Great Baby Shower Gift Ideas

I was one of the first among my friends to have a baby. At my baby shower, many long time and wise moms came to wish me well, as I anxiously approached parenthood.

When I opened my gifts, I knew little about what I really needed. I have to thank my twin sister, though, for helping me choose my baby registry items. Many approaching parenthood are inundated with the hundreds of possible "baby needs" that may or may not prove useful for new parents.

Many pregnant friends have asked me what items they should include in their registry. So, I've come up with my own list of must-haves and nice, but not necessary items. The crib, car seat, stroller, and high chair being a given, the following are the items Moms should include in their wanted list, and are highly recommended if you are deciding on a great baby gift.

1) baby carrier
This is definitely a must so Mom can be out and about, and show off her new bundle of joy.

2) sling
It's not the same as a carrier, but great for short trips to the corner store, or at home. Mom can rock baby to sleep in it, have hands free to do other things, and can even nurse in it! There are so many absolutely beautiful choices now, many made by Momtrepreneurs!

3) bouncer
Mom will need somewhere to put the baby down besides the crib during the day! A bouncer is a great way to give Mom a break, and can sometimes even put baby to sleep - especially the ones which vibrate.

4) diaper bag
Yes, a must have for new moms, todays choices are endless. That being said, I still haven't found quite the perfect bag. In fact, I'm even considering creating my own. Moms: let me know what you love and hate about your bag, so I can incorporate them into my ideas!

5) receiving blankets & diaper cloths
New parents will be surprised how fast they go through receving blankets in the first few weeks of a newborn's life. They will need plenty! And, forget burp cloths, get larger all purpose diaper cloths which are much bigger and have multiple purposes - from emergency receiving blankets, to spit up cloths, these will come in handy from morning till night.

These are my top five. Let me know if there's anything critical you think I've missed, and send in your ideas for my next post.