Well, maybe not the only one, but it’s one (in addition to that registered-for Baby Einstein DVD) that I’m going to use for every single baby shower present for the rest of my life. Or until they (the gift, NOT the babies!) go extinct………
What can possibly be this wonderful and necessary for new mothers? Batteries. And more batteries. And probably some more, just to make sure. And then a gift certificate to Target so the new mom or dad can go buy more when those run out…………..
As a mom of 2 and someone who didn’t listen to her sister when she said that batteries are essential, I can now attest to the fact that batteries. are. essential. in. mass. quantities. But WHY? And why would you possibly need that many? And why can’t you just go buy some more if you run out?
You’ll never really have the appreciation until you’ve………
- Needed to use your breast pump somewhere without electrical outlets
- Had a baby who would only sleep lying on his left side swaddled just-so in a battery-powered swing
- Had a baby who would only stop screaming if placed in the vibrating bouncy seat with the fishies & music
- Had a toddler FLIP OUT that the flashlight batteries died in the middle of bedtime stories
- Had two kids totally addicted to their crib aquariums (1 turtle aquarium even moved to the big bed)
- Needed to use your breast pump somewhere without electrical outlets (yes, it’s that important!)
- Had a Learning Puppy die in the middle of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” - Learning Puppy CAN’T die!
- Wanted to go outside during naptime and get fresh air for the first time in days, but the batteries in the monitor were dead
the list goes on, but reading it makes me think that I had overly-battery-dependent children……………
Seriously, the next baby shower present I buy will be a gift basket of batteries………..and the new mom will hate me until about day 2 of her child’s life, when, if she has time, she’ll call and profess her undying love for me.
Or maybe they live closer to Target than I do and this isn’t such an issue and she’ll still hate me for not buying the Old Navy matching sleeper, hat and blanket……….

Kate - there are never enough batteries at any age. Children do NOT understand whether 8 months or 8 years that you do not have an endless supply of D batteries in the junk drawer. They just keep rummaging while looking at you as if you are suggesting they might actually go outside instead of playing in doors with their light saber.
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Omigosh, so true! I’ve been in each and every one of those situations. Sure, we’ve got a 24 hour CVS nearby, but wouldn’t you know it? They were OUT of batteries when we went on an emergency battery run once. Batteries. The gift that keeps on giving!
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Lisa - gawd, can you IMAGINE? Making your kids go outside? Glad to know it’s not just my kids that are addicted to battery power
Jessica - Seriously? Out of batteries? That’s a BAD CVS! Ha, now that I have you guys on board every new mom out there is getting the special battery gift-basket!
You are spot on! i usually fill a basket with other like items that do not get the oooohhhs and awwwwws at a shower, but mom will tahnk me for later!
wow, that’s definitely a geographic thing, or maybe it’s because because I’ve got boys who needed AAA batteries for their gameboys, but we always have batteries in the house.
Next Sunday, 1-Jun, is the first official day of hurricane season. This past weekend, the state of LA had a sales tax holiday on all hurricane-related stuff, including batteries! Flashlights, lanterns, you name it, we’ve got batteries for ‘em.
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costco has some pretty reasonable prices for very large packs of batteries. Good idea for a gift, I liked the practical useful ones, but my wife did get more excited about the “cute” items.
Lauren - I think we just get more practical as we have kids of our own
YatPundit - Thanks for the info, maybe you can stock up on batteries for all the moms-to-be that you know during your sales tax holiday!