Here's an obvious statement: parents love their children. Ask any parent and they will tell you their child is unique, special, beautiful, amazing, and so on. A mother's face lights up at the chance to gloat about her baby, and nothing makes a father happier than sharing his child's achievements. A great way for parents to show their pride is to create custom apparel for their infants, toddlers and young children. Nobody knows their baby like they do, so instead of buying another plain one-piece from the department store, why not create a custom outfit that shows off babies' individuality.

Using an online custom t-shirt printing company, parents, grandparents, friends and even siblings can personalize bodysuits, hoodies, t-shirts, bibs, blankets and more. Many sites now feature special effects like glitter or flocking to enhance personal designs. Once a custom t-shirt or accessory has been ordered, it can be further customized at home using embroidery thread, sequins, and a number of extras easily found in craft stores. Here are a few great ideas I've put together for customizing baby clothes.

FOR THE PROUD PARENTS

Parents hope their children will reflect their best qualities, so why not highlight baby's features with a witty shirt or a new bib? If baby is a spitting image of their daddy, why not make a cute shirt that says "chip off the old block" in a fun, blocky font. Take it a step further by ordering dad a shirt that simply says "old block" - this idea makes a great gift for fathers day or Christmas. Another of my favorites is "cute like mommy, drools like daddy" which would be perfect on a bib or a blanket. Proud parents also enjoy making t-shirts that show how much they love their baby; it's so easy to create a custom "mommy's favorite girl" or a "daddy's little monkey" shirt. First time parents can also have fun with shirts like "my mom is crazy and she has me to thank" or "I made daddy bald like me."

FOR THE BABY WITH THE BIG PERSONALITY

Back to one of my original points: every child is unique! Whether a baby is smiley and happy, a wiggle worm, crawling before his peers, grabbing everything in sight, constantly eating, or you name it - custom t-shirts can help them express their personality before they learn the words to express it themselves. With so many colors and styles of apparel available, creating custom products for infants and toddlers can be fun and versatile.

A perfect example is putting baby in a t-shirt that has a picture of a bottle and says "I drink 'til I pass out." If designing for a cute baby boy, maybe a shirt that says "chicks dig my chubby thighs" or "lock up your daughters" would be fitting. Another frustrating, albeit humorous thing babies do is shed their clothes. If this behavior sounds familiar, maybe an "I'd rather be naked" shirt would get a smile from other understanding parents. If you find yourself constantly amused by the things your baby does, take a cue from the comedy world and create a blanket or shirt with a microphone that says "thank you, I'm here all night!"

FOR THOSE SPECIAL OCCASIONS

One of the easiest ways to customize baby shirts is by remembering all of babies' "firsts" - first Christmas, first birthday, etc. An organized parent can create custom apparel as little as a week in advance and have it ready for the occasion. Not only will it be fun for the baby to have now, it will also make a fantastic keepsake. When it's time for baby to spend their first night away from home, many parents will ask grandparents to babysit. This is a big step in parenting and an honor for grandparents, so why not commemorate the occasion with a custom t-shirt. A shirt that says "favorite grand baby" or "grandma's little angel" would be a sweet surprise and a great way to show your appreciation.

Another momentous occasion for parents and young children is the addition of another baby. A fantastic way to surprise family members is by making a shirt for your child that says "I'm going to be a big sister/brother." This will make your older child feel special and help get them excited about having a sibling. When you are ready to make your pregnancy announcement, have your child wear the shirt for a fun and unique reveal.

I hope these ideas will spark creativity and serve as a jumping off point for custom apparel designs. Babies and young children are so much fun, and making custom t-shirts to dress them up in can be a great way to show how much you enjoy having them in your life! Happy creating!