Help needed on gift for colleague going on maternity leave

[JustShaggingForNow]

Ladies - some help please!

My colleague is going on maternity leave at the end of this week and I have been given the role of choosing a pressie for her.

I ahve asked her DH for suggestions as to things that thye don't yet have but as she is super organised she has bought everything already. He suggested gift vouchers but I think that's a bit uninspired!

what do you think about there two options

John Lewis blanket or Little white Company blanket

I have approx £100 to spend to any other suggestions would be very welcome!!

Thanks for you help in advance!

x

[slimyak]

What about a babysling? I found mine really useful and used it a lot more than I thought and for a lot longer. DD then kept it as her pushchair blanket and now uses it for her dolls. I haven't the heart to ask for it back for the newbie so will have to get another one.

There are loads on the web and you can get some really lovely fabric designs.

I think they cost about £35. You could then go for the rest in vouchers as there will be something a month down the line that they realise they haven't got and do need.

[cardamomginger]

If she's that organised, I think I'd go with her DH's suggestion, although I know what you mean about it being uninspired... I'm being anally retentive super organised about things as well and have NO IDEA what to ask for when people say they want to buy me a present! A nice idea might be to split the value of the vouchers between something she can use for the baby (e.g. John Lewis?) and a spa voucher she can use on herself (although it will have to be somewhere local to her, or a company that does home visits in her area). If you do decide to buy an actual object for the baby, then do make sure you include a gift receipt. Good luck!!

[MumNWLondon]

I personally would never used one of these blankets as would be appalled that someone had spent so much money.... new babies are known to leak at both ends so personally not sure a cashmere blanket a good idea.

I would buy from john lewis and supply receipts that way its not uninspired but she is free to change it.

has she got:

baby gym?

baby chair? eg like www.johnlewis.com/230650550/Product.aspx

sling? - material ones are lovely eg like
www.kari-me.com/

baby listener?

or baby china is nice
www.johnlewis.com/230491941/Product.aspx

[SkaterGrrrrl]

How about a home made hamper containing a mix of toiletries for baby and some nice products for mum?

Otherwise I vote this: www.nealsyardremedies.com/new-mother-gift-box

Or cake. Cake is good!

[SkaterGrrrrl]

Ah crap, didnt read the OP. Sorry!

[blametheparents]

I got a voucher for a hand/foot print picture from Johm Lewis when I had DD.
I thought it was a lovely idea. And along with all the expense of having a baby was probably an extra expense I would not have shelled out for.
Here

Personally, I wouldn't want a cashmere blanket. Would be worried about washing it etc.
Could get a nice cotton blanket though.

[Mercedes519]

What about a voucher for one of those family photography sessions? Something tangible but she won't have bought it already?

[breatheslowly]

Depends what she is like - I'm pretty mean and wouldn't want to see money wasted on something super expensive at such an expensive time in my life. If someone bought me a cashmere baby blanket for £100 it would be going straight back! I do love gift vouchers though.

A bottle of her favourite drink (she probably hasn't had much over the past few months)?

Or something for when the baby was a bit older - I'd love some Brio.

[Porcelain]

I would get something for her, like a spa voucher or a nice gift set of Sanctuary mum to be products.

As a pregnant mum you put so much into the baby, it's really nice if someone acknowledges that you are a real person who deserves something nice too.

I have to admit to feeling a little bit miffed when a work colleague handed me a gift bag and said "of course, it's not for you, it's for the baby". She's never met my baby but I have been bending over backwards to help her department for years!

[DomesticG0ddess]

Definitely a treat for her after the baby arrives - a voucher for a facial/massage that she can book when she feels ready.

[Allegrogirl]

I'm about to start mat leave and I've been given a voucher for a health and beauty salon at a posh country club. I am delighted as it is so nice to get something for me instead of baby. I've got a few baby bits too but they haven't spent too much on something I might not like which I really appreciate.

A hand wash only blanket would get used once and left at the bottom of the wash basket in our house. My first was a major puker and it would have broken my heart to see such an expensive gift ruined.

[breatheslowly]

I didn't even notice the handwash only bit - definitely straight back to the shop.

[Kiwiinkits]

I'm not sure what's available in the UK, but here in NZ you can buy and give vouchers for a company that makes pre-packaged, frozen or fresh, healthy lovely meals that are delivered over the first three weeks of the baby's life. Something like that?

I also think that the family portrait voucher is a fantastic idea.

[eastmidlandsnightnanny]

I finished for mat leave last week but had a leaving tupe lunch the week before as my colleagues are all term time only and were finishing for school hols.

smallish team and they got me some flowers, baby toileteries and £40 mothercare voucher.

I too am super super organised and have practically everything inc a huge stock of wipes and nappies!!

[FutureMum]

How about a giftcard from Mothercare or another baby stuff provider? (you could add a box of choccies or a bunch of flowers to personalise it a bit more). That way, she can choose what she wants/ needs.

[sazlocks]

When I had DS 2 my colleagues clubbed together and asked what I would want - I asked them for charity donations - they bought a bike for a midwife in the third world, a new home starter set for a child leaving a homeless refuge and a new baby set for a third world family. I was thrilled with that - especially as it was my second child, had loads,and been given loads of stuff already. They also got me a small voucher to buy something for myself.

[taffetacatski]

We got Links silver duck money bank from work. Its gorgeous, cost about £120 I think and much preferable to something that would disappear with time eg smellies/flowers

[SE13Mummy]

For DD2 I was asked what I'd like and I chose these: www.notonthehighstreet.com/lilyandlime/product/scandi-wall-posters.

This website has some other lovely prints too, some of which can be personalised so could be saved until after the baby arrives. Could you give her some lovely flowers and smellies now and save the rest of the money until after the baby is born then ask her to choose something from somewhere such as notonthehighstreet?

[Miffster]

www.mumsnet.com/Reviews

Scroll down to see gifts for mum and gifts for a newborn, reviewed by mumsnetters.

I would love a lambskin and grobags

:-)

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Get her a bottle of vodka.

Seriously, vouchers are the best. No point in buying something like a cashmere blanket, let her choose what she wants to get.

[Miffster]

www.mumsnet.com/Reviews sorry meant to make the link work and got distracted.

[sarah1911]

Family photo session or a pamper session to enjoy in her first weeks of mat leave. Another interesting option is flower delivery so they get one bouquet of flowers a month for the year - could be good if she really does already have everything!

[EatSleepLove]

I got a friend of mine a gift package from Cook!www.cookfood.net

Basically they can fill your friends freezer with healthy food for them after the birth when no one will have the energy to cook.

[goinggrey1978]

what about a gift for the new mum, survival pack, with chocolate, snacks, drinks, luxury bubble bath, new pj's, voucher for home delivery for the supermarket, take-away food vouchers