My co-worker’s baby shower is coming up in two weeks and I want to give her something special, not from her baby registries. She is Jewish and her husband is not. Is there anything Jewish I can give her without offending her?
Posted by Jacare Sorridente (Member # 1906) on :
Whatever you do, don't give them a baby. The gift of a baby is really fairly passe for baby showers.
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
The Bumbo is a must-have item I believe. Our daughter loves hers and she's been able to sit up in it since she was three months old. Safer and handier than any high chair.
Bumbo Seats Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
I love giving activity books for parents and babies. Gymboree has a couple of really good ones.
One thing that you'll never find on registries that I found to be the best gift is to bring prepared dinner (kosher if she's observant) a couple of times the first month after the baby is home. This is wonderful and I appreciated it so much as a new mom.
Barring that, I would go with stuff on the registry. She says this is the stuff she needs, so she might prefer you stick with this list.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
If you don't mind being practical, an ear thermometer (if this is a first baby.)
If this is not a first baby, how about a gift certificate to a restaurant and/or movie theater and a certificate for a free night of babysitting?
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
quote:If you don't mind being practical, an ear thermometer (if this is a first baby.)
I say no on this, because their accuracy leaves much to be desired and many pediatricians will tell parents not to use them.
But, that does remind me of a gift that I really enjoy giving - a baby medical kit. Include all kinds of necessary things - infant tylenol, syrup of ipecac, a rectal thermometer, dosage syringes, that kind of stuff. Include a card that says "I hope you never need any of this stuff, but I know if you ever do you'll appreciate having it on hand."
I've never had a mom-to-be not thank me profusely for it, and it's unlikely anyone else will bring the same thing.
Posted by divaesefani (Member # 3763) on :
Please (for my sake) don't give her a blanket. As a mother who just had a baby, I received probably 25 blankets, and almost none of the stuff that I really needed (aka, stuff I registered for).
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:I say no on this, because their accuracy leaves much to be desired and many pediatricians will tell parents not to use them.
I've still found it invaluable. To just reassure myself when she feels a little hot, I'd rather not stick a thermometer up her rump. And I've found that when I do take a rectal temp, my ear thermometer is within 0.1 degrees F accurate to the rectal temp. Maybe that's just mine. Maybe some people don't know how to use it.
But the clinic we took Ems to used ear thermometers, too. And my mom does in her work as an RN who sees a lot of kids.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
They use an under-arm thermometer to take Aerin's temp in the NICU. They take it 2-4 times and average them. I'll probably use the same one when we take Aerin home.
I actually love blankets, because they're the only things Aerin can use right now. However, I imagine that the mother of a full-term baby wouldn't need even a quarter as many and I have all I need already.
accio, there's no traditional Jewish gift that I can think of. Do you know how observant your co-worker is? I just got an aleph-bet (Hebrew alphabet) wallhanging and a Jewish holiday soft book and I love them. Check out this site: http://www.oytoys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=15
Is she registered? If so, I would stick to things on her registry. People register so they can get things they really want and/or need.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Mrs. M, the blankets are the only things she can use? Because I got my mom to dig up a chart of head circumference based on length and was going to make some caps with all the seams turned to the inside-- none to irritate her little skins. Darn. *reconsiders*
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
If you know whether the parents are using disposable or cloth diapers, I would suggest diapers. If disposable, get a package larger than the newborn size; if cloth, see if you can buy some cute diaper covers. I know that I really really appreciated the diapers I got at my baby shower. Not an adorable present, but like Belle's baby medical kit (I wish I had gotten one of those!), a present that you will be thanked for in the future.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
I always give a Boppy pillow to mommies-to-be. I loved mine! Not Jewish but very practical and can be extravagant as well. Some have nice covers now too! Link Posted by accio (Member # 3040) on :
Thank you all for the great ideas. I think I will get a basket filled with a “baby medical kit”, blankets, diapers, and some goodies from Mrs. M.’s site.
My co-worker was a pediatric audiologist before she came to work with us. I’m certain she’ll love the “baby medical kit”. (Why didn’t I think of this?)
Thank YOU !!
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Glad to be of help, accio.
kq, thank you for the effort and intentions. They won't let us put hats on Aerin (except for the CPAP hat) because her tiny skull is still fairly soft.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
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