Introduction:

Ok, You've just received an invitation to a baby shower, and great!, the day is wide open. You mark the day on your calendar and then panic sets in. What to get the mother-to-be? You could take the easy way out and shop off the registry like everyone else, or you could make a splash and walk in with a gift that will wow. Following is a list of ideas guaranteed to put a smile on everyone at the shower, and, just as importantly, how to do it on eBay.

(By the way, if you read this guide and come upon an idea you like, can you just continue and scroll to the bottom and let me know if you found this helpful - Thanks so much)

Clothesline in a Basket

The basic premise behind this gift is to fill a basket of some sort with baby clothes and/or accessories that are pinned onto a clothesline.  It is adorable, at a shower, when the mother-to-be pulls out the first article of clothing and....just keeps pulling.

1. A fun idea is to buy a storage pop-up hamper. Many different characters come on these hampers and they are relatively inexpensive. Winnie the Pooh would be very cute. These are readily available on eBay:  examples of new pop up hampers

2. Purchase a length of clothesline

3. Now, what you attach to the clothesline and how long you want your clothesline to be, is entirely up to you. To make a splashy, yet relatively inexpensive gift, you can buy packages of onesies, socks, washcloths and clearance clothes and attach them. If you want the gift to be more elegant, you can purcahse just several items and attach them. No matter the length or content of your clothesline, it is a unique and clever idea.

Build a Library

No matter what, books always make a great gift. What better than starting a library for the baby.

Again, this can be done relatively inexpensively...or not.

1. Purchase something to present your gifts in. This can be as simple as a rubbermaid storage tote (which will come in very handy later for the mom) lined with tissue paper or as elegant as a Moses Basket Moses Basket

2. Decide if you want a variety of books or if you want to stick to a theme. Some good themes may be:

• Baby Einstein Books   (Examples of books)
• Sesame Street Books  (Examples of books)
• Animal Books  (Examples of books)
• Religious Books (Examples of Noah's Ark Books)

The nice thing about buying books on eBay is many times they can be shipped via U.S. Media Mail, which can be cheaper than regular mail, however, be warned that Media Mail does take longer than Priority or Parcel Post.

Baby Bathtub

This is a great idea that can definately done on the inexpensive side (if you want) and goes way beyond just a giftset of bath items.

1. Pick a baby bathtub, any baby bathtub

2. Line the baby bathtub with tissue paper and fill the tub with lots of fun and practical bath items. This could include

• Baby Shampoo
• Baby Lotion
• Baby Wash
• Washcloths
• Diaper Cream
• Rubber Duckies
• Thermometer (See Examples)
• Bath Toys  (See Examples)

When you are done filling the tub, you can be finished, or you can wrap a bow or decorative wrap around the tub.

Laundry, Laundry, Laundry

What does every new mom have more of than she ever thought possible? Yup. The answer is above. Here is a cute idea to help her get started on her new life of laundry.

Buy a laundry basket (See Examples) and line it will tissue paper. Fill it with items such as:

• Dreft (a baby safe detergent)
• a mesh bag that is designed to hold baby socks, head bands and other small pieces (See Examples)
• hangers (See Examples)
• closet size organizers
• maybe a few outfits

Diaper Cake

This great idea is a guaranteed jaw dropper, and there are cakes from the inexpensive to very expensive. In essence, diaper cakes are just what they sound like - cakes created with diapers - usually newborn or size ones. There are two ways to tackle this gift idea: do-it-yourself or buy on eBay.

Diaper Cakes to Buy

If you do decide to do-it-yourself, you can find directions on eBay, for sale (Instructions for a Diaper Cake)or in the Guides section. To give you an idea, you will need white diapers, lots of ribbon, a base for the cake (I've used a round piece of wood covered in tuele with a dowel rod to place the diapers around), silk flowers (if you like), and little baby toys (rattles, teething rings and the like) to place around the cake. The cakes can be themed for either a boy, girl, or unknown and can even be themed to a character such as Winnie the Pooh or Blue's Clues.

Puzzles, Puzzles, Puzzles

In this age of electronic toys, classic wood puzzles and games are sometimes a no-show in a child's playroom. What better gift, than a gift of these children's classics.

Buy a clear plastic storage tote, sized to fit the number and selection of puzzles you buy. You can then line it with tissue paper for a prettier presentation.

Ebay has literally thousands of puzzles and here are some great ideas:

• Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles 
• Farm Puzzles
• Animal Puzzles
• Vehicle Puzzles
• Wooden Alphabet Puzzles
• New Wooden Peg Puzzles
• Melissa & Doug Wooden Pound A Peg Toy

Baby's First Year Scrapbook

Is the mother-to-be just as crafty as can be? If so, why not buy her what she will need to create her baby's first year scrapbook. Chances are, she will be making one.

Purchase a cute baby themed scrapbook and then whatever you think would be appropriate:

• Baby Stickers
• Premade Baby Pages
• Baby Embellishments

To present it, you could find a clear, plastic storage tote (after all, the new mommy will need this to be as convenient as possible if she is ever going to find time to work on it).  You could top off the box with scissors, glue, rulers and other small crafty items.

Toy Box of Fun

Every mom-to-be will eventually need a toy box and I have very rarely seen them on the registry. It's just not something that gets thought about so early on.

1. Purchase the toy box: toy boxes come in many different shapes and sizes and in all price ranges. ( New Toy Boxes )

2. Line the inside of the toy box with tissue paper and proceed to fill the toybox with whatever you like. Here are a few ideas:

• Small infant toys - rattles, teething rings, ring stackers, blocks
• Books
• Little rubbermaid storage boxes each filled with different items
• one could be filled with first aid items
• one could be filled with medicinal items
• one could be filled with hair items (comb, barettes, clips)

Stocked Diaper Bag

A diaper bag is a great gift idea no matter what, but how about a stocked diaper bag? This can be done relatively easily and for not very much more than just the cost of the diaper bag.

1. Purchase the diaper bag and determine how many pockets there are to be filled.

• New Diaper Bags

2. Fill each pocket with something. Ideas for the smaller pockets may include:

• a sippy cup
• pacifier 2-pack
• bottle of baby tylenol
• teething ring
• plastic key ring

   Ideas for the larger pockets can include:

• some diapers - hey, it's a diaper bag
• diaper cream
• pack of onesies
• receiving blankets (Receiving Blankets)
• Outfits

Little Boys Love Trucks

Little boys love trucks and for a mom-to-be having a boy, this is a great and fun idea.

1. Purchase a large plastic dump truck fit for a 2 year-old (Dump Trucks)

2. Line the bed of the dump truck with tissue paper and fill the bed with little items:

• Little Toys - rattles, plastic keys, teething rings
• Bath Items - shampoo, lotion, baby wash
• First Aid Items - band-aids, first aid wash, ice-packs (cute baby ice packs)

Regardless of which of these ideas you use, you are bound to be a hit and well appreciated at your next baby shower. I hope these ideas, along with the aid of Ebay help you find the perfect gift.