Baby gift for a book lover

A onesie marking your baby as a "Future reader" from the Penguin Group. This is a great item to have on hand for as a quick baby gift. Bundle it with copies of your favorite children's books to create a thoughtful present for a bookworm. (They seem to run small, so you might want to order up a size.)

Never be caught without a clean bib again

I have two simple rules for being out and about with babies: be prepared and carry a minimal amount of gear. Balancing those two rules is the tricky part--but it can be done.

A key weapon in our diaper bag arsenal is a set of Kipiis Bib Clips. Just clip on a napkin or towel (I've even used a burp rag), adjust the straps to fit and--voila--instant bib! When mealtime is done, there is no dirty bib to cart home. Toss the clips in your bag and you're ready for the next messy activity that comes your way. And they're colorfully cute, to boot.

Our Kipiis never fail to get covetous looks when we pull them out at restaurants or playgroup. I haven't seen them much in stores, but you can always purchase them online at the Kipiis site or Amazon. And you can usually find someone selling them new on eBay with free shipping.

Slings up for grabs!

Simple Things has been hosting a Babywearing Bonanza featuring various babywearing businesses and charities. She's done some interesting interviews and introduced us to some great organizations. But the best part? She's giving away several babywearing items, including a Sleepy Wrap, Slingling pouch, Posh Papoose ring sling, and Peekaru vest. The giveaways are still open to entries until next week, so if you're a babywearer--or considering becoming one--be sure to throw in your name.

I Was Worth the Wait

A simple onesie and hat set that says it all. The perfect shower gift for your friend who braved infertility or adoption on her way to motherhood. Let her know you noticed all she went through even as you're celebrating what lies ahead.

(Uncommon Goods does a nice gift wrap, too.)

Crayons on the Go

I'm always keeping an eye out for small items to stash away as birthday/big brother/big sister/holiday gifts. Handmade items are especially great, as you can find many unique toys that a family is unlikely to already own.

One that I recently picked up was a doodle caddy from Etsy store Blossom Toys. Eight crayons and a small pad of paper ready to roll up and toss into a purse or diaper bag for amusement anywhere. I liked its compact size (about 4" x 6" when folded) and fun retro prints. The pad is a standard size that will be easy for parents to replace.

For an even better bargain, the Feather Hen shop offers a similar crayon tote for less than half the price, but with fewer fabric choices. Older kids might appreciate Creative Keiki's colored pencil version.