Baby shower gift idea- HELP!

[Excellentltd]

Hiya,

My closest friend from uni is a expecting a baby. Unfortunately I can't make it to the baby shower so want to send her a gift instead.
I want to create a hamper box with items in to "help" after birth. So things like a candle for their first night back home. A pair of slippers for the long nights. Some ear plugs to reduce the noise of crying. Silly things like that.
I've never had a child of my own so have no knowledge on it all. Does anyone have any other ideas or things they wished they had to help with a newborn?

[Heyha]

Nothing too exotic but was given a little bottle of fizz (just for me!) Some nice chocolate and some nice bath bombs although I am known for liking those anyway. I really appreciated each of them, your friend might be wanting to use plain toiletries and not taking any alcohol if breastfeeding (you can, but people often don't) but they are something to look forward to.

Not stretch mark cream and so on though- I got that ans never used it as miraculously never got any!

If she's really into nice cheese or cured meats a gift like that might be good as she won't have been able to have those during pregnancy. The first goats cheese I had was almost as good as the first cold beer (heatwave!)

[decafforme]

I'd say the ear plugs aren't needed, they likely will be on edge listening for baby and will hear them anyway and I know I wouldn't have put anything in that may have stopped that when mine was tiny.
What I did love was nice new pair of pyjamas (maybe buttons or something if breast feeding), some chocolate. Maybe a book for when baby is sleeping if she likes reading or flowers.

[MissMissTorrance]

I'd not bother with the candle or ear plugs ( mum may be exhausted but she'll definitely want to be alert and hear baby and a candle isn't the best idea for a sleep deprived family).
I'd go with things like bath/pamper stuff for mum, portable hot drinks cup. Hot chocolate or fruit teas, magazines/a book.
Possibly some muslin squares or babygros for baby.

[cookiesandcreamm]

Pyjamas
Coffee
Toiletries or a nice cream
Chocolate/sweets
Book
Big knickers (if people are like me I lived in these for months!)
Hair bobbles (always lost mine)
Dry shampoo

[Chunkymenrock]

Surely people have multiple slippers, candles etc already? I think a subscription to a special meal delivery or cake/brownie delivery would be so much better and so valuable with a newborn.

[Chunkymenrock]

Pasta Evangelist subscription! Best gift ever!

[TheOpportuneMoment]

A good thermos flask is always a good idea if she likes hot drinks - keeps it warm and helps stop the risk of spills. And a nice water bottle, snacks etc. If slippers, go for the slip on kind that you can get on with your hands full without having to bend down. A friend got me some frozen Cook ready meals and they were a lifesaver in the early days - try and choose things that could be eaten using only one hand though!

I'd probably leave the candle and the earplugs out. She'll want to be able to hear if her baby needs her and an open flame plus sleep deprived parents is probably not advised!