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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    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>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	baby-gifts-msg	7