Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What new baby gifts did you really love/appreciate?

99 replies

rainonthewindow · 30/07/2019 20:47

Sorry if this thread has been done 1000 times! DSis is due soon and I’d like to get her something really lovely but I can’t make my mind up. I keep seeing so many lovely clothes and blankets etc but she’s bought/been given so many already.

What baby presents do you remember as being special? Things that you actually used and loved. Thanks all!

OP posts:
EnglishRose1320 · 31/07/2019 00:06

Like pp the practical gifts that I loved and used loads were the cuddledry towel, the fold up changing mat with storage for nappies and an organiser for the pram.

But my best gift was probably a hamper of bits for me that made me feel a bit more human: dry shampoo, nice face cream, anti bac gel, cleansing wipes, flannel, nail polish, hand cream, magazines, chocolates etc and it also had a few tiny baby things in it, a beautiful hat and mitten set and a fabric rattle.

SalitaeDiscesa · 31/07/2019 00:30

A bee mobile and a pussyfoot cat clock. I thought they were bizarre presents for a newborn but she was mesmerised by them. As soon as she could vocalise she started chatting to the clock. Swatting bees was her favourite game for months 😁

SalitaeDiscesa · 31/07/2019 00:31

Pussycat not pussyfoot

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Gingerkittykat · 31/07/2019 00:46

The one I remember most was from my sister, a necklace for me to mark the occasion and some luxury smellies.

Hawkmoth · 31/07/2019 00:55

A lovely carved stork ornament. DD has it in her room aged 13.

ChillyB · 31/07/2019 01:02

Chilly Bottle - kept me hydrated whilst breastfeeding and now I use it when we go out and about to fill my DS cup too.

Aden and Anais dream blanket and large swaddles

Morrck car seat blanket

Voucher to go and get his hand/footprints painted onto something (I didn’t think I would like this but it’s one of my favourite things now).

Pepperstripe · 31/07/2019 01:32

Food!!!! I wouldn't buy clothes...we ended up with so many bought for us and most weren't suitable.

Dogdogcat · 31/07/2019 01:55

I really liked handmade things. My sister made DS a sweater that he wore when he was tiny. I also have a couple of pairs of handmade leather/sheepskin boots that I will save for him.

Proseccoinamug · 31/07/2019 07:20

Changing bag.
Kari me wrap sling

Magpiefeather · 31/07/2019 07:27

Absolute BEST gift - Cook vouchers

Also....
Snoozeshade
Snuggly bear suit - all in one
Always need babygrows (M&S fab), preferably in a size bigger than 6 months - this is when all the presents stop!!!

In my experience, don’t buy...

  • hats
  • tiny little cute shoes - they just don’t get used
  • blankets
  • any clothes with buttons up the back or with no poppers at the nappy end
TitilatedOcelot · 31/07/2019 17:52

Baby sheepskin rug / mat - cool to lie on in summer cosy in winter.

A personalised draw string bag from Little Folk - used for nursery and still in use for swimming kit at school.

SinkGirl · 31/07/2019 18:11

A voucher for casts of their hands / feet? I really regret not doing this when the boys were born and so tiny

I would have loved a doll from Cuddle & Kind

Clothes from Polarn O Pyret or Maxomorra

If you want to buy something pricey, practical and stylish, a Baby Bjorn bouncer or Stokke Tripp Trapp, something they can use for a really long time. Our BB bouncers saved my sanity.

SukiPutTheEarlGreyOn · 31/07/2019 18:25

Great big soft bibs that had velcro fastening.
Organic cotton blanket and muslins
Green people baby bath/ nappy stuff
They were all practical things that felt nice and kind to baby skin.
My favourite thing was a friend who painted baby’s foot and did a print and then framed it for me. I still treasure it.

Venger · 31/07/2019 18:53

Tuooence and Crumble wrap, it lasted ages and was so soft and snuggly.

I know people think they're twee but I loved the nappy cake a friend bought me. Each layer had different brands and the top layer had a couple of reusables so I could try out different nappies before deciding which ones to buy, also had lots of little Childs Farm toiletries for baby tucked inside and Soap and Glory for me.

A super soft fleece blanket in a beautiful star pattern big enough to go over both of us for those newborn days of cuddling on the sofa and night feeds.

MrsWidgerysLodger · 31/07/2019 18:56

Someone bought us a kit to have DDs handprints etched in wood. We had it done in oak to match our dining table and I go all gooey whenever I look at it.

Hotbiscuits · 31/07/2019 19:03

Second really lovely shower gel and shampoo-for a little while it’s the only break you get! I liked Liz Earle. Also savoury food was much appreciated-you get a bit sick of biscuits. Though M+S chocolate selection are the best.

I had an amazing postnatal massage. Could have had one every week v happily.

consider Figleaves vouchers (best selection of nursing bras) or for breastfeeding clothes-but maybe wait to see how that pans out first.

I did not like offers of babysitting-I was wildly possessive of DS and furious that anyone thought they could do my job! But maybe that’s just me.

Hotbiscuits · 31/07/2019 19:06

Oh yeah Maxmorra sleepsuits are the best-ZIPS! Try Babi Pur.

Don’t buy stuff for older babies. It’s overwhelming having to keep up with all the sorting.

sirmione16 · 31/07/2019 19:08

We got gifted a really soft u shape pillow (not a hard breastfeeding one, it's really snug and medium size) and honestly we use it no end. Newborn great for feeding, or behind my back when holding him, a few months old I could lie him down and he'd sleep on it on the sofa (supervised!), when learning to sit id prop him up in it, now he's sitting it curves round him as a barrier in case he topples!

Atlasta · 31/07/2019 19:11

An offer from family member to buy baby seat/bouncer if our choice.
Used daily and everyday I thought of the person and what a nice gesture it had been to buy something so useful.

Chocolatedaim · 31/07/2019 19:11

The Bonnie Mob is a lovely brand for clothing.

My dd was born in January and my brother brought her a really beautiful fleece lining for the pushchair from The White Company. (This was 5yrs a go!)

Do you know if they will be using a sleepyhead? If they are you can buy lovely sun shades to attach to them so that baby can be outside but fully protected. I know that may sound boring but sometimes practical is key.

Amara123 · 31/07/2019 19:13

Multipacks of long sleeved vests from m&s and also their multipack of leggings.
Voucher for Mothercare.
Bath toys for when he was older.
Toomie eggs (toy every child seems to get obsessed with)
Play mat with toys above
Jumperoo
Reclining bouncer chair
Breastfeeding rocking chair, lived in it!

BikeRunSki · 31/07/2019 19:23

A personalised draw string bag from Little Folk - used for nursery and still in use for swimming kit at school.

DS has a bag like this, but Cath Kidston cowboy print, that he was gifted as a baby, and became his nursery bag, tidbit his PE bag. He is going to middle school (Y6) in September and is insistent that it will still be his PE bag. I am happy to buy him something a bit more grown up, but he’s clinging on!

Youwanapizzame · 31/07/2019 19:27

I got a voucher for a newborn shoot and we went...

This included 1 pic. They'd talked 100s. They handed us a price list thay made me cry all the way home.... it cost about £600 to get a disc woth so many pics on... we did it as... well lots of reasons but why don't you find out where the photo shoot is and see if you can buy some vouchers towards the pics? Or a package?

Other than that a friend turned up with food from Cook... mains sides and a couple of puds... was great. She did check I had freezer room though...

Youwanapizzame · 31/07/2019 19:32

They'd taken 100s

farmlotto · 31/07/2019 19:34

Pre machine! Wouldn't of got through life without it!