Gifts for new parents

It's a little late for Christmas, but if you have baby showers coming up, here are my suggestions for gifts for new parents. These are items that are unlikely to be given by other baby shower attendees. Here's a full list of my favorite products.

Rain or Shine Kids 'B' Blanket - excellent for cold weather (fleece on one side, water-resistant nylon on the other) and very versatile. They also make a more expensive version with Wooby fabric. Got mine at a discount through babysteals.com. Great to have on hand at the peds office, as they inevitably undress your baby for exams and he/she will get cold. This is the one item I have that has attracted the most interest/attention at my new moms' class.

Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch for a winter baby. These were on sale at Isis Maternity and after I bought mine, half of my new moms' class bought one too. The seconds are very reasonably priced. It's super comfortable. I like that I can drive with it on and then pop Elliot in when we stop to run errands.

Skip Hop Pronto Diaper Wallet - convenient, streamlined. Along with a wet bag and bottle cooler, this turns any bag into a "diaper bag."

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe Traveler - very warm and comforting. Legs are split so you can swaddle the arms and yet still use a car seat or other items (swing, etc.) that require a harness.

Soothe and Glow Seahorse - We use this all the time, despite its creepiness. I bought a second one because we need a back-up! Also comes in pink.

Sophie the Giraffe - we haven't used this yet but I've heard nothing but great things about it.

Happiest Baby on the Block DVD + CD. We also have the book, but the DVD is probably the most important. We also use the CD all the time in the car for white noise.

Great for a second child - Lands' End baby blanket. We've given two of these on the recommendation of my friend Alison, and both were well-liked by the recipients. The kids were both second children and it was nice to get them something personalized (Lands' End does embroidery) since they were mostly using hand-me-downs. The first child will have tons of quilts and blankets.

Books

Baby Love - beautiful photos and gentle, helpful, practical baby care advice. A brand-new copy is just $2 from Amazon Marketplace.

Nursing Mother's Companion - could not have made it through the first week without this.

Nursing Mother, Working Mother

Children's Hospital Guide to Your Child's Health and Development - recommended by my friend Wendy Ross, who is a pediatrician. Very popular with many of the friends to whom we've give it.

The Wonder Weeks: Eight predictable, age-linked leaps in your baby's mental development characterized by the three C's (Crying, Cranky, Clingy), a change ... and the development of new skills - covers developmental milestones that lead to grumpy weeks for the baby. Great book. Also web site. This PDF chart is from the book and shows when you can expect the "wonder weeks" to occur. You can also sign up for email alerts.

Rookie Mom's Handbook

Infant Massage - recommended by the leader of my new moms' class.

Baby Owner's Manual - perfect for engineers and/or geeks.

Your kids' or your favorite children's books