Personalized Baby Gifts
From LoveToKnow Baby
When looking for personalized baby gifts, many people search for something that is special, something that will be meaningful to the child and his or her parents for many years to come.
Utilitarian personalized gifts
A personalized gift for baby does not have to be something so nice that it will have to be kept out of baby’s reach (though there certainly are such things, and we’ll get to that below). Embroidery machines make it possible to stitch almost anything on almost anything fabric. You can personalize sleep clothes, bedding, tiny baseball caps, shirts or anything else you like. You can use the baby’s name or nickname, or just have something cute like “Mama’s boy” or “Daddy’s girl” stitched on the piece. This cute gift won’t cost much more than the piece of clothing itself did, and it will go over really well at the shower.
One popular way to personalize a baby gift is with a baby quilt. You can order a quilt personalized with baby’s name (and also sometimes his or her birthday). If you’re crafty, you could buy a quilt or blanket (or a kit made for such a purpose, which you should be able to find at your local craft store) and you can embroider the birth information yourself. Another crafty approach to personalization is to make a simple quilt, with light-colored solid blocks of fabric, and then each person at the baby shower can sign the quilt with a fabric pen (or get people to sign the individual blocks before you sew them together. That’s about as personalized as you can get.
Speaking of groups signing things to give to baby, another good personalized gift is a picture frame signed by everyone at the shower (or all of dad-to-be’s coworkers, or whatever group of people would like to sign it). It helps the new parents remember who was with them during the lead-up to the big event, and provides a useful keepsake as well.
Fancy gifts
Almost anything can be personalized these days, but many of the engraved gifts are not exactly appropriate for children. (“Oh, how nice, you bought my child his first flask!” is not something you want to hear at a baby shower.) Engraved baby cups, spoons, and picture frames are always nice choices, but baby may not actually be allowed near them. These items will still be keepsakes even if it’s not because the child remembers playing with that thing but because it was given to them when they were born.
Piggy banks are another good choice for a baby gift item that can be personalized (but should be kept out of baby’s reach). Others include jewelry boxes, music boxes and shadow boxes to hold baby’s keepsakes.
Other gifts
Another fun and easy way to personalize gifts, whether you do it yourself or buy them ready-made, is with paint. There are lots of little wooden things that belong in every nursery, from rocking chairs to step stools, clothes racks to toy boxes. All can be painted in colors to match the baby’s room and stenciled with the child’s name, making a meaningful gift that will be useful for years to come.
Personalized gifts for baby are really limited only by your imagination and your budget (or your time and willingness to do something yourself). For more ideas, there are numerous sites on the Web that specialize in unique and personalized baby gifts, from the ubiquitous Things Remembered to Personalized for Baby, Elegant Baby Gifts, BabyWonderland Baby Gifts and Retrofit Baby. Spend some time searching and thinking and you’re sure to find the perfect personalized gift.
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