What was the best gift you received as a new parent?

[FairyFavour]

Just trying to come up with something useful rather than cute clothes. It’s been a long time since I had a baby so any ideas welcome.

Definitely not buying a sleepy head or perfect prep machine.

[Expressedways]

Definitely no to the jellycat bunny. We got about 30. The best gift we were given (other than champagne!) was a baby blanket. We hadn’t actually bought any as we planned to use swaddles/sleeping bags and when DD started daycare it was BYOB (bring your own blanket) so it’s had so much use.

[birdsdestiny]

My oldest is 14 now, when he was a newborn, my friend bought a beautiful soft winnie the pooh blanket. Both my babies had naps in it, it kept them warm in buggies, a lot of the photos of them in beaches and parks are of them lying on the blanket. We still use it for picnics and the beach!

[Theducksarenotmyfriends]

Vouchers for a cleaning service - free cleaning! Amazing! Next best present was a bottle of Bailey's....

[foxyfemke]

Homemade lasagna that we could just warm through. It was amazing, especially as our son was in hospital for weeks, so it was just one fewer thing to think about for a few days.

[ExpletiveDelighted]

Well, cuddly toys given at birth (Jellycat and similar) are my teen DD's most treasured possessions so I'd say they were good.

I don't think Cook was around when mine were babies but vouchers would have been appreciated provided the minimum order is quite low definitely check they have freezer space before giving actual food. Chocolate biscuits etc great too, alcohol not at all, there was no way I wanted to make myself feel even more knackered.

Grobags were definitely appreciated.

[8by8]

Oh definitely no cuddly toys. I think we got about twenty jellycat monkeys when DS1 was born, and everybody wants the baby to love their monkey and wants to see cute photos of them snuggled up etc, but turns out neither of our children have any interest at all in soft toys.

Stuff for the parents is best - food, pay for a cleaner or laundry service, more food. I realised when DS1 was about 3 weeks old that I’d literally only eaten toast and crisps since he was born, so now always give food hampers to new parents.

[FairyFavour]

I was thinking a graze subscription, so lots of snack through the post?

[ExpletiveDelighted]

I'd have hated having someone arrange a cleaner or laundry service for us, definitely check before arranging anything like that.

[FairyFavour]

I am quite local so will happily pop in with a lasagne. Won’t just turn up unannounced of course

[FairyFavour]

Yes, I was hoping the baby would love my jelly cat bunny the most.

[duebaby2]

Chocolates! I was in hospital for a week and they made it worth it!
Champagne was wasted on us, 3 years later we still have the same bottle we got given when our first was born. It’ll get drunk probably after baby 2 which is due just before Christmas.
Cuddly toys just sit on top of a wardrobe or floor for many years until they decide to play with them.
The idea of having someone cook food for me or have vouchers for delivery services for food then I would be happy

[Waggily]

Chocolates are a good idea. My best friend brought a box of delicious posh salted caramel truffles with her every time she visited for the first 3 months. They were an absolute godsend when you just needed that extra bit of energy ( and TLC) in the early hours.

[donkir]

@8by8 if you ever want to donate the monkeys they're my boys comforter. He has 7 currently 😂

[8by8]

Hah! I would but I’m afraid we gave them away a while ago :)

[FairyFavour]

What about Ellie?

[toastfiend]

A Tuppence & Crumble fleecy star wrap is one of our most-used gifts. It was fabulous throughout the winter and actually got a lot of use on chiller spring days too. The towel version is also fabulous, I use it all the time and it's amazing on holiday and for keeping him warm whilst I get dressed after swimming lessons.

A Baby Bjorn bouncer was great in the early days for keeping him happy whilst I ate dinner, but they are pricey.

We still use our gro egg and gro penguin and DS is nearly 7 months old. We bought the gro egg ourselves and the gro penguin was a gift. Both are fab, though, as are grobags or groswaddles.

[Ragwort]

Cleaner for three months (thanks Mum ).
Nice homemade meals.
Luxury bubble bath, lotion ... definitely get something for the new parents ... babies get inundated with new gifts (30 soft toys in our case ).

[user1475009690]

I bought my friend loads of Clarins pamper goodies for herself and she cried when she opened it because it was the only present she got for herself and she wasn’t expecting it.

[clippityclop]

A cotton knitted blanket, think it came from Boots, in nice bright colours. Still have it around today. I buy similar for friends and they always go down well.

[CurlyWurlyTwirly]

I bought DS a tippitoes babybath, it’s now discontinued, but schnuggle seems to be the closest.
It’s been through 5 cousins! ( aged 8 to 1)
Brilliant because baby is up to its neck in water, so keeps warm. Reclines, and is supported by inbuilt seat and padded head rest. You can wash baby in a warm room as it doesn’t use too much water.
Also you can have a hand free to reach for soap, sponge etc.

[ExpletiveDelighted]

Ooh yes, we had some lovely blankets and quilts. Going against the grain a bit, I didn't really want things for me (apart from nice food), I was given quite a few bubble baths and body lotions etc but they didn't get used.

[minipie]

Best baby gifts imo:

tuppence and crumble star wrap
merino sleeping bag, or gro bag
nice muslins - I coveted the brightly coloured ones when I only had stained white
food (cook, takeaway voucher, home made)
Baby toys that are NOT soft toys - those fold out books that go round the side of the pram for example, or a squidgy rattly ball, or one of those bits of fabric with labels all round. Anything for the car or buggy is good. Not useful in newborn stage but great later.

[feelingsicknow]

Best things we got or bought were:

Extra large Muslins - seriously can never have enough and they will eventually double as lightweight blankets, breastfeeding cover ups, changing mats and something to wipe your hands with when weaning!

Cook voucher or similar

Socks and mitts because they never stay in a pair

Napisan

A breastfeeding pillow (c-shaped)

Gro-egg room thermometer

Bath thermometer

[wendz86]

A home cooked lasagne and a pack of massive muslins in different colours .

[feelingsicknow]

More:

Playmat with toy arch

Jumperoo (aka circle of neglect - from 4-8 months this was a lifesaver)

Sheepskin carrycot liner

Lots of sleeping bags - we didn't start using one until about 6 months so consider whether they'll need a light or heavy fog