If you feel like you get invited to a great number of baby celebrations, like birthdays or baby showers, every year around this time, you are not alone. Statistics shows that birth rates exponentially increase starting at the end of August through early October. Some experts believe this phenomenon occurs due to the holidays like Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day.
These celebrations not only increases the chance of having some quality time for couples, but the weather also fosters a better chance for conception. According to a study, couples have a better chance of conceiving in the winter months. Now that we have discussed some facts, let’s deal with dilemmas most people experience when they are invited to these kinds of celebrations. What is the perfect, if not appropriate, gift to bring in a baby celebration? It’s not like we can bring picture frames or scented candles for the baby. Here are some things to consider when buying gift for a baby.
They Will Grow
If you are thinking about buying baby clothes as a gift, remember that they grow fast and you need to consider clothing sizes. Do not buy something that is exactly appropriate for their age or month. Unless you want your gift to be used for only a few months, you can opt for the right suggestive size. If you want your clothes to be used for a long time to come, make some size adjustments, and add around 3 to 9 months of allowance for growth. This rule applies not only to their clothes, but virtually anything that a baby wears, like diapers and shoes.
Bring the Essentials
Some baby essentials include mittens, blankets, diapers, onesies, bottles, a changing pad, washcloths, baby bathtub, baby oil, bib, rash cream, wipes, diaper bag and baby soap. They may be the most perfect gifts on this list, because parents can never have too many of the essentials. Not only are they going to be very useful, but they will be used consistently for months or years on end.
Memento Gift
If you happen to be a dotting uncle, aunt, or an excited godparent, then bringing in a keepsake gift is a sure testimony to your devotion to the child and the parents. A keepsake item can be a classic rattle, bracelet, or any other item you can personalize for the baby. Imagine an item that can carry sentimental value and memories that will be cherished in the coming years. I would suggest a personalized picture frame with the first picture of the baby.
Consider the Season
We all want to receive practical gifts when we are on the receiving end and it goes the same for parents with babies. Babies obviously can’t appreciate how sophisticated or beautiful an item can be. Parents do but they would very much appreciate an item that is more practical and useful, so buy seasonally appropriate items. If the celebration is in the fall season, then go for items that can give them an additional layer of warmth. Scientifically speaking, babies have a hard time regulating their body heat, unlike adults.
If the occasion is being held around a holiday like Halloween or Christmas then bring items with applicable design fit for the occasion. Holiday gifts are always fun, because children love them, and they don’t have to be practical for the whole family to enjoy them.
Bring The Receipt
As adults, we are usually careful about concealing the price we paid for a gift, while keeping the receipt in case we need to make a return. For me, it’s a kind of social norm. It could be because we don’t want to be perceived as boastful when we purchase expensive items, or as a cheapskate when we buy discounted or low-priced things.
But for occasions centered on babies, or even young kids, bringing in the receipt is actually a good idea. We don’t always know that a new set of clothes will fit, or if the parents already have a similar item, especially if we want the gift to be a surprise. Having the receipt will allow them to return the item, or exchange it for something they actually need. Failure to do so might cause your gift to sit in a closet, or be given to a donation center.
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