Baby Shower

Bath time for baby is not only a special bonding experience between parent and child, it is also an opportunity to provide imaginative playtime for squeaky clean infants and toddlers. In years past, we were forced to entertain our little ones with a simple rubber ducky and if you were lucky a few animal shaped sponges. Today, innovative bath toys are made available to us with just the right amount of personal expression and whimsicality which makes bath time a splash!

Bathing baby is an event which begins very early and continues well into the toddler years. Buying bath time products is always a win if you are searching for a gift for a baby shower, a first birthday or any holiday. You do not need to know the gender of the child so it makes it easy to select the perfect gift! Bath toys and accessories are always welcomed by any mother of a newborn or infant. Several children’s specialty boutiques and websites have now created ample sized bath shops, as this category has emerged successfully and will continue to grow.

Here are a few of my “fun in the tub” favorites: Sassy Baby’s Ali Sorter helps develop motor skills, encourages hand eye coordination and looks adorable in the tub. When baby bathers have had their fill, just hang the alligator by it’s tail from bath or shower head.

ALEX bath toys are a popular favorite and now have offer 650 items in their “rub-a-dub” collection. The company is dedicated to brightening a child’s mind and spirit. Alex tub toys are a myriad of chunky bold designs in shape sorters, bath books and floating cars. Another award winner is the “shaving in the tub” kit. Baby can lather up with all the plastic shaving accessories just like dad. The shaving kit won the parenting media award as well as parents magazine best toys of the year award.

Elegant Baby and Swankie Blankie offer sweet and snazzy. Swankie’s hooded towels are designed with flair, handmade and are machine washable. Vibrant rubber duck and washcloth gift sets by Elegant baby will keep little ones clean, dry and busy at bath time. Be sure to check out the menagerie of ducks available in stripes, dots, and brights galore!

Happiness is never having to take a bath without a dozen bright and fashionable squeaky clean rubber duckies.

Personalized baby gifts are not only a tokens of love, they become lifelong keepsakes. One of the most common requests I received as an Infant and Toddler Buyer for years was to offer more of a selection in “Personalized” gifts items for children. Once I was able to honor this request I discovered various treasures of unique, personalized baby essentials. The magic of which occurs when a personalized gift is given is that it becomes a “one-of-a-kind” heirloom. Personally, I cannot think of a more expressive gesture of gift giving.

One of the newer and more innovative companies I have most recently discovered is preciously named Little Worm and Company. The artist offers a playful selection of handpainted ceramic plates. These plates may be purchased with Birth Announcement information or the milestone Baby’s First Birthday in addition to various other storytelling options. The designer consistently updates her collection which supports the attraction of repeat consumer spending. Little Worm is a personal favorite of “Law and Order” actress, Mariska Hargitay. These plates range from $38.00 to $44.00. Someday Inc. is another one of my heaven sent personalized gift choices. This beautiful and uniquely adorned, hand painted collection is sure to be a splash at any baby shower, birthday party or special occasion. Designer Chrissy Consiglio offers whimsical watercolor creations in the form of wall canvases, clocks, frames as well as piggy banks.

In addition to novelty items and room decor it is also a great idea to indulge in personalized layette items such as receiving blankets, burp cloths and onsies. Two Tinas offers an array of cotton, “chicmink ” blankets embellished with personalized ,stylish monograms. These blankets sell for $48.00. Be sure to check out the cotton interlock ringer onsies. a very fashionable way to put baby to sleep!

You may also experience sweet discoveries on websites such as The Corner Stork, Mama Bear’s Baby Boutique, and Nordstrom. Have fun exploring a myriad of choices in room decor, jewelry, silver, furniture, toys, layette and so much more! Need the perfect baby or birthday gift? I say “Make it Personal!”

Planning a baby shower? In a quandary as to how host this special event? Start with a theme. The mother-to-be has most likely pre-selected the color palette and motif for her newborn bedding ensemble. The most popular color preference today is the decadent combination of pastels (pink, blue, sage green) and chocolate brown.

Host a “Pink (or Blue or Green) Chocolate” baby shower for the arrival of a sweet new treasure. Begin by obtaining a copy of your guest of honor’s bedding print and color scheme. Design your invitation using a companion print to the bedding or components of the same print. The invitation can include gift ideas and baby registry information.

Next, design a menu which is reflective of your theme. Dessert will be easy! Instead of a cake, offer delicious chocolate cupcakes with a fresh pink or blue fondant icing. Serve treats on old fashioned dishes that will romanticize your table settings; shop second-hand or antique stores for these. An old fashioned brown teddy bear grasping a plentiful cluster of pink balloons makes a charming centerpiece. Guest favors could be personalized pink and chocolate M&M’s and over-sized chocolate cookies with pink icing wrapped fashionably with designer ribbon. Stationary stores such as Papyrus offer more contemporary paper goods for showers and parties; you will find a bevy of pink and chocolate!

Once you have established your vision you will discover a wealth of fantastic gift ideas to offer as well as modern baby shower games for your guests to enjoy. Next week: room décor and accessory gift ideas for your chocolate shower, including my favorite Noodle & Boo products!

Cupcake photo courtesy of Belissimo Favors.

Nicole Richie is giving it away … to expectant needy mothers and families, that is. She and Joel Madden, the father of her unborn baby, donated the gifts they received from their baby shower to 100 families who needed the swag more than they did. The gifts, along with any funds raised, were donated through the Los Angeles Free Clinic on behalf of the newly-established Richie Madden Children’s Foundation.

Guests included Paris and Nicky Hilton, Rashida Jones, and Natalie Cole, just to name a few. The theme of the shower was Wizard of Oz and was evident in details such as a yellow brick road (natch) and ruby slipper centerpieces. It didn’t stop there, though — a live band played classic ditties from the movie throughout the afternoon.

This altruistic move by Nicole is the latest in a recent trend that leads me to believe she’s truly growing up. It wasn’t very long ago that she was headed down a scary path of drugs and danger, but it seems that since her pregnancy she’s been willing to take her place in the world as a responsible adult. Perhaps this behavior will rub off on the rest of young Hollywood — fingers crossed!

Photo from nicolerichie.org