When you don’t know exactly what the new mom needs for the new baby, a new mom gift basket with lots of little goodies always comes in handy whether some of the items are duplicates or not. Babies are sweet, lovable and a joy to have around, but they are still a lot of work and need a lot of stuff.

You can use any size of basket and even the basket will be useful after it has been emptied of all of its goodies. There are very few items put into a new mom gift basket that never get used.

The first thing you need for a new mom gift basket is the basket. Choose a blue one for a boy or a pink one for a girl; a white one is always perfect for either. Fill a medium to large size basket with a stuffed animal, a blanket or several of each. Most baby items are inexpensive and you can put several in your basket and still not spend a large amount of money. You can fill up the new mom gift basket with formula, baby food, spoons, baby bottles and baby bowls.

Maybe you want to give the new mom some items just for herself as well. She will most likely appreciate some bubble bath, aromatherapy candles, lots of chocolate and a bottle of wine. This type of new mom gift basket is always a big hit. A basket filled with homemade goodies such as breads, muffins, cookies, jellies and candies is also sure to be appreciated by the new mom.

A basket full of specialty teas and a pretty teacup makes a nice statement as does a selection of international coffees and cookies. The new mom will appreciate these items on a late night or early morning feeding. Even a basket with a video, popcorn, candy and beer makes a hit with new moms.

You can make a combination basket and include a few items for the baby and a few for the mom.

Having a baby is a delightful event, and new moms love the celebration and appreciate all the gifts they receive. The more creative you are with homemade gift basket ideas for your new mom gift basket, the bigger the statement your basket will make.

For this reason many men over the years have resorted to simply buying generic gift baskets for women that may be filled with unrecognizable perfumes, chocolate candies, as well as a variety of other soap and deodorant products. Indeed, these are some of the most common products and gifts that are usually included with pre-packed gift baskets, but chances are that there aren’t enough intimate gifts in these gift baskets to satisfy either you or her.

Creating gift baskets for women doesn’t have to be that difficult and there are plenty of ways that men can do it without a whole lot of extra fluff or worry, too. If you enjoy being creative, on the other hand, then you may have a few ideas of your own. Nevertheless, filling a gift basket with all sorts of products for her that will be well received should be done if you cannot find any other suitable gift for the special woman in your life.

Perfumes: Yes, perfumes are some of the products that are thrown in generic gift baskets for women, but those kinds of perfumes are not the ones that are going to be carefully placed in the gift basket you are going to create. On the contrary, chances are that if you know your special lady well enough, be it your girlfriend or wife, then you also know many of the perfumes that you like to smell on her and that she loves wearing. The amount of perfume that you buy for the gift basket doesn’t have to be a great amount considering that other gifts will be in the basket as well. But perhaps buying a 2-3 ounce perfume bottle will be good enough for the gift basket.

Jewelry: On the other hand, jewelry isn’t usually placed in generic, pre-packaged gift baskets for women. But if you know that she loves jewelry and you have gotten jewelry for her in the past then this definitely is a must to place in the gift basket. Whether you want to invest in an expensive diamond ring to place in the center of the gift basket or you want to buy less expensive necklaces and rings to place throughout the gift basket itself, jewelry can be a great addition to the gift basket.

Lingerie: Even though you may never have thought about lingerie being placed in a gift basket for your special girlfriend, wife, or lover this can be a good piece of clothing for you and her. In addition, laying the lingerie out discreetly on the bottom of the gift basket itself will be like a whole other surprise in itself. The lingerie can be used as a gift basket bottom layer so that the other gifts can be set on top.

All in all, these gifts are great to be placed in gift baskets for women and chances are that she’ll love every bit of it. Just remember: when thinking of homemade gift basket ideas for your wife or girlfriend stick to the most romantic gifts that you can think of to put in the gift basket.

Start by searching for an elegant basket. You might want to check out craft stores, discount stores or even a second hand store for just the right basket. Make sure it’s large enough to hold everything that you plan to include. You might even want to paint the basket to match your color scheme.

Now it’s time to pick out the items for your special spa basket. Remember that the main purpose of this gift is to encourage the recipient to relax, so think of things that will transform her bathroom into a sumptuous home spa.

Start with towels: a soft, fluffy bath towel with matching wash cloth and hand towel. Roll up the towels individually and secure each of them with a pretty bow. Now find an aromatic candle in a coordinating color. Place this in the center of the basket, and position the towels around it.

Next you’ll want to add some bath products, again keeping to your color and scent theme. Bath oil or beads, specialty soap and bubble bath are good choices. Also, pick up a bath sponge or loofah for gentle exfoliation. Place these items around the candle, with an eye to balancing shape and size of the various products. You might wish to pick up a pre-made bath set containing a variety of products. Just open up the package and arrange the individual products however you desire.

The latest bestselling book and some relaxing music will make a lovely addition to your spa gift basket. Nothing relaxes you quite like music, and an enthralling book will take your friend’s mind off her hectic schedule and help her unwind.

The spa experience doesn’t have to end when the tub is drained. Add a bottle of body lotion for the icing on the cake. If you’re going all out, add some creams and lotions targeted to specific body parts, such as feet, hands, or elbows.

An extra special touch would be to tuck in a gift certificate to a nearby spa. And best of all, include a written note offering to look after the kids for an evening so she can be worry-free as she enjoys her candle-lit home spa or uses her gift certificate for a relaxing treatment at the day spa.

Your spa gift basket will be a thoughtful, meaningful gift for the hardworking woman in your life. It will rejuvenate her, relieve the day’s stress, and make her all set to head out the door again tomorrow.