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A deluge of gifts for September showers

Going shopping for a baby present? The choices are seemingly endless. Here are some ideas to help you find something for parents and child.September is a birth bonanza, with more children arriving this month than any other. Let the shower shopping begin.

By SHARON GINN
Published September 22, 2006

Big Splurge: beca bags

Pamper the fashionista on your list with one of these ultra-stylish diaper bags, toted by many of the celebrities recently sporting a bump. Beca Bags start at a whopping $165, still a bit less than Kate Spade bags and well under offerings from Juicy Couture ($275). The Beca brand is not available locally, but you can view and buy the bags online at www.becabags.com. For fall and winter, take a look at the Cargo in bronze, the Leo (leopard print) and the General (camel corduroy with a camo star applique and lining).

Don't forget about these 10 classic baby gifts

You can't go wrong with these perennial winners, suitable for nearly every parent and baby:

1. Baby Bjorn ($79.95): This expertly engineered baby carrier is a lifesaver for many new parents. Some nursing mothers prefer using a sling to tote baby around, but the Bjorn is an enduring favorite that is safe, comfortable and easy to use.

2. Gymini "gyms" ($39.95-$69.95): Gyms are great for helping to develop motor skills after he can reach and before he can crawl away. The Gymini brand is consistently top-rated for being fun, portable and easy to use.

3. Whoozit ($19.95): This crazy-looking soft toy comes in many incarnations, but all feature goofy eyes, bright colors and interesting things for baby to grab and feel. The original Whoozit has a 6-inch-wide body and seven silly appendages.

4. Lamaze soft books ($12.99): With titles like Discovery Farm and Peekaboo, I Love You, these colorful, plush books are a baby's first classics.

5. Bouncy seat: This is essential gear that can calm or occupy the majority of cranky babies and also can serve as a chair for those first spoonfuls of cereal. Try Magic Moments Learning Seat by LeapFrog ($49.95).

6. Super Bibs from One Step Ahead ($16.95 for three, www.onestepahead.com): This catalog company offers many innovative products, but the Super Bibs stand out. They are lightweight, colorful, easy to clean and feature a wide pocket to catch those errant blobs of food.

7. Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack ($5.95): You've seen these before: the colorful stacking rings good for babies learning to grab (and chew) and well beyond. Great choice for a first toy.

8. Baby's First Blocks by Fisher-Price ($9.95): A fun, colorful shape sorter with pieces that stow in a compact, lidded canister.

9. Infant Stim-Mobile ($19.99): Experts advise skipping the mobile that matches the nursery decor and choosing something with black-and-white pictures for over the baby's crib. She's much more likely to stay interested. This award winner now comes with color pieces too.

10. LeapStart Learning Table ($39.99): This award-winning activity table has removable legs so babies as young as 6 months can push, poke, prod and play music.

If it seems as if there's always a baby boomlet this time of year, you're right. Statistics show that all the, umm, fun of the holiday season leads to more babies born in September than any other month.

If you're in need of a shower gift and haven't shopped for a baby in a while, the choices can be overwhelming. These gift ideas go beyond your basic layette and stuffed animals, representing some of the hippest and cleverest newer items for baby . . . and parents too.

Bumbo baby sitter

A hit as soon as it became widely available last year - and a sure-to-be classic - the Bumbo seat is a revolutionary blob of molded, low-density foam that allows parents to prop up their babies in a sitting position as early as 8 weeks, or whenever they can hold their heads steady. It helps babies develop the muscle control needed for sitting and is recommended by pediatricians and physical therapists. Parents love it because it is safe, portable and great during mealtimes, either at home or when eating out. ($39.99 at Target)

Organic baby goods

The organic foods market is exploding, and baby items are not far behind, with organic clothing and body products going mainstream. Catalog merchant Hanna Andersson began offering organic versions of its durable cotton clothing three years ago, and Target soon will take the concept to the masses. This holiday season, Target will introduce the Under the Nile organic clothing company line to 150 of its stores. In the meantime, look for baby pampering products at Tampa's new Wild Oats Market, which carries the Earth Best's Baby Care line by JASON. Popular choices in the line (labeled as hypoallergenic and 70 percent organic) include Lavender 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, Lavender Everyday Lotion and Chemical Free Sunblock SPF 30-plus.

Sleep sheep & lavender lab

These Cloud B products are soft, sweet and stimulating. The original Sleep Sheep makes four sounds: Mother's Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Surf and Whale Songs. Until the baby is old enough to cuddle it, it can hook onto the side of the crib with a Velcro tab. Lavender Lab, introduced late last year to similar accolades as the Sleep Sheep, is stuffed with aromatherapy packets that will last up to five years. A simple squeeze releases the sweet scent. One drawback: Though they're easy to buy online, they aren't available in many local stores. Retailers include Baby Bee Mine (Brandon), the Kids Corner (Dunedin) and Just Kids (St. Pete Beach). (Sheep, $27 and Lab, $21)

Ann B. Dextrous motor developer 

This award-winning Discovery Store toy is on the pricey side but can be used for more than two years, starting at 3 months. It changes shape and evolves as the child does: Stage 1 stimulates baby with wobbly movements, music and flashing lights; Stage 2 encourages fine motor development; Stage 3 introduces new switches, toggles and a color game; and Stage 4 offers a shape sorter game. All that activity comes in a rather large package - it's about a foot tall and weighs 6 pounds. ($59.95)

Stroll smart

A great gift for active parents, the Stroll-Smart is billed as the world's only device that allows parents to use a jogging stroller without pushing with their hands. It straps to the stroller and the parent's torso, allowing for a secure connection while freeing the parent to maintain a more natural running stride. It includes two pockets, suitable for a phone, keys or an MP3 player. The device won a 2006 Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Innovation Award and is available at www.stroll-smart.com and a handful of online retailers. ($49.95)

Sidekick diaper bag and baby carrier

When baby arrives, this product is a lightweight, streamlined, messenger-style bag for her gear. Once she's about 6 months old and ready to ride around on a parent's hip, she can be secured to the Sidekick for walks or errands, and the pockets will still be accessible. The Sidekick, introduced this year and also winner of a JPMA Innovation Award, is available at Amazon.com or Target.com (but not in Target stores or other local retailers). ($79.95)

Funny how much paperwork a 6- or 7-pound newborn can generate. This sleek, frosted plastic portfolio ($29.95) is designed to hold it all in colorful folders: birth certificate, insurance papers, shot records, warranty forms, your list of shower and baby gifts and anything else that otherwise may linger on your desk for months. Available at Something Special Gifts in Tampa, Her Special Time Maternity in Wesley Chapel or online at www.babybriefcase.com. MORE BABY GIFT IDEAS, 3E

Former Times staff writer Sharon Ginn, who is expecting her third child in October, promises that she didn't write this story just to get people to give her more stuff.

[Last modified September 21, 2006, 19:27:11]