Mums-to-be need diapers and bottles, but it doesn't mean they'll love the contents of all baby hampers. The trick is to know what your recipient really likes and then pick a hamper to match her taste.
For instance, if she has a sweet tooth, what about a pamper hamper complete with sugary treats and chocolates, and perhaps even a bottle of wine, all for after baby is born. Or, if she's a hands-on mum who prefers practical gifts, perhaps a hamper with a receiving blanket, nappies and pacifiers is the way to go.
Just don't buy the first hamper you see. Browse through the entire range until you find one the recipient will really enjoy.
While the contents are of course the most important part of the hamper, you should also spare a thought for presentation.
When you buy a hamper, you'll notice there are a few different kinds of baskets. A picnic basket is the most traditional, but there are other options worth considering. Wooden carry baskets with handles make a stunning alternative and you could even paint them to add a pop of colour.
With a lovely basket to hold all her goodies, mum-to-be gets to enjoy two gifts in one, as she can use the basket to carry baby items once emptied.
Don't leave it until the baby shower is just around the corner to pick out the perfect hamper. If you leave it until too late to buy a hamper online, you may encounter limited options and delayed deliveries.
Once you've found the perfect baby hamper, you need to make sure it will arrive in time. Failing to check delivery dates and times is a common error when ordering items online. But, don't assume whatever you order is just going to arrive within a few days. Some items may need to be sources for the hamper or could even be out of stock.
Be sure to check the delivery times in advance and place your hamper order with plenty of time to spare.
For new parents – A baby hamper is a great gift for new parents and gives them a much-needed boost, so you could include treats for mum and dad and a bouquet of flowers, too. You could even add something for baby, like a pair of booties or a little teddy.
Keep these tips in mind when buying a hamper online and you're sure to get it perfectly right!
I remember feeling this way on the day my daughter was born as she was placed on my chest. She looked at me with her vivid eyes and I knew at that exact moment that I would love her forever (even through the sleepless nights, tantrums and all the lovely fun growing up stuff).
Since that first day, we haven't failed a single day to let our daughter know how much we love her each and every day. We always let her know that our love for her is infinite and that the beauty of love is that you can always make more and we don't need to worry about there ever being less.
This daily lesson has helped our daughter get comfortable with new babies arriving in our family. She has loved every little cousin that has arrived and has been so helpful in trying to make them happy. Recently, a new cousin arrived and it was a more immediate cousin as it is my sister's daughter (Congratulations Karen!).
We were all anxious in anticipation for the little one to arrive as we all had lots of love to give. Therefore, we started the conversations about the arrival and what it was going to mean to all of us. It has always been important to us to have these conversations with our daughter as we want her to understand the world around her and with the 'why' phase it is a perfect time. We explained how she was gaining a new friend and that meant one more person that was going to love her so much more.
Therefore, throughout my sister's whole pregnancy, my daughter would kiss my sister's tummy and tell her little cousin how much she loved her. It was a beautiful moment to say the least (captured below).
Now not all children are the same and they are all unique in their own ways. Some children may exhibit jealousy or feel a little less loved when a new baby enters the world. Therefore, I put together some tips that could possibly help.
Always start the conversation early. Let your child know of the changes that are about to happen and let them know what they can expect. Teach them that love is infinite and you can always create more of it.
Listen to your child and pick up on any cues that they are feeling uneasy about a new addition to the family. If they have any concerns, let them tell you and listen. You would be surprised at how much listening means to a child.
Express and show your love to your child. Let them know how much they mean to you…a hug can go a long way.
Make sure to include your child in the action. All kids love attention (I am sure we know a lot of adults who do too!) so get them involved. If it is a cousin, have them help the mom and dad with the baby. Let them bring the bottle and have them take part in the little things. It is a great way to have the baby and child start to bond too!
Praise your child on what a great job they are doing and what a great helper they are. They love to hear praise and it is another great way to show your love by noticing how great they are. I use this a lot and I find it helps me tremendously to have a positive outcome in all that I do.
Those are my five quick tips in hopes it helps minimize or avoid some unpleasant feelings of a new addition to the family. We have used all of these tips to help our daughter adjust to a loving growing family. Now our daughter tells the whole world that she has a new baby cousin and she loves her so much because she is so cute! Tugs my heart strings every time!
In this interview we discuss her personal experience with her son who had Plagiocephaly and some helpful advice to other parents. We also take a deep look into her business, Mimos Pillows Canada.
"My husband and I have two adorable sons. Ethan is now 4 ½ years old and just started Junior Kindergarten and loves it and Oliver is 15 months old and chases Ethan around wherever he goes. We also have a golden doodle named Jackson.
What signs or symptoms did you see in your son that alerted you to something not being right?
What were the steps that you and your family do to help your son's Plagiocephaly (flat head)?
"The first thing I did was make an appointment with our paediatrician and she recommended that I find a Health Professional (either a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath) that specialized in paediatric cranial sacral therapy and treating torticollis and would provide me with some stretches to do with him. I made an appointment and started taking Ethan in 3 times per week. Torticollis is when a baby has tight neck muscles on one side, making the baby always position their head the same way. This can be caused by them being used to that same position in the womb.
After noticing Ethan's plagiocephaly I continued looking on the internet to see if there was anything else I could do beside the cranial sacral therapy and physiotherapy to help his chances of rounding his head out and avoiding helmet therapy. I came across Mommy forums in the UK discussing this "miracle pillow" called Mimos. I was lucky to find someone in Oakville selling one second hand that she had ordered from Europe so I bought it right away and began to use it WHENEVER my son was on his back such as the crib, swing, stroller, play mat, etc.
After having my second son Oliver, his little head was also perfectly round and I was determined to not go through the stress of having to correct plagiocephaly again. Instead began using the Mimos Pillow from day 1 and was so amazed when his round little head stayed round. What a relief!
If you could tell a younger self some parenting advice, what would it be?
What would you like other parents to know about flat head syndrome and about Mimos pillows?
"A lot of parents don't know that Mimos can be used preventatively which is key. Starting from day one in the newborn phase is the best way to avoid flat head syndrome altogether and avoid the associated stress. Mimos should be on every expecting mom's baby registry.
Infants' skulls are softest the younger they are so using Mimos especially between 0 to 4 months is so important. As the fontanels (soft spots) in the head close, the skull is less malleable.
Some babies are born with cranial asymmetries due to birth trauma or their position in the womb so finding a health professional that specializes in this immediately combined with Mimos is the best course of treatment for that.
When using Mimos for corrective purposes, we always recommend pairing the use of Mimos with treatment from a health professional. Mimos is part of the treatment plan and obviously cannot cure any underlying issue such as torticollis.
"Mimos is now a Class 1 Medical Device in Canada and is the ONLY infant pillow on the market that is medical grade. Mimos has been studied in clinical trials to prove its effectiveness. Mimos has been rigorously tested in international laboratories for breathability, anti-suffocation and the risk of CO2 rebreathing.
Mimos is made in Spain and was invented by a man and his wife after undergoing helmet therapy with their son which was a horrible experience. Helmet therapy is when a baby has to wear a helmet for 23 hours a day for around three months.
My goal is to spread awareness about baby flat head syndrome and lower the statistics of babies who have it. A Canadian study in 2013 concluded that 46.6% of babies now develop this. This is mainly due to infants always being on their back to sleep (as recommended for SIDS prevention) and spending a lot of time on their backs in infant swings, playmats, etc. Premature babies who spend time in NICU's also really benefit from using Mimos as they are constantly lying on their backs.
People often ask me about sizes, will their babies need more that 1 size, etc. Usually if your little one starts from day 1, size small may be the only size they need. Size medium is for older babies (4-5 months old) with a larger head circumference that are using Mimos correctively.
I had many parents come up to our booth at the Toronto Baby Show and say, "Oh! I got one of these at Toys'R'Us." Mimos pillows are only available online (and safety superstore in Oakville) and they are not available anywhere else thus far.
A heartfelt thank you to Jessica from Mimos Pillows for opening up and for allowing us into her family story. We hope the information provided here will bring more awareness and prevent babies from getting Plagiocephaly.
Please remember that the Mimos Pillows are only available online and the ones at other retailers are not the same. This is why for Momma Braga readers, there is a special promotion available to you. Enter code MommaBraga under 'discount' for $10 OFF on your purchase (click here). You definitely don't want to miss out on this chance to buy a Mimos Pillow for your little one.
In the meantime, check out Mimos Pillow Canada on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
One item I find that usually is forgotten when we are first expecting is teething accessories. Usually we don't always see this as a gift idea as when we think of newborns, we are not thinking of that wonderful teething stage (one of the hardest stages of raising children). However, teething accessories are very important and there are some really adorable options available!
Recently I have been introduced to Bijoux Marie Puce who creates colorful jewellery, teething accessories and offers gift ideas. Bijoux Marie Puce is located in Montreal, Canada and the owner is Marie-France and she is a mompreneur who has two daughters. Marie-France has a passion for creating unique products and this can be seen in each piece that she makes.
The product that we got to see was the Silicone Teething Toy and I had to see the owl one in person. It arrived in a nicely wrapped package and it a hand written personal thank you note (love this personal touch!). The material used to make the teething toy is: food grade silicone, nylon cord, and plastic clasp. Items made at Bijoux Marie Puce is hand made and you can tell that it is made with lots of love.
Now you can't have a #MelandNikkiReview without honesty and when I first opened the package to see the teething accessory, I was really surprised. It is much bigger than I was expecting but in a good way. Usually when you go to these big brands, the teething accessories are so tiny and don't last long due to poor quality. However, the teething accessory by Bijoux Marie Puce is an amazing size and high quality.
The teething accessory is easy to hold, clean and very appealing to the little ones. It would make a perfect gift for a baby shower or even as a welcoming gift to a new baby. I am sure that the little one will thank you when they are older and the parents will be grateful to have this accessory to help their little one cope with the difficult teething stage.
You must check out Bijoux Marie Puce on Etsy where you can see all that she has to offer such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hair accessories, rings, magnets, bookmarks, keychains, scrunchies, teething toys, teething necklaces and children necklaces.
Make sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see more of the beautiful creations.