Your best friend has just had a child. That's good news usually. But you are stumped, as you just do not know what to give the new entrant. What can you give someone so very tiny? I mean you do not even know him or her as yet. What is he or she like and what will he or she like? The two questions are related.

If it is the baby of an acquaintance or a distant relative, it is much simpler to choose. You can give just about anything from diapers to rompers and from silver coins to gold. But if it is someone special like a close relative or friend, then the task gets tougher as you want to choose something quite unique. Well at this stage it is safe to stick to what you think the parents will like.

Believe it or not, my friend delivered last year and I yet have not seen her baby, because I did not want to give the regular goods. I was looking for something special. I have managed to meet my friend but not the little one, and my friend thinks less and less of me each week. By now she is sure that I am quite callous and uncaring. But stupid seems more like it. Now, she decided to name her baby girl 'Tara' which means 'star'. This solved half my problem. The next couple of months went in searching for the perfect star, which I finally found in the shape of a silver pendant on a chain. Now I can finally go see her next week. 

Well, this seems like a good idea. If you know the name of the baby, you could give name-related gifts .
E.g. 

1. Pearl - a pearl ring, necklace or pearl drop.
2. Tara - just about anything in the shape of a star.
3. Mala - a chain or rosary.
4. Chand or Chandni - a moonstone, or anything in the shape of the moon.
5. Hira - a diamond or solitaire.
6. Kamal or Rajiv - a silver lotus.
7. Jyoti, Deepak, Prakash - a light or a lamp.
8. Payal - anklets

You are always safe with clothes and toiletries

1. rompers
2. baby dresses or frocks
3. baba suits
4. t.shirts and shorts
5. booties or shoes
6. mittens
7. Johnson's gift set and toiletries
8. soaps and shampoos
9. baby lotion
10. baby powder
11. a pack of facecloths, napkins and towels

Items you can knit or make are highly appreciated.

1. a hand-knitted shawl
2. a hand-knitted sweater or cardigan
3. mittens
4. booties
5. a patchwork blanket or quilt
6. a bonnet
7. a ready-made kit for the mother to knit herself

Silver is in

1. a small bowl and spoon
2. a small glass
3. a chain
4. a coin or spoon with birth details embossed name, time and date of birth, etc.
5. a pendant with the initial or even full name
6. sacred pendants, with a tiny knife or anything  culturally known to protect the child
7. a small idol of God
8. a sacred amulet ( typical of the Indian culture)
9. bangles or anklets for a baby girl
10. 'surma-daani'  a silver stick and a bottle containing 'kaajal' or kohl. It is supposed to be cooling for the eyes.
11. zodiac sign (rashi) pendants.
12. birthstone set in silver

Choose from a wide variety of toys

1. Duplo safe baby toys from Lego
2. musical toys
3. toys that make noise like rattles
4. soft toys
5. headrests or pillows in animal shapes

Practical parents hope for practical gifts
( Especially if you have a group of people to pool in for it )

1. a cot
2. a pot
3. a high chair for feeding.
4. a pram
5. a folding chair

Play it safe

1. a piece of gold or a guinea
2. a piece of silver
3. cash quite simply the safest and most appreciated of the lot.

Well, that is all for now. I wish someone had been there to give me a few tips a year ago. But as they say, it is never too late. Please do write in with a few unique suggestions or gift ideas that have been omitted here. They will be most appreciated.