Friend about to adopt - what can I get her as a present

[MissM]

Firstly I'd like to apologise in advance if I say anything insensitive or use incorrect terminology.I haven't adopted so my experience is limited to friends who have done so.

My friend is adopting her second child - he's coming home with them next week. As well as a present for him I'd like to get her something too and wondered if anyone had any advice? I'm 200 miles away so can't offer practical help, plus she has her DH's family very close at hand for practicalities.

I'm trying to remember what I would have liked when my DS was 2 (the age of her new son), but have no memory whatsoever (it was only 2 years ago but may as well be a lifetime). Does anyone have any really good suggestions, or shall I just stick to whatever any mum needs at any time i.e. chocolate, flowers, posh bubble bath etc?

She's very bad at asking for help and very good at pretending everything is hunky dory when I know it's not. She's also not a big gestures sort of person. I'd love to get her something to show that I'm delighted for them but also there for her when things inevitably get tough the way they do with child number 2.

[schoolchauffeur]

What about a really nice photo frame or album in which to put pictures of the new addition to the family/them as a family?

[Moomoomie]

You sound a lovely friend.
I agree a really nice photo frame is a good idea.
Champagne ( if they drink)
Are they gardeners? A rosebush for the garden.
Maybe a subscription to the " graze" boxes,

[Shoutymomma]

Have to ask: budget?

[MissM]

Thank you all for great suggestions. All lovely ideas. Budget is probably around £30, although if I'm getting it send it will probably bump up to around £40 by the time you pay P&P etc. I don't know - I hadn't really thought about a budget!

[motherinferior]

Champagne?

[Fayrazzled]

When my friend adopted, I made her new daughter a quilt for her bed. They were both thrilled with it. John Lewis has some lovely quilts/blankets and also lovely children's room accessories.

[MissM]

That's a lovely idea Fay. Although I'm ideally after something for her.

[Shoutymomma]

Subscription to some kind of visitor attraction (farm park, soft play place) so she can take new chicken for fun, then sit and have a brew??

[welovesausagedogs]

What about some kind of plant, maybe a rosebush, they could plant it when the baby arrives home and then it would grow as the child grows. You could book them one of those photoshoot things at venture or something, so they would have some really nice professional photos with their new baby, something that would be really nice and last for ever but you probably wouldn't think of getting done yourself.

[Shoutymomma]

Ooh, those fancy macaroons that come in a posh box, the kind you'd never treat yourself to as they are about a quid each. Or Valrhona candied orange in chocolate - bloody magnificent! Great, now I'm thinking about yummy treats. Again.

[Shoutymomma]

The plant idea is a good one, but nake it something that will always be special at this time of year, eg cherry or magnolia.

[MissM]

Oh these are all such good ideas, thank you so much everyone. I love all of them. The candied orange sounds amazing - might start dropping hints for Mother's Day for myself! A cherry or magnolia tree is a good idea as they have a large garden - think that, the photo frame, the orange and the champagne are top of the list at the moment.

[bec144]

I have 4 adopted children and after our second child someone bought us a family hand casting kit, something to treasure!

[CHT]

Best present I got when we adopted our 18 month old was lovely posh hand cream (ie sort of thing you don't buy yourself but really appreciate because of all the hand washing)

[shockers]

The thing I remember the most was a card from my Mum with the quote, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."