Maternity leave present?

[Renaissance227]

I leave work at the end of September to go on maternity leave and I've been asked by the people I work with (there are ten of them) what I would like because they are getting a collection together.

Has anyone any ideas? I don't want to ask for too much or for something too big and look greedy or over expectant and I don't want to ask for something that is too small and look silly! Also DEFINTIELY don't want to ask them what the budget is because that could come acoss as rude.
What do you think?

[Paschaelina]

I went with a John Lewis giftcard when they asked me. They sort of half suggested something like it anyway.

[AchtungBaby]

Hmm, it is tricky to strike the right balance.

My colleagues also asked me the same question, and I mentioned something small that I'd really like for DS - they gave me that, and lots of other lovely things for DS and I.

I imagine you could at least swap most things, eg if you already had them (if it's obvious where they bought them), even w/o a receipt?

Alternatively, you could ask for vouchers for somewhere like John Lewis / Mothercare, then write them a thank you letter telling them what you bought?

We got lots of gifts when DS was born - mostly clothes, and those odd little shoe / slippers. I was in some sort of lack of sleep daze, and felt duty bound to remove all tags and wash ASAP , but in hindsight I should have considered swapping things for different sizes etc.

[Renaissance227]

Thank you. Vouchers sounds like a good idea. Hadn't thought of that!

[supadupapupascupa]

I put a list together online for friends and family because they asked me to, and gave someone at work access.
I was very lucky because they bought lots of items that I genuinely needed over a range of prices.

If you are not doing something like that then a voucher seems perfect.

[supadupapupascupa]

oh, but please ask for something because otherwise you may end up with lots of things you don't need or want that people have spent lots of money on and gone to effort to get.

[Renaissance227]

I would like to ask for something specific but I'm not sure what supadupapupascupa!
With your list how did people know that someone hadn't already bought something on the list? Did things get taken off when bought?

There was one woman in my office who had loads of money collected and ended up with bags full of stuff and then there was another woman who asked for something but we struggled to get enough money together. That's the only problem with asking for something specific, as much as I would like to.

I think maybe vouchers is the way to go. Mothercare instead of John Lewis because the John Lewis near me has a very small collection of baby things.

[edwinbear]

DH had a giftcard from Mothercare from his work and my colleagues put together a collection of things from The Little White Company. Maybe you could send a list with a few things on that you like and say any of the items you choose would be lovely. They can then choose as many or few as they like.

[Renaissance227]

That's a great idea, thank you edwinbear.
What's The Little White Company?

[supadupapupascupa]

I had the mothercare gift list thing and I can't remember if the items were taken off or not, I guess if you only share with work first then you could take off what they get you before sharing with friends and family.

I made sure there were small things and a couple of big things. Lots of bedding, changing mat, muslins, baby monitor, baby bath, socks, vests, toiletries, blankets etc all stuff they would expect that you would need and will use.

[Renaissance227]

Thank you supadupapupascupa! That's a great help.

[sherbetpips]

is it your first? If there are mums in the group ask them for the things they could not have done without (especially if they are reasonably recent mums). Otherwise a JL gift card is great!

[Fresh01]

When I left work to have DD1 my section at work got my one of the baby play mats with the arches over the top. It has been great and has now been used by all three of my children. Playmats are also something that range in price, from reasonable to ridiculous, so if your aren't too particular on a specific one just say you would like one in uni-sex colours.

They also got me bits and bobs like bibs, vests, babygros etc that you can never really have too much of with a newborn.

[Lynzilove]

I was given a next gift card as they all knew I'd been given loads of clothes they said that with it being next I could spend it on myself or baby which was a really nice thought. Wasn't expecting anything so it was a nice surprise.