My husband's cousin is having a baby in May and I'm not going to the shower (DH has to work) but I want to get them a really nice gift. My MIL and SIL will probably go in together on something cheap so I would rather get our own thing ahead of time so even if they ask I'm already done.

She has a registry on Babies R Us and has a ton of stuff in all price ranges. I wouldn't mind spending about $100 for a car seat or monitor, something they'll get a lot of use out of from the registry.

Or I just got a great diaper bag from the YakPak deal and I could fill it with goodies/products that I loved when I had my kids. It would probably end up costing about the same I would think, because I would really try to fill it. DH's family is so cheap, I try to make up for them on these occasions.

Or we could get a gift card?

So which would you prefer? Or do you have a better idea?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

My vote would be something big from the registry. Then, for all those who get her gc she can spend those on what else she didn't get.

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Since she has a registry, I'd get something from there. At least it's something that you know she wants and will like. ~Lisa

I said a diaper bag full of goodies. I remember my aunts making me blankets, that stuff means more to me, I love stuff that people make.

Is this her first baby? If so, I'd go the registry route.

If second, etc. baby, I'd pick up things on sale and put them in the diaper bag -- odds'n'ends -- especially if the baby is going to be the opposite sex of the first one.

I'd go with something from her registry or maybe split it up. Get a medium priced item from the registry and then a few items that you found special when you had your children. Like happy2behere said, items that people make are special and mean a lot. But someone like me who can't make anything must stick to bought items, LOL.

I would want someone to just get me a great supply of diapers - I LOVED being well-stocked, maybe it is the couponer/stock-piler in me! Either several from the major brands (so the mom could sample them all and decide which one might be "her" brand), or all Pampers (which seems like the brand that most prefer).

diaper bag and supplies are always great presents

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

I would vote for a registry item. Diapers is a good idea, if you know for a fact she is going to be using disposables. I was kind of picky, I only used cloth most of the time and the non-cholorine disposables when I had to.

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All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

The problem with filling the diaper bag is that many girls have very strong tastes and if she just hates the bag, she won't use it. And filling it with items, it could be so much duplicates on clothes, thermometer, etc. and she couldn't return any of them.
If you didn't have much money and wanted to give a gift, I would say diaper bag and fill it with items you got on sale.
But you want to spend a great deal of money (I think) and want to REALLY help her.....so get a large gift on the registry. If you say her family doesn't spend much, no one might even purchase those large items for her and they are what she really needs!

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I would say the registry, since she made it then she has already picked the items she wants. If you can't find something in the price range you want to spend. Then I would just give her a gift card. I dont think I would do the diaper bag thing. I know my dd's have friends who have had babies and what one of them thinks is the best thing ever.. another one has tried and hates it. If you would like to give her the diaper bag.. then go ahead and give it to her and put a gift card inside, for the amount you would like to spend.

Why not get items off the registry to fill the diaper bag? If she has a diaper bag on the registry get that one and fill it with some of the small items on the registry. That's what I usually do. I also try to sneak in something totally for Mom, not baby related, (i.e nail polish, book, cd, movie, just something that reminds Mom she's more than just a Mom).

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If she set up a registry I would go along with something from that......

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Nicole

I agree - new mom's have no idea how many diapers they are going to go thru and how expensive it can get. But usually with a shower they want all the cute clothes and gizmos, not thinking that the baby will probably not wear most of the clothes before it's grown out of them.

I know when I had my babies I was so consious of any little bit of lace or trim irritating them that they stayed in onesies with little pajama-type pants most of the time.

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Mary

My vote is something from the registry or a gift card to get something that I didn't get.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

I love to give a package of diapers along with a Dr. Suess book or two in a cute gift bag. If we are doing well on money at the time, I like to give mom a small gift card (just for her...maybe to starbucks or something...like $10.00) and a gift card for baby items that mom might not get at the shower.

I know this is not what most people do...usually I am the only one at the baby shower that gives a book. But I think it is so important to read to your children...and this will allow mom and baby (or dad and baby) to have some quiet time.

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My family are all readers and at my shower my sister had a book basket and each person invited was asked to bring their favorite book to help fill the babies first book shelf. We still read those books and they are all signed with best wishes from the people from my shower. That was one of the things I remember and use the most.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I always give diapers. I make no " surprise" what my gift is going to be. I ask point blank what kind of diapers they want (if they have had one child already) or I buy what I liked with a gift receipt if it's their first. I buy about $50 of size 1 diapers and wipes. I always get VERY sincere thanks at showers. Come to think of it, I think people invite me JUST to get diapers LOL I have gotten invites along with "I like Pampers...wink wind ".

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I say go with the gift registry. I remember getting tons of repeats, things that I never used, things I didn't want and things that were ugly. I was surprised only one person bought something off my registry, it made me feel like I had wasted 3 hours of my time......and when you are pregnant you don't want to feel like you stood on your swollen feet with an aching back for three hours to get a set of receiving blankets and bouncy seat!

Now I always go with gift registry and if there isn't something in the price range I want to spend I buy a gift card from one of the places they registered at.

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My favorite thing for babies is the shopping cart cover. I loved mine and used it ALL the time. It is what I buy everybody for baby showers. I used to do the basket filled with goodies and always included a book but after having my own kids I switched to the cart cover.(a MUST have)

What did you decide on?

I think I'll go with something form the registry, someone said hwo much work they put into registering and then got nothing and I remember that's how I felt! At the time we didn't have a whole lot of money to decorate or buy the "extras" so anything we got that we really needed was really appreciated. And I think it'll be easier to buy and have it shipped to her than me packaging and sending something after having to shop, wrap and package.

Thanks so much for the opinions you are the greatest!

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I would go with a big item from the registery like a carseat, stroller, pack & play, swing, etc. Something that others may not get her because they won't want to spend the money. The little stuff is easier to pick up later or with money or gift cards she receives, but she may not be finanaically able to afford the big stuff.

Just MTCW....
Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin

If its a first baby I'd do this: Look at teh items on teh registry and see if there are things NOT on there that you knew were a big help to you when you had your first baby. Then I would get a couple of those things and put them in a diaper bag. I'd also get a gift card if the items you bought didn't equal what you wanted to spend.

Something I've done that always seems to be well appreciated is this: Get a little backpack type diaper bag and fill it with samples/small sizes of various things such as powder, wipes, baby wash, etc. Include various size diapers, a towel, washcloth, small blanket and a couple various size onsies along with a bottle and pacifier, etc. Tell the mom-to-be that this is an "emergency diaper bag" and she is to put it in her car and leave it there so she'll have it in case for some reason, god forbid, she has to leave her house RIGHT NOW and doesn't have time to get stuff to take along. This way she'll at least have a few things to get by for maybe a day or two in case of a dire emergency.

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Since you are willing to spend up to $100, I would go w/ something big from the registry. That way, people who want to spend less, hopefully will take care of a lot of the smaller items.

I really like this idea

Diapers Diapers Diapers Diapers!!!!!! In all sizes. Best gift ever.

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