips. I'll give you an example.

When William was born, he only cried when I picked him up. Of course, I freaked out. This was my first child, and the only thing that could make him cry was his mother! I called everyone I could think of, and they all said the same thing. Babies cry. Your son certainly can't hate the person who gives him food and comfort. Also, you're probably so worried about doing a bad job that you've convinced yourself that William only cries with you. They were right, of course.

Real life examples like these help to reassure a first time mother, whose head is so filled with questions that she can't possibly ask them all in nine months.

So my last minute baby shower gift idea for you is to make your own Mommy Guidebook with examples from your own life. What do you remember that scared you, delighted you or grossed you out?

Rely on your own experience to fill your book's pages, and illustrate your tips and stories if you can.

If your friend is like mine, she'll treasure this book forever. She might even pass it on to the baby in question when it's his or her turn to go through the first baby experience.

Have fun with this project, and please give my congratulations to your friend. What a wonderful time!

Enjoy Planning.
Penelope

Baby Shower party invitations and party planning at MyPunchbowl