When choosing a school shoe for your child, you have to make sure that the shoe fits the following criteria:

• It lets your child’s foot breath, i.e. is constructed from genuine leather, both outside and inside.
• Maintains and supports your child’s foot, i.e. has an arch support in the insole.
• Is water resistant and has a flexible yet gripping sole. Rubber is the most comfortable and resistant product.
• It feels comfortable and holds the foot well either through laces or hook and loop straps.
• It conforms to the school’s colour scheme of approved shoes.

When my gorgeous friend Willie told me that she was going to organise a baby shower for me, I was very excited. In France, the baby shower concept does not exist, so this was a new adventure before the term of my pregnancy.

I was really great to be able to invite all my friends to celebrate the arrival of my first child. Beyond the love, joy, laughs, yummy canapés and treats, the bubbles (yes, that day, we all indulged in some champagne), the icing on the cake was of course the awesome gifts that everyone brought. I was moved by my friends’ generosity and still use some of these great gifts three years later.

The timing of the baby shower was perfect as the amount of things needed for a first child was quite daunting. I barely knew what we really needed until I started doing some reading and talking to some friends: the list of items grew by the day.

Being a pragmatic person, I ended up putting together a list of my picks and favourites in a shop where the staff was friendly and helpful and where they had a great range of things.

My friends and family then ordered the items they wanted to give us directly from the shop. Some other friends, who thought making a contribution towards a pram was boring, chose that little extra sweet present that you do not really need but will cherish and find practical and cute in its own time. There were just so many thoughtful ideas and presents, it was overwhelming.

Since that amazing experience, I have been to many baby showers of friends of mine. I have now learnt how to give the perfect baby shower gift. I would always favour something that I could not do without for my own child, as well as something a bit different and stylish.

For me, the top picks are a beautiful baby blanket and/or a set of pure cotton bodysuits. You can never have enough of either.

The other gift that I found special and have since given out to friends many times is a baby amber necklace.

Most people would not think of giving that as a present until they read the fascinating story of amber and the amazing healing properties that it has, as well as how pretty it looks.

They then understand that it truly is a special gift and a keepsake for any newborn baby.