In the following article, the author focuses on the contents of baby gift baskets. After completing the article, the writer realized that such baskets could serve a useful function in the future. A gift basket might one day be used as an Easter basket; a gift basket might later become the holder for a planter. In that way, parents could show a small child the changes that take place as a plant grows and perhaps flowers. An awareness of such changes prepares a child for noting and understanding other natural changes. An awareness of changes helps a child to learn about a timeline, an important element in any story.

The list of items that can go in a baby gift basket keeps getting shorter and shorter. One should not put any type of children’s cough syrup into one of the baby gift baskets. One should not put any toy that might contain lead-based paint into one of the baby gift baskets. What then should one tuck into a basket that is meant for two young parents?

Such a basket would not be a source of potential danger if it contained unpainted, wood toys. Such a basket would pose no risk to an infant, were it to contain a sock puppet or a toy fashioned from cloth. Such a basket could certainly hold a children’s book. Children tend to get far more toys than books.

A baby gift basket could have some baby foods, or even some fresh fruit. A baby gift basket might contain bananas. A baby gift basket could contain very ripe pears or any type of fruit juice. A baby gift basket might also contain a tiny baby spoon and a training cup.

Does the person giving the basket hope to get some pictures of the baby? If so, then he or she should think about putting a disposable camera in the baby gift basket. Will the person giving the basket be a likely baby-sitter in the near future? If so, then he or she should put in the gift basket things that can be used to entertain a baby.

Maybe the person who is assembling the gift basket knows of a clever way to lull a baby to sleep. The person who plans to present the gift basket might then put into the basket whatever items can help with calming the baby, preparing him or her for bedtime. Such items might include a device that makes soft music.

A baby gift basket could contain coupons for disposable diapers. A baby gift basket could contain a gift card from Toys ‘R Us or Kids ‘R Us. A baby gift basket could contain information that would help the young parents. Perhaps it could contain a paper stating that the parents had been subscribed to Parents Magazine, or some similar journal.

Is there a way to put items that can be sorted into the gift basket? Such items can help with the baby’s cognitive development. The basket might have a few soft items and a few hard items. It might have a few items with a smooth surface and a few items with a rough surface.

It would be good to put a small mirror into the gift basket. A baby needs to see his or her mirror image at an early age. A baby should also have a chance to play with objects (not small objects) of many different colors and may different shapes.