Baby Shower Gift Ideas from Modern Cloth
I’m going to be an Aunt on my side of the family for the first time and it has me thinking about babies and baby showers, and the things I’ve either really needed or really wanted for my own babies. I don’t need most of those things myself anymore, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t still fun to buy them, so I checked out Modern Cloth Diapers to make a list of some of my favorite baby items that I would love to purchase for my new little niece or nephew.
1. Natures Baby Organics Shampoo & Body Wash
All parents want the most natural and gentle products touching their newborn’s skin so having a nice, organic shampoo and body wash is really important. Nature’s Baby offers an organic and vegan shampoo and body wash for your baby that’s filled with nourishing moisturizers and essential oils without any harmful chemicals or animal byproducts. This is definitely a product that I would feel comfortable using on my new and vulnerable little humans and one I would love to add to a baby shower gift.
2. Maple Landmark Rattle
I love having toys made of all natural materials for my new babies to chew on and experiment with. Wooden rattles have been one of my favorite learning options since I discovered them. That’s why I would definitely add one of the Maple Landmark Rattles into my baby shower gift. Babies are going to chew on everything—that’s just a fact. You might as well give them something safe and natural to put in their mouths.
3. Begin Again Gear Stacker
Speaking of wooden toys, I think all children should have a stacker to play with and this particular stacker is a really great option because of the fact that it’s also a nesting toy. This adds a whole new level of learning to the toy. As it is, stacking rings are a toy that grows with your baby. At first they’re just something for babies to learn to grab and manipulate. Later, they can learn about sorting sizes and colors with their ring stackers. Another great thing about this type of toy is that children enjoy them long past the age that they stop playing with rattles and other baby toys.
4. Re-Play Dishes
I just discovered Re-Play dishes—BPA free dishes made from recycled milk jugs that are sturdy, affordable, pretty, and durable. I have always been a fan of many colored plastic dishes for my kids because it makes mealtime fun, and it helps to have different colored dishes when you’re feeding multiple children at a time. My children, for instance, love the colors pink, orange, and blue respectively so they always know which plate is theirs because I do my best to give them their favorite color. These dishes come in two kinds of plates, a bowl, two sizes of flatware, and three types of cups, not to mention the various other accessories and toys that the brand offers. I love them and I definitely plan on giving them to the mamas-to-be in my life!
5. Silicone Jewelry
Any type of dish or toy made out of silicone is a win when you’re purchasing items for a baby. Silicone is a safe substance, it’s fun to touch and chew, and it’s not slippery so it’s harder to accidentally drop. I found Silicone jewelry when I had my second child. I loved it because it was a nice fashion piece for me that was actually designed for my son to chew. Whenever we went somewhere and I knew it would be a lot of sitting or that I would have to hold him and occupy him for more time than he liked sitting still, I would wear my silicone jewelry to keep him occupied. His budding gums spent a lot of time gnawing on those beads and pendants and I got lots of compliments for my fashion sense.
6. Baltic Amber Necklace
Another, completely different option for teething, is amber jewelry. This jewelry isn’t worn to be chewed; rather the baltic amber contains succinic acid which is a natural analgesic and is absorbed through the baby’s skin when the necklace is worn. Amber jewelry seems like an old wives tale, but it made a huge difference in my son. A new tooth was a huge, fussy ordeal for him, but when he was wearing his amber necklaces, he got new teeth without my realizing it. After that, I was a believer and I never let my teething babies go without amber again.
7. Muslin Swaddling Blankets
Swaddling blankets are a necessity for new babies. A nice tight swaddle mimics the close feel of the mother’s womb and calms a fussy baby. It’s also good for keeping that baby asleep longer than they would without the swaddle. I love muslin swaddles for this purpose because they’re good for both winter and summer. With my first baby, all of my swaddling blankets were fleece or flannel—which is great—unless you’re concerned about overheating your baby. Muslin swaddles are also nice and large which means that you can get a really nice, tight swaddle with them, even when your baby starts getting bigger! I babysit a seven month old who wears nine month clothing and I can still swaddle her effectively because I use a nice, generously sized muslin swaddle. The best thing about muslin swaddles is that when your baby outgrows them they are still a great comfort blanket long into their childhood. They also make awesome superhero capes. I untie and put away at least four muslin superhero capes a day in my house.
8. Lillebaby Wrap
My first child was super colicky for the first couple months of her life and baby wearing saved me from a miserable existence of never cleaning dishes or laundry and never getting to sit down or stop bouncing. Once I discovered the magic of a newborn’s calm when they are wrapped closely to a warm body, I never went back. My infants were worn most of the time and it was a great way to have them near me and keep them calm even when life was so crazy I couldn’t take a moment to sit and snuggle them. For that reason, I will always, always, always recommend a baby carrier such as the Lillebaby Wrap to a first time mom.
9. Cloth Diapers
This was another thing that saved me from aspects of parenting that would have drowned me otherwise—cloth diapers. We have always had a tight budget and not having to purchase diapers has really given us a little more freedom in our budget to buy things like, oh I don’t know, groceries. :-) Between that and breastfeeding it almost felt like having a new little human in the house wasn’t a cost at all! Besides, cloth diapers save your baby from harsh chemicals found in many disposable diapers and wipes and they may just be the ticket to less diaper rash. So if a mom is even remotely interested in cloth diapering, you can bet there are going to be a couple cute cloth diapers like the Thirsties AIO in her gift bags from me. I love cloth diapers and I love having an excuse to purchase them!
10. Wet Bags
You will have a hard time cloth diapering without having a place to put your dirty diapers so if I’m getting you cloth diapers for your baby shower, I’m going to buy you some wet bags too. This hanging wet bag by Buttons is a great option because you don’t need a diaper pail. You can hang it on a hook, the changing table, or a doorknob, and the bag just goes in the wash with the dirty diapers. Past your diapering years you’ll find it comes in handy as your dirty laundry bag on trips and when you go to the pool and need a place to put all those wet swimsuits and towels.
It turns out that Modern Cloth Diapers has a lot of the things that a first time parent will need or want and it’s a great place to find those perfect baby shower gifts.
This post was sponsored by Modern Cloth Diapers, a Cloth Diaper Geek site supporter.
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