At InvitationBox.com there is more to us than just pretty invitations! We have a wonderful gift shop of many ceramic gifts, baby décor, baby gift items and more. One of our baby item vendors, 3 Marthas, has just introduced a plethora of new products which we are offering on InvitationBox.com.

The materials used by 3 Marthas are simply superior – thick 100% cotton terry for their towels and bibs, double-napped 100% cotton flannel for their blankets, and extra thick 100% cotton burp pads with an 8 ply center for extra absorbency! Their products are made with high thread count ginghams, imported grosgrain ribbons, fabulous waffle pique and more. 3 Marthas is known for their beautiful appliqués in which they take the art of the appliqué and tweak it to create designs that delight modern mothers while retaining their hand-made appeal.

The new products include fabulous new designs that appeal babies, toddlers, children AND moms. The newest designs include trains, puppy dogs, fish and chicks in various gingham, stripe and plaid designs. Choose from a vast array of burp pads, bibs, hooded towels, wash cloths, stroller blankets, onesies and satin cold blankets.

The 3 Marthas collection includes items that are great for baby shower gifts for the mommy-to-be, birthday gifts for young children and for items for everyday bath and mealtime use.

Though it’s not required, giving gifts to the mommy-to-be at her shower is something the mom appreciates and the guests enjoy watching. It reminds us all of when we were expecting our first child or what we have to look forward to. Most mommy-to-be’s will register at one or a few stores (typically a franchise that is in mutiple cities for out of town guests). Some great places to register are Babies ‘R’ Us, Pottery Barn Kids, Target, Wal-Mart and Baby Depot.

When registering, be sure to register for small items like shampoo, lotions, rattles, bottles, etc. all the way up to diaper genies, baby furniture and other more expensive items. Your guests will all have a different range of budgets that you should keep in mind and some close family members may want to get you a larger gift. Registering for the items you need will help prevent receiving duplicate gifts or unwanted items which can save you time on returns. If you have a multitude of items already for your new baby, think outside the box with registering for books, nursery decor or baby clothing for 6, 9 or 12 months that will help you out later down the road with your little one.

When giving gifts to the mommy-to-be, it is important to use the mommy’s registry if they have one to prevent repeat gifts. This way after you buy the item you know she won’t receive three more of the same thing. If nothing appeals to your budget or ideas on the registry it is okay to shop elsewhere, but try to make it something creative that she will use and appreciate the time you took to think of the gift. At InvitationBox.com we have a multitude of baby shower gift items in our baby gift shop inculuding cloud b Sleep Sheeps, Lullabags, onesies, bibs, burp pads, towels, photo albums, scrap books, picture frames, wall and door hangers and more…

Bottles, pacifiers, bibs, rattles, wipes, diapers and blankets…they’re all great gifts, though so A-typical. At most baby showers nowadays, the host will compile a variety of the above gifts and wrap them up in a gift basket for the mommy-to-be. Guests of the shower can contribute to the basket upon their arrival to the shower. So that takes care of the little things – but what are the popular gifts for baby showers this year? What can you purchase that will set your gift apart from others? And more importantly – what is the best gift to purchase for someone on a budget?

Below are a few unique ideas for baby gifts:

$3.00 – $30.00 range ~ Books & Clothes to Grow with
A really special idea is to purchase books or clothing for the newborn baby through their first few years of life. Many times at baby showers, the mommy-to-be will receive gifts for infants, but then once the baby turns a few months or a few years old, they’re out at Toys/Babies ‘R’ Us shopping again and could really use another baby shower! Buying gifts for the child to read or wear as they grow is a really thoughtful gift that any parent would enjoy.

$15.00 – $40.00 range ~ Nursery Décor
An extremely helpful and exciting gift for the mommy-to-be who has been spending much time purchasing large furniture and has not had time to pick up small things like book ends, picture frames, piggy banks, wall hangings, clocks and photo albums. These decorative items will brighten up a baby’s nursery in no time. Remember: you may want to check with the mommy-to-be to see if she has a specific theme she is using in the nursery.

$25.00 – $50.00 range ~ Keepsake Boxes
Moms and Dads are always the ones to hold onto baby’s first lock of hair, first painting, first lost tooth, etc. Why not give them a few keepsake boxes for not only the parent, but for the child to reflect back upon when they get older? It will be a gift that is treasured for years and passed down through generations.

$30.00 – $75.00 range ~ Embroidered Textiles
Some of the hottest items on the market right now are embroidered bibs, onesies and blankets. You can have the cloth embroidered with the baby’s name, (if known), or “Baby [insert last name]”. Many of these textiles can also have their cloth color, thread color and graphics added for further personalization for a personal touch. This will really show the mommy-to-be that you thought about her and took care and planning when purchasing her gift.

$50.00 – $150.00 range ~ Spa Day for Mommy-to-Be
A really unique gift for the mommy-to-be is a gift certificate for her to be pampered for a day. Some spas have special packages for pregnant moms that offer anything from manicures and pedicures to soft massages and haircuts. It will be a thoughtful gift that any pregnant mom will appreciate – a chance for her to relax before the big day arrives.

Any of the above ideas should have you on your way to giving the mommy-to-be the baby shower of a lifetime!