Help from mothers - office forgot to arrange maternity gift for coworker

Flowers and a voucher for somewhere that doesn't sell baby clothes and a message "now that the baby is a few months old, I hope you are feeling like yourself again, please treat yourself".

I don’t think I’d get ‘Thinking of You’ that’s an alternative to a Sympathy card or someone who is stressed. Don’t anyone say that parents are stressed so it will do because the sentiments you are aiming for in this circumstance are different

My colleagues sent me a bouquet of roses but they weren't flowers, they were baby socks and grows which I LOVED. Also a post care grooming kit for me and my baby, I think John Lewis do some. They contain stuff like cream for the baby & mum and some other self care products. They would be greatly appreciated!

I don’t think it’s too late. As others suggested send cosy things in age 3-6 months, or maybe a baby bloom hamper or a luxurious blanket with baby name embroidered. Not sure of budgets but my favourite thing is my Brora cashmere baby blanket. I’ve also got a really nice merino wool one.

Don’t do it. They’re trying to push this on you, and doing it will only demonstrate that they can. You’ll just reinforce that yes, this is women’s work.

I’m six months in, I’d LOVE a present if clothes right now 😂 or a JL voucher.

Voucher would definitely be helpful coming up to christmas - you could even get a spa voucher or something like that to treat the mother! If you do buy something make sure to get a gift receipt so she can change it - the present we got from my partners work was lovely but we have a few similar things we had already opened so it is unopened in the box!

It's definitely not too late for baby stuff. She's likely to have lots of smaller sized stuff so if you got her age 6-9 months autumn/winter stuff I'm sure it'll be appreciated.

Flowers for your colleague too, the mums always get forgotten!

Arrange an e card for her. There are ones that have a gift card facility for places like John Lewis.

I'd send a Thinking of You card rather than Congratulations and a Just Eat voucher. I know when mine were 3 months old all I wanted was a meal I didn't have to think about or clean up from!

If it's a fairly small amount Boots voucher could be good. Don't put the money upfront yourself - make sure it is collected before you spend anything.

This. Having a vagina doesn't give you a magical ability to buy presents for a woman you've never even met and your colleagues presumably know well! I would point this out very clearly and make it clear you are deeply unimpressed with their incompetence and sexism.

John Lewis voucher

Is it your job because your like… office assistant and it’s in your job role to arrange “extra curricular” stuff like collections?

Or is it your job because the others are all men so they expected “the woman” to do “women’s work.”

I’d be kicking up a fuss if it’s the latter and wouldn’t be doing it for them.

Don't send anything! Why the hell is it your job when you must hardly know her!

If it's her first child, the best gift I got from my coworkers were a bundle of books and a teddy. It was a nice box of classics like "room on the broom", we used them a lot from a relatively young age with the pictures and now the story.

If you want something a bit more original, I can also recommend the musical soft toys from Moulin Roty (it's soft toys, you pull the tail and it plays music). Both my kids love theirs and grew with it.

At this point, when she’s back, small flowers and big gift card.

So by default, you get the present buying job because you're a woman? Jeez.
Will the new mum appreciate a gift now? I wonder if she was a bit miffed that her workplace didn't even send her a card when her baby was born.

Rubbish that this was dumped on you. I think you've every right to say you don't know the lady and won't be organising it. If you don't want to though, with a July baby they will most probably have been gifted tiny summer bits. A cosy 3-6 or even 6-9 month fun onsie for winter would probably be good.

I think it will be fine to do it so late - babies constantly need new clothes!

A Next giftcard and a box of chocolates. That way she can treat either herself or the baby to something.

Crap that this was dumped on you though!

In this situation normal etiquette would be to present her with something when she's back in the office, fgs don't get roped into having to wrap and post the bloody thing too, especially if they want everyone to sign a card.

Star wrap! Cosy for Autumn/Winter

This!

(As an aside, I left my job after 15 years and got NOTHING. I had organised so many presents and dinners over the years and no-one thought to organise anything for me ).

I'd just say no. Why should you do it when you know her the least?

Given the delay the nice thing would be for a colleague to pop round in person because then you can pretend you didn't forget, you (as in the plural colleagues you!) just wanted to see the baby and give it in person. But it should be a colleague who knows and gets on well with her for that to work, not the new starter who barely knows her!

If you have to do it maybe get vouchers for m&s and john lewis and say something like 'we held off on giving these to you because we'd like you to get something to treat yourself and not the baby.' (obviously she can spend them on whatever she wants but at least it's an attempt at face saving)