Stuff We Like: Baby Shower Gifts

Buying for babies doesn't have to be hard. NYMetroParents editorial director Dawn M. Roode shares her favorite baby shower gifts, culled from items she found essential when her own son was born, and cute ways to celebrate a child's arrival. Oh, baby!  

For the Greater Good

I have a few go-to baby shower gifts, and they are inevitably the things that I could not live without when my own son was born. Two essential books (below), a package of good old cloth diapers—to use for everything from spit-up to all-out spills, and at least one set of swaddles from Aden + Anais. These 100-percent cotton muslin swaddle blankets—large enough to make performing a tight swaddle foolproof, and so soft it’s hard to believe they get more comfy with every wash—are breathable, cute, and versatile. And this special “Hayden’s Heart”swaddle ($19.95), inspired by a young boy who lost his battle with Congenital Heart Disease (the leading cause of infant deaths in the U.S.), benefits Hayden’s Heart (haydensheart.org), a nonprofit whose mission is to raise awareness for CHD and help affected families with medical and travel expenses.  

Special Delivery

You know the saying: Good things come in small packages. Well, they don’t get any more whimsically wonderful—or tinier—than these hand-crafted gifts shipped from “The World’s Smallest Post Office.” We nominate these Tiny Packages from Leafcutter Designs ($10.50) for your expectant friends: Choose witty messages such as “Here’s to your new little peanut!” (above) and “Congrats on building your family” (accompanied by tiny A, B, C blocks), or write your own. Gifts are enclosed in the ever-so-small parcel along with the object of your choice wrapped in a crumpled copy of The Small Times newspaper!  

Stick with Me, Kid

Give the mom-to-be a set of Sticky Belliesmilestone markers or first holiday stickers so she’ll be all set to go when the photo opportunities arise. All new parents have to do is peel and apply these bright, heavy-duty round stickers to a white tee or onesie for a custom-holiday shirt that you’ll soon see garnering “likes” on your Facebook feed. ($14 for set of 12 major holidays or 12 months to mark age)