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baby-gifts-msg - 4/13/98

 

Ideas for period-type and SCA-useful items for baby gifts.

 

NOTE: See also these files: babies-msg, toys-msg, children-msg, teething-toys-msg, dolls-msg, pregnancy-msg, child-books-msg, child-clothes-msg.

 

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NOTICE -

 

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I  have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

 

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

 

I  have done  a limited amount  of  editing. Messages having to do  with separate topics  were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the  message IDs  were removed to save space and remove clutter.

 

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make  no claims  as  to the accuracy  of  the information  given by the individual authors.

 

Please  respect the time  and  efforts of  those who have written  these messages. The  copyright status  of these messages  is  unclear at this time. If  information  is  published  from  these  messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

 

Thank you,

    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous

                                          Stefan at florilegium.org

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From: Margo Anderson <wander at directcon.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 14:44:14 -0800

Organization: Global Valley Internet, Sacramento

 

Mike Uglow wrote:

> I am going to a baby shower. And the parents are both scadians, I want

> to give some approprieate period gifts.

 

There's a catalog called The Natural Baby (they advertise in the

parenting magazines)  that has lots of wooden toys, sheepskin slippers,

wooden handled hair and toothbrushes, etc.  They're a bit pricey, but

very high quality.

 

Maudeleyn

 

 

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: djheydt at kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt)

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Organization: Kithrup Enterprises, Ltd.

 

In article <35266A5B.466BDC25 at ix.netcom.com>,

Mike Uglow  <muglow at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>I am going to a baby shower. And the parents are both scadians, I want

>to give some approprieate period gifts.

 

A silver mug.  A silver porringer (shallow bowl with a handle).

A largish, smooth piece of coral *very* securely attached to a cord,

for teething purposes.

 

However, my standard present at any baby shower is nonperiod.

A month's supply of newborn-size Pampers.  After that the mother

has a chance of getting enough energy back to use cloth diapers

(which are better for the ecology and, on the long term, for the

baby's skin), but for that first month when one is exhausted,

change-'em-and-toss-'em Pampers can't be beat.  I forget how many

boxes is a month's supply, but we used to stack the boxes and the

stack rose about four feet high.

 

Dorothea of Caer-Myrddin                         Dorothy J. Heydt

Mists/Mists/West                               Albany, California

PRO DEO ET REGE                               djheydt at kithrup.com

                 http://www.kithrup.com/~djheydt

 

 

From: savaskan <savaskan at sd.znet.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Date: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 13:40:25 -0800

 

Mike Uglow wrote:

> I am going to a baby shower. And the parents are both scadians, I want

> to give some approprieate period gifts. I believe the Father has a

> French persona and the Mother is more Eastern....

>

> Sabine d'Armagnac de Bourgogne

 

Here are some things I made for myself or was given to me for doing

Renfaires and SCA that might be useful:

 

linen bags just big enough to cover a bottle to the nipple with a

drawstring at the top. (If you use clear nipples they aren't very

noticable).

 

Linen baby bloomers to cover disposable or modern diapers from sight.

 

Hose (which can be made using sleepers as a pattern).

 

Tunic/shift

 

Biggins hat

 

A bag made from period fabrics for carrying assorted baby stuff.

 

A carrying basket - they come in several styles, but are somewhat hard

to find

 

A baby sling made from a perod-looking fabric (I have one made of a very

gauzy loose woven cotton)

 

shoes - mocassins or other leather shoes, but my favorite is to take

those little pink ballerina slipper shoes available for infant girl

christenings, pull the bows and beads off and dye the shoes black.

 

Toys:

 

- A poppet (cloth doll),

 

- Manipulation toys: heavy cord with large beads and bells on it that

clack and slide when you move it (can be colored with non-toxic paint -

Can be a loop or a snake, but any knots should be very firm),

 

- a leather or cloth ball - be aware of how the leather was tanned so

that if it is a toy for a very small infant, that the leather is not

toxic.

 

- Rattle/teether - one of the local 16th c re-enactment groups swears by

making rattles and teethers out of horn.  I repaint maracas from

Mexico...

 

- A baby's book - A hand calligraphed/illuminated picture book

 

- Musical instruments - Drum, whistles

 

- Wooden blocks

 

- Wooden bowls and spoons

 

Be careful about not using toxic materials or anything that might pull

off or come apart and be a choking hazard

 

A modern  item which is very handy for events is a Portable crib.

 

For older toddlers/preschoolers -

 

- Bathing drawers and a wooden 1/2 barrel for hot summer days, wooden

bowls and a wooden boat will keep many kids busy for a long time...

 

-  A larger leather ball

 

-  A boffer or wooden sword (both of which must be used only under adult

supervision), great for killing bubbles...

 

- Crafts they can do at an event (embroidery, drawing, clay, pinwheels)

 

- Puppets/puppet theater

 

- Small play/nap tent

 

Be aware that many people tend to reduce their activity level in the SCA

after a baby. It is really a hassle to haul out all the stuff for an

event and a baby too. And many people won't want to worry about whether

their baby stuff is period-looking.

 

If you want to spend some money and effort or make a group gift, you can

make a portable fence. We call ours the "kinderstalag". It is made of 6-

4' and 2- 8' panels and can be made up as a small 4' x 4' area or up to

an 8' x 12' area. The top and bottom crossbars are made of a 1" x 2"

pine. 36" Pine dowels are spaced 4" apart between them, except at the

very end, where holes are place at the top and bottom. A 45" iron stake

is inserted through the holes of two overlapped panels and into the

ground.  It can then be stained or painted. This is one of the most

handy things we've ever made. It can be set up as a front yard to a

pavilion, a fence or an enclosure.  Its big enough to surround our

tourney canopy and adults can sit inside with the kids. But it is a lot

work to make and needs vehicle space to cart around...

 

Juliana

who is due shortly with #2

 

 

From: Vicki Hyde <nzsm at spis.co.nz>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 12:09:59 +1200

Organization: South Pacific Information Services Ltd

 

Mike Uglow wrote:

> I am going to a baby shower. And the parents are both scadians, I want

> to give some approprieate period gifts. I believe the Father has a

> French persona and the Mother is more Eastern....

 

One of the most useful things I have had given to me (not intended as a

society gift, but useful nonetheless) was a set of soft cream/white

cotton baby wraps. Something like a a yukata (Japanese bathrobe) which

crosses over and ties to the side (one tie for a short one, two ties for

a long), with arms about mid-length (ie long on a baby, shorter as they

get older).

 

I gather they are pretty standard baby wear, but they proved immensely

useful in covering more mundane items, in changing after inevitable

spills, in reducing sun/wind exposure etc. Three or four of those would

not take too long for a person to make (even with my sewing skills) and

(at least in these parts) they are commonly found in low-cost craft

shops. Get reasonably large ones and they can last until toddlerhood.

 

No, I don't know if they are period and I don't have documentation for

them, but they sure beat Disney monstrosities when at feasts!

 

Another handy thing is the baby sling (pause for obligatory wheeee,

splat!) for carrying the critturs around -- again no documentation, but

very very handy and a lot batter than a pram. Email me if you'd like a

verbal description of construction, but I think the last time I posted

it it may have ended up in the Florigelum (urk spelling?).

 

Or, if you are a True Friend you might give them a voucher for

babysitting, carrying, changing, feeding time at the next event they

attend and DO IT -- I am sure that this would be *much* appreciated.

 

Regards,

katherine kerr (who always smiles at the thought of more children

growing up knowing that history is more than just boring dates)

 

From: powers at woodstock.cis.ohio-state.edu (william thomas powers)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Date: 5 Apr 1998 20:10:53 -0400

Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science

 

Period Baby Gifts----how about a duchy or a county?  A high office

in the church? An agreement to wed the child to a another of high

rank when they grow up.  Also see "oblate"  (I hope I spelled that

right)

 

now for a more modern suggestion:  a length of brushed denim or

trigger-----can provide a "safe" crawl surface, a wind/sun shield,

go round a table to make a child's "private play area", can be used

for a sling---depending on size and provides a quick "out of site"

for various modernities one ends up lugging around.

 

wilelm father of 2, who once sat down to talk to a person

who said that they felt like they had been in the SCA forever

only to find out that my daughter had been in twice as long

(and I had been in around 8 years before she was born...)

 

 

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Date: Sun, 5 Apr 1998 20:20:20 -0700

From: Heather Senkler <wl835 at victoria.tc.ca>

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

 

On Sun, 5 Apr 1998, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:

 

{snipped suggestions of baby gifts]

 

> However, my standard present at any baby shower is nonperiod.

> A month's supply of newborn-size Pampers.  After that the mother

> has a chance of getting enough energy back to use cloth diapers

> (which are better for the ecology and, on the long term, for the

> baby's skin), but for that first month when one is exhausted,

> change-'em-and-toss-'em Pampers can't be beat.  I forget how many

> boxes is a month's supply, but we used to stack the boxes and the

> stack rose about four feet high.

 

My mother always gave the new mom a large laundry hamper. This can also be

used to carry everything else home, but with a growing family you ALWAYS

need more laundry baskets.

 

 

From: sififem at aol.com (SiFiFem)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Date: 8 Apr 1998 04:39:58 GMT

 

In article <35266A5B.466BDC25 at ix.netcom.com>, Mike Uglow <muglow at ix.netcom.com>

writes:

 

>I am going to a baby shower. And the parents are both scadians, I want

>to give some approprieate period gifts. I believe the Father has a

>French persona and the Mother is more Eastern....

 

The best gift is fabric and leather, and trim.

 

Everything you need will be maid of this stuff. From Extra clothes, to covers,

to usable items.  Never  the wrong size  or for the wrong sex ( for baby

showers).

 

Next best thing is money.  I know it sounds cras but use coins. Rolls and rolls

of them. Preferably silver  , dimes, quarters, halves and if you feel full

pocketed - dollars !!!!   Even the lowly penny is appreciated in enough

quanity.  

 

Put in a pouch and watch the smiles.

 

Don't forget a gift for dad, he is feeling pretty left out at this point. A

father to be gift will lift his spirits.

 

Wish people thought about practical gifts some 28 yrs ago when my first SCA

daughter was due.  Too many newborn clothes that were outgrown the first 4

months and then    WHAM   nothing to wear.

 

SciFiFem

 

 

From: chatziem at usa.net

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period baby gifts....

Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 15:03:57 -0600

 

<snip>

 

Another suggested baby gift is a "slinger" for the baby.  This is a large

piece of strong (but soft) cloth that is tied around the mother like a sling

over one shoulder, and the baby rests in the "hammock" of the sling in front

of Mom.  This helps Mom hold newborn close, but her hands are free for

shopping, eating, etc. and baby is all snuggly and feeling secure and close

to Mom.

 

Let's see.  The bibs that cover the shoulders as well as the chest, decorated

with period pictures.  I have one that was given to me when I was pregnant

with my daughter.  It is terry with an Aida insert in it. Three shields are

cross stitched on the insert.  One divided per bend or and checky.  One in

thirds per ferrul vert and or  counterchanged, and one per pale asure and

ermine.  It has come in handy for feast many a times.  She looked like she

was wearing a little baby tabbard!  I still have it, and will treasure it as

it was her first gift from a Noble, and her first SCA garb.  (sentimental old

fool that I am).  Period baby blankets (that is, baby blankets made from

period-acceptable colors instead of the usual nursery characters)  A stroller

disguise (to make the stroller look more like a period pram or cart)  covers

for the baby bottles.  They certainly did have baby bottles, but they didn't

look anything like what we have now, with all the cute critters and stuff.

They were plain, round, and often heavy.  A cover would help disguise the

deco on the outside.  Make sure that the top of the cover is elastic and fits

around the neck of the bottle.  If you use ribbon or string, there is a

slight chance that the baby may get it in their mouth and maybe choke.  The

elastic will not be accidentally untied by the tyke.

 

Baby garb.  Simple  bell-bottomed (flared bottom?) long tunic or gown long

enouph to cover the feet and little booties to match the top.  The poor Mom

will not be able to make enouph of these for one weekend event by herself.

They are like baby blankets......can't have too many. Baby is always messing

with, in, or on something....

 

If she is nursing, you may consider modifying a tunic or dress pattern to be

easier to nurse from.  I had one that had slits in it that were buttoned

closed and my tabbard covered them.  When I nursed, baby lay in the slinger,

thus consealing her face from lookers on, and my tabbard moved just enough

out of the way to allow for private, discreat nursing without exposing anyone

to any uncomfortable situation, and I was still able to stay in the class or

discussion I was participating in when the dinner bell rang.....if I did it

right, no one was ever the wiser that I was even feeding the baby at that

moment.  :-).

 

Lady Chatzie Massey

Shire of Arenal, Kingdom of Meridies

 

<the end>



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