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I almost always end up putting together some kind of 'in case of minor emergency' basket-- bath oils for mommy, some Baby Bee bath stuff for baby, teething tablets (all-natural homeopathic awesome little things), and whatever other nifty health/happiness items I find within the price range.

I always go off of the registry. That way I feel like I'm getting the mom-to-be something she needs rather than something I think is cute. After the baby is born I will usually give an outfit or personalized blanket. If it is a first time mom that I know well, I will sometimes do a little necessities basket with baby tylenol, saline drops, a humidifier, california baby or cetaphil cleanser / lotion, and diapers.

My son's absolute all-time favorites are Sophie the Giraffe and the Skwish by Manhattan Toys. I just went to order one of these and saw that it is available in a natural rubberwood version. If I know the parents' style and the nursery decor then I might look to etsy for some wall decor or get some nursery lighting. What's that turtle that projects the constellations? That's a good one, or the Moon in my Room from National Geographic. Whatever I give, I find that all mommies squeal with delight if I give those strips that indicate the alcohol level in breast milk, so I always throw in a pack and the promise of a post-partum cocktail.

i go w/sophie... since our lil guy LOVED HER... i also will make a blanket (or buy a handmade on etsy) and put them all in a basket along w/the homeopathic remedies and organic baby goodies i found and loved, like lovelanie does.

sophie is a winner!

Books are my go-to gift, a stack of the classics as well as a copy of "On the Day You Were Born", along with personalized bookplates or I've also made bookplates on the color printer and glued into each book.

I always default to Sandra Boynton books, or a Lunch Money music CD (www.lunchmoneymusic.com) Always a hit, and they don't have to schlep them back to the baby superstore for returns.

I received a bracelet with my daughter's name spelled out with alphabet beads. It was my favourite gift.

Generally my rule is off the registry but necessary "un-fun" stuff off of the registry. For example, I'd never buy the mobile on the registry but I'll buy the bathtub, a bunch of towels and wash cloths and whatever soap set the mom registered for. I've done the changing pad, fitted crib sheets, first aid kids, etc. No one ever wants to buy that kind of stuff but that's the things that the mom inevitably feels are a need so she'll end up getting them at the end.

For close friends, I send a gift after the baby is born and my go-to gifts have been gift cards to Diapers.com. Diapers are always needed and the fact that they ship to your house when you're an overwhelmed new mom, is a great thing.

Two of my anti-registry friends without babies asked for tips on what to buy and I suggested the Sleep Sheep and also the miracle blanket.

I like to give a copy of The Happiest Baby On the Block and a swaddling wrap/blanket, along with other items from the parents' registry for swaddling or soothing.

I think my most useful shower gift was the Little Noses/Tummies/Fevers emergency kit - it has small sizes of their whole line of products. I've given it a few times since.

My default first-bday gift is a dustbuster vacuum. Every toddler-occupied house needs at least one.

Every child needs a sock monkey! (I had one as a child named "Polly Esther")
Before I started sewing my own sock creatures, I would go buy a sock monkey from Cracker Barrel whenever I had a baby shower to go to.

I either go off the registry and get a grouping of similar items...bath, crib etc. or do a basket of books.

Also, if it is something I know the mother would enjoy, I give a gift card for a spa or salon because I feel like they wouldn't want to spend the money on themselves and this give them the excuse to get some personal time.

I generally buy off the registry too. There's a reason for setting one up and no one needs 12th "adorable" layette.

Other little things I like to throw in:
-socks, socks and more socks;
-The Podee (hands free feeding system): http://bit.ly/EA6DK Man, that saved my sanity more than a few times; and
-secretly any of those extra "adorable" layettes, that I've got laying around.

I hate sock monkeys!

Personally, I like Sophie a lot. My baby is on Sophie v.3 at the moment. (Sophie v.1 was lost while shopping, Sophie v.2 just disappeared, we have no idea where she went.) Sophie is just an amazingly good toy, my daughter smiles hugely whenever she sees her, the pops her straight into her mouth. My favorite off-registry gift from my shower was a water-resistant outdoor blanket (picnic blanket):
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267693
It's really been useful--obviously, I use it when I take the baby outside in the yard or to the park or the beach, but it's also great indoors where I use it to line the bottom of the baby jail (we have one of those baby fences to make an enclosure much bigger than a pack & play.) It's soft and nice, but sturdy enough for outdoors. A great gift.

And, KiraArts--personally, I find sock monkeys creepy. I'm glad no one gave one to my baby!

The ultimate crib sheet. No one seems to carry it in the stores in Hawaii, but I swear this thing has saved my sanity.

http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Comfort-Ultimate-Crib-Sheet/dp/B00003XAKP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1247161503&sr=8-1

I take a copy of BabyGami (book about swaddling with illustrations of different techniques) and swaddle it in a receiving blanket. Tie it with a ribbon, maybe with a rattled tied in, and it's good to go!

I always get a wrap, pouch sling, ring sling, or some type of carrier. I didn't think much about registering for one when I had my first son, and bought it on my own- and two kids and three strollers later, the babywearing always wins out!

I always get the most boring stuff off the registry -- washcloths, fitted crib sheets, diaper pail refills, wipes, diapers, those little dishwasher baskets for washing baby bottles. Nobody wants to buy those things off the registry, but dollars to doughnuts, new parents need those things more than they need toys to dangle off the stroller or baby blankets or onesies. And if none of that stuff is on the registry, I get a few things that I remember finding insanely useful in those first few months, because filling needs is crucial for new parents!

Then I usually add my go-to off-registry gift: a sleep sack. Zipping baby into one of those beats the heck out of swaddling anybody older than two weeks.

NEVER clothes. Never ever ever.

I've made baby quilts for all but one mom-to-be. I keep the pattern simple (blocks, strips, etc) and focus on cute fabrics so the quilt doesn't take too much time. And I'll also embroider the baby's name on it too to make it a little more special.

I suppose that's a selfish gift, giving them something that I want to give as opposed to something I think they'll need. But I guess most of my friends/family have so much "cute" stuff flooding in, I want to give them a little something that isn't so generic. And they've usually had the functional items all covered.

I usually sew bibs from "Bend the Rules Sewing" and they have been a hit. Lately I've been sewing nursing covers using the tutorial found here: http://madebythemamamonster.blogspot.com/2008/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html

I usually like to go off of the registry, but I love giving the Boppy ... probably because I've got such childhood good memories of it!

jamjaree reminded me that I received two quilts that I used non-stop for floor time and I loved them. The same person also made me a bunch of burp cloths out of her scrap fabrics. They were big rectangles with kiddie patterned flannel on one side and brightly colored fleece on the other. So absorbant! I loved those things and it took her no time at all to make. Who would think of giving a new mom homemade burp clothes? They were awesome!

I typically go right for the registry so I know it's something they'll need/want, but I shop early so I can get a theme going, e.g., all bathtime gifts or bedtime gifts.

Just last month, though, I designed an alphabet print with a bird in French (O for Oiseau) and a mobile out of English-French flash cards for an old friend whose husband is from France. (It was so much fun I kept on making them and finally started my own Etsy shop.)

I gave her something from the registry too, but it sure was fun to make a personalized gift because I was familiar with her taste and style!

P.S.
LOVE sock monkeys!

Never ever clothes.

If they've registered for a product that I've used and liked I'll get that. I've also bought a zillion breastpumps. Also, books and books and books.

It kind of depends on the financial circumstances of the family. If they are really tight with finances I just buy a book and a gift card.

Usually, though, I'll skip infancy and buy a nice, non-toxic wooden for the 8-12 monthes period. Haba or something. Most of our friends can supply their own washclothes or whatnot so it is nice to have a good toy that will last.

Depending on the Mom-2-B I have three gifts that I go between as a 'major' gift and then fill in with wash cloths, bottles, shirts, wipes and carriers from the $1 Store. The three major items are:
1) Gripe Water (found at Whole Foods) for gas.
2) A gift certificate for a newborn baby photography shoot
3) Diapers - not very personal, but needed.

ugly dolls!

like others I like to do an assortment of themed useful things off the registry like bedding or bath time supplies and throw in a book or toy that I think is cute.

now that I have my own daughter (7 weeks old!) I still think this is what I'll still do. the things I received as baby presents that I use the most are the things I registered for. people make registries for a reason--because they need and want those things. it might not be glamorous to give someone crib sheets or burp cloths, but they will be used!

the most thoughtful registry theme gift that someone gave me was refills. one of my coworkers got me a ton of refills for everything I had registered for that could be refilled--bottle liners, diaper genie refills, packs of wipes, etc.... it was the kind of stuff that no one thinks to buy and every time I reached the bottom of the box and was able to just open a new one without worrying about it, I thought of her and was so grateful that I didn't have to run to the store in the middle of the night!

yes, it is more fun to shop for baby clothes (especially for girls), books, and stuffed animals, but first time moms need the basics, we don't need newborn bathrobes (I seriously got three baby bathrobes at my shower)!

books can be great, but please don't write in them or put bookplates in them--a baby only needs so many copies of goodnight moon! my daughter got one for my place, one for her grandparents', and two that I was luckily able to exchange for different books.

Here's an opinion from a first-time, new mom: Please, please get what we registered for. We live in a loft and don't have a lot of space for extras, so really just want to keep stuff that we love and jettison the rest.

I found our idea of "cute" is vastly different from other people's. And it's no fun being 9 months pregnant and running around town to return all the stuff I don't want in my house.

It's not that we're ungrateful, but truthfully, the stuff that I don't want I'm not keeping out of obligation. It'll be donated to Goodwill to someone who will truly appreciate it.

Aden & Anais swaddle blankets
Trumpette socks
diapers :)

I immediately buy an Itz Been timer for a shower gift. I really don't know what i would have done without mine!

My old faithfuls:
* Registry gift - Like other moms I go for the un-sexy gifts like the bathtub, washcloths etc
* Kids books - The Giving Tree is my fave
* Aiden & Anais swaddle blankets - we live in LA so the muslin is a must have
* Nipple cream & California Baby soap
* Happiest Baby on the Block DVD
* Kids toys - I heart these handmade wooden toys from Little Alouette on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5645113

Funny to read the comment about sock monkeys. My friend gave my daughter one for her first birthday with the comment that she felt everyone needed a sock monkey.

My co-workers gave me a book shower that I enjoyed so very much that now I find that I often give books for baby presents.

I usually go with the registry because I know that is what is needed, but I also know that all kids love sophie the giraffe - as my daughter loved hers, until she also threw it overboard.

I started making what I call sophie savers, had some people tell me I should make them and sell them, so I started an etsy shop. What it is, is basically a fabric strap with snaps - one end attaches to the stroller or carseat, and the other end can attach to sophie the giraffe, or a snack cup, or another small toy. Can't tell you how many times it has saved things from being tossed out!

totally don't mean to be all spammy - but I saw this post, and read how others were on their third sophie - we're on our second - but hopefully that will be it!

www.sophiebelle.etsy.com

When I had more time, I would make everyone a cotton-poly handknit hat. People have come back to me years later saying how much they used theirs, and how much better they fit than a fabric hat.

Now that life's a little busy for knitting, I go registry all the way--I try to find something I "approve" of, instead of the plastic doodad that's going straight to the landfill. (I'm like this with wedding registries, too--i won't buy kitchen gadgets I think are useless.)

But when there's no registry, I love the Mustela baby skin-care product gift bag. There are different combos at different price points, you can often find them at beauty supply stores, and it comes with a little washcloth or duckie toy. Glam moms love it because it's French, hippie moms love it because it's non-toxic. And you can throw it in a gift bag in about one second.

Ever since I spent hours and hours putting together my registry and being enormously frustrated after all but 2 shower guests completely ignored it, I buy something off the registry and add something hand-made (a personalized onesie, a quilt, a bib... depending on the family and how well I know them).
I personally am a fan of Sophie, but my son is completely freaked out by the squeak! It's both sad and hilarious... (he's getting used to it, just for the record. His first reaction was in the realm of "utter terror" though. Poor kid.)

i wholeheartedly agree with all the "buy off the registry" comments. always ALWAYS buy off the registry - it's what people want!

i keep hearing more and more "anti-registry" comments these days - "it's too impersonal" and "i want to get them something unique that they will remember" etc.

hate to be the bearer of bad news but most often that piece of cute bric-a-brac ends up in the goodwill pile. and frankly, when i hear comments like that i can't help but think that the giver is being very selfish. for weddings and babies - always buy off the registry!

It's very true, people spend a long time setting up the registry, and if something isn't on there, it's usually because they either already have the item, or don't want it. (Unless it's something really unusual.) Every baby is different, every mom & dad is different, so even something that may have been indispensable for you may not work for another couple! Buy something off the registry. Trust me, it will be appreciated. And don't worry about going in with someone else or several people for big-ticket items, those are always very much appreciated and you will not be forgotten. Parents are always very grateful to those who give them the stroller or crib of their dreams!

My favorite thing to give is what I call the "Mommy Survival Kit". I put in the little bottles of Purell, a Tide stick, a spray bottle of Totally Toddler spray (takes every stain out!!), scented diaper trash bags with cute dispenser for when you are out and about, a pack of the best bibs in the world from Babies R Us...basically everything that I carry in my bag and has made my life easier. I also give a couple of books - Goodnight Gorilla and a Boynton or Seuss book.

My favorite thing to get is (believe it or not) diapers and wipes. I hate hate hate spending money on those stinking things. My mom has always given my a case of diapers and a huge thing of Dreft. Very practical, but very helpful!

And I agree NO CLOTHES!! I can't tell you how many outfits I have had to return because I don't dress my girls in frilly things with bows and lace!

These thick Gerber burp cloths I can't find in stores anymore. A simple multi colored rattle toy. Infant car seat. What's with not buying from the registry? We spend so much time and effort towards what goes in it. The best presents I got were from the registry. What I didn't get from the registry was an Itz Been and it is a life saver. Takes the guess work out of lots of things.

Also doing something for the parents like giving the parents a tray of food after the baby is born (I ate chicken pasta for a week cause too tired and overwhelmed to cook) or offering to look after the baby even for 2 hours while the parent sleeps. These two examples were some of the best things I got when we first had our baby.

i have never had the opportunity to shop for a shower but as someone who has just had a baby shower for myself, people who just go off on some tangent are kinda annoying. i appreciate the thoughts of course, but i put that registry together cause those were things i needed. i know you think that bathtub and hooded towel are really cute and you have a bath theme, but the reason i didn't register for those things was because i had them, or didn't want them. :)

just sayin that if someone has a registry, they will be thrilled that you got things from it.

I (almost) always knit an umbilical cord hat (from the book Stitch N Bitch) or other infant hat. I've become known for them, and my new mom friends like to email me a picture with their little one it them!

hooded towels! all those little things that are truly needed ( first aid, nail clippers, bottle brush, meds, bath soaps) socks i loved my johnny socks we received also pee pee tee pee's. and hand made blankets were awsomeness.

One more idea for the new-parent survival kit - a set of tiny screwdrivers, like you'd use for your computer. Great for getting into the battery compartments of swings/mobiles/soothers/toys/etc., and having a dedicated set for that purpose means you can always find the damn thing when you need it.

I also give the New Mom Survival kit filled with everything that I love for the baby- and didn't know I needed. Hyland Teething Tablets, nipple cream, Tylenol, diaper rash cream, books, etc. The mom to be usually loves my gift- it's everything that they need but never thought to buy (which is what happened to me...and why I give it).

LOVE the idea of the small screwdriver- never even thought to add that!

I also would never buy clothes- save that for the grandparents!

My favorites to give:

* Johnny Socks
* Skwish
* Cloud B Sleep Sheep
* Happiest Baby on The Block DVD with Miracle Blanket

I give either Baby Legs or a stack of board book classics tied together with a pretty ribbon. The My First series board books were favorites of my baby, but Eric Carle or Pat the Bunny are also nice. Good Night Moon, You Are My I Love You, And Chicka Chicka Boom Boom are other great suggestions.