| Invited to a baby shower or first baby's birthday | | | | like this, go for it. Try not to get carried away, |
| celebration by a dear friend? You're thrilled to go | | | | though, in adorning it with beads or buttons that |
| and have a special gift in mind. However, after | | | | may be choking hazards for the baby. |
| doing your window shopping rounds, you can't | | | | In choosing colors for baby gifts, you need not |
| seem to find exactly what you've envisioned in | | | | stick to the usual practice of going for pink for |
| any store. Your best alternative is to put your | | | | girls or blue for boys anymore. Yellow, green, and |
| creative energies to work and do it yourself | | | | a combination of other pastel shades and |
| (DIY). Now, before buckling down to making that | | | | contemporary colors are suitable alternatives. |
| special something for your friend's bundle of joy, | | | | In considering DIY gifts for baby, be sure you can |
| gather your thoughts - and materials - to see if | | | | craft something durable, usable, and of course, |
| you can really create a beautiful, presentable item. | | | | safe (no pointed edges or other hazards for the |
| Try to focus your efforts on something that will | | | | baby) and presentable. |
| utilize your special skills and which can be of use. | | | | When you feel like making a toy, choose |
| Remember also that you are making a gift, not | | | | non-toxic materials. An organic doll made of |
| really for the expectant moms or parents of | | | | recycled materials may be an option. Use organic |
| toddlers, but for the child. However, if you can | | | | cotton for the doll's hair, and recycled eco fibers |
| make unique presents for both the mother and | | | | for the clothes, and maybe durable hemp fiber |
| child and time permits it, then go ahead and let | | | | for the skin. The doll's soft stuffing can consist of |
| your hands craft something special. It can be | | | | recyclable materials. There are many tips for DIY |
| baby & mom accessories, like handcrafted | | | | gifts for baby available on the internet. You can |
| bracelets, or you can embroider a cozy and soft | | | | use them as references or jump-off points for |
| piece of apparel or swaddling blanket with a nice | | | | your own special gift. Or you can supplement |
| pattern and the baby's name, along with a small | | | | your handcrafted gift with some ready-made |
| accompanying terry cloth bath item that says | | | | items. For the eco doll, a tree planting kit with real |
| "mom" for the child's mother. | | | | seeds and specific planting instructions may be a |
| If you have the patience and time, you can even | | | | really unique gift. |
| work on a baby quilt. The parents of a newborn | | | | Feeling like a handyman? Among the lasting DIY |
| baby will appreciate not just the originality but the | | | | gifts for baby are things that the dad or uncle |
| effort that went into making such a special gift. A | | | | with some carpentry skills can construct. An |
| colorful patchwork quilt will be nice but requires | | | | example is a step stool that can be turned into a |
| much work - you have to sew well-measured | | | | toddler's chair. There are many other nice gifts |
| plain squares together. Certain elements must also | | | | that will fit nicely in the baby's room as |
| hold up in the wash. If you have what it takes to | | | | décor, or as something that the baby will |
| create a great heirloom gift like a hand quilted gift | | | | be able to use during waking or sleeping moments. |