Top Gift #3: Baby sling

Most babies love being carried around in a sling. It’s next best thing to being cuddled in mom’s arms. Many parents have had experience where babies get restless and cry while they use other types of carriers, but immediately calm down when put into a sling.

Baby slings are believed to foster a closer parent-child bond. Whether that’s true or not, slings do have another great advantage -- they leave your hands free to do other things. That’s definitely a big plus and is a reason why this baby shower gift is highly appreciated.

Top Gift #4: The baby travel pack

Moving around with baby can be a chore -- you have to pack a seemingly endless array of baby stuff even for short outings.

One way to ease this problem is to have one or more baby travel packs handy. What’s a travel pack? Essentially, a diaper bag filled with baby necessities. It can include disposable diapers, a small toy or two, bib, complete change of clothes for baby, safety pins, and other supplies.

It’s a great advantage if parents receive more than one travel pack. Then one pack can always be kept ready whenever they want to go. No need to mess around with picking up and stuffing items into a diaper bag at last minute.

Top gift #5: Car seat

Lots of parents say that a well-designed car seat is a wonderfully useful baby shower gift to receive. In fact, it’s useful from moment they leave hospital with baby.

There are infant car seats available as well as infant-toddler convertible seats. The former can be used only till baby is up to 22 pounds or so (typically). While latter can usually be used till first birthday.

Want more special gifts for showers? Check out this page for more information: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com/diaper-cakes.html

Make sure these top five baby shower gifts are part of event you’re hosting. The guest of honor will end up thanking you long after party gets over!

If there are older siblings, make sure they receive a gift each. They may already be feeling somewhat left out with a new baby on way, so this is a great idea.

Irrespective of whether it’s a coed baby shower or not, buy a gift specially for dad. He should feel that he was remembered too.

Record who gave each gift. Essential information when time comes to send thank you cards! Sending thank you cards is essential baby shower etiquette.

Hand gifts to mom-to-be for her to open and take it from her once she’s done with it. This will save her hassle of continually getting up and moving about to pick up gifts.

Sometimes, some guests may need to leave early. They’ll appreciate it if mom-to-be will open presents while everyone is eating.

Food and related arrangements deserve special attention. For one thing, expectant mothers can’t eat everything they normally would. See this page for more guidelines on food at baby showers: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com/baby-shower-food.html

Start baby shower on time and keep it fairly short. Don’t get bogged down in any one segment like games. Be sensitive to mom-to-be’s energy level and any signs of fatigue she may show. End party if she’s beginning to feel run down. Walk guests to door as they leave and be sure to thank them for coming.

Don’t expect perfection. No party ever is perfect. There’s always unforeseen -- power goes off just as gifts are being opened, you forgot to dust one corner of room, pack of baby shower favors you opened just before party turns out to be a different color than you ordered and so on. You can’t control it all.

Special situations

You might have a friend or relative who just lost a baby, or is infertile despite all treatments. Should you call her for your baby shower? Attending may be a challenge for her. Being confronted with another’s pregnancy may be difficult for her to bear.

The rule in such situations is -- ask. Check with her and find out if she is up to attending baby shower. Don’t just send an invitation in mail. On other hand, don’t presume that she can’t come and not call her at all. If she’s close to mom-to-be, she may well want to come. Or at least, she may send her good wishes and a gift.

But if she tells you that she can’t make it, accept situation with grace. Never hold it against her in any manner. Even if she said she would come and later backed out. Remember, it is probably one of most difficult times she’s ever had, so be generous and supportive.

Once you’ve understood these simple baby shower etiquette guidelines, you’ll be far more confident about hosting a baby shower. Have fun, and create a special time that will live on in everyone’s memories!