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11-20-2012 at 12:27 PM
Michelle30...
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What is the most practical baby gift you have gotten or seen?

What is the most practical baby gift you have gotten or seen?

 I'm a fan of diapers, but I would also like to see other suggestions.
 
11-20-2012 at 1:03 PM
1026pumpki...
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A few things: high use items off registry (car seat, monitor, bath tub, etc.), diapers (or diaper cakes- look cuter than a big ol box of pampers), and baskets with little necessities (toiletries, pacis, nail clippers, diaper stuff, saline drops, etc.).
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11-20-2012 at 1:09 PM
ByeByeBooz...
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Anything off of the registry. We got a ton of non-registry items (most without tags or receipts) and, while they are appreciated, they aren't nearly as useful as the things we researched, decided we wanted/would use, and added to the registry. I'm usually an off-registry gift giver, but I think that's changed now that I've gone through it.
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11-20-2012 at 1:17 PM
martha919
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Most practical would probably be the more boring things, unfortunately. My cousin got us the bottles and thermometer we wanted (yay!), which was exciting for us but probably not for her! If anyone got us a moby or a monitor or anything consumable (diapers, wipes, toiletries, refills for anything) that would be/has been great as well because we'll have to buy those things anyway.

For comparison, the least practical gift from our first shower was from my mom--three "sh*tty" parenting books for kicks. Least practical but definitely the most fun! Haha.
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11-20-2012 at 1:18 PM
danieliza1...
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ByeByeBooze:
Anything off of the registry. We got a ton of non-registry items (most without tags or receipts) and, while they are appreciated, they aren't nearly as useful as the things we researched, decided we wanted/would use, and added to the registry. I'm usually an off-registry gift giver, but I think that's changed now that I've gone through it.

 

Yeah exactly that.  If they registered for it, then it's practical and it's something they want.  

For me, practical things were the sound machine for his nursery, the bath tub, diapers, the pack n play, the playmat - all things I registered for.  A sound machine or monitor might not be practical to someone who didn't register for it because they won't be using it.


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11-20-2012 at 1:24 PM
PrivacyWan...
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ByeByeBooze:
Anything off of the registry. We got a ton of non-registry items (most without tags or receipts) and, while they are appreciated, they aren't nearly as useful as the things we researched, decided we wanted/would use, and added to the registry. I'm usually an off-registry gift giver, but I think that's changed now that I've gone through it.

yep this...FWIW, Lots of people gave me disposible diapers. They were not useful at all as we CD'd from day 1
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11-20-2012 at 1:31 PM
wittyschaf...
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I try really hard to buy the things on the registry that I know they'll use a lot so I'll do a bath bundle with their tub, baby wash/shampoo, toy and towel or something similar.  It may not be the most fun but it is something that they'll be using for quite a bit of their little one's younger days.  I rarely buy clothing and if I do, it is almost always in a bigger size than 0-3.  
 
11-20-2012 at 1:48 PM
Ladiebug71...
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I got a basket with tons of little things I needed.  Baby shampoo and lotion, laundry detergent, baby clothes hangers, disposable changing pads (awesome for use in public bathrooms on those gross changing tables or even the car), butt paste, and a few other things.  It was totally thoughtful and took care of lots of little things I needed.  I have used everything in the basket.
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11-20-2012 at 2:09 PM
dragossoul...
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If you live in cold weather the bundle me is awesome. I love it and will get one for all my friends as they get pregnant

 
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11-20-2012 at 3:14 PM
Disneygeek...
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I don't know, maybe the Diaper genie.  We having been using it everyday for several years now.
 
11-20-2012 at 4:02 PM
mrsmcdonal...
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Breast pump and breastfeeding supplies. Not exciting, but really practical. 
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11-20-2012 at 6:46 PM
jasminelor...
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Bibs and our bottle rack.

It's been an amazing year with my pride & joy, Elijah Michael Houston.

 
11-20-2012 at 9:14 PM
rhubarb123
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The most practical would be the carseat.

After that it would be:  monitor, breast pump, glider, burp cloths and halo sleepers

The least practical:  bathtub.  I actually got 3 of them (including the one I registered for).  After one use I felt it was too much of a PITA for me and baby and took them all back.  The kitchen sink was easier, warmer for baby and not "back breaking" for me.  lol
 
11-21-2012 at 5:26 AM
watermelle...
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Besides all of the obvious necessities off of our registry, my mom got us a huge tub of Aquaphor when we brought DS home from the hospital b/c he had cradle cap. We STILL have some left that we are using 2 years later and it's worked wonders for us for diaper rash.
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11-21-2012 at 10:30 AM
rpalen29
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my MIL was telling me about this one play yard that you take out of the box, shake it, and it pops open. Amazing! It also comes with a bassinet, so its convenient when your traveling. you just fold it up, and shove it in the back of your car, and that's all you need. 

it's called Aprica Play Yard by Graco.  
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11-21-2012 at 11:39 AM
MidwestGid...
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A good burp cloth. So many models are either flimsy or too short. We registered for a couple that we thought we wanted--ended up not working out too great. Some kind great-aunt sent us embroidered burp cloths that ended up being the perfect length/absorbency.

Most everything though, other than the little thoughtful basket of stuff, is kind of user preference. One family's savior is another's failed mistake.

 
11-21-2012 at 12:09 PM
MelRC117
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MidwestGidget:

A good burp cloth. So many models are either flimsy or too short. We registered for a couple that we thought we wanted--ended up not working out too great. Some kind great-aunt sent us embroidered burp cloths that ended up being the perfect length/absorbency.

Most everything though, other than the little thoughtful basket of stuff, is kind of user preference. One family's savior is another's failed mistake.

This.  Even researching items for a registry doesn't vive you the answers of what is really practical.  My LO never took to a paci so obviously those weren't practical for me, but for another LO could be a lifesaver for the parents.  I use my changing table every time I change LO at home, others think a changing table is a waste of space.  Its all perspective and you learn.  I have to agree, in cold climates a Bundle Me would make a great gift since its pretty much the only way, besides a bunch of blankets to keep LO warm in winter.
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11-21-2012 at 2:22 PM
PansyPants
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Shampoo, baby wash and bubble bath. Until last week we were still using bath items given to us, we finally ran out of shampoo. It's a simple thing but very helpful to have on hand.

 
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11-21-2012 at 8:58 PM
kiraliz2
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My MIL got me a "baby briefcase". It is basically just a plastic accordian folder with tabs for all the paperwork that comes with baby (hospital discharge papers, OB records, insurance, etc). It's been really nice to have these first few weeks with all the doctor appointments and insurance stuff I've had to deal with.
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11-22-2012 at 1:40 AM
CougFan
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Batteries! Either disposable or rechargeable in all sizes. It is awful to run out of batteries for swing, vibrating stuff, camera, toys remote (ha!) and then having to pack up baby to go get them or do without.
You said practical!
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11-22-2012 at 2:58 AM
ForeverEve...
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The most practical gift I've gotten so far were a bunch of newborn AIO cloth diapers from my mom. I really want to CD from day 1, but couldn't afford a newborn stash, so I would've used prefolds. The most practical gift I've given according to the parents-a gift basket of medical stuff (I'm a nurse, so I did it as a joke along with the real gift) with tylenol, advil, thermometer, med syringe, nasal bulb suction, etc. Their baby got pneumonia at 2 months, and when it first started they said it was a lifesaver not having to run to the store at night.
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11-22-2012 at 8:28 PM
New_MrsP
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My favorite gift was a "My Little Seat". It's a cloth highchair that you tie on to a regular chair, and it fits in a diaper bag. We didn't use it very often, but anytime we needed it we were so glad to have it. I've given it as a gift a few times.

http://mylittleseat.com/mylittleseat/home.html
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11-24-2012 at 12:15 PM
Ellei03
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Anything off the registry! I spent a ton of time researching products we need and reading reviews. While i AM grateful for anything we get, I wish ppl would just stick w/ the reg! I really hope I get the AngelCare movement monitor, sleep sacks, baby tub and towels, bottles, humidifier, baby gates, changing pad cover, and mattress pad. I will be buying most the things I don't get so I wouldn't mind gift cards either. TIP: If u do get clothes think about how old the baby will b and make sure it is appropriate for the season. Whatever u get, include gift receipts!
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11-25-2012 at 1:22 PM
alohachris...
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My absolutely fave gift was a basket of all the I forgot to get stuff! we live out of town so if I needed tylenol at 12am I'd have to drive 40 min there and back! So she made me a emergency kit-it had everything in it! towels,wash cloths, paci's, every kind of infant medicine at the store, brush, toothbrush/toothpaste, newborn mittens and socks etc etc. all in a pretty basket to put in his room :)

Also humidifier, bottles, boppy and the fisher price newborn glider were musts!
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11-25-2012 at 2:07 PM
Elsa1984
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When it comes to shopping for others, I stick to the registry so I know what they need and what their tastes are. However, I tend to stay away from binkies and bottles since there are some babies that only take specific kinds or won't take binkies at all. I tend to get the small things that will get used but are looked over by a lot of people. Nail clippers, nose suckers, saline for the nose, hand sanitizer, organic bath soap and lotions...since I got TONS of Johnson and Johnson products only to have my baby break out from them, breastmilk storage bags, bottle scrub brushes, a med kit for if baby gets sick so they don't have to do a late night run to the store.

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11-27-2012 at 8:58 AM
hansonam44...
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The most practical was diapers, wipes, and the bathing gift basket. Another friend who recently had a baby got me travel lotions, disposable changing pads, and the bottles I registered for. I could've kissed her!
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11-27-2012 at 3:14 PM
Ivana.Stol...
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Practical AND useful???

 

Wipes....you go through a ton of them.

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11-30-2012 at 7:54 PM
tcu_2003
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Diapers, wipes, Nose Frida (snot sucker - that thing is awesome!), and toiletries (baby wash, shampoo, diaper cream) are probably the most practical things we received.  Oh, and the Aden+Anais blankets - we live in Texas, and DS was born in June.  Those blankets were perfect over the summer, and still useful now (of course, it's not really cold here yet) - we use them to shield DS from the sun when we're in the car (one of us sits by him so we only have to partially cover his carseat, and can keep an eye on him).
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