Everything fit for a baby is infinitely cute, and most of us might be tempted to get that huge teddy bear or some noisy toy as a present for relatives or friends who are in the process of expanding their families. However, most parents appreciate practical items they can use daily rather than things that may initially impress but ultimately clutter their closets.<\/p>\n
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Diapers and wet wipes might not sound glamorous as far as baby gifts go but will be appreciated by most new parents. These are items that parents must buy anyway, and they don\u2019t come cheap. New parents pay, on average, between $80 and $100 per month just for diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network<\/a>. \u201cIt might be alarming how many diapers and baby wipes that new parents go through in the first few months of having a new baby,\u201d says Troy Portillo<\/strong>, director of operations at Studypool<\/a>. \u201cAnything that is tied into those daily needs \u2014 diapers, wipes, diaper cream \u2014 is going to be greatly appreciated, as well as used.\u201d<\/p>\n Tapping into your own parenting experience can give you the inspiration to purchase practical items for those now starting their parenting journey. Alexandra Fung<\/strong> of Upparent<\/a> most appreciated getting diapers, but she also made the most of other practical gifts such as \u201cmuslin swaddles, oversized burp cloths, and my favorite, a super-soft hooded towel large enough that my six-year-old continues to use!\u201d<\/p>\n Along the same line, taking baby out requires preparedness, and anything that can ease the task will most likely be an appreciated gift. For Melissa Terry<\/strong>, CFA at VEM Tooling<\/a>, it was a diaper bag that did the trick, with \u201cmultiple compartments and pockets, making it easier to organize and carry all the essentials while on the go.\u201d If you opt for a diaper bag backpack, the new mom will appreciate it even more, as we all know how important it is to have both hands available when catering to a baby\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n Getting a baby carrier that allowed her to stay mobile while keeping her baby snug was an \u201cabsolute lifesaver\u201d for Amy Smith<\/strong>, a proud mother of two and cofounder or amyandrose.com<\/a>. Another gift she found particularly useful was a white noise machine. \u201cIt mimics the womb\u2019s sound, helping babies sleep better. And trust me, it worked wonders for my little ones,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n Most parents will appreciate a big-ticket baby gift, such as a stroller. Whether you\u2019re particularly close to the parents-to-be and willing to splurge, or your group of friends decide to contribute to one major gift, a stroller is a strong candidate for the title of ultimate baby gift. \u201cThe most invaluable gift I received was definitely the baby stroller,\u201d Iesha Mulla<\/strong>, a mother of two and founder of Parental Questions<\/a>, told us. \u201cIt turned out to be a lifesaver in maintaining an active lifestyle while ensuring my baby\u2019s comfort and safety. The flexibility it offered for outdoor walks, shopping trips and even for easy maneuvering around the house was unmatched. An added plus was the storage space underneath the stroller, perfect for stashing baby essentials and shopping bags.\u201d<\/p>\n However, if you are planning to get a big, expensive baby gift such as a stroller, a crib or an infant car seat, you should ensure that the parents didn\u2019t already buy one and learn about their preferences regarding brands, features, dimensions and so on. The best way to go about it is to discuss the acquisition with the parents beforehand.<\/p>\n Other gifts that many parents appreciate include age-appropriate toys and books, as well as gifts that center on the parent, such as parenting books, or, why not, vouchers to a spa for a bit of pampering.<\/p>\n Most parents we talked to about baby gifts were firm in sharing that there is absolutely no need for baby shoes, and they didn\u2019t actually use them even if they got them as gifts. To be fair, baby shoes can be extremely cute, so even experienced parents can easily fall into the trap of buying them for friends or family. However, they do top the \u201cleast useful baby gift\u201d list. As Amy Smith of amyandrose.com puts it, \u201cCute? Absolutely. Practical? Not so much. Babies don\u2019t start walking until around 12 months.\u201d<\/p>\n Complicated baby outfits are right next to baby shoes when it comes to impractical newborn gifts. A frilly dress, teeny-tiny denim pants, or impossibly small dress shirts and vests might be hard to resist when you\u2019re shopping for a gift. However, the chances that the parents will actually put these pieces of clothing on their baby are very slim, and the reason narrows down to practicality. \u201cI received several outfits that were not practical for daily wear, either due to the fabric being uncomfortable for the baby or the design being difficult to put on and take off,\u201d explained Melissa Terry. So, if you want to buy clothing for newborns, it\u2019s best to stick with tried-and-true items such as onesies and bodysuits. Even so, make sure you don\u2019t get everything in the smallest size. Babies grow extremely fast, so it\u2019s better to get items in different sizes, which will allow parents to use your gift longer.<\/p>\n Another category of items that show up quite frequently on parents\u2019 \u201cnot very useful\u201d list are gimmicky items that serve just one \u2014 albeit unessential \u2014 purpose. \u201cThe least useful baby gift I received was the diaper stacker,\u201d explains Iesha Mulla. \u201cWhile it\u2019s a common gift and seems practical, it wasn\u2019t very useful for us. With the constant diaper changes in a day, we reached for the diaper pack directly, as it was quicker and more accessible. The stacker ended up being more of a decorative item in the nursery, rather than a functional one.\u201d Other parents have similar opinions about wipe warmers, saying that they don\u2019t help in any real way \u2014 on the contrary, sometimes they might even dry out the wet wipes. Potty training sets, baby jewelry, and oversized toys are other examples of gifts that didn\u2019t gain a lot of appreciation from parents.<\/p>\n Baby showers are a long-standing tradition for good reasons: Parents need a lot of stuff when their baby arrives, and it can be expensive to buy everything. Hence, family and friends get together to support the parents with gifts for the new baby. But, as necessary as these baby items are, they\u2019re usually in use for short periods of time, from a few months to a couple of years. What should parents do with their strollers, baby carriers, cribs, toys and clothing once their baby outgrows them?<\/p>\n Well, many parents are choosing to keep the items that are in good shape for their future kids, or for family and friends. \u201cWe have four kids and definitely kept some specific items to use with all of them,\u201d said Alexandra Fung. She explained that larger items like cribs and car seats were among the items she chose to pass on from one child to the other, as long as they were still within the time frame to use safely.<\/p>\n Other parents decide to keep just a few sentimental items. \u201cI kept my daughter\u2019s very first clothes when she came home from the hospital and her very first dress,\u201d said Julie Ann Ensomo<\/strong> of Adaptable Mama<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sometimes, the passed-down baby items are family heirlooms that have been used by generations of children within that family. Amy Smith particularly enjoyed a handmade cradle passed down by her great aunt. \u201cBoth my kids have used it. It\u2019s items like these that underscore the beauty of passing things down within a family,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n But to pass down baby items, you must store them properly so they remain in good shape and safe to use. \u201cAll the clothes are washed, folded, and packed in vacuum-sealed bags to maintain their freshness and quality,\u201d said Iesha Mullah about her approach. \u201cFurniture and accessories are cleaned and covered with drop cloths to protect them from dust. We also label each item or box with a description and the date it was stored to keep things organized,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n In an ideal scenario, there is enough space at home to store your baby items and not feel cluttered by possessions. However, this is not the case for most parents. Storage space at home is a hot commodity. You can fix this inconvenience by using self storage. A self storage unit allows parents to hold on to their baby items until they\u2019re needed again, while also being able to use the closets and the storage space at home for items they need every day.<\/p>\n Things like baby furniture and accessories, including highchairs, car seats and strollers, are obvious candidates for storage, as those items are quite expensive and can be used for more than one baby. Clothing is another category of essentials that parents usually keep from one child to the next, as most items are barely used a few times before being outgrown by the child. Of course, good-quality, interesting toys and books should also be saved for the future.<\/p>\n Self storage costs can vary depending on where you live. The national average for a 10\u2019x10\u2019 storage unit<\/a> hovers around $122 per month. Renting the same type of storage unit in Austin<\/a>, Texas, for example, is somewhat less expensive, at $113 per month. At the same time, a 10\u2019x10\u2019 storage unit in San Francisco<\/a>, for example, hovers around $260 per month. To get a better idea about the costs involved, you can check out below self storage prices and availability in some of the country\u2019s major cities:<\/p>\n [vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column]<\/p>\n [vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n![\"Mother](\"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/01\/Diaper-bag-gift-parents.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>Baby shoes and fancy clothing are on the naughty baby-gifts list<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/span>Post-newborn phase: managing baby items as your child grows<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Maximizing living space for growing families: the role of self storage<\/span><\/h2>\n