Little Librans (and Taureans too) have a real sweet tooth. (If CSI took the DNA from the little noseprints on the cupcake display window, I’d be willing to bet they’d find a bunch of wide-eyed Librans. And that’s just the adults.)  So they might like the pretty, swirly name plaques from Celebrations n Sweets. Another gift they’d swoon over is a makeover party (although it’s best if they’re over 5 or they might start eating the eyeshadows).

Scorpio children can be a little hard to read, being irritatingly good at keeping secrets. You can always get plenty of insight into them with a BabyStars report. They love to know how things work and will get right into Where Did I Come From type books, playing Doctors and Nurses or Mothers and Fathers from a very young age (and then never stopping, really). They’ll enjoy poring over those endlessly fascinating cutaway books, such as ones on the Titanic, and other mysteries.  Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie and other detective stories will thrill your pre-teens.

Little Sagittarians are impatient to see the world and meet its inhabitants. Even if it’s just an overnighter up to the Central Coast, they’ll be thrilled to have their own bag. They might enjoy learning a new language while homebound kids could have a blast playing cowboys and Indians with their own teepee. Do save your sanity and washing machine from exploding by ensuring these tots wear only machine-washable clothes. Mud, grass, food and other stains stick to them with alarming regularity.

Capricorn children are a bit like Brad Pitt’s character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: born old, becoming more childlike as time goes on. They usually adore their grandparents so something that helps them understand where they came from (ah, not in the same way your Scorpio child wants to know), could be a cute way to help them bond. They cringe at overtly cutesy, “babyish” stuff and take themselves rather seriously, wanting to hang out with the adults. Take them to an antiques market to let them to select something for their birthday. They’ll feel very grown-up and you’ll be in no danger of them bringing home a 7-foot purple Dorothy the Dinosaur toy.

Aquarian children are always a little bit different. Even as babies, there will be something about them that will stand out from the sea of little faces – and their parents often dress them uniquely, too. They’re surprisingly humanitarian and egalitarian at a very young age. Why not give them something that helps support a community? The older ones are a little suspicious of mass-market items.

Pisces children can spend HOURS daydreaming and being off in their own world. A dress-up chest full of fancy dress costumes could be a big hit! These soft-hearted creatures would adore saving and selecting an unwanted puppy or kitten from the local RSPCA. They also respond well to murals and music – anything that takes them out of reality. A little aquarium could be a favourite present although they will need to be old enough to understand Nemo needs feeding.

The very cool blog Cool Baby Kid has just compiled The Ultimate Personalized Gifts Ideas for Kids Guide - and I’m thrilled that my BabyStars gift reports for parents has been included in the list which gathers the best around the world in monogrammed, personalised and/or customised gifts for children.

I had a great time checking the product reviews on these products! Here’s my take on what sorts of gifts for babies and children would suit the different Sun signs.

If you have a little Aries munchkin, they’re pretty unlikely to sit still during feeding time in their high chair, at the dinner table – or come to think of it, when they’re adults as well. You might increase the chances of them hanging around for a more few nanoseconds of “here’s the MiG fighter plane” as you attempt to spoon in another serve of pureed pumpkin with the personalised plates from La Plates. Watch them wolf it down to see their name on the bottom of the plate!

Snoopy’s Linus and his blanket were probably based on a Taurus child. Cuddly, snuggly tactile little Taureans love their security blankets, taking them everywhere, shrieking if you try to wash that mud-infested old thing. They love anything soft to touch and will quite happily suck their thumb and/or blanket. Give ‘em one that’s personalised all about them - 200 characters in total (that’s almost a bed-time story in itself) on all four satin-trimmed edges from  Fill In The Blankie.

I gave one of these personalised story books from Storybook Stars to my Pisces niece and Leo nephew and they were a big hit (as I imagine they could be with all children going through that “the whole world revolves around me” stage which lasts until they’re about, oh, 23). Nevertheless, it should thrill your Gemini child who loves to read and it’s a nice way to stave off the “But why, Mum?” and endless knock-knock jokes that can bring on wine-o-clock a few minutes earlier every evening.

The child who winds him/herself around his/her mother’s legs and won’t let go at daycare, is often a little Cancer child. Shy, sensitive and afraid of strangers, Cancers prefer to size people up quietly before befriending anyone. Anything that makes them feel safer is always a lovely gift. They can be slow to get off the boob (ahem, nothing really changes for the men) which makes these personalised dummies at My Pacifier a cute, inexpensive gift. A nightlight would be good, too.

Leo children were born ready for their close-up. And you might be one of those parents who take endless photos on their digital camera and never get around to printing them, or you have printed them and they’re in a shoebox or something. It’s hard to go past the service from Little Star Video which turns your photos (and even their favourite songs) into a family video that your Leos will watch over and over and over, giving you a temporary break from The Wiggles. Plus, you can screen it at their 21st or whatever.

When I saw the incredibly spotless children wearing monogrammed pinafores, I thought, “who ARE these children? Mini Stepford Wives?” and then thought hey, this would appeal to a lot of little Virgo children. Unlike Aries or Sagittarians who seem to find new sources of mud every day, Virgo kids can stay surprisingly clean, making one of these outfits not such a waste of money. They also enjoy helping you around the house, doing their homework and eating their vegetables. Although one day you might come home and they’ve alphabetised your spice rack and colour-coded your CDs… Anyway, one of those toy vacuum cleaners could be a bit hit, too!

Next post: Baby gifts for Libra through Pisces

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, March is the most popular month for weddings. It’s past the downpours of January and February, Christmas craziness in December, and it’s still beautifully warm. So if you’ve got a wedding to attend and you’re trying to decide what to get them from their wedding list – or something not on the gift registry at all, here is a quick rundown to what the bride might like according to her Sun sign. Yeah, well, it’s an unusual groom who is terribly interested what is being put on the gift list…

Aries – buy them an adrenalin-pumping experience – parachuting, scuba diving, flying a helicopter, rally driving etc. Anything that makes them scream with excitement and generates a bit of sexy competition with the groom…

Taurus – they really love their food so a gourmet hamper would be great. Music soothes their soul as does something to do with the garden – a pair of topiary trees or perhaps a beautiful wire or stone wall sconce to provide candlelit dinners outside?

Gemini – they love their books and communication devices. What about a truly beautiful coffee table book? Or coffee table? Some Geminis might be excited to get a new laptop, mobile or iPod.

Cancer – these lovely homebodies really love their house. A snugly cashmere throw, a stunning framed photograph of their family or something to do with cooking – a large Le Creuset baking dish? – could do the trick.

Leo – they love glamour and often imagine themselves as a movie star ready for their close-up. Most Leos love mirrored items so a mirrored jewellery box could be ideal. A leather-bound guest book for the hallway? A couple’s glamour photography shoot?

Virgo – health and work are two of their twin loves. If your budget runs to it, a treadmill would be fantastic. They also appreciate self-help books. They also love a tidy house – what about going in with others on a professional cleaner?

Libra – these guys are the original romance junkies. They can never have too many candelabras, crystal cut vases, or chandeliers to set the mood. Or what about a year’s supply of fresh flowers delivered weekly?

Scorpio – these sexy sorts are notoriously private about their private lives (a home safe could be a cracker of a gift) but a set of exquisite Egyptian cotton sheets could be highly appreciated. A video camera to make um, home movies?

Sagittarius – if they requested no gifts, but money towards their honeymoon instead, I wouldn’t be surprised – Saggies lurrve their travel. Think about a set of Lonely Planet books to destinations they’ve long craved to visit, binoculars, snazzy backpacks or other travel accessories. Go on, give them a gift voucher for Virgin Blue.

Capricorn – keen on their careers and being a pillar of society, they want “establishment” items. If you buy only one thing, make it the very best, but not bling-y. Antiques often go down well.

Aquarius – their friends are their family so think about things that make it easy to have friends over all the time – it could be of those outdoor mushroom heaters you see at bars, a cool BBQ set or what about a great iPod docking station? Those with a humanitarian bent could appreciate a wedding gift whose purchase helps a Third World community.

Pisces – Mystical, musical and/or movie-mad – any of these interests are things Pisces usually likes. Give them a thumping great set of speakers and sub-woofers, a feng shui consultant for their home or what about a boxed DVD set of their favourite movie stars.