Shopping: Best Baby Shower Gifts

Whether you’re an expectant mom-to-be registering for your own shower, or you’re a thoughtful friend shopping for an upcoming shower for someone close to you, the following picks—chosen with care by a selection of writers, bloggers, and industry pros in the parenthood realm—are sure to be as useful as they are delightful.

Bump Nest Pregnancy Pillow
“This is the perfect pregnancy pillow ($99, bumpnest.com)! Especially when sleeping can get just plain uncomfortable at the end of the third trimester. It’s also the perfect pillow for nursing your newborn.” –Desiree Spinner, Founder, La Petite Peach, lapetitepeach.com
Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser by OXO
“This is a practical but life-changing addition ($19.99, oxo.com) to any nursery. The lid pops open with one simple push and a weighted interior plate allows you to quickly remove one wipe at a time—taking much of the frustration out of diaper changes! I can’t tell you how many times I used to go crazy trying to wrangle wipes out of disposable containers.” –Leah Black, New York Family Baby Blogger, www.newyorkfamily.com
Freshly Picked Oui Oui Moccasins
“These limited edition moccasins ($60, freshlypicked.com) from celeb baby-fave Freshly Picked—North West and Jessica Alba’s kiddos are noted fans—are hand-made from genuine leather and are available in baby sizes 1-10. They make a great shower gift because they’re luxe (but not too flashy) and are sure to pair well with any fashion-forward baby ensemble.” –Mia Weber, Senior Editor, New York Family, www.newyorkfamily.com
UPPAbaby Vista Stroller
“Right now, one of my favorite products is the UPPAbaby Vista—it’s the only stroller you will ever need ($729.99, uppababy.com). It works with the Mesa car seat, bassinet attachment, or toddler seat—then add on another seat when you have another child. There are so many ways you can use it for one or two babies. Plus, it’s getting a redesign for 2015, so it looks even more stylish and sleek. It’s also the perfect group gift for a baby shower.” –Elena Mauer, Deputy Editor of TheBump.com
Little Giraffe Chenille Blanket
"This blanket ($34, gilt.com/NewYorkFamily) is hands-down the best baby shower gift. It's the softest, coziest blanket out there. It's great for tummy time, as a stroller blanket, and as a bedtime blanket when the baby gets older. Plus, it can withstand a thousand washes and still feel super soft!" –Melissa Keswin, Senior Director of GILT Baby & Kids, gilt.com
Coveted Things “Shit Just Got Real” Blanket/Scarf
“Nothing says it better than a Coveted Things swaddle ($40, covetedthings.com). Although we're partial to this one, there are other more PG-rated versions too.” –Kaity Velez & Jessica Pallay, Founders, Well Rounded NY, wellroundedny.com
UPPAbaby Babyganoosh Footmuff
“The UPPAbaby Babyganoosh Footmuff ($90, uppababy.com) is a DivaMust gift for a baby shower. Not only is this gift most functional for all weather in NYC, it’s also stylish, which all DivaMoms love.” –Lyss Stern, CEO of DivaLysscious Moms, divamoms.com
ErgoBaby 360 Carrier
“My absolute favorite item for babies is the ErgoBaby 360 Carrier ($160, ergobaby.com). This is the only carrier you will ever need when you have a baby. They offer an infant insert that you are able to use from birth on.” –Brianne Manz, Founder, Stroller in the City, strollerinthecity.com
Stars Sleeping Bag from the Project Nursery Shop
"Baby sleeping bags, or sleep sacks, are a sleep-saving must for babies and sleep deprived parents everywhere ($55, projectnursery.com). Knowing baby is warm, safe, and sleeping soundly is pure peace of mind—the very best type of gift in our opinion.” –Melisa Fluhr & Pam Ginocchio, Founders, Project Nursery, projectnursery.com
aden+anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets
“I would gift aden+anais’ Muslin Swaddle Blankets ($49.95, adenandanais.com) to any mom-to-be. These blankets are super soft for baby and have multiple uses. I have used them to swaddle my baby, as a nursing cover, and as a stroller blanket. The prints are really cute and they only get softer with each wash.” –Maria Colaco, Baby Gear Expert, TTPM, ttpm.com
Culture Baby Espadrilles
“There’s nothing more aww-worthy than a pair of baby booties, but these baby espadrilles from Culture Baby ($29, culturebaby.com) kick up the cute quotient several notches. With delicate straps and craftsmanship that belies a rich Spanish tradition, these crowd-pleasers will look equally as cute on baby as they do on display when outgrown.” –Elina Furman, Publisher, A-List Mom and A-List Mom Travel, alistmom.com

Young Actors at Strasberg

Young Actors at Strasberg&nbsp;offers a comprehensive array of acting programs for students in grades 2 &ndash;&nbsp;12. Classes provide kids and teens with a foundation in Lee Strasberg's Method Acting and the tools to succeed in the professional industry &ndash;&nbsp;all while maintaining a fun and playful environment. Programs are tailored to encompass students at all levels, from those just beginning their acting journey to Broadway veterans and professional child actors. Young Actors at Strasberg alumni include Lady Gaga, Sophia Lillis, Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Rosario Dawson! Young Actors&nbsp;Programs are available online and in-person at our New York Campus, located in Union Square. Saturday, After-School and Online classes are offered during the traditional school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and Monday through Friday day camps and intensives are held in&nbsp;July and August. About The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute: Founded in 1969 by Lee and Anna Strasberg, The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute is the only school that teaches Lee Strasberg's work in its complete and authentic form. The Institute's goal is to provide students with a craft that will help them create a reality and respond truthfully in imaginary circumstances, regardless of the style or form of material being used. LSTFI is proud to have award-winning alumni from around the world working as writers, directors, and actors in all mediums.

Debate Camp

Public Speaking, Debate and Global Awareness - - coveted skills in a camp-like environment! At Debate Camp, we provide a fun and inspiring space for youth to develop some timelessly-important skills; to hear opposing views and to confidently articulate their ideas well in the company of others. Debate Camp specializes in parliamentary debate, impromptu and prepared public speaking.&nbsp; We ensure that all program areas are highly interactive and suited to a variety of age groups (grades 5 to 10) and multiple ability levels. &bull; day camp and sleepaway camp options &bull; multi-level instruction &bull; suits all ability levels &bull; teaching ratio 1:8 &bull; parliamentary debate rounds on new topics daily &bull; feedback and fun! &bull; all resources provided Debate Camp believes in a well-balanced program where an academic focus is mixed with opportunities for traditional camp games and a fun and inspiring approach to learning. 2024 day camp options for NYC families include 3 x 1 week options in Manhattan / UES location (including our NEW 3 day Model UN camp) and NEW 1 week Overnight Debate Camp options in Maine &amp; Rhode Island (with r/t transportation options from NY Penn Station)&nbsp; All details on: https://www.debatecamp.com/newyork &nbsp;

Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research

<h1>Summer Science Camps for Tomorrow&rsquo;s Medical Professionals</h1> We offer a variety of workshops on molecular medicine for high-achieving high school and middle school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine or related fields, such as biomedical research, drug development, pharmacy, bioengineering, or nursing.&nbsp; Workshops are taught by PhD-level instructors with years of research and teaching experience. Camps are offered in summer and winter and there are online and in-person options available.&nbsp;&nbsp; Through engaging lectures and hands-on laboratory classes, students learn normal molecular and cellular biology, and then learn how these normal processes are disrupted or distorted during the development of disease. There is a heavy emphasis on experimental design, modern drug development, and the emergence of the era of personalized medicine. To conclude the workshop, students use what they have learned to create an original research project. More broadly, workshop attendees strengthen their academic skills, build their college portfolio, and explore potential career options while making friends from around the world and experiencing college dorm life in a safe environment. Our university-based workshops are held at Columbia University, Imperial College London, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego, and both residential and commuter options are available.&nbsp; &nbsp;University-based workshops include Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Biology of Cancer, Astrobiology, AI-Enhanced Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology of Aging, Neurological Bioinformatics, Molecular Immunology, Bioinformatics of Aging, and Bioinformatics of Cancer.&nbsp; Biomedical Research &ndash; a workshop focused on learning modern molecular biology laboratory techniques - is taught at our lab in the Bay Area, CA. Our online workshops include Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Bioinformatics.&nbsp; Intro to Cellular and Molecular Medicine is our entry-level workshop that is only two hours/day.&nbsp; Students in the Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Bioinformatics workshops learn how to use online tools to analyze biochemical data.