There are so many things to choose from to give as a baby shower gift. How do you know what will really be used? The DIY Network has a list of five baby shower gifts you know will be used.

First on the list is a high chair. If this is out of your budget, might I suggest doing a gift basket full of eating supplies, such as bibs, spoons, bowls, cups, etc. I know one of our favorite bibs that we use all the time was a gift from my sister-in-law.

Other ideas include a "cleaning basket" full of baby safe cleansers, a baby bath essential gift basket (check the ZRecs Guide for safe brands and quality ratings), a washable toy gift basket (check the Guide for phthalate-free recommendations), and a portable changing station gift basket.

I bet any mom would love to get some practical gifts packaged up in a fun basket! - Trisha

Welcome to the 2008 Polliwogged Gift Guide! Our team of baby bloggers has put together a list of their favorite gifts for babies and new parents this holiday season. Read on for a lot of great ideas for babies, moms, and dads, and find out how to enter to win one of two Singer Curvy sewing machines - a real treat for yourself or for someone on your holiday shopping list!

Toys for Baby

Spin Bell: If you’re a fan of wooden toys then the Spin Bell from Plan Toys is the perfect gift for your baby. The Spin Bell uses bright colorful balls to stimulate baby’s senses of sight and hearing; the balls click together with even the slightest touch! And because wooden toys should be just as safe as they are fun, the Spin Bell has super smooth surfaces, is made of solid wood and uses non-toxic, food-grade, child-friendly paints and finishes. $10 | Buy here

Motor Mouse: Kathe Kruse is known for toys that are eye-catching and fun and babies can’t wait to get their hands them, which is exactly what you want! Kathe Kruse’s Motor Mouse, designed and made in Germany, is a soft little mouse that wiggles, jiggles and shakes with a pull of its tail. The colors are bright and its floppy green ears add just the right touch to an already fun design. The Motor Mouse is made of cotton cloth and cotton terry and perfect for little hands leaning new motor skills. $13 | Buy here

Apple Tree Bead Maze: This item was recalled on Nov. 20, 2008 for a potential laceration hazard caused by the tree detaching from its base. You can read the recall notice here.

Lost Star Soft Story Book: This crinkly fabric book for infants by Sevi is unusual in that it actually tells a simple story in its illustrations. Older siblings will enjoy "reading" the book to babies; the colors are bright, illustrations are nice, and the book is fun for babies to handle and mouth. $12 | Buy here

Mouse Snuggly: Sigikid toys are known for their high quality, outstanding design, super soft plush and the ability to be machine washed. sigikid’s Mouse Snuggly makes a perfect gift for newborns. It has a sweet, friendly face, fun colors and super cuddly design. Made out of organic cotton and stuffed with super-soft organic lambs-wool, it is sure to be her favorite gift (unless she’s old enough to play with wrapping paper). The Mouse Snuggly also doubles as a teether, helping to soothe sore gums. $25 | Buy here

Pat Schrodinger's Kitty: Baby's First Physics Book: Crafted by "an illustrator with a ridiculous passion for science," this homage to the classic baby book Pat the Bunny will thrill any science geek parent on your gift list. Lovely illustrations accompany text which is both fun to read, and interesting for baby as well as adult. Just because your baby is only 6 months old doesn't mean you have to talk down to her. And check out her Nerdy Baby ABCs while you're there. You're in for a treat. $25 | Buy here

HABA Colori Stacking Ball: This soft, colorful ball is perfect for spending some play time with your baby. The Colori is great as a ball for rolling and working on developmental skills like visual tracking, reaching, and grasping. It is also a winner as kids get older and can take it apart and stack it back together again. $18 | Buy here

Pepito Squeak: Selecta's Pepito Stroller Squeaker is one of the best stroller toys ever - he clatters, squeaks, and jingles and is made of maple with non-toxic paints. He has a Velcro strap on his base so you can attach him to a stroller bar, and has dangly arms and legs on strings just begging to be played with. We're pretty sure your child will love him. $18 | Buy here

Moby Clutching Toy: Quite possibly the only toy that Z Recommends has ever called perfect. Joyful, quietly noisy, and made of safe and sustainable materials while being durable enough to last. By HABA. $14 | Buy here

Cuskiboo lovey: Cuskiboo is the latest addition to Cuski's line of doll-meets-mini-blanket alternatives to pacifiers, baby blankets, and other soothers. Cuskiboo comforts your baby by absorbing familiar scents (i.e. Mom's) and then helping your child associate the doll itself with them, which leads to feelings of reassurance and security. Cuskiboo is made entirely from organically grown, sustainable bamboo yarn, so is naturally antibacterial, eco-friendly, biodegradable, and machine washable, not to mention ultra soft. $40 | Buy here

Imagiplay Rattles: Imagiplay's bird, fish, elephant, and hedgehog rattles are made of managed-forest beechwood, left unpainted, and finished with beeswax. Simple, attractive, smooth to the touch. Recommended for infants five months and up, these rattles are sanded soft and designed to be explored by mouth and touch as well as visually and aurally. $12 | Buy here or here

Haiku Baby: This holiday season give your little one the gift of poetry. Haiku Baby is full of bright colors and sweet designs. The little tabs on the right side make it easy for little fingers to turn the pages, while the simple haikus and beautiful artwork will enchant baby and parent alike. It’s never too early to introduce your baby to the wonderful (and very poetic) world around her. Even if your board book collection is as ginormous as ours, make room on that bookshelf for Haiku Baby. $7 | Buy here

Summer Day Flip Book: HABA's "flip books" use Jacob's-ladder crosspieces of fabric to make a book that flips open from either end, displaying a different pair of scenes from each perspective. The covers feature subtle details likely to be of enduring interest, including a crinkly fabric wing and a swatch of mesh fabric with two small plastic gems that can be seen and pushed around underneath it. Thoughtful and unusual, it's easy to miss this line in the blur of baby fabric books, but HABA again proves here that the often done can always be done better. $12 | Buy here

Accessories for Baby

Felt handcrafted baby shoes: Babies deserve cozy toesies! These deliciously chocolate-colored felt baby booties make a great gift and are available in sizes newborn - 18 months with non-skid soles for size 9 months and up. You can even customize the colors to match mom's favorites, the baby's nursery, or a special outfit, and instead of flowers you can choose from a cute assortment of animals. $18 - $24 | Buy here

Isabooties: Isabooties' soft-soled baby shoes use Toughtek fabric for their soles (the same stuff that keep Iditarod dogs happily trekking through the snow) and faux suede uppers, with gentle elastic cuffs around the ankles to help keep those booties on. They're stain-resistant, and unlike leather booties, machine wash and dry without the shoes being visibly worse for wear. Did we mention they're incredibly cute? $29 | Buy here

Handmade linen pacifier clips: A sweet trinket to give someone with a new baby. Whether they use it for keeping a pacifier near baby or a favorite soft toy off the floor, the pretty Little Red Riding Hood scene will delight. The clips are made in many styles from Japanese linen ribbon and packaged for gift giving. $6 | Buy here

Smaller from See Kai Run: Shoes always make a great gift, and with See Kai Run’s new Smaller line, your infant’s tiny toes will be totally stylin’. Smaller is a line of soft-soled booties made from the same butter-soft sheepskin leather uppers as the original. The booties have a suede sole with non-slip rubber pads for extra protection and traction—ideal for crawling and cruising. A breathable leather lining and Velcro closures make them super comfy and easy to wear. Packaged in a metallic box with see-through window, Smaller booties are the perfect holiday gift for perfect little toes. The Smaller line has 15 styles to choose from. $32 | Buy here

For Mom or Dad

Handmade trendy diaper bag: Looking for the perfect gift for your pregnant friend? Look no further. Get her a gorgeous and unique diaper bag so she doesn't end up dragging around one of those plastic monstrosities they give you in the hospital. Made from designer cotton twill and fashioned into a form which is both useful and stylish, your pregnant friends will be forever grateful you spared them the indignity of having to carry around something which looks more appropriate for a child than an adult. $70 | Buy here

Canon PowerShot 880IS Camera: Every parent loves to take pictures of their little ones, and this camera will make it easy to take great pictures at home or on the go. Some of the great features on this camera are the 4x optical zoom, 10 megapixel file size, 3 inch LCD display, and a compact size that makes it easy to slip the camera in a purse, diaper bag, or dad’s pocket. Scene selections (including nighttime, portrait, kids and pets, and outdoor settings among others) make taking pictures in any situation a breeze, even for amateurs. $260 | Buy here

The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Everyday by Meg Cox: It can be hard to come up with ideas for rituals and traditions to develop in a family. Luckily, there is a book out there to help even the most bleary-eyed parents begin traditions in their families that will be treasured for a lifetime. The Book of New Family Traditions by Meg Cox outlines ideas to develop traditions for the major holidays and celebrations, as well as how to establish rituals involving daily routines, like dinner and bedtime, and celebrate milestones - from transitioning from bottles to cups all the way through graduations. $13 | Buy here

Sleepy Wrap: The Sleepy Wrap baby wrap carrier is a fantastic carrier for the first year! Made from high-quality, durable, stretchy fabric, there is no need to tie and retie the wrap to get the fit right for your baby. It fits all sizes of parents, meaning mom and dad can share the same baby carrier. Because the wrap goes over both shoulders, it evenly distributes the baby’s weight, making it easy on parents to carry the baby for long periods of time. The best part about this carrier? It retails for only $38.95, making it one of the most inexpensive carriers on the market, and you definitely get a great quality product for the price! Available in a variety of colors, the Sleepy Wrap is a great way to bond with baby through babywearing. $39 | Buy here

Handmade Mom Keychain: Not everyone wants to wear traditional "Mom jewelry" but lots of people want to commemorate the birth of their children. If you know someone who doesn't wear jewelry, this could be a great gift for them. You can customize the number of stars as well as the initials, and if you have something a little different in mind, just contact the artist to arrange a custom piece. This would also make a fantastic understated gift for a new dad. $48 | Buy here

Sweetleaf Baby Nursery Diffuser: Now here’s a gift that is perfect for mom and baby. Thymes’ Sweetleaf Baby Nursery Diffuser is a flame-free, spray-free, plug-in-free way to fragrance your baby’s room. The diffuser uses delicate reeds placed in a sweet little glass jar to gently release a fresh, clean scent throughout the room. The aroma of powdery rose and jasmine (and the softest hint of sandalwood and amber) is a treat for the senses. You and your little one will love having a warm, inviting and freshly scented room. $38 | Buy here

Serena & Lily Market Sling: Elegantly packaged in an oval hat box wrapped in a fat ribbon, Serena & Lily's Market Sling is not only fabulous and fancy, but functional and dead-simple. Many who see this sling's stunning hand-embroidery will wish they had something as lovely in a purse or a wrap. Machine-washable, made of organic cotton with a soft brushed cotton interior, and available in such color combinations as cloud/petal, grass/marigold, and flax/sky blue, eschewing adjustment straps for simple small, medium, and large sizing. Fit for infants and babies up to 35 pounds. $129 | Buy here

For the Crafter

Fiskars Multi-Purpose Scissors: Every crafter needs a good pair of scissors that are only for crafts; Polliwogged blogger Trisha has one for fabric and one for other crafts. These multipurpose scissors from Fiskars have a nice soft grip, which makes them very comfortable to use, and they also have a locking device. You simply slide the orange piece up to lock the scissors closed, and then slide it down to open them up. $19 | Buy here

Fiskars Three-Piece Rotary Cutter Set: A good rotary cutter makes measuring and cutting fabric and other crafting supplies so easy, and this set comes with everything you need to get started: a self-healing mat, a ruler, and a rotary cutter. The nice thing about this is that you can buy different blades later on down the road to use in the cutter, such as a pinking shears design. This is a must-have for anyone involved in quilting, scrapbooking, or anyone who needs to cut things in a straight line! $48 | Buy here

Magnetic Pin Cushion: Just place the pins on the top, and they stay. That's it! Drop some pins? Turn it upside down and run it over the carpet, and it will pick up the pins. How great is that? Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference. $10 | Buy here

Sauder Craft Armoire: Unless you are lucky enough to have an entire craft room, it might be a good idea to get some sort of sewing/craft table. Sauder's Armoire looks nice in a room when not in use, but opens simply to create a crafting station. There are shelves to hold extra items, and a table with an extension leaf to give the crafter more room for craft work. Husbands, think of getting that kitchen table or spare desk back! You too may think this is the perfect gift. $321 (reg. $490) | Buy here

Singer Confidence 7470 Sewing Machine: Choosing a sewing machine is a personal process - try visiting multiple shops to try several out. That said, Singer's 7470 model is a great catch (as is Singer's slightly cheaper Curvy model, which offers 30 stitch patterns, two of them button-holes). It is easy to thread, and easy to learn how to do the basics, but still gives you room to grow. It has 173 Built-in Stitches, seven one-step buttonholes, a built-in alphabet, an automatic needle threader, a vivid LCD screen with one-touch stitch selection, and much more. $399 (reg. $599) | Buy here

We'll be publishing gift guides for other blogs in the ZRecs Network throughout the week - subscribe to get a one-time email alert when they're all up, and you'll be entered for a chance to win some items selected from all of our gift guides!

And now for that giveaway!

We're giving away two Singer Curvy 8763 sewing machines to Polliwogged readers. This easy-to-use Singer offers 30 automatic stitch patterns, two buttonhole stitches, and automatic needle and bobbin threading that make frustrations you might remember from past generations of sewing machines a thing of the past. The Singer Curvy is available from JoAnn Fabrics and sells for $399.

We have different giveaway methods lined up for each one.

Singer Curvy #1: For this giveaway, we want to enter two entry methods for readers. You can earn one entry by commenting on this post with what you'd sew first if you won this machine. Whether it's a bit of baby couture or just hemming your too-long pants, we want to know what you'd be using this great new sewing machine for right out of the box. You can earn a second entry by emailing us at editors (at) zrecs (dot) com with "Reader Gift Guide - Polliwogged" in the subject line and tell us the name of something sold on Amazon.com or at another major retailer that you'd love to give to a baby or new parent (Etsy or other major portals of handmade goods do count). Although you are eligible for only one entry of each type per person, you are welcome to suggest multiple items in your email! You are also welcome to include a link to your blog if you'd like it credited as a source for the recommendation. Please remember the subject line as it is essential for us to find and hang onto your entry! We'll curate entries to flesh out what will become the first ZRecs Reader Gift Guide. We'll accept entries for this giveaway via both entry methods until 11:59 p.m. CT Nov. 26, 2008, and will announce the winner after Thanksgiving.

Singer Curvy #2: Do you have a blog that has been online for at least one month? If so, you have a shot at winning a Singer Curvy we've reserved for a special bloggers-only giveaway! Help Polliwogged by pointing your readers to our gift guide with the badge shown below (125x125 pixels) displayed near the top of your blog ("above the fold" or within 200 pixels of the start of scrolling on a moderately-sized display) on the home page. Link the badge to this post (here's the url). Email your link to us at editors (at) zrecs (dot) com with "Polliwogged Gift Guide Badge" in the subject line. Entries will be weighted based on how many weeks the badge is up from now through the deadline of 11:59 p.m. CT December 15, 2008, so the sooner you post yours, the more chances you have to win! If you would like to post the badge on more than one blog, please send separate emails - and make sure they do have the proper subject line, as our inbox will be doing some automatic sorting of emails for us and we'd hate to miss yours! We'll announce the winner for this giveaway on Dec. 16, 2008.

The blog badge cycles through two images five times, and then stops. You can get code to paste into your blog here; please post it within 200 pixels of the first scrolling on your blog's home page, in your sidebar. We'll interpret this loosely, but basically we're asking you not to bury it under an arm's length list of badges, or to put it in a post.

Official Rules: In addition to the rules described above, entrants must be 18 or older and a resident of the U.S. with a U.S. shipping address at which they can receive the prize. Neither the sponsor nor the giveaway host are responsible for entries or prizes lost in transit. One entry per person per entry type. Approximate retail value of each Singer Curvy sewing machine is $399. No purchase necessary to enter or win. - Jeremiah