A shopper hunting for baby gifts could swing from one extreme of being practical to the other point of being whimsical. But while picking up a Graco baby product one can be both. A nice gift to a baby can never really be unpractical. Nevertheless keeping in view the size of one’s budget it is best to pick up a gift that will add to the comfort of the newborn.

New parents will be helped a lot if they receive customized or personalized baby gifts. A close friend or relation could opt for a pram for the baby or a fully equipped and durable stroller. Other options are monogrammed picture frames, silver spoons or a unique mother and child necklace.

For the shopper who has plenty of love but limited cash in the bank it is best to fix up a modest hamper filled with baby stuff. It is easy to scramble together a baby gift basket at a reasonable price. Baby shoes can be picked up from the shop or one could knit a pair of cute booties complete with a cap to match. Handmade goods are much appreciated and valued. These can be placed in the hamper along with safe baby accessories like toilet stuff, rattles, soft toys; diapers too would be most welcome and useful.

But diapers as a gift? One may not associate it with a gift but it is more than welcome by the parents struggling in the middle of the night to find a clean diaper. Far from being mundane diapers in the gift basket would be very useful and practical. Teethers and pacifiers could be included also.

Other alternatives are baby clothes but it should be one size larger because babies outgrow clothes at a very rapid rate. An attractive blanket together with a comforter could also be included in the list. Babies bring joy and happiness and no gift is too small or big for it provided it is laced with love and care.

Baby toys and clothes may seem the easiest options but this is where novices get confused and end up buying the wrong toys or clothes which are inappropriate for the baby’s age. The rule of the thumb as far as clothes are concerned is, keep the season and the age of the baby in mind and you are set. This way you will not end up with wrong clothes for the wrong season and in the wrong sizes.

Remember, new clothes are always welcome to parents so go ahead and pamper the baby with smart clothes. Toys are far easier to select as you simply have to match the age of the baby to that written on the box of the toy. Make sure that the toys are non-toxic. You can choose rattles, crib mobiles for newborns while toddlers will love stringing a pull-along toy or prancing on a rocking horse. Tricycles, small cars also make for good gifts if your budget stretches that far.

Bath care items for babies also make great baby gifts and you can get attractively-packed bath sets which contain lotions, creams, soaps and shampoos. Rubber bath toys as well as cute baby bath towels can also be added or given separately. A bathtub can be a nice gift if you want to spend that much or you can even splurge on an expensive baby bath care set.

Beautiful baby blankets, sheets and quilts are available in baby stores and you can opt for either one of them or gift an entire set. And if you know the color scheme and the theme of the nursery you can even try and coordinate the gifts with it. Cute baby sleep wear also make for excellent gifts but for normal clothes, keep the size and season in mind.

A diapering-set consisting of wet wipes, nappies and diapers will never go unused because this is what is required the most in the first few months. New parents will be grateful for extra stocks in the house. For that matter, even a baby monitor will come in handy although it is not the most exciting of gifts for the baby.

One unique baby gift is a framed footprint of the little one. The keepsake set will be a useful gift that will capture the first years of the infant. A customized monogrammed picture frame would be a novel gift for the baby. Being able to instantly recollect those special first days with hand and foot print tins or a personalized frame will make sure some memories last forever.

A personalized baby blanket could be a luxurious gift; so too would be an embroidered quilt or baby jewelry that is tailor made for a particular baby. Ruffled edges will add to its distinctiveness. Babies simply adore animal prints interspersed with alphabets embroidered on soft material with colorful yarn. Baby shops have generous collections of many such customized blankets.

There are adorable pillows made of satin and fleecy blankets for toddlers. The name and date of birth can be stamped or embroidered on these cozy items. The blankets are accompanied by plush play mats for the baby to romp and roll on. The mats are decorated with prancing lambkins and are padded and safe for the soft limbs of the toddler. This can be matched with personalized baby apparel.

The rompers made of fleecy material are embroidered with exquisite designs and make for exclusive gift items. The inside is of pure cotton. The ruffle diaper covers come with messages that are embroidered and are available in either cotton or poly blended material. These customized baby clothes and other items are in great demand.

Most of the stuffed toys feature adorable animals that are ideal for toddlers. The gift baskets are fashionably crafted from the best quality materials and filled with unique gifts like diapers shaped into cakes and other items that can remain forever as mementos.  The individualized layette as well as bags containing diapers is a welcome gift for the little one and the parents. Little girls would love to be gifted Baby Doll furniture.

The diapers shaped into three tiered cakes are something to see apart from being very useful. The baby gift basket makes one of the best presentations to be loved by both the child and the parents. It may contain a robe for the child comprising two ply blankets, a sleeping gown, hat, burp pad, bib and shiny satin slippers. The personalized baby boy gift baskets have been specially devised to bring the smile to all who see and use it.

Themed gift baskets like diapering baskets, bath baskets, book baskets, clothes or toy baskets have also gained in popularity and one can always come up with something newer.

For newborns an all-purpose basket is very useful since you can put in all the essential stuff required for those first few months. But if you want a specific themed basket, the most practical is a diaper-themed basket so you can stuff the basket with plenty of wet wipes, nappies, diapers, lotions or creams for nappy rash, small towels, a separate small carry-all for soiled diapers etc.

The traditional wicker basket can be replaced by toy wagons, laundry baskets or buckets which can then be decorated nicely and personalized with choice items that matches the baby’s personality. This can serve the double purpose of holding soiled diapers or clothes later on. You can also opt for a sleepy time theme where you can stuff these large containers with crib blankets, quilts or sheets, pillows or cushions and sleepwear for the baby.

Toys and bath items are also welcome gifts for the baby. Bath items should be hypoallergenic, tearless and gentle. Toys are beloved by babies of all age groups; just make sure that the toys correspond to the baby’s age and are not toxic. Crib mobiles will fascinate the newborn baby while lying in the crib and rattles and soft toys are also well-liked by babies.

Baby gift baskets for twins become very easy because all you have to do is to get two of every item and cram them into a single basket if they are for same-gender twins.  But, why not make it a bit more interesting by arranging for two separate baskets also even if it they are for the same -gender twins? Vary the color scheme of each basket and tweak some items here and there. Gift baskets for boy-girl twins are of course of blue and pink colors and items like clothes will obviously be different from each other.

Baskets for one-year olds can hold more than the usual crib toys, diapers, clothes etc. Books, music CD’s, edibles also make for great additions to a toddler’s gift basket. Books are a wonderful way of developing good communication skills in one-year olds and children of this age enjoy listening to stories, looking at pictures even if they cannot comprehend much of it. Soothing lullabies on music CD’s are also greatly enjoyed by toddlers. Edibles can include the child’s favorite cereals or chocolates or cookies.

Many different baby gifts can be personalized but none look quite as catchy as embroidered clothing. You can personalize furniture, toys and photo albums but these are more keepsake items and not necessarily for everyday use. But with personalized t-shirts, sweaters, sweat suits and bath robes your baby boy or baby girl will have a special reminder of who they are no matter where they go.

Roll neck sweaters are gaining popularity with infants and toddlers and you can find boy and girl sweaters in terrific colors including classic navy blue and pink.  Made from 100% luxuriously soft cotton roll neck sweaters are super comfortable and keep babies warm when the air gets nippy. Best of all roll neck sweaters can be embroidered in a number of ways including monogrammed block, script or funky style lettering to match your little one’s unique personality.

Great for everyday apparel t-shirts never go out of style and you can find comfortable and durable t-shirts made from high quality material blends including cotton, polyester and spandex. Double layer t-shirts can be found in baby boy blue and baby girl pink for classic baby apparel and can be personalized with a baby’s full name, initials or single letter.

If you really want to make an impression on that newborn baby boy or baby girl then consider a fresh looking personalized velour sweat suit that will keep them current with today’s trendy fashions. You can find high quality baby track suits that feature pink, blue or white piping, matching gusset and interior hood lining for added comfort.

Infant velour sweat suits are ideally sized for infants and toddlers between 6-12 months and the cuffs are snug so the sleeves stay baggy to keep up with the latest styles. Keep it simple and plain with a single embroidered letter that looks cool and gives your toddler a sense of his own identity.

Good music is good music, whether it’s classical, jazz, rock or hip hop. Parents are often surprised to find their little one moving about happily in his crib when they are playing bands they like. Good taste may be an inherited trait. Now, with amazing music collections from several licensed manufacturers you can play your favorite bands music for your baby in gentle and soothing tones that will have your baby rocking in happy delight.

These clever music CD’s transform timeless rock songs into soothing instrumental lullabies that feature glockenspiels, vibraphones and other soft instruments that will gently introduce your newborn to modern rock classics such as “In My Place”, “With or Without You”, “Strawberry Fields” and “Lively up Yourself”.

Many new parents have their own ideas on how to raise their child and want to be more creative and adventurous in their upbringing techniques. Of course they are paying attention to all the basics but who says babies will only enjoy standard lullabies? Why wouldn’t a young infant or toddler enjoy the timeless sounds of the Beatles and Bob Marley too?

When you seek out music for your baby you’ll be surprised at how many of your favorite bands have given their permission to have their music transformed into baby lullabies. In addition to classics including the Beatles, Beach Boys and Bob Marley you can also find terrific baby music from bands you’d never expect such as Guns n’ Roses, Aerosmith, Green Day, Metallica and even Nine Inch Nails. You’ll be amazed at how effortlessly the hard rocking sounds of these classic bands have been fused with soothing instruments and lullaby song structures to turn rock anthems into your newborn’s favorite music.

Suppose you’re a little younger and classic rock wasn’t your thing. No worries. Baby rock music can  be found from pioneering alternative acts including the Cure, Pixies, Radiohead and Bjork for those parents who like to keep their cool in the family. For the playfully aggressive tyke you’ll also find great tunes from Smashing Pumpkins and the The Ramones including “Blitzkrieg Bop” and “Cherub Rock”.

Everyone will have the soothing lullabies babies are expected to enjoy but for a clever and refreshing change of pace don’t forget the bands that made you happy and excited. Chances are if your kid is anything like you they too will appreciate the music that had an impact on your life too. And what better way to introduce infants and toddlers to such great music then with the help of soothing lullaby instruments.