If you end up having five or six children then you certainly have a lot of keepsakes to store.

Here is an idea you might like.

Personalized baby gifts are especially popular with new parents because they commemorate the care and love that the parents put into choosing the perfect name for their precious bundle of joy. Even a gift as simple as a wall plaque will be greatly appreciated because of the addition of the new baby’s name. If you are looking for a truly special personalized gift for a new baby, here are a few tips for making new baby gifts even more memorable.

One of the most classic new baby gifts is a pewter cup and spoon. A silver cup engraved with the new baby’s name is destined to become a family heirloom, but you can make it even more special by adding a few personal touches. Have the cup engraved with the baby’s full name and date of birth, and tuck some special keepsakes inside the cup before you give it. Put together a collection of crystals that represent your wishes for the child’s life (amber for intelligence, citrine for wealth and happiness, quartz for protection and clarity) and gather them up in a circle of tulle tied with a ribbon. Include a handprinted card explaining the significance and be assured that your gift will never be forgotten.

A personalized photo album is another classic new baby gift. Make your gift more special by adding the first few photos. It is easier than ever today with cell phone cameras. Make a point of getting photos with mom and dad together; the kind of photos that are hard to come by in the family album when either mom or dad is usually taking the pictures. Choose an album with a photo cover so you can insert the best photo you have of the new precious one and start the collection off right.

If you happen to be a family member or have access to mom and dad’s parents, you can add a truly personal touch to a photo album. Add mom and dad’s newborn pictures to the very first page of the photo album along with the photo of the newborn baby and make it easy for all those who want to play “he looks just like YOU when you were born!”

“Useful gifts” sometimes seem boring, but there are some baby accessories that mom and dad can always use. Blankets, for instance, are one thing that any new parent will tell you they never have enough of. Don’t just give a baby blanket, though, a beautifully made honeycomb baby blanket takes on the status of a family heirloom when you have it embroidered with the newcomer’s name and date of birth. Add a matching baby bottle and bib for a useful gift that will become a lasting memory.

When you choose a gift for the baby’s nursery, you are choosing a gift that will be seen every day, and become part of the baby’s memories forever. Wall plaques and picture frames are ever popular choices that are made even more special by the addition of the baby’s name and birth date. Cross stitch samplers are among the most popular new baby gifts, but if you do not have time or talent to cross stitch your own baby name memory, there are many beautiful wall plaques and embroidered wall hangings that can be personalized for you.

Beyond the nursery wall, there are other personalized gifts that babies and parents will love and appreciate. Stuffed animals and plush toys are another very popular baby gift – chances are that mom and baby will come home from the hospital with a dozen or more teddy bears and little pink and blue kittens and puppies. Make an impression with a different kind of stuffed animal; choose an adorable stuffed elephant with the baby’s name embroidered on his little pink ear.

Of course, there is always clothing, and babies certainly receive plenty of clothing gifts. Choose a different and unusual gift that will really stand out in a crowd like a pair of long johns in a bright primary color, with the baby’s name embroidered across the drop-hatch so you will always know who is crawling away. Absolutely adorable on their own, Grover, Cookie Monster, Diego or Dora can be added to the long-johns to make even more of an impression.

When choosing a gift for a new baby, always remember to check with the new mom and dad first to see if there is anything that is especially needed, or particularly unwanted. Once you decide what kind of gift to give, take a look at the special ways to personalize your gift and make it a lasting memory

Kansieo.com ]]> http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/welcoming-a-new-baby-with-a-personalized-baby-gift/feed/ 0 http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/babys-first-valentines-day/ http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/babys-first-valentines-day/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:15:55 +0000 di http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/babys-first-valentines-day/ Your baby’s first Valentine’s Day is special. As a dad, you want to make sure you do everything to make this a memorable day. There is no limit to your options—you know your baby best and can find things to do that you and your baby will both enjoy.

Here are some ideas for dads on celebrating their baby’s first Valentine’s Day:

1. Dress up your baby: Find your baby an appropriate outfit to mark the occasion. Think of something with cute red hearts all over—the perfect choice for any baby’s first Valentine’s Day.

2. Have a photo session with your baby: Take lots of pictures to keep the memories of this day alive. Let your baby pose with different people amongst your friends and family members, with pets, and in different situations. You can later compile these into a scrapbook and preserve the memories of your baby’s first Valentine’s Day.

3. Prepare a special treat: Serve your baby your love in the form of a tasty treat. Use heart-shaped pans to make your baby some Valentine’s Day cookies or muffins. Serve them as little red hearts with strawberry jam or red sugar crystals. An even easier option is to make your baby some sandwiches and cut them up to resemble little hearts.

4. Give your baby Valentine’s Day popsicles: Here is another novel idea to make your baby’s first Valentine’s Day special. Use heart-shaped molds to make Valentine’s Day popsicles for your baby. Simply freeze fruit and vegetable juices or pulp in the molds with little sticks in them. Give them to your baby to relieve teething pains.

5. Gift your baby a Valentine’s Day basket: Celebrate your baby’s first Valentine’s Day traditionally with a gift basket. You can put some new toys and clothes in it. Also, remember to include something to keep a record of the day, such as a baby handprint kit, or a picture scrapbook.

Find out more on valentine’s day gifts and gift ideas for babies and kids.

]]> http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/babys-first-valentines-day/feed/ 0 http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/baby-shower-gift-ideas-for-newborn-twins/ http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/baby-shower-gift-ideas-for-newborn-twins/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:37:34 +0000 di http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/baby-shower-gift-ideas-for-newborn-twins/ Having a child is one of the most enchanting moment in every parent’s lives, how much more if it will be twins?! Wow! Having twins causes double happiness and celebration. Of course, there will be a twin baby shower and lot s and lots of baby shower gifts for the twins. If you are a confused twin baby shower attendee, you might still unsure what to give to make their mama proud. So here are some baby shower gift ideas for the the upcoming twins.

Welcome Twins! Baby Gift Basket. Celebrate the birth of twin babies with a gift basket designed for two! This Welcome Twins! Baby Gift Basket is filled with fun duos and gifts with a whimsical twin theme. Babies and parents alike will revel in this exquisite baby gift set! Inside a keepsake basket, you’ll find two baby handprint kits, a “Twins” 4″ x 6″ photo frame, four terry washcloths, two embroidered bibs, two 7″ plush teddy bears, a key ring rattle and a Snuggle Bugs photo brag book. This endearing baby gift basket can be customized for twin boys, twin girls, one of each…and also in neutral colors for sweet surprises.

Twin Baby Sonogram Picture Frame with Voice Recorder. Twins! Two heartbeats, twenty fingers and twenty toes! Celebrate their first picture and mom and dad’s first reaction with this Twin Baby Sonogram Picture Frame with Voice Recorder. Finally the new mommy and daddy have their first glimpse into the faces of their unborn children. Life will never be the same so celebrate this moment with a special frame that they will cherish for a lifetime. Beautiful and classic harlequin pattern with a crown for a royal touch make this keepsake frame very special indeed. This Baby Sonogram Picture Frame with Voice Recorder holds baby’s 2D/3D image and includes a re-recordable voice recorder for a keepsake that is so very special. Complete with batteries to capture that first reaction or well thought out personal message to baby this is one picture frame that will always be cherished. Harlequin design, yellow stripes, a crown, and the words little blessings come in twos make this one royal and beautiful keepsake frame.

“Perfect Pair” Twins Basket. This all-in-one gift set is the perfect baby shower gift for twin babies! A sweet gathering of goodies, thoughtfully presented in twos, This “Perfect Pair” Twins Basket is a lovely way to welcome twin little ones to the world. Carefully selected and beautifully arranged, this gift basket arrives wrapped in clear cellophane and decorated with bows and ribbons, ready for gift giving! The basket boasts vibrant colors and is packed in a keepsake wicker baby carriage basket. Inside, you’ll find a pair of matching “Perfect Pair” one piece outfits sized for newborns to one year old, a baby starter kit of Burt’s Bees Baby fantastic luxuries (shampoo bar, apricot baby oil, diaper ointment and more!), 2 extra thick cotton burp cloth sets, 2 baby handprint and footprint makers, a fun-loving crinkle vibrating caterpillar toy that easily attaches to a stroller or baby carriage and a “Crazy Daisy” squeaking wiggler that makes fun noises when shaken or pulled.

These are only few gift ideas for twins. You may search the web for some more baby shower gifts. Apart from baby baskets and photo albums, you may also consider other matching baby gifts for twins. Actually, you have a limitless options when using the Internet.

Apart from gift baskets, one can gift diaper cakes, bunch of clothes, bathing accessories, name plates, photo frames and ultrasound and sonograph photo frames. Making your own personalized gifts and gift baskets can also be fun and easy.

As some one who is planning to give a gift to a child, you should be well prepared to face some challenges though. The best way out is to do some research over the internet, and to know a bit about the baby, if the baby is born. If you are planning to gift the expectant parents on the baby’s shower, then you might want to hang on to the age old formula of gifting something that is more of a utility than something that is baby specific. The reason for such thinking is simple, if you gift something that is baby specific, you might be in a fix as to the acceptance by the gift from the infant. Secondly, you cannot be very sure about the likings and the habit of the baby and thirdly, the baby would not even realize that it way you who had gifted him with something that he or she liked during the days when it was a toddler, let alone appreciating your efforts. Therefore, in such situations, the biggest respite comes by gifting the parents actually, in the name of gifting the child.

Some of the most preferred presents for a baby shower are actually meant for the parents and not for the baby. The first choice about a baby shower gift is usually to design such a gift that is either a great keepsake for the parents, or would provide great utility to the parents while bringing up their child. Practical gifts like bathing utilities, baby utensils, baby clothes, baby booties and things like those throng the baby gift baskets in such cases. For those who want to give the expectant parents great keepsakes, usually gift things that would help the parents remember the arrival of the baby with things like photo frames, baby handprint and baby footprint keepsakes making the chunk of the gifts in such cases.

Then there are some people who mix and match various items and create a baby basket. The good thing about a basket is that you can actually send it over to another place without worrying too much about the damage. There are many options for those who cannot attend the actual shower, but want to send their gifts on time. So be it Boston baby gift baskets, baby gift baskets New York or you want to send baby gift baskets to Canada, you will have your gift delivered on time and safe, using these services.

Preparing and arranging the party keepsakes can be fun and exciting, however some important consideration should be made. First to consider is the type of item you want to give. Commonly picked favors are those that have some fancy look, but you should also understand that in addition to its fancy look, you should also consider their usability and their functional value to your guests. A useful party favor can make a good gift and is much appreciated and remembered by most people. Also, put a little extra effort and make them more special by personalizing your items. You can add tags or inscriptions. Keepsakes in a box for instance, you may add personal printed tags on it to be remembered by all your guests.

Actually, there are lots of things you can create if you would go with baby box party keepsake. Great stuffs you can put inside your wonderful boxes that will surely delights everyone’s eyes. You might consider placing a sweet chocolates and candies, cookies, small baby items, and others stuffs you may think may look adorable inside the box. These are just few thoughtful things you can do to customize a simple box.

To find more ideas about giving out baby shower box favors, you can try searching at your local retail stores or much better to look through the Internet. They do have lots of sources to teach you simple ways on how to make your own adorable favor box. But for those who are in a hurry for preparation of items to give, purchasing online can do an easy job for you. There are different varieties of baby shower favors in a box for you to choose from. Different styles, designs, colors and themes that match the party you would like to have. An endless selection is all yours, all you need to do is to decide wisely what’s best for your party.

It is not impossible to make a baby shower party successful. An extra effort for preparation is all you have to do. A bit of amount can make great baby gift ideas and baby keepsake gift that can cherish the memorable event for your special little one. There is no other thing that can add more happiness to your party than making all your guests feel the fun and enjoyment, by just handing them a wonderful box that’s filled with adorable things that simply shows your heartfelt appreciation. A mile is definitely worth the cost!

How to choose the best cot for your baby So often we are told that you get what you pay for. Before you go and shell out over a thousand dollars for your baby’s cot you may wish to reconsider this. An expensive baby cot is not always the best choice, as my investigations revealed.

I have looked at just about every cot on the Australian market and have been very disappointed with what I’ve found. The one that I feel comfortable in recommending is only around $400 and is much better than even the $1200 models out there.

Make sure you take your tape measure with you when shopping for a cot. It is very important to look at the height from the base that the mattress sits on to the top of the cot rail – the rail that moves up and down.

Some of the more expensive cots on the market have only 25 inches (about 73cm) from the base to the top of the rail. When you put a mattress in the cot the height, of course, is reduced even more. Some cot companies sell really thick mattresses and the height from the top of the mattress to the top of the rail is as little as 20 inches. This is dangerous because before too long your baby is a toddler and can jump or fall out of these cots.

Another thing to look for when purchasing a cot is to make sure it has all four sides open. It is very important that the air can circulate freely around your baby while they sleep. Some babies push all their bedding to the end of the cot and jam their face up against it. Most babies don’t come to any harm doing this but an open ended cot is preferable because the air can still get through the slats. In a solid ended cot the baby will get hot and sweaty doing this.

Think twice before being talked into buying a cot that turns into a toddler bed. Not that there’s anything wrong with them, just don’t let that be the reason for making your choice. There are several reasons why taking the side off your toddler’s cot is not a feature I would recommend you use, and these are:

By the time your baby is a toddler you may have another baby or a baby on the way so you will want your older child to graduate to a normal bed and free the cot up for the baby.

Taking the sides off a cot suddenly can cause a toddler to feel insecure. A toddler needs to be gradually introduced into sleeping in a normal bed. Taking the sides off a cot suddenly can cause a toddler to feel insecure. You might find your toddler sleeps in the cot-bed for a few nights but then starts to cry or get out. Or you might find your toddler is happy in the cot-bed for 6 weeks and then decides to test the boundaries and gets out.

Or you might simply want to follow my transition from cot-to-bed advice, which is impossible to follow if you have taken the sides off the cot.

To help your child make the transition to a new big bed, set it up in your toddler’s room and to help her feel secure, sit on it with her at different points throughout the day and read stories. Once she is comfortable with the new bed as a place to sit and hang out then suggest she have her daytime sleep in it. Point out that she is a big girl now and this means that she should sleep in a big bed like Mummy, Daddy, siblings or friends she may have.

If she’s not ready on the first day, try gentle persuasion but if that meets strong resistance let her go back to the cot and try again the next day or so. Now picture trying to do this with a cot-bed – you would be putting the sides on and off.

Make the big bed a fun place – not somewhere for punishment or scary stories. Once she has had a good daytime sleep in the new bed, allow her to start having her night-time sleeps in it as well.

I suggest the cot stays in your child’s room and is available for her to use for at least 8 weeks after she starts to sleep in the bed at night. The reason I say this is, in my experience, most children are happy in the new big bed for 6 weeks and then they decide to test the boundaries. You will need the cot available to get over this hurdle. Again, if you are using a cot-bed, this means back on with the sides.

When she decides she is ready to sleep in the big bed in the day and at night as well, you will need to explain to her she can try and sleep in the big bed but she only has one chance. Explain to her if she gets out of bed you will be putting her in the cot. Tell her if she gets out of bed at any time, day or night, you will see this as her asking you to put her in the cot. Then if she gets out of bed you need to follow through with this and pop her in the cot. Tell her it’s her choice if she wants to be a big girl or a baby.

You can see from all this that a cot-bed is just not going to work well using my approach.

Below is a picture of the Grotime Lara cot-bed, available from only $399 to $500, and it passes my test. The side is 29 inches from base to the top of the rail, which is 4 inches higher than some of the more expensive cots on the market. This is a big difference to a toddler.

GroTime Cot

When buying a cot there are also recommendations for choosing the mattress that goes in it.

A safe mattress is one that is:

* The right size for the cot

* FIRM

* New, clean and in good condition.

The mattress must have no more than a 25mm (1 inch) gap between the mattress and the cot sides and end. A baby or toddler can easily get stuck if there are larger gaps between a poor fitting mattress and cot sides. This is especially dangerous if their face or neck is restricted in anyway. Remove all plastic packaging from the mattress and always make sure the waterproof mattress protector is strong and well fitting.

A soft mattress can increase the risk of sudden unexpected infant death if a baby rolls over onto the tummy. Never put soft bedding, including sheep or lamb skins, under the bottom sheet as this makes the sleeping surface too soft. A test you should perform to see if the mattress is firm enough is to push your hand down on the mattress. If, when you remove your hand, you can see your handprint then the mattress is too soft. If you cannot see your handprint then the mattress is likely to be firm enough and safe for your baby.

A tea tree filled mattress, a pillow, cushion or sofa is NOT a safe mattress as they are too soft and increase the risk of sudden unexpected infant death.

]]> http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/how-to-choose-the-best-cot-for-your-baby/feed/ 0 http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/adorable-baby-keepsake-ideas/ http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/adorable-baby-keepsake-ideas/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:00:09 +0000 di http://babyhandprintandfootprint.com/?p=41 Adorable keepsakes are always the best baby shower gift ideas to give during baby showers. There are so many baby keepsakes available in the market today, most of them can be made personalized for additional special effect. Little hand prints, a tiny lock of hair and all the baby photos that capture the first year can be included to make a wonderful baby keepsake for a new baby.

To welcome the arrival of the newborn child is one of the most memorable day of the parents, and you and the rest of your friends would like to commemorate the celebration with lots of gifts. And baby is adorable and no matter how clueless you are about baby gifts, you would want to present a gift that is something the parents will like or can use for their baby.

Here are some baby keepsake ideas that honors traditions of the past while embracing modern trends, too.

Baby Boy Footprint Keepsake Shoebox. Cherish the memory of tiny baby feet with this precious Baby Boy Footprint Keepsake Shoebox! Everything you need to create an impressive memory box for baby’s shoes is included in this adorable kit. Parents will cherish this exceptional DIY gift when baby outgrows his first pair of shoes! Comes in precious blue and white box, this keepsake has a cute train detail and comes with instructions and supplies to take baby’s foot prints impression. After the impression is made, parents can display it in the clear top insert of the box. The outside of the box features darling quotes and sayings, as well as fill-in-the-blank spaces for the child’s name and date.

Jesus Loves Me Baby Keepsake Box. This elegant baby shower gift is a perfect place for a new mommy to keep all of those precious baby keepsakes. This Jesus Loves Me Baby Keepsake Box will make an elegant addition to any baby’s nursery décor while keeping those first keepsakes safe. This two piece baby keepsake box is beautifully detailed with scrolling accents and a see through top to show case the treasures you place inside. Around the top of this traditional keepsake baby box are the words Jesus Loves Me. A perfect baby shower gift for a baby girl or a baby boy this darling keepsake box with see through top is a traditional baby gift that is as much fun to give as it is to receive.

Baby’s Personalized Train Frame. Preserve sweet memories from your child’s Christening, Baptism, or First Communion with this Double Cross Standing Keepsake Frame. A wonderful baby shower gift, this inspirational picture frame accentuates baby’s nursery with timeless charm. Parents and baby will treasure this beautiful photo frame as a thoughtful token of your joy. This Frame can hold two precious photos of a darling baby. An elegant silver engraving plate features a lovely cross and velvet backing. The silver plate can this keepsake personalized with baby’s name and birth date or baptism date.

Other adorable baby keepsakes include personalized piggy banks, tooth and curl box set, birth certificate holder, baby picture frames and albums, growth chart, etc. these all can make special baby shower gifts for babies which they’ll truly remember for years.

While it can be hard for couples to plan their dream wedding, the guests do not have it any easier. Aside from choosing the appropriate attire for the ceremony, they also have to conquer a mind-boggling task: pick out the best wedding gift for the couple.

Most couples get themselves listed under at least one store’s bridal registry program, so that their guests can have an easier time choosing a wedding gift. That way, the choices are already narrowed down for the attendees, and there is also a slim chance that the couple will receive the same gifts. The items included in the registry are mostly practical things ranging from towels to oven toasters.

But what happens if the couple fails to participate in a bridal registry program? The guests would have to think of more creative gift ideas. Without a template to guide a guest, it can be downright confusing for someone to choose the best wedding gift. Moreover, by giving a cliché gift, there is a greater risk that other people are going to give the couple the same gift too.

This can be quite hard for guests; they really have to think outside of the box to make sure that they will get something that the couple would use. An ingenious idea would be to think of a gift that’s a step ahead of the other gifts. Why not get something for the couple’s future child? After all, they are bound to start their own family soon, and getting them something for the baby would also inspire them to get baby stuff, too.

A great gift idea would be to get the couple a baby footprint and handprint kit. These are available in most online retail stores. The gift can be quite simple, but it has the potential to hold precious memories. The couple would be encouraged to record their baby’s footprint and handprint, and they can frame those.

A baby footprint and handprint kit usually contains some non-toxic clay for the baby’s impressions. There might be a frame or shadowbox included, so that the impression is well-protected. Other trinkets are also included in the kit to spruce up the imprint.

Getting the baby’s footprint and handprint is a great way for the family to bond. The activity is both fun and intimate; it also ensures the couple that they will have something to remind them of their baby’s first years. Even as the child grows up, there are still reminders of his or her early life.

The baby footprint and handprint kit is a pretty unconventional wedding gift, but it is something that most couples would really cherish. When they are already expecting a baby, they will surely remember the person who gave them the first gift for their child.

So what is a baby footprint keepsake?

Baby keepsake footprints are plaster impression molds that are taken of your babies feet at birth or during the first years of the babies life. These keepsakes are very easy to maintain. The only thing that is needed to get these keepsakes is to have a baby footprint kit. The kit usually come with the plaster to cast your child’s hand, a baby footprint frame, and instructions on how to cure the plaster and mount it once you have finished.

The baby keepsake frame can come with just the holder to enclose the plaster cast or you can get a frame that includes a two sided frame for the picture of the child or baby and the plastic cast.

Another option for keeping a keepsake is a baby ink footprint. The baby ink footprint is a perfect gift for family and friends. Baby in footprinting is the process of making an ink imprint of a babies foot. Once done it can be duplicated and passed on or framed for others to enjoy.

If a baby footprint kit is not for you, there are other options that are just as good. Take for example the baby handprint kit. As the name suggest, instead of concentrating on the feet, you can create a keepsake of the childs hands. Casting is also another option. Casting is more for the mother were a cast of the mothers belly is made at certain stages. Either way all of these options are perfect to keep memories of the wonderful time in a parents life.

Children grow very fast and before you know it your child will be in college out of the house and on there own. Having keepsakes done when the child in young guarantees that you will have the proper keepsakes to document the growth of your most precious belonging, you child.

Shopping for a baby keepsake footprint kit is simple. Just make sure your kit has everything that you will need to not only make the keepsake but also display the keepsake. There are plenty of internet sites that carry these kits at very reasonable prices.

Child to Cherish Handprints Tower of Time Kit is a really good looking gift, its available in a few very pretty pastel colors. Each set contains 5 self contained plaster hand molds, one for each of the first 5 years of life. You can start using them on the child’s first birthday and for each birthday afterwards up to five years old. These hand molds are perfect as a keepsake which can be kept forever.

1: After Buying this as a shower gift a few people said they felt this was a very unique gift and it looked great as well.

2: Some people said they always give this as a gift for a newborn because they find it is always well received and appreciated.

3: Others thought that the fact that this gift goes on giving for 5 years and then for the rest of the child life is a great reason to buy it. A wonderful keepsake for many years to come.

4: I was interested to find a tip by many of the buyers, which is to make sure you wait a fair while for the plaster to start to set, before putting the child’s hand in it, other wise you will just end up with a sticky mess all over your child’s hand and no cast at all.

5: Other buyers said that the person they gave the gift to was very pleased that it was something that her child and her could do together and they also said they were grateful it wasn’t another toy!

I hope these quick reviews will help you when you are looking to buy a keepsake gift for family or friend.