Please Everyone

Becoming a big brother or sister is a big honor and something to be proud of. If there's a special little one in your life who is expecting a new little sibling, buying sibling gifts is a fantastic way to help him or her feel better adjusted to the situation. Toys always make for great gifts and, if you're in a hurry, you can pick some up or order them from just about anywhere. If you really want to go the extra mile, however, have something special made for him or her instead. Some great options include:

• A sterling silver bracelet that reads “big brother” or “big sister”
• A personalized wall decoration
• Personalized necklace pendant
• A beautifully monogrammed keepsake box (sterling silver is always nice)

In the end, pick the gift that best suits the personality of the child. Whichever kind of gift would make the child the happiest is the one that you should select. This gift is to show him or her that she will always be special, even when the new baby arrives.

A Baby Needs a BABY Blanket

A baby blanket makes an adorable and practical baby shower gift. Before you choose just any blanket, however, keep some safety issues in mind. Under no circumstances should an infant be covered with an adult-sized blanket. If a blanket is too large there will be too much excess fabric and a baby could become tangled and injure himself or become completely covered and risk suffocation. They sell baby blankets for a reason—because they are the appropriate size for a baby. No matter how adorable that huge, fluffy, polka-dotted blanket is, don't buy it for an infant. Instead, opt for a pint-sized hooded blanket or a super-soft blankie (perhaps a flannel one lined with satin). Here are some other bedding safety tips to pass on to the expectant mother:

• Before leaving a child unattended, all soft objects such as pillows and large stuffed animals should be removed from the crib
• Baby should be placed on his back on a tight-fitting and firm mattress
• Place baby with feet at foot of crib and tuck part of blanket under the mattress (the part that covers the baby shouldn't come up farther than his chest).

Check Toys for Safety Issues

An infant is in need of constant stimulation to help his or her development and many baby toys are designed especially for this purpose. Many toys today appeal to all of the child's senses. Even though toys make great a gift for new moms, don't jump the gun and buy some blindly. Unfortunately you can run into many safety issue with some toys.

You can never be too careful when a baby's safety is at stake. It's important to look into any toy beore buying it. Read reviews on the toy, get information on it from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and get the current year's report findings and recommendations as well as consumer tips on potentially dangerous toys at toysafety.net.

Clueless About Diaper Bags?

So, you're baby shower bound and you've heard that diaper bags make great baby gifts--you're sold on the idea. Now that you have decided to buy the new mommy a diaper bag you need some diaper bag tips. If you're completely in the dark when it comes to the bags, let's start with the basics.

Diaper bags usually come in three basic styles:

• Hand held tote bag
• Over-the-shoulder purse style
• The backpack diaper bag

Some diaper bags are versatile and have both over-the-shoulder straps and hand held straps. Diaper bags are generally available in two sizes: Large, which hold tons of baby supplies and toys and smaller bags, which hold just the essentials.

Safety Before Fashion

Here's a word to the wise: Before you you buy all those frilly, fancy baby clothes to give as a gift at the next baby shower that you attend, think about the safety of that baby before the trendiness of the clothes. Clothes adorned with attachments like clasps, buttons, lace, ties, beads, etc. are a potential risk to a new baby. If any of these things fall off they can become choking hazards. It's also not a good idea to buy clothing that is made of materials that may be scratchy against a baby's delicate skin.

Stick to soft materials that will be comfortable. And, try to refrain from outfits that have attachments that could hinder everyday activities (big buckles on the front that could make crawling or sleeping on her stomach uncomfortable, dangling pieces that could get tangled on teeny hands or feet, etc.). Remember, you can keep that little one looking cute while still keeping safety in mind.

A Gift for Daddy

Who says that baby shower gifts have to be just for the moms and babies? Raising a baby is a joint effort so why not get something to help the future daddy along the way too? How about giving him the "Survival Handbook for Dads." This is a great manual on just about anything pertaining to fatherhood. It is even divided into easy-to-find sections so everything can be located quickly. Want to go for something with a little more depth? Try getting him "101 Secrets a Good Dad Knows." This book goes beyond simple how to's and delves into things that a father can teach a child that will improve self reliance and boost self confidence. Just a few of the things covered in this book include:

• How to identify icky things under a rock
• How to bait a hook
• How to tell how tall a tree is
• How to take pictures of lightning