| The next time you are invited to a baby shower or | | | | with ribbons. Store them in a small wooden chest. |
| christening, give a gift that will be meaningful to the | | | | 5. A beginner's guide to everything. Use an attractive, |
| parents, as well as something the child will treasure as | | | | child-friendly book to create lists of good starting points |
| she grows. Here are a few creative ideas for baby | | | | for finding out about the world. Include book |
| gifts. | | | | recommendations on different subjects, lists of |
| 1. A letter from the President. It's a little known fact, but | | | | websites and advice on which relatives and friends of |
| every new American baby can receive a welcoming | | | | the family can help with different sorts of question. |
| card from the President and First Lady. All you need to | | | | 6. An ever-growing ark. A simple Noah's ark toy can |
| do is write to the White House to request it: Send the | | | | be made extra special if you go on to supply new |
| baby's name, birthdate and address to: The White | | | | animals for it on special days throughout the child's life - |
| House, Attn: Greetings Office, Washington, DC | | | | starting, of course, with big ones which can not be |
| 20502-0039. | | | | easily swallowed. |
| 2. A keepsake box. A beautiful carved wooden box, | | | | 7. A lifetime magazine subscription. Several leading |
| personalized with the baby's initials, can make a great | | | | magazines offer lifetime subscriptions, so why not take |
| place for storing treasures, such as the first snipped | | | | full advantage by getting them early on? Even if the |
| lock of hair and the first lost tooth. | | | | baby isn't ready to start reading right away, he or she |
| 3. A book about the baby's name. Find an attractively | | | | will later enjoy having these things to look back on. Visit |
| bound book and use it collate all the information you | | | | the magazine's website or call the subscription office |
| can find about the baby's name, including its meaning | | | | listed in the latest issue to find out if the magazine of |
| and origin and profiles of mythological characters and | | | | your choice offers such a subscription. |
| famous people who have shared it. You might also | | | | 8. A star in the sky. Name a star after the baby and |
| wish to add information about the baby's birthday, such | | | | he will always know he is special. He will be able to |
| as the first page of the local newspaper or The New | | | | gaze up into the night sky and know that somewhere |
| York Times from the date of the child's birth. | | | | out there is a world of his own. |
| 4. A treasure chest of advice. Write down pieces of | | | | Once you have made the right selection from these |
| advice that you think will be useful to a growing child | | | | unique and special baby gifts, don't forget that there's |
| on pieces of paper (or gather such advice from | | | | one more thing more special than all the baby gifts: |
| friends and relatives). Then roll them up and bind them | | | | your time, attention and love. |