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Original poster

Functional Birthday Present

158 replies

RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 19:19

Wanting to hear opinions on this birthday present

My girlfriend is 39 weeks pregnant, its her birthday this week & she's due the week after. For a while she's mentioned about getting either a coffee machine or a kettle for our bedroom. Everytime we go to a hotel, we say we should get one for our room.

Anyhow, a few days back I saw an Ad for a Russell Hobbs 'Calm' Kettle. Its a 'quiet boil' kettle that places soothing, meditation like sounds while its boiling. Video linked here Hadn't seen anything like this before and thought it was quite unique.

Also Thought it would be perfect for making cups of tea in the night/Morning, while soothing the baby with the noises instead of waking it up with the noises of a kettle & we could use for sterilising if we needed too.

Along side the kettle, I got some nice mugs from Dunelm, some little spoons & a matching tray & matching bowl for used teabags. Teabags, Coffee Sachets & Milk Sachets.
Essentially made up a little area like a hotel in our bedroom
Spent £150 in total

It arrived today so set it up & said she can have her birthday present early. But she was abit disappointed. She thinks its a 'house purchase' and shouldn't be a birthday present.
By 'House Purchase' she means just a standard thing we should just buy for the house.

To add some more context on our situation... We have alot of disposible income each month & pretty much buy whatever we want/need so we're hard to buy presents for.
We're also pretty much sorted for the baby so don't need anything there. Our parents gave us money for Christmas which we've just banked for the baby.

AIBU - Crap Present, It should be a standard buy
AINBU - Good Present

OP posts:
ttcat37 · 22/02/2025 21:39

@RandomUser456878 Ok, so a fairly active and well travelled person. I think decent fitness gear if that what she’s into is a good shout. Lululemon Align leggings are really nice and great for yoga (and day to day wear). If she’s really into yoga, maybe a voucher for a yoga retreat.
A really important time for me after giving birth was the 3 hours a week I went and did my hobby class. So, if she has anything she enjoys doing then buying her a voucher for a set of classes or, if she’s expressed an interest in something, now could be a good time for her to start.

Ap42 · 22/02/2025 21:39

It's thoughtful, but quite dull. And those mugs remind me of the beakers you get for the bathroom to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. But to each there own.
I would get her something that just focuses on her, something sentimental maybe? A little gift from the bump? A shopping spree, vouchers for new clothes, a date night activity?

zeibesaffron · 22/02/2025 21:38

I am with your partner on this - its a house thing!! I wouldn’t be happy with it either. In my mind its like buying me a hoover or a set of pans!

northwestgirl · 22/02/2025 21:37

I think it sounds thoughtful although mugs from dunelm would not seem like a treat to me
I would buy her the hugest bunch of flowers you can find NOW and then something more personal as an actual birthday present- that is not baby/motherhood related
and forget all the travel plans

namechangetheworld · 22/02/2025 21:33

YANBU. I think it sounds really thoughtful. Much more effort goes into buying a present like this, tailored to someone's specific life and personality, than grabbing a random pair of diamond earrings.

I love a good practical present. Once asked my DH for a set of really posh kitchen scales and was absolutely thrilled with them.

BeardieWeirdie · 22/02/2025 21:30

My first baby was two weeks late and I was destroyed with stitches. Sitting in the car for 10 minutes coming home from the hospital hurt like hell. 1.5 hours of driving a week later was not going to happen. Granny has had babies - she will understand - please don’t pressure your poor girlfriend to go to a party when she’s leaking milk and blood to watch her tiny baby play pass the parcel. And it’s absolutely not ok for you to go and leave her either, should it need saying.

My husband loves practical presents; I received new windscreen wipers for Valentine’s, so you’ve at least done better with a fancy kettle she wanted.

Lalaland67 · 22/02/2025 21:26

RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:09

Haha, don't worry we're thinking australia & NZ for next winter too 😂Our friends (who just had babys) are all telling us that we're going to be in for a shock

My cousins in Dubai too, so we'll be going there at that at some point

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I think your friends are right! Your partner might change her mind once baby is here.

Im glad you’re thinking of ordering her some non-maternity outfits. Or maybe get some gift vouchers for places she usually buys her gym wear? I would have loved this. I found it hard to justify a present for me when I’d just had a baby, and I was up in the night a lot, so a guilt-free scroll for some new clothes would have cheered me up! It’s taken me a while to get back to my pre-pregnancy size too so I needed some new outfits. DH did buy me a couple of jumpsuits I had my eye on as a present after having my DS, I told him to get my normal size and I was quite upset when they didn’t fit! It hadn’t really dawned on me that my body would change so much. Vouchers would have been much better.

ttcat37 · 22/02/2025 21:26

northwestgirl · 22/02/2025 21:21

do NOT do this
its the naffest thing ever
absolutely gross

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Good luck trying to convince people that eternity rings are ‘naff’…

northwestgirl · 22/02/2025 21:21

naemates · 22/02/2025 19:36

Get her jewellery as a push present

do NOT do this
its the naffest thing ever
absolutely gross

Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:21

Whu · 22/02/2025 19:45

Is this an advert?!

Na haha Although I did see it myself on a facebook ad

Never did I think I'd see (or buy) a kettle that made sounds but after buying tonnes of baby toys that play a similar sound, it seems like the perfect combo

OP posts:
Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:17

MumChp · 22/02/2025 21:12

I think different taste here. They would go to charity shop if I was gifted them. But if your wife likes them it's super

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We wouldn't have them in our kitchen so wouldn't have them down here. But they match our natural colour scheme in the bedroom

OP posts:
Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:15

Bestfootforward11 · 22/02/2025 21:02

I’d have loved this! But I still remember when my dad bought my mum kitchen knives for Christmas that really didn’t go down well…looks like personal gifts are the preference for your partner which is fair enough!. You mentioned you both buy yourself things when you need it, so maybe do something like printing and framing photos or creating a photo book of baby’s first days or something.

Ohh that does give me an idea actually. She did mention a few months back a polaroid camera for when people come round to meet the baby. One of our friends did it & made a book or something out of them

Thanks, I'll have a look

OP posts:
MumChp · 22/02/2025 21:13

RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:10

Its just 1.5 hours door to door from ours to where we're going. So we should be alright with a couple of stops

But I do appreciate the help & advice so thanks for that. Its a brand new world for us so all the advice we can get the better. Its crazy they don't have more guidance on all this stuff outside of the bump to baby classes

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It's called common sense tbh.

Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:12

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/02/2025 21:12

I would personally love that as a present!

In fact I really want one now 😂

Haha, hold out & you'll see mine on vinted next week

OP posts:
MumChp · 22/02/2025 21:12

RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:05

@Thereunion that’s the mugs 😂

They do have handles, just a bad photo

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I think different taste here. They would go to charity shop if I was gifted them. But if your wife likes them it's super

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/02/2025 21:12

I would personally love that as a present!

In fact I really want one now 😂

Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:10

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 22/02/2025 21:09

Just fyi op, babies can be up to two weeks ISH late and that's a normal timeline. A brand new baby cannot be in a car seat more than 30 mins. Travel to Wales might be tricky!

Its just 1.5 hours door to door from ours to where we're going. So we should be alright with a couple of stops

But I do appreciate the help & advice so thanks for that. Its a brand new world for us so all the advice we can get the better. Its crazy they don't have more guidance on all this stuff outside of the bump to baby classes

OP posts:
MumChp · 22/02/2025 21:10

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 22/02/2025 21:09

Just fyi op, babies can be up to two weeks ISH late and that's a normal timeline. A brand new baby cannot be in a car seat more than 30 mins. Travel to Wales might be tricky!

They can but I wouldn't go with a newborn. So much more important to bond and settle at home. And rest!

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 22/02/2025 21:09

Just fyi op, babies can be up to two weeks ISH late and that's a normal timeline. A brand new baby cannot be in a car seat more than 30 mins. Travel to Wales might be tricky!

Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:09

GiraffesAtThePark · 22/02/2025 21:06

I thinks it’s nice and thoughtful but agree with others that there should have been another present just for her. I’m more concerned that you’re considering booking a trip to Thailand with a baby. Sounds mad to me. Everyone’s different I know and some can make it work but being stuck on a plane with a baby for a long haul sounds hellish. Even if you think you have a happy baby they can go through phases of not being one.

Haha, don't worry we're thinking australia & NZ for next winter too 😂Our friends (who just had babys) are all telling us that we're going to be in for a shock

My cousins in Dubai too, so we'll be going there at that at some point

OP posts:
GiraffesAtThePark · 22/02/2025 21:06

I thinks it’s nice and thoughtful but agree with others that there should have been another present just for her. I’m more concerned that you’re considering booking a trip to Thailand with a baby. Sounds mad to me. Everyone’s different I know and some can make it work but being stuck on a plane with a baby for a long haul sounds hellish. Even if you think you have a happy baby they can go through phases of not being one.

Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 21:05

RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 19:53

Haha! We'll its already now 'flat present' or house present.

I'll send a photo of the mugs later on, they're actually nice 😂

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@Thereunion that’s the mugs 😂

They do have handles, just a bad photo

Functional Birthday Present
OP posts:
Bestfootforward11 · 22/02/2025 21:02

I’d have loved this! But I still remember when my dad bought my mum kitchen knives for Christmas that really didn’t go down well…looks like personal gifts are the preference for your partner which is fair enough!. You mentioned you both buy yourself things when you need it, so maybe do something like printing and framing photos or creating a photo book of baby’s first days or something.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/02/2025 21:01

She's carrying your child. You should be buying her jewellery, chocolates and flowers, op, alongside the gift xx

Original poster
RandomUser456878 · 22/02/2025 20:59

MumChp · 22/02/2025 20:40

How much water does that kettle hold or do you have a water tap in your bedroom? Cups of teas and bottles...

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Oh yeah I didn't think to mention that. Its 1.7Ltrs but we have an tap in our Ensuite.

Our bedrooms the full top floor so have plenty of space for the Next to me crib & baby's changing on 1 side. Then her makeup & the drinks setup would on another set of draws down the other side

OP posts: