I'm different from most guests because I like to come up with my own baby shower gift idea. Sure, I could grab a gift off the baby store's registry and be done with the task in minutes. I actually have done that before. But when time allows, I like to try and come up with a baby shower gift idea on my own.

Want to know my secret for coming up with a suitable baby shower gift idea? Before I go shopping, I think about the guest of honor. That keeps me from wasting time wandering aimlessly through the real or virtual aisles. Here are some of the things I think about.

Her pregnancy

I think whether or not it's her first pregnancy, whether or not she knows the gender, even whether or not she's having multiple births. That helps narrow down my baby shower gift ideas. Does she need everything (first child)? Duplicate items (twins)? Certain colors? No matter how open-minded, few parents want their baby boys dressed in pink and vice versa!

I also think whether the guest of honor had a particularly difficult time during her pregnancy. This might seem odd, but here's my reasoning. If the pregnancy's been hard, the mother may need pampering. In that case my baby shower gift idea might be geared towards the mother-to-be rather than the newborn child.

Her interests and preferences

If I know how the guest of honor spends her free time, I try to come up with a baby shower gift idea that encourages mommy-and-baby time together. Or if I know for example that she'll breastfeed, I might choose something related to that, like a book or a breastfeeding pillow designed for twins.

Hopefully you get the point which is this. It's not that hard to come up with a baby shower gift idea. Your reward for the effort? Your gift might be the one everyone talks about - and mimics - for years to come!