For the New Mom

Rockin Baby Sling $87.00  These handmade slings are just great for the new mom.  They look great, keep the baby close to you, let you nurse in comfort and are fashionable too.  Our new mom just loved the sling saying she felt really "hip."  She loved the fabric saying it was a nice change from the carriers she had used with her other children.  She also really liked the fact that it could be adjusted as her baby grows.  The slings are made of 100% cotton linen, cotton twill, cotton poplin, or cotton voile.  Rockin' Baby Slings was started by two new mothers, Lisa McDaniel and Natasha Walsh and are conceived and manufactured in Los Angeles, California, USA.   

St. Nic Holiday Slippers (Bonjour Fleurette) are warm, sexy and a treat for any mom!  They come in black or red, and just as they are our favorites, we will sure they will be yours!  A cause-based company, Bonjour Fleurette donates a portion of its sales to the National Hospice Foundation. $80.00

Bathtopia Gift Boxes  $25 and up.  Searching for that perfect gift?  Well bathtopia.com is sure to have it!  This fabulous online store is filled with an endless assortment of hand-picked bath and body luxuries from all over the world.  We got a box to test with Rosebud Salve, a to-die-for Lilac Gardenia candle, Bath Fizzies, Bath Salt and Soap.  This was shared around with a bunch of single moms who really needed some pampering -- I kept the candle.  We loved every bit of it and all agreed that receiving a box of goodies like this at Christmas or Chanukah would be a real treat!

Miso Pretty Soap, Lip Balm and Body Mist (Blue Q) Okay, there's no denying that I'm crazy about Blue Q products.  Of all their lines though, which include Queen, Dirty Girl, Total Bitch, Tainted Love and more - I have to say that this is my favorite!  I love the scents, design and packaging!  The Miso Pretty Lip balm is deliciously cherry scented and goes on smooth and silky - it's always in my pocket now!  Just keep in mind that anything that makes you feel pretty has be great!  If you want to treat that special woman in your life (daughter, granddaughter, wife etc.)  to a wonderful gift then find their Miso Pretty Line!  The latest addition to their fabulous line is the Miso Pretty Body mist which retails for just $9.95 and has a delicious Peony scent with hints of cut grass and tuberose.  Visit their website for a retailer near you. 

Keepsake Baby (My Baby Forever) $45.00  Do you ever wish you could remember just what your baby was like the day she or he was born?  Now you can.  These cute little keepsake babies are designed just like actual newborn babies.  Your babies length is ordered including all the birth information and everything is embroidered in either pink or blue.  They come in a cream gown with a matching newborn hat.  Our reviewer thought the idea was sweet and said she thought her child would appreciate this as she grew older.  Also available are the My Baby Forever™ image dolls! These dolls are 20 inches in length and feel just like a baby and have an image of your child or grandchild's face. The image dolls retail for $129.00.

Personal Blender Smoothie Maker (Tribest) $59.99  This is a great gift for a new mom, or not-so-new mom for that matter!  This blender will whip up fresh healthy baby food in a second, while also making fresh lo-cal smoothies for Mom!  It's easy to set up, operate and clean.  It stores easily because it's so small.  Each container has it's own lid that you screw on before mixing so there's no mess!  It's a great gadget that is a unique gift idea for mom.  When all the dieting's done it makes a mean milkshake! 

Barielle Nail Therapy (Barielle) Finding the time to get a manicure is sometimes difficult so Barielle has come up with this great kit for $29.99.  It includes: Nail Strengthening Remedy, Rebuilding Nail Repair, Natural Nail Nourishment, Nail Thickening Solution, and three 3 in 1 Color Care nail enamels!  Our tester loved the kit and has also shared the colors with her two daughters who insist on having their nails painted.  It's a big gift for a small price!

iGels (DuWop) All us Moms seem to have perpetual bags under our eyes, well DuWop has figured out a way for us to soothe them without feeling like a human salad!  The iGels are cool when you put them on and smell wonderful.  Our tired Mom testers all love this product - they just wish they had more time to enjoy them!  The one thing they all thought was great is that you can reuse them up to 8 times!  There are 3 in a packet and cost $20.00.  

PediSox (Tweezerman) I love to get pedicures.  It's probably one of my only treats.  The one thing I hate is cold feet and I always get them while I'm waiting for my toes to dry.  Well Tweezerman came up with a great solution and they are only $6.50!  You slip them on before the polish is applied and they keep your feet toasty warm while you're waiting for the polish to dry!

Burts Bee's Lip Balm (Burts Bee's)  A small all natural remedy for Mom's diaper bag or purse!  At just $1.99 you can't go wrong with this.  This is probably the best lip balm to soothe chapped lips.  They are an Earth Friendly company and their product is all natural.  Plus it won't break the bank!

Keepsake Clay (Sculpey/Polyform) According to our tester this is a great gift idea for a new parent. The overall effect of the sculpture of babies hands or feet is excellent. If you have older children you'll want to hold off with having them participate it is a little bit tricky to get the clay into the frame. It does take a good thirty minutes to do well. It creates a great memento that can be enjoyed for years! The clays come in blue or pink, and also white.  The kit is only $14.99.

Revitalize Hands & Feet (DDF) This wonderful little kit will rejuvenate the most exhausted Mom!  The kit includes Strawberry Almond Face & Body Polish which is a rich and luxurious strawberry scrub that Mom can use toe exfoliate her tired skin; the Pedi-Cream, will softens and moisturizes her cracked, callused heels and feet.  It also has a nice refreshing feel thanks to the Spearmint and Menthol.  Finally the Restorative Hand Treatment, is a rich Shea-butter based nourishing cream.  Being a hand cream fanatic this part was my favorite!  I slathered this on at night to wake with lovely soft smooth hands in the morning!  This great gift is only $35.00 and can be found at Nordstrom and Sephora. 

Reverse Lipliner (DuWop) If you've ever had the problem of your lipstick feathering you will really appreciate this product. DuWop's Reverse Lipliner  is a colorless, matte pencil that when applied to the skin outside the lips produces a perfectly shaped pout while preventing lipstick and gloss from feathering.  The  miracle ingredient is Kombuchka™ a product based on the fermentation of black tea and a wild mushroom.  Reverse Lipliner also includes macadamia oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E for their softening and hydrating properties. DuWop’s Reverse Lipliner, which retails for $18 and is available at select Nordstrom, Beauty.com, Sephora.com, and high-end boutiques worldwide. 

CD & DVD Storage Cases (Slappa) The CD case pictured left is only $14.99 and is a great gift for moms.  It has a molded HardBody shell, with velvet-lined interior and extra wide pockets for disc and disc cover storage.  The nicest feature about this is the disc cover storage.  Most CD cases only allow room for the CD so you know have the song line up etc.  This one allows you to keep everything but the bulky gem case.  The DVD storage case is a moms dream.  It has room for the DVD's and the cover as well.  That way you can easily organize your DVD's and always remember where they go when you are done watching them.  The DVD case is especially great for mom's these days that have cars with DVD players.  They keep them organized, clean and unscratched!  Ranging in price from $14.99 to $49.99 they are a great gift and can be found at Slappa online.

The Lila Guide Baby Gear Buyer’s Guide 2004 $15.95
Our reviewer reports, "This is a great guide for parents as well as gift givers. Goes through major categories of things needed as well as common gift categories. Compares various brands and their prices. Leaves out items with poor ratings, which is efficient. Really liked the “parents picks” section of each chapter, a great quick reference guide.  This book is an informative resource that is great as a shower gift or pregnancy announcement gift. It will be useful long after the baby is born since referencing products such as highchairs, toys, and clothing."

The Diaper Diaries: The Real Poop On A New Mom’s First Year
By Cynthia L. Copeland
"Hilarious." states our mom reviewer.  "This is the wittiest book I’ve read in this category. It's a must buy. I laughed through most of the book. Realistically portrays what life with a baby will be like. The book covers everything from your stay in the hospital to life with a small baby to different types of moms you will encounter.  The illustrations are really funny and creative. The book also covers some tips that will help you keep your sanity. My husband also thought this book was really funny."