If you’re already a parent, think back to the first few months of being a mum or dad. The chances are that there was barely space to walk into your house, and certainly not the nursery, due to the profusion of nappies, bottles, baby clothes, changing mats, toys and other forms of little person paraphernalia strewn around your house. This happy chaos is almost inevitable in a household with a new baby or young children and it’s certainly no bad thing, but when it comes to receiving baby gifts, you sometimes can’t help wondering where you’re going to put them all.

So if you have a baby shower, christening or child’s birthday coming up, why not consider giving your friends and relatives a clue about the sort of baby gifts that would come in most useful for you. If you already have such a profusion of baby clothes and toys that the house can’t take any more, consider asking for something less practical and more personal, like a photo album or frame for your party pictures. Or if practical items such as nappies and blankets are more of a priority than toys, don’t be afraid to let people know – far from seeming presumptuous, your requests will probably relieve them of the headache of not knowing what to buy, and reassure them that their gift will be appreciated.

If you have some very specific items in mind you could even point your guests in the right direction by sending them the details of a specialist retailer, such as baby Gift Gallery. This will allow them to choose their own special present with minimum hassle, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’ll receive beautiful, practical gifts that you can treasure for years. Many of these retailers can even create personalised baby gifts, so everyone’s happy, especially the little one who’s going to be showered with gorgeous baby gifts on the big day!