This last April I ran into a colleague I hadn’t seen in a very long time. When last we spoke, he had been trying (with his partner) to have a child and because physically together they are unable to conceive, “trying” is really not the fun “trying” that some of us get to do. When I saw him in April, he told me they were finally expecting and then through the modern miracle that is Facebook, this last week I saw a beautiful picture surface of him as a proud Daddy cradling a precious newborn baby. I was so overjoyed for him I started to tear-up, all I could comment was “So beautiful!” And now…what to give?

Baby Blanket: This Teddy Bear Scottish Lace Blanket ($25) from Land’s End comes in blue and pink just makes my maternal instincts ache to hold a baby it’s so precious looking. Even better it can be monogrammed with a name or initials and just looks ready to be an heirloom someday. It’s thin so anxious new parents won’t freak out about it being too puffy for their newborn and can be swaddled. Both my kids were given one (from an office friend coincidentally) and it was a “lovey” for them, and they both still keep theirs folded near their beds for sentimental reasons. I’ve given this a number of times and will continue to again and again and promise you will too.

Personalized Essentials: I recently heard about Blume Girl (I actually had a chance to meet @blumegirl herself one night at a dinner) and discovered these adorable hats & bibs ($36) and burp cloths ($36) that are necessities for new mommies and daddies and these are oh-so-cute! The personalization is so unique and the packaging is just perfection.

Diaper Cakes: Remember that episode of Sex and the City when Charlotte insists on getting the diaper cake for Miranda? Well you can be as chic as Miss York (or was she Mrs. MacDougal or maybe Mrs. Goldenblatt by then?) with any of these diaper cakes (starting at $45). And you know they will go to good use, right? And if you’re doing an office shower, it works as a centerpiece.

Layette Sets: New parents will never get enough of a few things: burp cloths, diapers, wash cloths and gowns with elastic bottoms. This one ($12.99) from Buy Buy Baby is perfect with an ample neck opening to get over a screaming infants’ head and comes with a cap and booties and at this price you can probably get a few.

A Gift For The Parents: When my daughter was born, her fathers’ office gave us a gift certificate to Morton’s Steakhouse to enjoy when we finally got up the nerve to leave our newborn for a couple hours with her godmother. It was a totally unexpected gift, really generous and something we probably wouldn’t have done at that moment in time (even though we probably needed to) if not for the gift certificate. In short: anything that gets the primary caregiver in the shower during those early weeks is a good thing.

Big Sibs Need Love Too: Work friendships are so funny because you can go months or years seeing someone every single day and then all of a sudden a change in department or a moves and suddenly-poof-you don’t see them anymore. Having said that some of my most precious friendships were made at the office. Bottomline, you know how close is too close and if it’s a group gift versus a personal gift, that changes the dynamics considerably. But no matter what, if there is another child in the house DO NOT forget the sibling gift. This is especially important if said child is under ten. It doesn’t have to be a Barbie mansion, a simple teddy bear is fine but make sure it’s clearly marked for them so there is no mistake that it’s not for the baby. You’ll attract good karma and be a hero to a little person going through one of lifes’ biggest adjustments.

So what am I going to get?  I can’t tell you now…that might ruin the surprise. But I promise I will post an update once I decide.

Related Posts:
Pregnancy Gifts; No Not For The Shower
Joint Gifts: Things To Buy Each Other
First Time Gifts: Buying for a New Boyfriend or Girlfriend
10 Gift Every Woman Wants From Her Mate

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