What is your main consideration when you are searching for gifts for a newborn baby or an infant

When we are hunting for gift ideas for babies and infants, one of the main consideration is to get a gift that can stimulate the baby's development of the brain or his co-ordination of reflexes, and thus help him in the development of his 5 senses as a baby.

Here are some ideas that are helpful:

1. Give the baby a gift of "mobiles". Mobiles refers to those toys that you can dangle or hang from the ceiling or attached to a cot. There are two predominant choice of colors for these mobile toys. You can either choose a combination of colors to stimulate the brain or you can decide on a black and white theme which has been found to provide opportunities for the baby to learn how to contrast shapes. Adding some ribbons that move when blown by the wind is also an excellent idea, and will look colorful and inviting to the baby. It is important that the mobile be out of reach of the baby though.

2. Provide an activity center or activity gym for the baby during floor time. Activity centers do cost money but they can be used for a longer period of time and until the baby becomes a toddler. Select an activity center that allows you to add your own material toys and to add on to it. Activity centers and gyms encourage the development of baby's motor reflexes and coordination,

3. Mirrors- Get a plastic mirror for safety, and not glass mirror. Your baby will be greatly entertained to see his own image, and his own movements.

4. Books - When choosing books for babies and infants, choose those that have simple pictures with very little or even no words. If you are making your own books, you can make a book of your family tree or with photographs of the brother or sister or the aunt or uncle who lives far away or overseas. You can provide information on them when talking to your baby and showing him the photographs.

You can also make a texture book. A texture book will contain cut ups of different materials that can be kept in a scrapbook for your baby to feel and learn the different textures and shapes.

Give gifts that are useful and enjoy the laughter of the babies when they play with those gifts!

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner and webmaster. If you are looking for answers to problems affecting your baby or kids, or for more useful and free parenting ideas and tips, visit "The Complete Parenting Guide" at http://parenting-guide.dynamic-resources.info