Needham, Mass., April 28, 2005 - Picking out a truly original Mother’s Day or shower gift for an expectant or new mom isn’t an easy task.  Blankets and onesies are reliable standbys, but to make a lasting impression, look for gift items that will last beyond baby’s first steps.

Stephanie Gallagher, author of The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years: The Real Moms’ Survey of Top-Rated Products and Advice (www.gallagherguide.com), offers some ideas to spark creative gift giving, and give expectant and new moms products and services that will make a lasting impression.

“Make mom feel special by giving a gift that will be with her for years to come,” said Gallagher.  “And it doesn’t have to break the bank — these ideas fit a range of budgets, from higher end electronics to a free Upromise college savings account.”

New Mom Jewelry — New moms love jewelry that feature baby-themed charms, such as baby shoes or moms holding babies.  Visit RedEnvelope (www.redenvelope.com) for examples of affordable jewelry that can be personalized.  As a child grows up, that piece of jewelry will remind mom of a special moment in time.

College Savings Fund — It may seem unimaginable to think about tuition bills before a child is even born, but with the rising cost of college, moms often experience sticker shock when they consider how much will be needed to send Junior to college.  Friends and relatives can help with the college savings effort through Upromise®, recognized as “the single easiest, most effortless way to save for college” by The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years.  When members buy everyday products, a portion of their eligible spending is rebated into their account through this free service.  So with every qualifying purchase of Huggies® diapers and baby wipes and Enfamil® LIPIL® infant formulas, or every Upromise Online Mall purchase, mom can receive the gift of college savings.

Maid Service — Give the gift of time to a new mom by giving her relief from the household chores for a month.  Consider an outside maid service, or if budget doesn’t allow, relatives and older kids can offer to roll up their sleeves and take care of the house.  Having a couple of extra “free” hours in the week will be priceless for mom.

Digital Camera — Help mom capture all of baby’s “firsts” to share with family and friends.  If a digital camera falls outside of the budget, consider pooling money and giving it as a group gift that will last for years.

A Memory Saver — There are so many memories made during infancy and childhood, so help mom preserve them by giving scrapbooks or baby photo gift sets.  If she likes scrapbooking, get her a gift certificate to her favorite craft or scrapbooking store.  If she’s a digital photography fan, Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com) offers memory preserved personalized Photo Books and Photo Gifts.  Or have a photo quilt made at Personal Creations (www.personalcreations.com).

About Upromise Upromise is the country's largest non-governmental service helping families save for college. Membership is free and allows families to automatically save money for college while making everyday purchases at more than 20,000 grocery and drug stores, 14,000 gas stations, 8,000 restaurants, 10,000 hotel locations nationwide, thousands of retail stores and over 250 online shopping sites. Upromise's partners include America Online, Citi®, Coca-Cola®, ExxonMobil Corporation, Kellogg Company, Kimberly-Clark, McDonald's®, SBC Communications, JCPenney.com, LandsEnd.com, sears.com, and hundreds of others. Upromise also makes it easy for families to invest in tax-advantaged college savings plans and to use contributions to pay off student loans. The 529 college savings plans are offered through Upromise Investments, Inc. (member NASD/SIPC). Upromise is headquartered in Needham, Mass. For additional information, visit www.upromise.com or call 781.707.8400.

About Stephanie Gallagher Stephanie Gallagher, also known as The Shopping Mom, is author of The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years: The Real Moms’ Survey of Top-Rated Products and Advice (http://gallagherguide.com).  The survey, conducted by Gallagher, offers insight from 200 moms from around the world.  Moms can get a free cookbook when they sign up for The Shopping Mom's Weekly Tip.  Simply send a blank email to theshoppingmom@aweber.com.