Just over a week ago, I became an Aunt. An official one; not the kind when your friends have babies and dub you ‘honorary Aunt’, but one bound by blood and babysitting duties. It’s the most exciting thing and I am seriously considering asking everyone I know to call me ‘Aunt Sarah’, just because I like the sound of it so much. Whether you are an Aunt, Uncle, Nana, Pa, Cousin or any kind of ‘honorary’ friend, a baby is an exciting time. I don’t think there is anyone who doesn’t go a little bit mushy at the sight of a 000 sized grow-suit or a tiny tee-shirt proudly proclaiming – 50% mummy, 50% daddy, 100% adorable.

While my new niece is only 8 days old, the little one already has enough toys, clothes and assorted baby paraphernalia to open her own store. Between the baby shower, the actual birth and all the bits and bobs we have picked up in between, the newest member of our family almost needs to move out at 21 days rather than 21 years – I know I got told to find my own place when my ‘stuff’ started to infiltrate other areas of the house.

In all the excitement of the new arrival, it’s very easy to get caught up in the momentum and splash your cash from one end of Baby Bunting to the other. As a first time Aunt, this is definitely something I am guilty of. There are so many things new parents (and babies) need – but also a whole lot that is just so cute you can’t go past. It pays to remember the speed with which babies grow and the small window of time that cute dress will actually fit. Pumpkin Patch and Osh Kosh might be the labels to love but is it worth it? The big department stores – Kmart, Target and Big W – all have great priced clothing for the little one, and often on clearance (from as little as $2). When considering gifts for baby, try going outside the square to find something affordable and with more long term benefit.

Instant gratification is nice but perhaps it’s time to start thinking about the future. Baby might only be starting out in life and care no more for anything but eating and sleeping but there will come a time when he or she will have to look after themselves and starting a nest egg for when they do is a brilliant baby gift. Visit your local bank and enquire about trust accounts. You can open the account in the name of the child (a birth certificate is often required) and act as a signatory until the age you deem appropriate. That $20 you would have spent on clothes they will grow out of at birthdays and Christmases over the next two decades will soon add up and, with compounding interest, might just help out when the time comes for wheels or a gap year overseas.

While baby sleeps peacefully most of the time, mum and dad don’t get that pleasure. Baby might think it’s ok to eat every three hours, day or night: us grown ups prefer our sleep in eight hour blocks. The result: tired parents trying to deal with a newborn while balancing their old life with the new. Seems to me the first thing to go is diet and general household cleanliness. The solution: a good Aunty (or Uncle, honorary or otherwise) will show up armed with a recipe book and a spatula. Good, fresh, nutritional vegies; red meat for iron and a balance of vitamins and minerals. Double the recipe of whatever you choose to cook up and freeze in individual servings so mum and dad have some emergency dinners for when baby just won’t settle.

Once the diet is taken care of, pick up your broom and scrubbing brush and take to the floors. Think of all the guests baby will receive in the first few weeks. Then take on the cabinets, surfaces, sinks and of course, the loo. Cute tee shirts and impressive baby monitors will be pushed aside in favour of your thoughtful gift. New mums confined to the couch will be more appreciate of a cleaning fairy than an embroidered one. A group of friends could get together and do this once a week for the first weeks of baby’s life, or until mum is up and about again.

Offer to go grocery shopping, run errands, print and sort photos, assist with driving or just accompany mum on a walk. There is always going to be plenty of presents when a baby is born – why not make yours a gift the parents can appreciate, not something that will be worn once and boxed up for future children. There will be plenty of opportunities for gifts as your niece, nephew, grandson, granddaughter, cousin or friend grows. Make this one count.

Image credit: Sandi Sieger