Help for Hollywood: Gifts for Latin babies

I imagine this weekend a whole lot of celebrity elite were sending gifts to the royal Latin blessings born to Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Her father told reporters they’d already bought azabaches for the sweet twins, which no Latino baby should be without. Or at least no Caribbean Latin baby. Must ward away the evil eye of those spreading the mal de ojo. (see above, available on ebay) My mother gets on me for not pinning Maria’s on anymore.

But what else to send babies who have it all?
Cultura, of course!

Here are my gift tips for Latin babies, perfect for all baby showers and newborn gifts — and for American-born Latinas getting newly in touch with their Latinaness. (There are a couple of toddler gift ideas at the bottom.)

OK, teach bebe about La Tradicion with a guayabera and then sprinkle baby with Agua de Violetas, the sweetest baby cologne known to mankind. Cologne for babies? Oh you bet.

Teeny tiny perfect little confections of leather made in Spain and Portugal. And, only Spain and Portugal. When you walk on sunshine, you must be shod by artists. If they’re charol — patent leather — all the better. Oh, and if they’ve got jingle bells on them, even better too.


Sweet shoes go perfectly with these fancy baby outfits from La Ideal in Miami, the first place I went baby shopping for my own princesa. It’s like the Cuban Babies R Us. I didn’t see their gorgeous embroidered Colombian dresses, or fancy outfits from Spain on the web site, which is too bad because these sweet dresses and pant suits are stunning.

Latin parents like the paci, commonly called tete. Give this one, called RaZBaby, designed by two Cuban-American sisters from Miami.

Now, on to music: Lull sweet child with Cuban Lullaby, a delightful collection of traditional lullabies and a personal favorite around here. A little more rockin’ is Diez Deditos, by Jose-Luis Orozco, an awesome album of playful Latin American songs and finger games. There’s a book by the same title.

I usually give my favorite illustrated copy of Los Pollitos Dicen, so baby is sure to learn the words, and yes, I pair it with a Pio Pio Pio Spanish t-shirt from our own collection. (We’re about to add newborn hats and bibs, by the way!)

And, here’s one sure way to get grandma and grandpa to love you: Give an abuelita and abuelito doll that sings Spanish nursery songs. We particularly like Abuelo Pancho, though Maria doesn’t play with hers much anymore. My mother says he is “exiliado al closet.” (exiled to the closet.)

Moving on to a couple of toddler gifts. Inspire rhythm and noise with Salsa in a Box, everything a tiny person needs to channel Tito and Celia. (Or J.Lo and Marc) And teach the “eh-re” and the “ñ” sounds with these blocks, made in the U.S.A.

Alright then, not a bad little regalito list, si?

Mamas y Papas what are your favorite Spanish baby gift items?
Hollywood needs us.