My Go-to Baby Gifts
/Today I wanted to write a quick post with my two go-to baby shower gifts and my two go-to gifts for after the baby is born. I frequently have friends ask me for my recommendations and I always say these same things so I thought it might help others too.
How heavenly is this?? Baby Reece newborn snuggles in the Solly. Please note Craig is not wearing this the proper way (the straps should be spread out on your shoulders).
They also have a Solly Dolly! It sells out quickly so grab one when you can! Perfect gift for a big sister or big brother!
Top Baby Shower Gift: Solly Baby Wrap. Ironically this is a local San Diego company (I love the owner and follow her on IG too!) but that is truly not why I chose Solly above all the other baby wrap brands. I just love the patterns, how soft it is, and most importantly how lightweight and easy it is! I get it for all my friends who are having new babies. Baby wearing is one of my favorite things about being a new mom (my other favorite is breastfeeding). You build such a special bond while wearing your baby and that sweet closeness is hard to get once they grow too big for the Solly! I get butterflies just thinking about wearing my babies in the Solly those first few months. After using them with Reece I could not wait to wear Parker and would think about it even when she was in my tummy. Craig also loved wearing our girls in the Solly! It’s just the sweetest thing. I also wrote a list of why I love it in my phone to write in the baby shower card I give!
“Biggest lifesaver. Once you tie it 5 times you will get it down so don’t worry! Put in at a very young age like a week old. It will feel awkward and she may not be comfortable right away but she will sooner if you introduce it. Walk around first and it will put her to sleep. I wear my babies up to 3 hours to a a day. They love being tummy to tummy and fall asleep almost right away. Material is light weight. Favorite bonding moments have been nursing and using the Solly. Handsfree so helpful. Got me out of the house quicker since they would sleep wherever we were. Has even saved me a couple of times in the middle of the night where nothing else would put them back to sleep and plenty of times during the witching hours!”
Baby Shower Gift Runner-Up: Occasionally the Solly is already accounted for (if I don’t get to it first hehe) or my friend is a second time mom and already has a Solly so I go with my other favorite gift which is a unique one: Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock. My cousin-in-law, Lauren, is actually the one that discovered this awesome shopping cart hammock and sent it to me for Parker. I wish I had it for Reece too! You hook it on your shopping cart (it is secured in two ways) and the baby falls asleep or observes while you are shopping! The other cool thing about this is you call also rest and buckle in the carseat in the hammock if your baby is sleeping and you don’t want to take them out of the carseat. The best part about this hammock is you aren’t taking up precious space in your grocery cart! Just think if you had to put a baby carseat in the shopping cart it would take up the whole thing and you would have no room for groceries or your Target haul.
Note: Use my referral link and get 10% off!
Photo from our newborn shoot with Cori Kleckner Photography
Top New Baby Gift: Personalized Baby Block. In the last 3 years I have ordered this block for 48 (!!!!) babies!!! My sister-in-law sent it to us when Reece was born and it was the most special and sweet tiny gift ever. It came promptly after we got home from the hospital and as she told us back then and as I know now, you have to order it immediately or someone else can steal it from you! Yes! That’s right- Craft-E-Family has a database of all their baby blocks and won’t send it to the same baby twice. I love this about their company and this means I am an annoying friend because I have to make sure I have all the birth details as soon as the baby is born. Sometimes I text the dad a template of what I need and make him respond hahaha. Some friends think it’s a great gift but others have the same reaction as me and tear up while reading the details of their baby’s birthday on a keepsake block and feel warm and fuzzy and think it’s the best gift ever. You can tell what friends feel this way by the way the text you when they got it. It’s happened probably 10 times. It’s just very special! And the price is right- $19.50 plus a wooden carved gift tag and box makes the total with free shipping only $22.25 for a priceless gift!
New Baby Gift Runner-Up: Comfort Silkie Baby Pillow. If I need to get a secondary gift for a baby (or a first birthday present) this is my favorite thing to give. We were given this by a friend for Parker when she was born but I knew as soon as I opened it that I HAD to get one for Reece. Reece has been using it as her pillow for a year now and it is her “Soft Pillow” and like a security blanket (she also has “Soft Blanket” and the two have to go hand in hand for her and she cannot sleep without them!). Newborns can’t sleep with pillows so Parker has yet to use hers but I’m sure she will soon! Reece is OBSESSED. She never had a lovie or anything that she was super attached to until she got this comforting, cozy, soft pillow! And it has their name on it! Love it!
