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Why do some baby gifts stand out from the crowd and others seem to get lost in the recipient’s memory, never to be found again? Surprisingly, it has little to do with cost of the gift. Rather, it’s the little, thoughtful touches that make all the difference. Add an Element of Humor You don’t have to spend a lot of money to give baby gifts that are memorable. Try putting together your own “Nursing Survival Kit,” with breast pads, Lansinoh cream, frozen peas (to ease nursing soreness), and a copy of “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.” Put Together a Creative Package Create a “Sleep Like a Baby” care package with a soft baby blanket or lovey, a white noise CD (vacuum sounds are great!) and a Miracle Blanket (for easy swaddling). Or transform a simple baby book into a “Remembering the Moment” gift basket, by adding a copy of the local newspaper from the day the baby was born, copies of “Time” and “People” magazines from the week the baby was born, a current postage stamp, and a sales flyer from the local grocery store. Twenty years from now, the parents and grown child will have fun looking back at everything from the price of a dozen eggs to who the hot celebrities were back when junior was a baby. Include Everything the New Parents Will Need to Make It Work Nobody likes extra work. So do whatever you can do to make it easy for the new parents to enjoy your gift. For example, if your gift requires batteries, include a small package of batteries (the correct type, of course,) with it. You don’t even need to give the whole pack–just the right amount for the item you’ve given. You’d be amazed how grateful the new parents will be. Put it Together For Them This is always a winning tip, because everyone likes to have the hard work done for them. However, it’s a strategy that’s best used when you are absolutely positive the new parents want what you’ve gotten them. Remember, gifts that are put together aren’t so easily returned. So do this when you’re buying something off the registry or when the recipients have specifically asked for what you’re giving them. Include a Gift Receipt They may love what you’ve gotten, but they may have also gotten two or three baby gifts just like it. Make it easy to return yours, and they’ll be grateful. Include Your Full Name and Address on the Card After 36 hours of labor and two weeks of sleep deprivation, a new mommy can’t be counted on to remember her own last name, let alone yours. That’s true even if she’s your sister or best friend. So make it easy for her by writing your full name on the card. Including your address, too, makes it easy for her to write the thank-you note. Stephanie Gallagher, aka, "The Shopping Mom," is the author of four books, including The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years: The Real Moms' Survey of Top-Rated Products and Advice.
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A Gift to Remember