Women's Gifts - The Certificate or Full Gift Debate!

Who'd have thought that deciding to give somebody a little leeway and choice in a gift you buy for them could cause so many heated feelings! Gift certificates and gift cards have been around for quite a long time now, and every year they are worth billions to retailers worldwide, forwomen's gifts, men's gifts and kids' gifts alike. And while they can be a godsend to gift givers, some recipients are actually angered by them! Today we check out the debate in terms of women's gifts about whether to send a gift certificate or an actual gift.

Gift certificates - Benefits and drawbacks

Gift certificates are seen by some people to be impersonal, not well thought out and even an imposition on free will. Others simply enjoy getting a gift, and like the idea that somebody at least tried to personalize the item.

Benefits of gift cards and gift certificates:

• If you aren’t sure what somebody would like as a gift, it helps personalize it a little
• They can be used at any time
• They offer choice!

Drawbacks of gift cards and gift certificates:

• Often your recipient will have to put in some extra money in order to get what they really want - the gift card amount will seldom match their purchase exactly!
• Otherwise, the retailer gets 'free money' out of you - an unused amount left sitting on the gift card until it expires
• People may not like anything from your chosen store, and may prefer cash

Real gifts - Benefits and drawbacks
Real gifts are much more personal ... but much more hit and miss! Remember that you can always ask your recipient exactly what type of gift they'd like, or throw out a few ideas and let them pick the one they like best without giving too much away ... this overcomes many of the difficulties of real gifts.

Benefits of real gifts:

• When you hit the nail on the head with your gift (like a delicious body lotion or gorgeous piece of jewelry), your recipient will remember it forever
• Some people feel that they show more thought and effort

Drawbacks of real gifts:

• If you buy a real gift that your loved one doesn’t like or can’t use, they'll feel bad also ... not your aim!

It's a very personal decision whether to give gift cards or real gifts ... our personal leaning is towards asking what somebody would like, or giving them the choice of a few 'categories' of gift ... and then just buying the real one! Surprise only lasts for a little while ... but the gift is there forever.

New Parents' Guide to Bathing Your Newborn

Most adults agree ... getting clean, fresh and showered feels good! From the way many babies react at being put in a bath for the first time though, you could be fooled into thinking that they hadn't just spent their entire life in a lukewarm, intra-body bath. Don't spend another day of screaming at bath time when you could be enjoying some happy splashing and cute cooing! Grab your baby wash and baby lotion, and follow our eight-step guide to bathing your baby for new parents.

1. Does your baby need a bath?
   Most newborns don't get particularly dirty. You certainly don't need to wash a newborn more than once a day, and if you prefer you can get away with breaking out the baby bubble bath once every two days.
2. Create a routine
   Your child will be much happier to be bathed once it's part of their routine. Personally I found creating a 'bath then bed' routine invaluable for helping my children get to sleep.
3. Warm up the room
   One of the single biggest causes of crying from babies about to be bathed is the temperature difference between their clothing, and the feeling of being nude in a bathroom. Get the room toasty warm and your bath will be off to a much easier start.
4. If it's summer - undress slowly
   The feeling of insecurity at going from being dressed to being unclothed is another issue. If it's summer, undress your baby slowly - as in, one piece of clothing every ten minutes.
5. Check the water temperature
   Your baby will need a much cooler bath than grownups prefer. When you test the water on the inside of your wrist it shouldn't feel either cool or warm - it should be around body temperature.
6. Swirl the water
   Otherwise, especially if your baby is in a 'big bath', there may be cold and hot spots.
7. Add your bath oils and products
   Use formulations that are specially designed for babies - they'll be eye and mouth-safe for little ones.
8. Sponge, play and dry!
   The rest of the bath should come naturally. Let your little one soak until the water starts cooling down to an uncomfortable temperature, and gently wash their skin with a baby wash. Many babies actually enjoy having water poured over their heads, and its good to get them used to this.

Finally ... never, ever leave your baby alone in the bath. Have a towel at the ready in case a miniature home disaster occurs ... and then just enjoy your peaceful bathtimes!