Before their twins were born, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony held a baby shower on the rooftop of NYC’s Gramercy Hotel. Guests lavished the couple with silk layettes and other super-expensive gifts. Likewise, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale reportedly received thousands of dollars worth of clothing, bedding, and jewelry for not-yet-born Zuma.

Once upon a time, the baby shower was created to provide an expectant mother with the gifts she really needed — cloth diapers, receiving blankets, bottle sets, and grooming necessities. The modern baby shower, however, has taken on a life of its own. Guests attempt to outdo one another with expensive, elaborate — and not always useful — baby gifts. As a veteran mom, you know it’s impossible to have too many onesies, but T-shirts don’t look like much next to an Eddie Bauer stroller or Coach diaper bag.

Bebe Bella Designs has the solution. The company creates practical baby items from the most luxurious fabrics. The result is a high-end yet useful gift.

Minky Chenille Blankets
The Minky Chenille Baby Blanket (30″x30″), left, and the Minky Chenille Blankee (15″x15″) are made of the finest chenille fabrics. The blanket ($50) and blankee ($22.50) come in 17 different color combinations to coordinate beautifully with any nursery and layette. Minky Chenille products are Made in the USA and retain their softness and luster with every washing. The more you use this blanket, the more you’ll love it.  A toddler size blanket (43″x35″) is also available, $64.

Satin Minky Blankets
The Satin & Minky Blankets, right, are available in the same sizes as the Minky Chenille (above). With 25 combinations of solids, polka dots, and paisleys, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for that baby-to-be. The baby blanket is $40, the little blankee is $20, and the toddler blanket is $54.

Bibs
A bib may be a necessity, but it can still make a fashion statement. The Bebe Bella Designs bib, left, is minky chenille front and back. $12.50 each 14 colors, like Fuschia, Brown, Lime Green, Navy Blue, and Lavender.

Melissa Sachse founded Bebe Bella Designs to provide “something for those who want simple elegance, the latest trends, or something in between.” The lovely company name is derived from the French term “bebe,” meaning “baby,” and the Italian “bella” for “beauty.”

The adorable Hello Kitty character has been around for more than 35 years, but she’s never been more popular than she is right now. Celebs like Dakota Fanning, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears and Perez Hilton are flaunting Hello Kitty everything — from apparel to bandages!

Retailers everywhere are jumping on the bandwagon, offering clothes, jewelry, handbags, footwear and many more fun items — all boasting the familiar big-eyed kitty with no mouth.

Jewelry
Paris Hilton (above), Cameron Diaz, Miley Cyrus and other celebrities have been spotted wearing diamond-encrusted Hello Kitty necklaces.

This Hello Kitty Hot Pink Necklace (right) from Hot Topic features a funky pink 17″ chain with a 1-1/2″ enamel Hello Kitty pendant. Find it online or in Hot Topic stores for $12.

Accessories
Avril Lavigne (left) likes Hello Kitty slippers.

Find a pair for your little lady at Sanrio.com, the official site for Hello Kitty products. Her feet will be cozy warm in these pink, fluffy Hello Kitty Face Slippers (right), just $16.50.

First Aid
Mariah Carey has an enormous Hello Kitty collection. She wears Hello Kitty apparel, holds plush Hello Kitty toys on stage, and even heals her boo-boos with Hello Kitty Band-Aids.

You can find a box of Hello Kitty Band-Aid childrens adhesive bandages in most drugstores and online at Amazon. About $3 for a box of 20.

I have a Hello Kitty notebook. What do you — or your kids — have that features the feline icon?

If Zuma Rossdale wears them, then they must be cool.

In a recent  issue, People magazine featured the little bald trendsetter sporting an adorable ankle bracelet on his pudgy left leg.

Now your little fashionista can show off some baby bling, too. Slip an anklet from Bumble Bells onto those chubby ankles, and you’re sure to hear the oohs and aahs of admirers.

This is how the creator of Bumble Bells found her inspiration:

It all started when Mommy took a trip to Thailand. She saw a little boy toddling around in beautiful silver anklets with tiny bells on them. Everywhere he went, his parents could hear him toddling. And that sweet sound of his bumbling footsteps made Mommy swear that when she had a baby, she would procure herself a pair of those adorable anklets.

Bumble Bells offer both gold and silver charms, ID bracelets, and anklets. And the ASTM-certification means they’re safe for your little one. Shop Bumble Bells online, where there’s something for every pocketbook — from $45 sterling silver Classic Bells to $575 gold Sea Shell Bells.

Bumble Bells “audible anklewear” is expandable to grow with your baby and comes in three sizes: NewBee (0-9 months), WorkerBee (9 months-4 years), and BusyBee (4-9 years). And a portion of every pair sold goes to Head Start, a successful school readiness program for low-income children and their families.

Help celebrity fans like Gwen Stefani, Jenny Garth, and Courtney Cox spread the word: “Bumble Bells are the original baby tracking device… safe, beautiful and above all, practical. You’ll never misplace your baby again!”

Tell us:  How do you track your baby’s every move?

Zuma’s photo courtesy of Ramey Photo Agency.