All the yarn things…right to your inbox. Sign up here.

Baby Shower Gift for the Frazzled New Mom

by | DIY, Kids

This was quite the busy week/weekend for our little family – there was a baby shower, a birthday party, a visit from the in-laws, some devastating news from work, my birthday, and Father’s Day.  But for this post, I’m just going to talk about the baby shower…and leave you to wonder about the rest of it.  Well, the baby shower was fun, and there were crafts involved, so it’d be more pertinent to this blog than say, what I ate for my birthday dinner, right?  But if you really wanted to know, it was Korean.  And we also very luckily found some decent Pho, so I anticipate hitting that up more often, since I’m currently being denied sushi, and oysters, and alcohol and soft eggs.  It’ll be pho, then strawberries with nutella for dessert, thank you very much.

So, back to the baby shower.  Full disclosure right now – this project was not my original idea.  Not that many of the ideas on the interwebs are original these days, but I took this idea, lock stock and barrel, from this post at Unoriginal Mom.  It’s a folder to hold every baby-related piece of paper that’s thrown at you before and after the baby’s birth.  It’s a collection of pretty folders, and infinitely practical.  And it’s a very unique, very simple, very appreciated baby shower gift!

Baby shower gift - a documents folder to keep the new mom organized

This gift idea blows me away with its usefulness.  Especially because I know I tend to lose my brain in drips and drops when I’m pregnant.  Then whatever is left of my sanity and my mind basically disappears once the baby arrives.  Of course, that’s when everyone in the medical/government fields decides to inundate you with paperwork.  Don’t you know?!  I have a kid, no wait, 2 kids, and no brain, and no time, and no sleep, and you want me to keep track of where I put his Social Security card, and his immunization schedule?  Oh, and that receipt for that baby doodad that’s no longer working and causing a holy terror of crying in the house?  Yeah, sorry, I have no idea.

Granted, I’ve never successfully used a planner in my life.  And I’d like to say that I’m organized, but maybe it’s all in my head.  But I LOVE all things folders and binders and organizers.  There’s just something about trying to be organized that makes me feel all productive and put-together, even when I’m not!

So, the gist?  You buy a collection of folders, and you buy an accordion file.  Label the paper folders with the different categories of baby stuff you collect, and put them in the accordion file.  Done.

I got my folders at Target – a pack of 12 file folders in 3 colors, and a 7 pocket accordion file.  I know, a 12 pocket accordion file would have worked better, but it was sadly not to be found.  The file folders came with matching labels, which I could have printed on, if I had a printer.  Since I don’t have a printer, I just wrote the categories in my awesome handwriting – makes it more personal!

Baby Shower Gift - a baby documents folder

Check out Meredith’s post for the full list of categories, but I think you get the idea.  She also has some tips on where to buy fun folders and how to deal with labels.

I put this together in about 10 minutes, popped it in a gift bag and gave it to my friend at her baby shower.  It may not be cute as a baby elephant, nor make everyone go “AWWWWW”, but I know it’s appreciated and it may just end up being a sanity-saver in those in those first few frazzling months of motherhood.

16 Comments

  1. Kirsten Thompson

    I love that you did this! It turned out great! 🙂

  2. PersimonDreams

    Such a great idea! I could so use this for my three kids NOW! Even though they’re not babies! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  3. Marilyn Clark

    This is such a great idea! I’m going to remember this for the next shower I attend! 😀

  4. meet.make.laugh.

    GREAT idea! And have sooo many baby showers coming up! ~Stephanie

  5. Danielle

    Great idea! Found you at Blissful & Domestic… Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

    Danielle
    SewMuchCrafting.com

  6. Kim @ Everything Etsy

    Oh my gosh…soooo helpful! I need to remember this! Thanks for sharing it! 🙂

    ~Kim

  7. Heidi Rew

    Love this idea! So cute! Visiting from Everything Etsy! <3 Heidi Rew from PartiesforPennies.com

  8. Carolyn Robbins

    Hello ChiWei,

    This is a great idea to stay organized.
    Never thought about giving it as a
    baby shower gift, but a good idea!

    Bear Hugs,
    Carolyn

  9. Julie

    That’s a good idea for a new mother. I never would have thought of that.

    Just dropping by from the Etsy hop. I am now following your Pinterest.

    Julie
    I Create Purty Thangs

  10. ~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog*

    What a great idea, never seen anything like this done before! I’ve seen categorized photo boxes with like “first haircut” “first tooth” etc so you can stuff your pics in and be done. But the record keeping…i love it!

  11. Ginger

    Just stopping by to let you know that I featured you today on my blog! Thanks so much for linking up to {wow me} wednesday.

    Ginger @ GingerSnapCrafts.com

Shop New

[products class=”et-zoom-in” limit=”2″ columns=”1″]