Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas for Teen Girls

Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas for Teen Girls by Rachel Paxton

It’s fun to buy stocking stuffers for teen girls. I always use this time of year as an opportunity to give them the little treats they want and/or need throughout the year but that I don’t want to spend the extra money for. Here are some items our teenage daughters will find in their Christmas stockings this year:

$5 Starbucks card
AA batteries for portable CD player/MP3 player
Matching knit camisole/panties
Fun fashionable socks
Small hoop earrings
Chocolates and hard candies

I try to find them things that they can use but will also not necessarily expect in their stockings. Listen for clues for what to get when you’re out shopping with them. They really make it quite easy! Here are some other ideas:

Movie tickets
Fast food gift certificates
Perfume/body spray
Lip gloss
Nail polish/manicure set
Disposable camera/film
CD cleaner/scratch remover
Journal/pen
Small inspirational book
Tear-off calendar
Car or room air freshener

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

You could also see Goode Girls for t-shirts are more!

 

Christmas Gift Ideas: The Treasures Under The Tree

Christmas Gift Ideas: The Treasures Under The Tree by Mark Dietzel

Hear ye! Hear ye! The ‘ber’ months will be here before you know it!

When people start to hear about months ending in B-E-R, they all feel the clock sounding tic toc as it fast approaches the holiday season.

Christmas is the season to be jolly…. Falalalalalalala! For the kids, it’s the merry month where they get so overly excited about gifts and other stuff that Santa brings. And for most, it’s the time of the year when all the streets are busy and filled up with traffic while people swoon over shopping malls to find the perfect Christmas gift ideas for their families and friends.

Christmas gift ideas need not to be repetitive or monotonous. One might say “Oh, I know what I’ll be getting this Christmas. If its from Aunt Jane, it’ll be a north pole replica paperweight.” Or “Mrs. Dunst will give me another box of her fruit cake. That has been her gift giving trademark for as long as I can remember.” Hey, there are lots of Christmas gift ideas you can up with! Be creative, resourceful and imaginative! Don’t you want people to remember you for the nicest and most unique Christmas gift ideas you send them every year?

Here are some new and exciting Christmas gift ideas to help you out:

1. Chef Santa on the run!

Cooking is not only a mommy’s craft. This Christmas gift idea is a fun learning activity for the whole family. While all the ingredients are available in the grocery down town, it is also a perfect time to teach your kids or friends some cooking and baking lessons. Try experimenting on your home-made fruitcake, gingerbread house, and Christmas cookies. This is not only a classic Christmas gift idea, but a sure fun way to develop your craft for cooking.

2. Relive the sound of Christmas carols

Everyone has a favorite Christmas song. But wouldn’t it a nice Christmas gift idea to make a compilation of old and new Christmas songs sung by various artists? A perfect Christmas gift idea that sounds music to the ears!

3. Candies, anyone!

No matter how candy canes are soooo last year, they are still a hit to all kids! Instead of the traditional white and red striped candy canes. Why not try on some chocolate candy cane? A strawberry candy cane? Or an orange candy cane? Have as many variety of candy cane as you can and try to come up with repackaged gift bags to make it more enticing. Kids, or even teens, will surely love this Christmas gift idea.

4. Christmas craft and decorations

Surprise your pal with this personalized Christmas gift idea. If he is a die-hard music lover cut out some musical notes or his favorite icons that he can hang around the tree. I’m sure he’d love to have something that no one else has. This cool Christmas gift idea is so unique and adds a bit of your personal touch.

5. Frame it up!

Want to bring your special someone in tears? No, I mean tears of joy. This cool Christmas gift idea will surely melt a snow. I mean, your sweetie’s heart. Try to create and design a picture frame and draw yourselves as Mr. and Mrs. Santa. Or if you aren’t artistic enough to draw, cut out some pictures and replace their faces with yours and your honey’s and be sure to pick your best and sweetest shot. This will make him/her think how much effort did you exert to come up with a sweet Christmas gift idea like this.

These are just some of the hundreds of Christmas gift ideas, you can come up with every year. Whether you bought it in a shopping mall or you’ve made it yourself, be sure to pick the right Christmas gift idea for the right person. After all, it’s the thought that count!

Mark Dietzel operates Santas-Wonder-Land.com a website dedicated to Holiday Gift Ideas

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

 

Keepsake Christmas Album

Keepsake Christmas Album by Rachel Paxton

Do you hate throwing your Christmas cards away every year as much as I do? This year I decided to try to come up with some way to preserve our Christmas cards, as well as find a way to organize all the Christmas letters I’ve been faithfully filing away for the past six years. I decided to make an album for our Christmas letters using decoupage to decorate the covers with this year’s Christmas cards.

I love decoupage. It’s so easy to do and so versatile. It’s really hard to get it wrong. I started by finding something to paste the Christmas cards on. I had some dark red card stock (next to the paper at the office supply store) that seemed heavy enough to withstand all the gluing. Next I cut our Christmas cards into all different shapes and sizes. I cut out little characters, scenes, holiday greetings, and even signatures of loved ones who had sent the cards. I next arranged the cutouts, overlapping one another, on the card stock, and started applying them one by one with the decoupage finish.

There are several kinds of decoupage finish available. You can find a variety at your local craft store. I have two different kinds: Plaid Royal Coat Antique Decoupage Finish, and Mod Podge Gloss-Lustre. The first one gives an antique-like appearance. The paste yellows when it dries, making your collage look aged. The more you apply, the yellower it gets. The Mod Podge dries clear. I used the antique finish and was quite happy with the result. You use the finish to actually glue the individual pieces on with a paintbrush, and then when you’re finished (adding scraps here and there to fill in the blank spots), you brush a coat over the entire page. After it dries for about 10 minutes, you can apply another coat. I found that adding several coats made the pages sturdier–more like a album cover, like I wanted. I had just enough Christmas card cutouts to cover two pages, one for the front cover, and one for the back cover.

After the pages were dry, I used a three-hole punch to punch holes in the covers. I decided I would use wide fabric holiday ribbon to tie the covers together. That way every year I could untie the bows and add new letters to my album. I used 2 1/2 -inch-wide wire satin ribbon (dark red). I liked the wire ribbon. It was easier to adjust the bows and looked really nice. It was also leftover from my holiday gift making this year, so I didn’t have to buy any extra.

When the covers were ready, I arranged our Christmas letters from oldest to most recent, and punched holes in all of them. I then placed them between the covers and inserted the ribbon through the holes and tied big red bows to hold them together. I chose not to string ribbon through all three holes–just the top and the bottom.

I was really happy with how my keepsake Christmas album turned out. It was easy, took only about two hours to make, and I didn’t have to buy anything extra to make it. After you buy the decoupage finish (about $5 a bottle), the uses for it are almost limitless. You can apply it to almost any surface, giving you the opportunity to create timeless keepsakes in a variety of ways.

Originally published at Suite 101. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com.

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

Bah Humbug! Ebenezer Scrooge Quote T-shirt

“If I could work my will, said Scrooge indignantly, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!””

If you’re not into the silly season and hate the build up to Christmas then this Ebenezer Scrooge quote t-shirt is for you:

Scrooge With Quote On Back Fitted T-Shirt

 

Christmas Strategies: Gifting Without Charging

Christmas Strategies: Gifting Without Charging by Dar Arechederra

Before we know it, the shopping season will be upon us. And, just like Santa’s little elves will be working feverishly, we’ve got to get busy saving up our cash for Christmas. The alternative could be to watch helplessly as our credit card balances increase.

But is it really possible to have a Christmas without using our credit card? Absolutely! It isn’t hard — it’s just a matter of getting started now! Here are these 3 simple steps to begin …

Step 1: Determine exactly how much cash you will need.

How much do you normally spend for Christmas gifts and goodies? Be sure to add in special food expenses to your total, if you’re providing the main holiday meal(s) or responsible for a large portion of it. Not sure? Do a guesstimate, erring on the plus side to be safe.

Step 2: Using your total from above, determine how much you’ll need to save daily or weekly. Divide it by the number of weeks or days left to save up money.

Examples: (These are approximate amounts.)

$500 divided by 15 weeks = $34.00 wk
$300 divided by 15 weeks = $20.00 wk
$400 divided by 107 days = $ 3.75 day
$200 divided by 107 days = $1.90 day
Step 3: Choose your Method(s) to begin Saving

Pull out your old favorites, and get going! Listed below are a few ideas to get you started.
Gift Certificates are Not Just for Others

Buy a gift certificate each pay period. When you’re ready to shop, use your certificate to pay for the items. Be sure to watch for expiration dates.

Marlene, a good friend of mine, does this year round. She then buys items as they come on sale, using her certificates. Marlene is a single mother who has found a way to buy gifts for her children without using credit cards or draining money from the checkbook.
Christmas Account

There’s still time to open a Christmas account with your local credit union or bank. Make automatic payroll deposits if you can. If not, write yourself a check each pay period and mail it in to your account. If you cash your paycheck, take out your targeted amount and deposit the money before it gets spent.

Remember, too, once this account is open, you can make small deposits year round, eliminating the Christmas Crunch next year.
Pick up Some Extra Work Hours

Many businesses will need extra help as the holidays arrive. You may be able to pick up some extra hours. Be sure to set aside any money saved so it doesn’t slip through a hole in your pocket!
$1 Per Day Keeps the Creditors Away

Don’t forget the ‘Tuck $1-Per-Day-Into-an-Old Sock’ method. If you have 110 days left, you’d have around $110 at $1 per day. Tucking away $2 per day will find you $220. $330 for $3 per day.

Re-think Buying Gifts This Year

Have you had a rough year financially? Do you owe on credit cards? Consider not buying gifts this year. What if you were to save up money as if you were buying gifts, but use it instead to pay extra on your debt? Can you think of a better gift for your family? You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel giving down the road, when you can truly afford it.

Get creative. Imagine that you had no job. What would you do for gifts? Would you make your own? Send cards only? Email cards? Brainstorm some unique alternatives.
Remember the Spirit of the Season

Above all, remember the original intent of the holiday celebrations. The spirit of the season can be lost in the newly added debt and additional stress created by copying what the Joneses next door are doing. Prevent future stress by learning to celebrate without using your credit card. It can actually be heaps of fun!

Now get started, and set your strategy in place so you’ll be ready and able to pay upfront for next year’s holiday, too!

© 2004 Darlene Arechederra

Darlene Arechederra leads the delightful series, “Coming Home: A Woman’s Journey to One-Income Living.”  Women of two-income households who want
to find their way back home from the workplace will enjoy this gentle, energizing jumpstart.  Visit with Darlene at http://www.AffordtoStayHome.com/info.htm

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

Make Christmas Gift Bags with Matching Gift Tags

Make Christmas Gift Bags with Matching Gift TagsThis craft is simple, quick, and is fun for all ages! You can create elaborately decorated bags or you can create simple bags that are nonetheless colorful and festive. Best of all, regardless of how you care to decorate the bags, you can make matching gift tags!

To help you with this craft, I’ve provided free, illustrated instructions at:

http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/makechristmasgiftbags.htm

These instructions contain several pictures, so it might take several (long) seconds for the page to open. Once the page does open, then allow a few extra second for all the pictures to appear.

For my craft items, I shopped at a “dollar” store, Michael’s (a large craft store), and Office Depot (yes, Office Depot). By thinking ahead, you can make the most of buying discounted bundles or quantities of gift bags (in various sizes). Also, while the illustrations show just one method of decorating the gift bag and matching gift tag, once you understand the concept of this craft, you can browse through Michael’s or any other craft supplies store (or section in stores like Wal-Mart and Target), and let your imagination roam.

For the basic craft project, you’ll need:

• Plain gift bags (all-white or brown kraft paper are best, although plain red and green can easily be used)
• Christmas stamps (rubber stamps or foam cube stamps as shown here; you can easily substitute Christmas stickers, stencils, or anything else that can be put or glued on paper)
• Stamp pads (red, green, and white shown here)
• Blank business cards or postcards (for use as gift tags)
• Colored tissue paper
• Curl ribbon

To make the bag, used stamp decorations (as shown in the illustrations), follow these easy instructions:

1. Moisten the stamp on the stamp pad. Be sure the entire surface of the stamp is covered with colored ink.

2. Press inked stamp onto gift bag. Decorate with as many different stamps, or just one stamp, as desired.

I learned while doing this craft that the bag really has to be flat, on a hard surface, for the stamp imprints to take. Also, it took a few tries to get the hang of just how much pressure I had to use to get the whole stamp to imprint without getting the “sides” of the stamp on the paper. You might want to spend a few minutes experimenting on a blank piece of paper, or use a bag to practice (and just make it your experiment bag—and afterward put trash in it, or use it to store your stamps and stamp pads).

If young children are going to be working on this project, it might be more suitable to have Christmas stickers or adhesive-backed foam shapes that can easily be stuck to the bag (and gift tags).

3. Set the bags aside to allow them to dry. It may take several long minutes (or longer) for the ink to dry, so do plan ahead and have fun with this craft long before you’ll be wrapping Christmas presents!

4. To make the matching gift tags, stamp either a blank business card or a blank postcard with a stamp that you used on the gift bag. Shown in the illustrations, a business card is stamped with a red ornament and a post card is stamped with a green tree. Use a hole punch to punch a hole in a corner of the business card or postcard so that you can attach the gift tag to the bag.

Just as with the gift bags, set the gift tags aside to allow them to dry. Once dry, and before you tie a gift tag onto a bag, be sure to fill out the To and From on the card. (For more ideas about using business cards to make Christmas gift tags, please go to “Make Your Own Christmas Gift Tags” (http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/makegifttags.htm).

If young children will be doing this craft, you may find that it is easier to use postcards (or blank 3 x 5 index) cards as gift tags. The larger card surface will be a little easier for little hands (and developing hand-eye coordination skills) to get the decoration on the card.

5. Loosely wrap your gift in colored tissue paper and place into gift bag. I like to put the object in the very middle of two or more sheets of tissue paper. Make sure the tissue paper sheets are offset from each other (that is, lay one sheet over the other at an angle).

Then pick up the edges of the tissue paper so that the gift is in the bottom of the “cone” of tissue paper. Put the gift into the bag, with the points of tissue paper sticking out of the top of the gift bag.

6. Use coordinating colors of curl ribbon to tie the gift tag to the handle of the bag. Personally, I like lots of strings of curl ribbon and I leave them generously long. It sure does make the bag look very festive!

Now that you’ve created your own gift bags with matching gift tags any gift in the bag will look like a million bucks!

For more Christmas crafts, go to Jan’s Reading Room, and click on the Holidays and Seasonal category:

http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/ReadingIntro.htm
Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit http://www.jansportal.com for more information about Jan’s free crafts, recipes, tutorials, other resource sites, and free content articles, as well as Jan’s business services. Be sure to visit Mom’s Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005 to present. All rights reserved.

 

Gifting: Santa’s Secret Shopping List

Gifting: Santa’s Secret Shopping List by Dar Arechederra

So, how would you describe your life as you prepare for the holidays?

Peaceful? Calm?

Or is it stressful? Frenzied?

For some of us, the added stress and expense of the holidays can detract from our season of joy and celebration.

We’ve got planning to do.

Cooking.

Cleaning.

Shopping.

We’re called upon to use more of our resources. Time. Energy. Money. (And don’t forget patience!)

Hanging on to our sanity can become our biggest challenge (smile).

The good news is that there really is a way to make things a bit easier. You can save time, energy and money, too.

A simple list is all you need. Remember, even Santa makes a list and checks it twice!

Create Your Own Personalized List

Targeting both giving and receiving is the way to go.

I mean, can we really enjoy dusting all that stuff if we don’t care for it? And others may feel the same way.

So, on a sheet of paper, draw a line (or fold) down the center of the page to create two columns. On the top left half, write in *Needs;* on the top right half, write in *Wants.* Write your items into your list in the appropriate spot. And next to each item, place the person’s name.

It’s a good idea to add expensive items to your list, too. Always let others know when you’re looking for more costly items, because you just never know what can happen.

This past summer, I wanted a porch swing and decided to wait for the end of season sales. I put the word out to my friends. But in late September I was still searching, and it looked as if I’d missed the boat.

I couldn’t find a single swing out there. But a friend spotted one, got the address and price for me. I purchased it that day at one-third the original price. Brand new, in the box, no parts missing. I finally had my porch swing, and at a perfect price.

How Your List Can Help You

If your family exchanges gifts, send them a copy of your list. Deliver it, mail it, or email it. For bigger items on your list, the family may pool their money and make a purchase (or find a fantastic deal for you.)

Keep a copy of your list at work for gift exchanges. Simply pull a few items from your list so coworkers have an idea of your preferences.

Keep your list for year-round use. It’s ready to go for birthdays and special occasions, too.

Convert Your List into a Multi-Purpose Helper

Flip your page over and make a *cheat-sheet* of friends, coworkers and family members. As you discover items they like/dislike, write these items next to their names.

Create a tab named *Gifting* in your calendar or planner. Insert your list behind it. Update it as you come across important information.

Here are some neat things to track.

o favorite gifts, food and snacks (loves mini candy bars)
o favorite colors
o pet name, breed type, pet birthdate
o specific dislikes (certain perfumes, nuts in cookies)
o allergies to foods, etc. (chocolate, peanut butter)
o clothing/shoe sizes

Santa’s making a list — and checking it twice. But now you know the secrets behind Santa’s list!

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Enjoy your season of peace and joy.

© 2004 Darlene Arechederra

Darlene Arechederra leads the delightful series, “Coming Home: A Woman’s Journey to One-Income Living.”  Women of two-income households who want
to find their way back home from the workplace will enjoy this gentle, energizing jumpstart.  Visit with Darlene at http://www.AffordtoStayHome.com/info.htm

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

Experience is Better Than an Object by Lisa Akers

It’s mid-December and it seems all our energies and money goes into buying the perfect gift for those special people in our lives.  Some people are easy to shop for, but others are a real challenge.  I know that I have been struggling with shopping for a few years now.  Christmas is always the hardest.  For some reason, I seem to be able to find something that works for birthdays and anniversaries.  Perhaps it’s because those don’t all happen at once and in the middle of decorating, parties, and social events!

So this year, I did something different.  I have been giving people “experiences” rather than “things.”   I gave my parents tickets to a concert they’ve wanted to see.  I gave my expectant sister and her husband a coupon for me to bring them dinner one night.  My husband gave me a full detailing of my car (that’s been splashed with milk and is full of dog hair).  I love getting experiences.  They are so much more valuable to me than a thing.

In future years, we’re planning to take the money we might spend on gifts and set it aside for a big family get-together.  It might not be at Christmas, but it will be far more valuable than a few pairs of socks and a sweater (unless of course, you knit the socks and sweater yourself).  Now, of course we will be giving gifts to the children.  After all, Christmas is about children.  But, the grown-ups will spend their money on making a wonderful memory.

I’d encourage you to consider shifting your gifting thoughts.  Great gifts can be found just about everywhere.  Maybe the best gift is a couple of hours of babysitting so a new mom can get out of the house and get her hair cut.  Perhaps it’s a certificate for a class tuition that the recipient has wanted to take.  What about a house-cleaning for someone who’s been laid up with an injury or illness?  The possibilities are endless – if you use your imagination and creativity.

Here’s some more great ideas:

-Take a new neighbor to an evening with your friends so she can meet people in the area
-Give your friends a knitting class (or a scrapbooking class, or any other craft class), but don’t make it one of the direct sales parties where they are expected to buy something.
-Take someone who can’t get out a warm meal and spend some time with them.
-Give certificates for something the person needs – grocery cards, gas cards, oil changes, pharmacy cards.  That way, they can splurge on something special for themselves.
-Invite your kid’s friends over for a play date, and have a special tea for the moms.
-Take your children to the zoo or the park or the pool.

Can you see where I’m going with this?  I’ve been talking about commercialism at the holidays for many years now.  It’s just getting out of control from where I stand.  If you’re feeling like this Christmas thing is just way too hard or just way too expensive, I encourage you to give experience this year.  Your friends and family will really appreciate your thoughtfulness and creativity.  I promise they won’t receive another gift like it this year!

Lisa Akers is the president of Be Still & Knit.  Her company teaches women how to find peace and stillness in their lives through handwork.  By discovering knit and crochet, women develop a new way to take time for themselves and share the love they have as warm clothing!  Find out more about Lisa at http://www.bestillandknit.com or listen to her podcast at http://www.peacefulknitter.com.

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

For Baby’s First Christmas, a Lump of Coal? Ten Baby Gifts to Avoid This Holiday Season

For Baby’s First Christmas, a Lump of Coal?  Ten Baby Gifts to Avoid This Holiday Season by Stephanie Gallagher

What could be worse than a lump of coal in baby’s first Christmas stocking?

One of these ten gifts:

1. Any Toy or Product With More Than 10 Pieces That Must Be Put Together

Ever see a new parent on Christmas day?  You know why they look so tired?  Because they spent the previous 12 hours putting together a single baby toy that promised to be “easy to assemble.”

If you see the words, ‘Assembly Required’ anywhere on the packaging, that is not a gift you want to give for baby’s first Christmas.

If you’re absolutely in love with a particular toy or baby product that requires assembly, put it together yourself before you give the gift.  The new parents will appreciate your efforts as much as the baby gift itself.”

2. Frilly, Impractical, “High-Maintenance” Baby Clothes

You know the outfits: They’re oh-so-cute, yet oh-so-impractical.  They have buttons instead of snaps.  Or they have no snaps in the legs.  Or they snap up the back, rather than the front, turning diaper-changing into a gymnastics exercise for the parents.  Or worse yet, they’re dry clean only.

Think about it: What new mom has time to take her baby’s clothes to the dry cleaners every time he spits up?”

3. “Hot Button Baby Christmas Gifts”

These are products the parents will only use if they subscribe to one particular parenting theory or style.

For example, books like “On Becoming Baby Wise” by Gary Ezzo and “Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems,” by Richard Ferber, are “hot button baby gifts,” because parents tend to either strongly agree or strongly disagree with these theories.

So are things like breast pumps and nursing pillows (unless you’re absolutely sure the new mom is nursing), and bottles and bottle accessories (again, unless you know for certain the parents are using them).

4. Incomplete Gifts

Don’t make your recipients work to enjoy your gifts.  If the recipient has to buy something else in order to use the gift, it’s a loser.

For example, a Boppy (special nursing pillow) is a great gift.  But the Bare-Naked Boppy is not, because you have to buy a slipcover for it, which costs almost as much as the original gift.

Most people expect to have to buy batteries for toys and baby gear, but including them is one of the most thoughtful things you can do to make your Christmas gift for baby stand out.

5. Wipe Warmer

Not only do wipe warmers cause wipes to dry out and get discolored, they’re often more uncomfortable for babies than cold wipes.

Babies are much more sensitive to heat than we are.  They don’t want anything too hot touching their skin, whether it’s a warmed wipe or hot bath water.

6. Baby Bouncy

This stabilized exercise ball, which retails for $39.95, is supposed to calm a colicky baby and help the mother “exercise her core” at the same time.

But how many moms can accomplish anything while trying to soothe a colicky baby? Yes, babies do like to be bounced, but they typically enjoy a motion that requires the parent to be on his or her feet, not sitting down.

What’s more, there are cheaper bouncing alternatives that last much longer, such as the Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker, which goes from birth to 40 pounds.

7. Baby Walker

Each year, some 8,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms because of injuries related to baby walkers.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for the sale of baby walkers to be banned in the United States. They are simply unsafe.

That should be reason enough to skip the walker for baby’s first Christmas.  But if it isn’t, consider this: Baby walkers do not help children walk sooner.  In fact, they can delay walking.

8. Cradle

Another beautiful, but impractical, baby gift, cradles are unsafe because the rocking can cause baby to turn over and suffocate.

9. Newborn Clothes

Even if the baby was born last week, newborn clothes are a baby Christmas gift “Don’t.”

There reasons are simple:

1) The parents probably already got oodles of newborn outfits at the baby shower 2) babies typically grow out of newborn clothes within a few weeks.

A better bet: 3-6 month clothes.

10. Baby Shoes

Pediatricians recommend that babies go barefoot or with socks until they’re actually walking, making baby shoes unnecessary.  Some doctors even say baby shoes can interfere with proper gross motor development.

For a list of holiday baby gifts that are sure to please, go to The Shopping Mom’s Guide to Baby Gifts at http://www.gifts-babies-love.com/unique-christmas-gifts.html

Stephanie Gallagher, a.k.a., The Shopping Mom, is the author of several parenting books and Editor of The Shopping Mom’s Guide to Baby Gifts, http://www.gifts-babies-love.com

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com