Target has the “Happiest Baby On The Block” DVD for $17.99.  This is an invaluable gift for a new mom.  It shows you 5 techniques to quickly calm and soothe a crying baby.  They will be very happy they have this when their baby is keeping them up at night or inconsolable.  The 5 “S’s” (techniques) are swaddling, shuushing, swinging, side or stomach lying and sucking.

And the perfect thing to go with that is the Miracle Blanket.  This blanket is made to make swaddling simple. If you are the kind of person who is impatient and tired (which all new mom’s are) then swaddling can be a difficult thing to do especially with a crying baby in the middle of the night!  The swaddling blanket had built in flaps that wrap around the baby’s arms and tuck behind the back. This ensures a tightly bound baby which is essential to the swaddling technique to work.  Some people wonder if the baby will be uncomfortable with its arms bound tightly to the body, but it is actually a secure and natural feeling as if back in the womb where things are very snug toward the end of pregnancy.  When a baby’s arms flail it is actually scary for the baby because it the baby doesn’t feel held and contained like in the womb.  So anyway, the blanket really helps if you are going to try to swaddle and another great thing is that it has a flap that envelopes the feet and legs, so if you have a dirty diaper, you can change it without unswaddling the baby!
This is $30 at Lullaby Lane or online.