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I am going to a baby shower and was wondering, what was the most useful thing you got at your respective baby showers? The mom-to-be in question will get plenty of cutesy stuff but is a very pragmatic, practical woman so I'd like to invest in something that I know she'll get some good use out of. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi Anne - one of my favorite baby shower gifts is a selection of children's books. Whether the books are classics we read while growing up or funny new stories, it's neat to see what books the gift-giver likes. When I read the stories to my children we also talk about the person who gave them the book before they were born. A less glamorous, but very practical gift, is a diaper caddy filled with your favorite baby products. Have fun at the shower!

Anne,
The best baby shower gift I given was a six month supply of diapers. I know that seems crazy but I can't tell you how fantastic it was to put off the cost of diapers for those first months of having a newborn.

I got three copies of Goodnight Moon - so while I loved receiving books, I liked the obscure books a little better - after all, I'm the one that 's reading them at first!

I didn't get this, but my friends who received them from me liked them a lot -- hampers of food. Stuff that when I was nursing I could eat with one hand, a good water bottle or two, and stuff to whip out when company "drops by" to see the baby.

The other thing I loved? Waterproof changing pads - terry or flannel on one side, waterproof material on the other. I used them for changing, and for bare bum time, and for baby massaging and oiling and stuff so I didn't have to wash larger covers more often. I had three or four, and used them until they were rags, then used them as rags. Mine were from Kushies http://www.kushies.com/Cataloque/catalogue.html