Bank- This is a quick, useful, thoughtful gift for babies and children. There are numerous kinds of piggy banks. I bought all my grandchildren and younger nieces and nephews banks of things they are interested in. Some were baseballs, footballs, doll banks, etc. You get the idea. I had their names painted on them (or you can get them engraved if on the appropriate bank) and put a small amount of money in each. This can be a big hit at a Christmas party, birthday party or baby shower. Buying a graduate a bank and putting money inside is also a well received gift.

Theme Basket- Theme baskets can be made for almost any occasion. Choose a theme and stick to it. Some good themes for babies are safety baskets, wellness basket, or an “item” basket. Use your imagination for your basket. A regular basket can be used, or you can use an item that relates to your theme. An example might be if you are doing an item basket for diaper changing. Use a diaper pail or laundry basket decorated with ribbon. Fill the basket with diapers, wipes, ointments and anything related to diaper changing. Safety baskets make useful gifts for babies by including outlet safety plugs, cabinet door locks, mittens to prevent scratched faces and maybe a room monitor. Thermometers, baby fever control meds, ointments, a book about childhood illnesses, medicine cups, and all the things that go along with an ill child makes a great wellness basket!

Kids like gardening baskets, tool baskets, reading baskets, favorite hero baskets and just about anything that pertains to being a kid. Use small wagons, pails, doll buggies or backpacks for your “basket.” Fill a backpack with books or a sand pail with beach items. A great summer time gift for a child is a beach bag containing a child’s beach towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and maybe a water toy. Gardening baskets are usually a huge success. A berry basket works well. Load it with seed packets, a small hand shovel, little gardening gloves and a watering can. Kids love this because they have their own gardening tools and can plant little gardens. Mothers seem to love this one the best.