Unique Baby Gift and Service Ideas

I'm going to a shower this weekend for a friend who is having her second boy. She already has many of the things you'd typically give at a shower, so I've been thinking about non-traditional baby gifts -- things I've been using a lot since having the baby that aren't baby items.

Here are my best ideas:

• Handheld Shower Head with a long hose. So convenient for spraying off a messy baby, filling a baby bathtub or pressure washing soiled clothes.

Photo from here:
http://sharpieuncapped.com/default.aspx

• Sharpies. I use them to label pumped milk, frozen homemade baby food, opened containers of baby food, toys, and my maternity and baby clothes that I lend out. Besides, who doesn't get just a little excited about that sharpie rainbow pack?

• Paper and plastic plates, bowls and cutlery. Credit to Amy for this idea. For those first few weeks, it is so nice not to have to do dishes.

• Plastic bins for toys or baby clothes that the baby isn't currently using.

• Water bottles, preferably the non-spillable kind. You have to drink a ton of water when you're nursing and the thirst tends to hit you when you're in the middle of feeding the baby. A handy water bottle that doesn't spill when the baby kicks it over is so convenient.

I've also been thinking about ways to serve families with newborns. (I need to do a little less thinking and a little more serving!) Having people bring meals was so much more helpful than I ever realized, but that's not always convenient for the giver. Here are some other ways to serve:

• Returning containers. Those delicious meals people bring by usually come in a container. Offer to pick up the containers from that week and return them to the cooks. This is especially easy if you're going to see a bunch of those people at the same time (like a family gathering or at church). 

• Washing baby clothes. I feel a little weird having someone else wash my clothes, but baby laundry piles up quickly and is not embarrassing to have a friend clean. Offer to do a load of the baby's laundry when you do your own.

• Pre-washing baby clothes. You don't have to pre-wash your baby clothes, but new clothes do tend to shrink on the first wash. I've had some outfits that Baby Z only wore once because after a washing, they didn't fit.

• Sending the news. I loved it when people from my congregation at church would email me a quick update on what I missed at Sunday services.

• Taking over snacks. I couldn't believe how often I was hungry when I was first nursing and recovering from delivery. I loved having ready-to-eat healthy snacks that were easy to eat while I was feeding the baby or quickly available for a midnight snack. My favorites: clean pre-cut vegetables, hummus, Wheat Thins and cubed cheese. Oh, and Haagen Daz chocolate chocolate chip ice cream. Mmmm.

Other ideas?