PRESENTS FOR BABY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22824, 7 March 1936, Page 26

PRESENTS FOR BABY

INQUIRE BEFOREHAND

A present for a young baby should not be difficult to choose, for babies are always wanting something. The following suggestions deal with " useful " presents only, and I have endeavoured to cater for donors varying from impecunious aunts to wealthy grandparents and for recipients who may be anything from nought to two, Or even merely "expected " (states a writer in the Cape Times). A word of warning. The surprise item business can be overdone. The mothei who has received 10 matinee jackets on baby's behalf will greet the eleventh with (at best) a mechanical smile. So ascertain if you can beforehand whether what you propose to give is needed or has been promised by someone else. We will begin with textiles. One thing a baby of any age should have is a goodly number of handkerchiefs. These should be about six inches square and made of soft linen or lawn. Bibs of similar material are also needed, and both bibs and handkerchiefs may be either plain or lightly embroidered with a border, initial or name.

Speaking of embroidery reminds me of something else which is likely to be welcome —a frock for " best" of fine cotton or silk. This you can buy plain or embroidered at almost any price, according to the workmanship. If the dress is plain and you are clever embroider it yourself. The value, though not the price, of all gifts of this nature is enhanced if they conform to the colour scheme that baby's mother has planned. Knitwear is a word which has now got into the dictionaries. Anyway, it is very useful stuff, and can either be bought or made at home. Knitted bootees and gloves are always needed, and as they are apt to get lost an extra pair or two will not be unwelcome. They cost from a couple of shillings or so a pair upwards. More ambitious presents of this kind are a carrying shawl, a pram suit, or our old friend the matinee jacket. Talking of coverings for baby himself brings us naturally to covers for his cot, his pram and the nursery floor. For the cot of the one-year-old there are pillow cases which may be hemstitched or embroidered and coverlets of cotton or wool at prices which vary with the material and amount of embroidery. For the pram, wool covers are obtainable. Pram bags are a boon in .cold weather. A crawling rug for the nursery floor is an essential part of baby's equipment, but one which, nevertheless, is often missing. For the expected baby the wealthy grandparents mitrht like to do the handsome and provide the pram. If they feel that it would be wiser to let the parents do the choosing they send a cheque. As to the amount, £5 would help, £lO would help more, and so on. * Unfortunately, most grandparents have never recovered from the financial strain of paying for their own children, and to these there is a playpen (useful from about six months), ivhich costs about £l, or they can give their attention to the implements of the table. It is now easy to get beautiful china and knives, forks and spoons specially made for children almost anywhere. Another good present to give in early days is a log book, for recording the events in baby's life —weight, teething, etc.