Baby shower gift?

[mschanandlerbong]

So my best friend is having her first baby soon, a little girl. I'm so excited for her and excited to be an honorary aunt! Unfortunately I'm not able to make it to the shower in a couple weeks. I do want to send her gifts for the baby. I want to send both something practical and something special. I know absolutely nothing about babies and their needs. What do you wish you had, or that someone had gotten you when you were a new mom? And what did you get as gifts that were more special or sentimental that you actually liked?

[alzi]

does she have a registry? i'd buy something practical that she wants, and then something cute or sentimental/special. they don't have to be one thing.

my closest friend got me our pack n play...so she opted for a big gift.

for something special, my sister had a quilt made for baby which was really cute.

[daisyheadmaizie]

I loved our rock n play so much. It was a great place for the baby to sleep when he was tiny.

Sentimental/special - could you get her a newborn photo package.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

Medicine. I always get some baby Tylenol and some Little Noses, etc.
Also, some bowls and spoons - things that they will need a little later, it's been my experience that no one gets them that kind of stuff.
A teething necklace. My kids always liked eating whatever was on my neck more than the rings I got them.

[melissa]

As far as a practical gift, I'd definitely get something off of her registry.

Do you live close to her? I'd say save the sentimental or special gift for after the baby is born. You could always do a personalized picture from with the baby's birth information or have meals delivered to make things easier on her.

[jenna]

Definitely pick from the registry. Stroller, car seat, pack n play, swing, rock n play - one or more of those are probably on her list.

My mom cross stitch a birth announcement for E. She let me pick it out.  We used a different mat. 
www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=K73538

There's tons of different choices if you decide to cross stitch an announcement.

She also knit him a blankie.

www.craftefamily.com/baby_gifts/baby_block_personalized.asp

I ordered this block for my son, and love it. It has all of his stats, and is well made.

[janiejones]

My closest friends bought our newborn photo shoot for us with our wedding photographer. It was so sweet.
Also, one did a goldilocks needlepoint for us that she framed it is incredible.

Another gave me a breast pump. Super practical.

another practical thing I love- the vicks starry night cool mist humidifier. We use it as a nightlight and it projects stars on the ceiling rotating through the colours. It can be used as a light independent of the vaporizer. www.vicks.ca/products/humidifiers/v3700-can-starry-night-cool-mist-humidifier/