Anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, Valentine’s Day, the arrival of a new baby… no matter what the occasion, when you don’t know what to get someone, flowers seem to be the default. They’re beautiful, easy to send and everyone loves them, right?

Maybe flowers are appropriate on certain occasions, but when it comes to the arrival of a new baby, flowers are the last thing a new mother needs. Sure, they’re beautiful, relatively inexpensive and show you care. But do they really have the needs of the mother in mind?

Imagine you just had your first baby, you’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to take care of your new child. Between changing diapers, feeding, dressing, bathing and comforting your child during screaming fits the learning curve is high. You don’t even know what to do your child, much less what to do with a house full of flowers from your friends. They don’t help you; they only get in your way.

Instead of giving flowers, the next time a friend, family member or acquaintance has a baby try giving them a gift basket. Babies have needs and new parents need to meet those needs. Why not help out by giving a baby gift basket.

Baby gift baskets come in many different varieties and are designed with the needs of both the baby and the new parents in mind. Pajamas, nighties, T-shirts, booties, teddy bears, bicycles, and bath toys… all of these items can come in handy for new parents. Clothes are one of those items that a baby will never have enough of—no matter how many times you wash that onsie, it’s going to get spit up on it again. You can always use more.

Stuffed animals are probably the one toy that children will appreciate well into their childhood. Boys and girls alike, have stuffed animals on their bed for years to come. Giving a stuffed toy in a gift basket is a wonderful way to show a child how much you care. For years to come the baby’s parents will tell their child that you gave them that stuffed animal when he was just born. Not only is it a financial help to the parents, but it’s a sentimental gift for the child as well.

Not into stuffed toys—no worries. There are plenty of other great fillers for baby gift baskets. Try giving a basket filled with colorful toys for the nursery, or a special basket for helping the baby fall asleep at night complete with sleeper, tea time set and a soothing sounds lullaby CD.
With all the attention the new baby is getting, make sure you don’t forget about any older siblings. They’ll see all the gifts pouring in for the new baby and feel left out. Older siblings would love to receive a special gift basket as well. No matter what the siblings are interested in, there’s always something for them too. From buckets full of Dora the Explorer gear to model rockets and magic sets, there’s something for everybody. Including older siblings is a wonderful way to make them feel special and loved in this time of transition.

Instead of getting flowers (which will probably get knocked over or ignored with the excitement of a new baby) try giving a special baby gift basket instead. It will be a memorable gift that the parents will appreciate and that both the baby and older siblings can use for years to come. But, if you still insist on giving flowers, there’s still the perfect baby gift basket for you: baby clothes arranged like a bouquet.