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Original poster

What's the best gift you received after giving birth?

54 replies

ReasonablyIntelligent · 28/06/2019 11:05

Very good friend of mine has just had her first baby.
I'm sure she's been overwhelmed with baby blankets, muslins etc and I really want to give her a gift that is going to be really helpful.

I considered some kind of home help thing (12 hours of a local cleaners time or something) but that would require her having to take time to book it and she may not like someone being in her house.

Any suggestions?
Budget is maybe £100-200 but could go higher for something really handy!

OP posts:
Cookit · 28/06/2019 12:13

@SushiTime LOVE my cacoonababy. Both of mine have loved it but not liked the sleepyhead at all.

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 28/06/2019 12:15

Friend came round with a load of ready meals, biscuits, bread, cheese, butter, tea, milk and small bottles of wine - that was amazing.

I generally do the same now, adding in yellow metanium and if funds allow a swaddle up bag (swaddling was the only way our boy would sleep and I'm so grateful my Mam showed me how to do it).

Somertime · 28/06/2019 12:21

Homemade chocolate fudge and made me a cup of tea to enjoy with it. Bliss.

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LittleKitty1985 · 28/06/2019 12:26

Amazed no one's suggested a netflix or prime subscription (whatever she doesn't already have) - you watch a LOT of TV while breastfeeding!

The best present I actually received was a small battery-powered nightlight that I could put in his cot Smile

Grumpbum123 · 28/06/2019 12:31

My friend filled my freezer from cook and provided enough snacks for a month it was amazing to know I had a decent meal and lovely snacks to give me a boost

Mammajay · 28/06/2019 12:33

I just googled cocoonababy and Tesco and john lewis have withdrawn some due to safety issues???

nicecuppaforme · 28/06/2019 12:36

@SushiTime I wouldn't buy that. Lots of these things have been dropped from sale as they're not safe for overnight sleep

MargotMoon · 28/06/2019 12:39

Cake, cake and more cake. Don't know what it is about BFing but cake = basic food group then.

My BFF turned up with a tube of lansinoh "for your tits" and tea tree and lavender essential oils "to put in the bath for your fanny". My shredded nipples and stitched up undercarriage were very grateful for both.

SushiTime · 28/06/2019 12:40

Ooooh good job I posted that as I wasn't aware! Will look into it. Thanks wise MN

ravepixie · 28/06/2019 12:41

home cooked or ready meals and i second the baby bouncer. you can get really good ones that don't cost a fortune. It was a life saver for me with my DD. if you can pop over and offer to babysit that will also be great help. i live off wet wipes for weeks!

Sparadrap · 28/06/2019 12:44

I loved a baby towel set that I was bought from John Lewis. It’s the softest most loveliest towel with a hood. It still is used 8 years on and is still as soft. I told the giver how perfect it was and they bought me another set for my 2nd baby.

I also really appreciated the massive box of Hotel Chocolates I was given. They didn’t last quite as long though Grin

Mammajay · 28/06/2019 12:48

For dil expecting in 3months..what sort of food do people like ( cooked meals)? My repertoire is limited but son and dil are good cooks.I would have bought lots of fruit??? Chocolate cake cheese and pate got a,mention here but I thought soft cheese and pate were unsafe for bf mums? Not trying to hijack the thread but making a list from your list.
Also, I had thought of something for bath to help with undercarriage but perhaps that not appropriate for mil to give in mixed bag of bodies??

supercalifragilistic123 · 28/06/2019 12:51

Massive selection box of decent chocolates Grin

champagneplanet · 28/06/2019 12:58

My friend bought me a beautiful loungewear set, it was lovely fabric and fit nicely round my post baby tummy, it made me feel good as I hated all my pregnancy clothes and pjs.

Someone else brought a mini bottle of fizz and chocs and some gorgeous bubble bath, just for me.

But practical gifts are just as good, my MIL was brilliant, bringing dinner on plates, taking my washing away with her, it was a huge help.

SapatSea · 28/06/2019 13:02

I would second the idea of a really good thermometer. Also would have loved an Amazon voucher to buy books to load onto the KIndle for those long. long feeds (but felt I had to be careful with money as on Maternity leave).

NeverGotMyPuppy · 28/06/2019 13:02

What I loved most:
Cook vouchers or batch cooked meals
Nice pjs
Nice hand cream
Dry shampoo
Biscuits
2bh if you can spare it your time is the best thing. Everyone was willing to hold the baby (of course) but my best friend came round and said 'right - what washing needs done?'. That was amazing.

FlatPackPat · 28/06/2019 13:07

FOOD!!!
(So basically what they all said ^)

Byebyefriend · 28/06/2019 13:14

Clothes in larger sizes rather than 3-6 months

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/06/2019 13:25

Clothes in larger sizes rather than 3-6 months

Ooh not for me. I’ve been given quite a few things for when she’s bigger, nice thought but a pain to store and by the time she’s big enough to use them I’ll have forgotten where I stashed them!

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/06/2019 13:31

Kind thoughts @ReasonablyIntelligent

I’d leave the undercarriage stuff, she might sort something for herself in advance if she wants it. Food doesn’t have to complicated. Especially if they cook you could focus on fruit and snacks. I still have a freezer full of stuff I cooked before she was born and in the first few months I was okay then suddenly famished so couldn’t be bothered to even heat stuff up (no microwave) and ate a lot of crackers and cheese, biscuits, flapjacks, bananas, cereal.

Why don’t you put together a box or basket of their favourite treats. I also like soap and when my mum’s friend came to visit she gave me some lovely treaty soaps. Also handcream, I’ve never washed my hands so much as I do with a baby!

EvilHerbivore · 28/06/2019 16:06

@Mammajay the problem with loads of fruit is that if you're dil is breastfeeding, it can give baby an upset stomach (or her, might not be fun with stitches!)
Plus it all goes off in a week
As for what food, honestly anything. I was starving and trapped under a tiny tyrant so nice ready meals/pizza, or a 'packed lunch' every day so she can just grab it and eat whilst baby feeds

howrudeforme · 28/06/2019 16:07

An olive tree. 13 years on its big and lovely and reminds me of my lovely friend.

DocMarteens · 28/06/2019 16:20

Mine was homemade flapjacks. Still think about them 10 years later Wink

chardonm · 28/06/2019 16:30

With that budget I would buy an ergo baby. Best gift I received.
Also - just me maybe - I had tons of carb heavy, sugar treats inside the house. When people visited I actually liked having veggie things because I never got to preparing myself a salad.

GreigLaidlawsbarofsoap · 28/06/2019 16:33

Someone got me a really really nice, posh, scented, yummy hand cream. Just for ME. Good quality one that helped with dry hands from all the interminable hand washing. That one stuck in my mind and I've got friends something similar when they've had a baby (as well as a present for the new little person too of course). I think it's nice to spoil the person doing all the hard work! Smile