Review: Best personalized baby gifts

Before I had my twins, I had no idea what to get friend's for baby showers or birthdays. Since then, I've come across - or received - some really fantastic gifts. Maybe this list will help spread the joy of well-made, personalized gifts.

1. Embroidered towel set from Land's End
These 100 percent cotton terry towels are 27"x55" and come with a plain, white mitt. There are several designs, including a firetruck, crocodile, cowboy and sweets. This was one of the best (and most practical) baby gifts we received!

PRICE: $24.50 with embroidered name

WHERE: Land's End
2. Name Train from Maple Landmark
These personalized trains are crafted out of maple and feature an engine, each letter of the child's name and the caboose. Maple Landmark says the train letters are stained and sealed with a non-toxic finish. They select the letter colors. For ages three and up.

PRICE: Depends on number of letters in the name - about $30

WHERE: Maple Landmark

3. Silhouettes from Simply Silhouettes
What a sweet and classic idea - the child's silhouette on canvas. With the "wrapped" option, in which the image "wraps" around the stretchers and is stapled onto the back for a finished look, the pieces can be hung immediately without a frame. They seal the canvases with a water and crack-resistant coating. I'm not sure yet if I like the classic imagine of the profile the most or the more modern full-body profile. Both would look great (and artsy) on our wall.

PRICE:
Ranges from $40 for an unstretched 8"x10" ($80 wrapped) to $100 for an unstretched 16"x20" ($200 wrapped)

WHERE: Simply Silhouettes classic and modern designs

4. Personalized My Photo Album from One Step Ahead
Babies love to look at pictures and faces, and this provides their own album, full of color and texture, with crinkly, peek-a-boo pages. It holds 11 4"x6" photos and one 2"x2" portrait. It is soft, self-standing and machine-washable. For newborns and up.

PRICE: $19.95 (personalized with 10 letters)

WHERE: One Step Ahead
5. T-shirts from the Red Balloon
Designed for the Red Balloon by City Threads, these cute two-toned tees are available in light pink with charcoal and light blue with charcoal. They have three-quarter length sleeves with the child's first initial featured and are 100 percent cotton and machine washable. Sizes are available from 0-6 months all the way to 6 years. The company notes that toddler sizes are generous.

PRICE: $34

WHERE: The Red Balloon
6. Fabric photo album from Red Envelope
These fabric albums contain photo spaces on the front and spince, along with 50 pages to hold 4"x6" photos in protective sleeves. These are three sizing options, and all were significantly on sale in early April. An optional front plaque can be personalized, but I think the photos are enough. Available in blue, cream or pink.

PRICE: $30 for two small (on sale for $18); $28 for one medium (sale for $16) or $35 for large (sale for $20). Personalization add $10

WHERE: Red Envelope