I’ve seen a lot of baby gifts in the past ten years and many have made me oooh and ahh — and even wish for another baby to wrap in that cute sling — but none have seemed as thoughtful and sensible as a tupperware container filled with medical supplies that I saw given by a nurse friend at a shower last year.
Of course there is nothing cute about a digital thermometer, boxes of infant Motrin, and diaper cream, but it sure is useful. And of course you can make it cute by putting it all in a nice container.
The other thing I like about this gift is that it’s a nice way for one mom to pass her new-found wisdom on to her friend.
(Not the make-it-cute kind of gal? Someone has taken care of the whole thing for you and is selling her packages under the name Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet.)
Have you ever given medical supplies as a gift to someone? How would you dress it up?
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I got a gift very similar to this from my sister (a pharmacist) and it’s definitely been one of the most useful things I received! I have also made a breastfeeding care package with stuff like breast pads, storage bags/bottles, lanolin, Mother’s Milk tea, granola bars, and a nice big water bottle.
I also received a gift like this from my good friend Marla (and my mom two at the time). I loved it!
I can’t remember if she tried to dress it up, but I always say that an extra laundry basket comes in handy!
I always try to give gifts like this. I just had a shower for my dd on the way–all I git was clothes! I returned most of them. I’m just too practical I guess.
I love this idea! A god friend of mine gave me a great gift- it was a very cute box filled with breastfeeding essentials- nipple shield, lanolin, breast pads, storage bags, etc- it was wonderful. As a new mom you don’t even know what all that stuff is or what it’s used for- it was great having it given all as one gift & the explanation of it all.
My friend gave me a gift like this. She didn’t dress it up, it was basically a huge garbage bag with everything from diapers to a first-aid kit to nail clippers, medicine…basically everything I didn’t know I would need right away. It was amazing and this reminds me that I need to put one of these together for a friend that’s due in May!
I’ve given a baby medicine kit a few times. I put mine in one of those small stacking compartment containers so it’s portable and mom can just unlatch and leave at home any compartment that isn’t needed at the time. First-time moms often don’t realize the value of the kit until after the baby arrives. When they’re not scrambling through a medicine cabinet in the middle of the night trying to find a baby thermometer, it suddenly dawns on them.
@RookieMom Heather, I knew you’d say laundry basket! I was thinking trashcans are good candidates for this present because who remembers to get a trashcan when they are outfitting a nursery?
I haven’t given one yet, but I think that’s a great idea! I am noting that for the next shower.
I would dress mine up in a wine carrier, complete with one or two actual bottles of wine ….because once baby’s sick, mommy needs wine.
Dang it! I should have marketed it myself. Oh, well, kudos to Ms. Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet for beating me to the punch…
This gift ALWAYS goes over well, and is especially nice when paired with a go-to guide like “Baby 411″ by Denise Fields and Ari Brown, MD.
I did this for my sister in law about 7 years ago. I put it in a cute basket from Home Goods (she used it later for little toys) with a big bow on it.
I’m a pediatrician, so I added this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Babys-First-Year-Second/dp/product-description/0553587943
The AAP’s “Your Baby’s First Year” which I love. I think that book likely saved me a few middle of the night phone calls (less embarrassing to wake up your SIL than a doc you don’t know with a stupid question at 2 am).
Lately, when I’ve given a baby shower gift, I make up a basket of all the things I never knew I’d need. Pluse a few fun and cute things, too. I like to include things like a 12-pack of cloth diapers (to be used as burp cloths), a box of Little Noses, a toothbrush (not just for brushing – they make great teethers!), snap-front tees (with stamped images if I have the time), my favorite stacking cups from Ikea, a copy of my newest favorite book (On the Night You Were Born). I love the idea of adding a few necessities for the new mom as well.
It’s a great gift. I also l have thought of giving a cosmetic bag full of all of the embarrassing stuff you need for YOURSELF after you give birth. Because, nobody can forget the trauma of having to ask your husband (or in my case, my father!) to go pick up some stool softener, mattress size maxi pads, tucks, etc! I would also tell the person not to open the bag until after they’ve given birth–no need to scare them!
Great idea. This will surely appreciated and it’s very nice if included a Parenting Guide book.
Like your post.
I gave a shower gift that contained a bunch of “tried and true” remedies, as well as little things that I didn’t think of until I needed them with my little one to a dear friend of mine this past fall but I packaged them in a baby bathtub since I figured that was something she would need as well and it was just about the perfect size container for everything – a little large so I filled it up by adding in some necessities like wipes and diapers. It didn’t get the Ohhs and Ahhs that the cutesy gifts got but she was VERY grateful. A more pricey version I gave an aunt of mine (before I had a little one of my own) was a bunch of necessities inside of the car seat she registered for. I personally HATE “wasting” money on wrapping gifts (of any kind) so for baby showers I always wrap gifts that are small enough to it a baby blanket with diaper pins to secure them and toys in place of a bow. Wedding gifts I typically use a nice afghan with a coordinating fabric bow. I figure it may cost a little more than the wrapping paper would have, but at least it’s something that can be used rather than going into the garbage!
A parent of one of my kindergarteners gave me one when I had my daughter and it was the BEST gift ever because new moms don’t typically think of buying that stuff…and of course the first fever will be at 3 am! My brother is having a baby tomorrow and I have done him one…I also included a few fun items for my nephew like the soft books, fun teethers, and a cd to soothe him : ). I included Motrin, Orajel, 3 bottles of Pedialyte, hydrocortizone cream, antibiotic cream, cute band aids, a cold pack for booboo’s, some lollipops for sore throats, etc.
My favorite thing to receive is infant tylenol at a baby shower. No dressing up is needed. You will bless that person some night.
At my last baby shower I gave gripe water. A few months later those parents were thanking me profusely.
I also received a gift similar to this from my mom. It was practical and very useful.