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Original poster

Keep hearing people say that flowers are a crap thing to send a new mum. Are they?? What would you send instead?

78 replies

Mismanaged2 · 03/04/2019 14:05

I love getting flowers! Absolutely love it. They make my house smell and look lovely. Getting them is a delight.

But are they a crap gift for a new mum?? I wouldn’t have thought so, but I heard someone say it. (Tbh if someone had sent me flowers after my baby was born, I would have been thrilled. No one did though! Grin Instead, lots of newborn baby clothes and toys. Which, actually, I didn’t really need... very gratefully received though.)

What do you think?

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 03/04/2019 14:06

I received flowers pre arranged in a gift box with water. They were great as I didn't have to spend time arranging them.
I wouldn't give anything that causes any work for new parents.
What I really wish people had done for us was cook us some meals.

Orangecake123 · 03/04/2019 14:09

Personally I love flowers. They make me happy and I have lilies on my table now. Chose something just for her and not baby.You know your friend best. If you think she'd love it go for it.

Roxybaby12 · 03/04/2019 14:10

I had flowers after my first and was thrilled! So nice to have been thought of! X

megletthesecond · 03/04/2019 14:11

Nice handcream was more useful.

Happyspud · 03/04/2019 14:15

I was living away from family when I had my first and by day 3, when my hormones were wild, I had about 12 bouquets in pint glasses and bowls all over the flat. I was on the phone to my sister, roaring crying, and said ‘and there’s fucking flowers everywhere’ and she said ‘uh oh’. Of course within the hour her massive bouquet landed. I still laugh about that day. But I’ll never forget trying to keep a newborn and 3 million rotting flowers alive those first weeks.

So I’d say forget the flowers and send chocolates instead.

TotalNoob · 03/04/2019 14:16

Well if the woman liked receiving flowers before she gave birth, chances are she will like receiving them after as well.

Personally I think flowers are a huge waste of money unless it’s a little bunch of daffodils or similar. But I’ve always felt this way.

LuvSmallDogs · 03/04/2019 14:17

I love bouquets in those plastic disposable bowls so you don’t need to do anything. I got a lovely one from DH’s work after staying in hospital for a week with DS3 and was very touched.

Therewere5inthebed · 03/04/2019 14:18

Charlie Bigham meals for the freezer would have been very welcome.

Postmissposte · 03/04/2019 14:19

Any of...
Chocolate
Nappies
Meals for the freezer/oven
Handwash/handcream
Cake
I'm not crazy about flowers for environmental reasons and also I have cats so prefer not to have lilies etc in the house.

Samind · 03/04/2019 14:19

A pamper box would of been nice for me so I could of used it when I felt better. I got flowers not long before I had LO so couldn't have expected them again 😂😂😂

INeedNewShoes · 03/04/2019 14:19

My mum came to help when DD was born so she dealt with most of the flowers for me. On my own, it would have been just another thing to manage to get done in the day.

Nice fruit, homemade cakes, nice soft drinks are all nice to receive.

Even better, a lasagne or similar to just stick in the oven.

If you're not nearby, you could send hand cream or a Netflix subscription or similar.

GarthFunkel · 03/04/2019 14:19

Chocolate, hand cream, Contigo travel mug.
Best present to myself was a massive box of small juice cartons which I kept by the side of the sofa for all the times I sat down to feed the baby then got very very thirsty.

EssentialHummus · 03/04/2019 14:19

Live plants better imo. But I tend to send lasagne/mac and cheese/Cook vouchers.

toucantoo · 03/04/2019 14:21

I think some indulgent bath stuff or similar just for mum, to make her feel good about herself is the best thing to give a new mum.

SosigDog · 03/04/2019 14:22

I like flowers. I prefer plants because they live longer. But my absolute favourite gift after giving birth was a ridiculously posh bottle of champagne with chocolates and a note that said Well Done. There’s such a lot of focus on the baby, it was nice for someone to pat me on the back.

havingtochangeusernameagain · 03/04/2019 14:25

One of the best things I had as a new mum was a baby basket. It had a blanket, a board book and a toddler book in it. Much more useful than flowers. Admittedly for baby. not me, but a lovely present.

Flowers die and you have to spend time putting them in a vase. If you really don't know what to get just get a bottle of wine - shes been starved of alcohol for 9 months (or if you know she likes "banned" cheese, give her that).

Vouchers are better than baby clothes because people always buy the wrong size for the season.

jackparlabane · 03/04/2019 14:31

If she didnt always have flowers around before birth, she's not going to want to have to find containers and all afterwards. My best presents were a baby blanket and the most enormous box of alcoholic chocolate truffles ever, and a voucher for COOK meals as my mum couldn't fill my freezer for me. Two chocs per breast feed was recommended by my best friend.

SauvB123 · 03/04/2019 14:35

Ready meals
“Cook” vouchers (if shop nearby)
Chocolate
Cake
Fresh fruit platters

endofthelinefinally · 03/04/2019 14:35

Meals for the freezer
An insulated mug
Chocolates
Posh biscuits
Cake
Nice fruit
Lovely soap and hand cream.
All things I would have liked.

AsMuchUseAsAMarzipanDildo · 03/04/2019 14:37

Contigo flask ... the one with the lock so you can safely drink hot tea while feeding a newborn....and chocolate...lots of chocolate

katienana · 03/04/2019 14:38

I love getting flowers personally. But my mum got me the best gift as well as stuff for the baby she brought me lovely hair products, a beef casserole, chocolate cake and then she actually bathed kebabs washed my hair as I was in a bad way.

caperplips · 03/04/2019 14:40

wow I never get over the fact that there are people who dislike flowers!!
I got LOADS when dd was born and I absolutely loved them.

This was long before I discovered MN and had my eyes opened to such things, but i had one friend who gave me an expensive handcream when she came to meet the baby and I thought it was the oddest gift ever! Not unwelcome, just odd. It would never had occurred to me to bring it as a gift when a baby was born. Maybe my friend was already familiar with MN ways Grin

beachysandy81 · 03/04/2019 14:44

When I had my children I just loved getting baby clothes. Every time someone brought some 'treat' for me I was (quietly) disappointed they hadn't thought to bring something for my beautiful new baby instead. I know a lot of people feel different about this though!!

WhiteDust · 03/04/2019 14:44

I love getting flowers! People avoid getting them as they are an 'obvious' present but the ones I got made me really happy when I'd just had the DCs.
I have a friend who buys me hand cream and I really don't like it!!

IndicativeVotes · 03/04/2019 14:47

My most appreciated gift was a £20 Starbucks/Costa voucher. I really was trying to save money so it was lovely to treat myself every now and again.

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