• Welcome a new baby with a gift.newborn life image by luka from Fotolia.com
  
  The arrival of a new baby is cause for celebration, and you may want to give the new baby a welcome gift to commemorate the occasion. Most baby gifts may be of limited utility at first but will become more useful as the baby ages. Other gifts may be of immediate utility, but these may quickly be outgrown and become no longer useful in a short amount of time.
  
  

Blanket

• Baby blanketbaby with blanket image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  Baby blankets are practical, long-lasting and can even be monogrammed with the baby's name or initials. They can be purchased, sewn, knitted or quilted. Blankets are immediately useful and can be placed in the stroller to keep the baby warm and used to swaddle the baby when it is being held. Babies should not be left alone in their cribs with a blanket for the first 12 months, however, due to the risk of suffocation.
  
  

Stuffed Animals

• Teddy Bearteddy bear image by Ploum1 from Fotolia.com
  
  Teddy bears and other stuffed animals make sweet baby welcome gifts. They can be used to decorate the nursery until the baby is old enough to enjoy them. Stuffed animals will often become cherished toys once the baby is older. Babies under 12 months should not be left along with stuffed animals due to the risk of suffocation.
  
  

Footie Pajamas

• Footie pajamas come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Some are designed specifically for girl or boy babies, others are unisex. If you want to go ahead and purchase a gift before you know the baby's sex, purchase a unisex outfit. Depending on the size you buy, this gift will probably be outgrown fairly quickly, so will only be useful for a limited time. For a gift the baby can use for a long time, give a set of footie pajamas in each size up to 18 or 24 months.
  
  

Donation

• Make a donation in the new baby's name to a nonprofit charity or other organization. Many libraries will allow you to purchase a book and have a message or name inscribed onto a bookplate which is affixed to the book. Many organizations will issue certificates stating that a donation has been made in a person's name. This certificate can be kept in the baby's photo album or keepsake box as a special reminder of this donation.
  
  

Picture Frame

• Picture frameplastic frame image by Ivan ivashin from Fotolia.com
  
  Picture frames can be used to display baby pictures in the nursery, throughout the home or in the office. Picture frames come in a wide variety of materials and price ranges. Some metal frames can be engraved with the baby's name and a special message.
  
  

Baby Album/Photo Album

• Photo albums store precious memories.album photo image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com
  
  Baby Albums or photo albums can be used to document the baby's first experiences. They can be used to store and share pictures and other memorabilia.
  
  

Savings Account

• Help a new baby save for a rainy day.3d dollar sign image by lixai from Fotolia.com
  
  It is never too soon to start saving, and opening a savings account for a baby gives her a little head start in life. Parents may feel more inclined to add to an account that already exists for this purpose, if they have not already opened one for the baby. Over the years you can add money to this account as gifts for birthdays and Christmases, making it an easy yet extraordinarily practical gift.