Long winter hours bring summer baby showers - Five ideas for the perfect gift

It’s a fact that more babies are born in the summer (July and August, particularly) than in any other season, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics. What does that mean for those of us with friends in the child production phase? It's shower time.

I will admit to having my fill of rattle-shaped cookies and rubber ducky confetti, but it is pretty special to see a gal all glowing and excited over the arrival of a new life. However, when it's time to sit down and "ooooh" and "aaahhh" over baby gifts, I'm always left wondering, "Did I bring the right thing?"

Sure, you can never go wrong with a packet of onesies covered in the prerequisite bows/dinosaurs/ducks/elephants/flowers/monkeys/etc., but what does a new mommy really need? I tapped into my rather large posse of moms to find the answer.

1. Registry items – Of course, this is a surefire way to please new momma, but what if the only thing left on the registry are milk storage bags OR the fifty-dollar spa baby bath tub? Hmmm. Not so excited about your options? Read on.

2. Clothes – Itsy bitsy clothes get a lot of "awwws" from both new mom and the guests, especially for a first baby or a baby of a different gender from the first. However, if you’re a baby shower newbie, I might give a few words of advice here. Tutus and sunglasses are awesome. However, they are not so useful. So maybe buy one tutu and then something more practical, like a hat, onesie, or sleeper (which means pajamas in babyland). Also, baby shoes? Adorable. But they’re not going to stay on. Just sayin.’

3. Something special – When I had my son, a friend gave me the coolest personalized canvas print from Personal Creations. I loved it so much that I ordered one for my daughter. Another friend of mine and mother of two, Whitney Abuzeid, said, “The southern girl in me loves anything and everything monogramed.” Just do a little research to make sure it’s exactly the right name.

4. Diapers and wipes – Not exciting, but oh-so-useful. Katy Shadid, another local mom of two, just threw a diaper and wipes baby shower for a friend having her second girl. Why? “One of the most expensive parts of having a baby is providing diapers and wipes. Essentially a family spends about $50 a month on diapers and wipes.” Nuf said.

5. Something that helped you – If you’re a mom, maybe someone gave you an item that made a big difference. One of my friends, a nurse, made me a first aid basket. Priceless. Also, popular books discussing sleep and other first-time parent questions are big hits. Another mom mentioned putting together a basket of favorite children's books. LOVE that. Maybe you had luck with a Halo Sleepsack (adore it!) or a certain brand of binkies. There's no time like the present to share it.

Just remember, in gift-giving, what worked for you may not work for everyone. Something you think is cute (pink zebra-print leggings) may not be the taste of another momma’s. Best advice I can give? Include a gift receipt. That way, you will always give the perfect gift.

For a list of stores in and around Edmond carrying baby items, click here.