A pregnancy should be an exciting time for an expecting mother. But when she is college-aged and the pregnancy is unexpected, it may be more stressful than anything else. And when the expecting motherâs friends hear the surprising news, they may be faced with the stress of finding a baby-appropriate gift on a college budget.
           Obviously, there is always the option of picking up a quick, affordable gift for the baby from Target or Babies âRâ Us. But just because the gift is store-bought doesnât mean it needs to be thoughtless! One great idea is purchasing a favorite childhood and writing a heartfelt message to the baby and his or her mother in the front. Another creative idea is gathering a few small baby items (such as pacifiers, socks, teething rings, and baby shampoo) and combining them in a cute basket. Add a bow or ribbon to the handle and youâve got an adorable baby-appropriate gift basket.
           If you prefer crafting to buying a gift, there is an abundance of creative baby ideas on Pinterest. For the painter, thereâs always the option of painting a canvas with the babyâs birth information- perfect for hanging in a nursery. For the sewer, a great idea may be to make a terrycloth bath mitt, fashioned to look like a soft animal. More DIY gift ideas can be found on www.tatertotsandjello.com.
           Now for the die-hard Hoosier (arenât we all?), a great idea is picking up an IU onesie, bib, or booties at Greetings on Kirkwood or TIS. We all know, itâs never too early to start someone out on a good thing.
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