Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

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

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

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

87 replies

FairyFavour · 23/08/2019 15:00

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.

OP posts:

Expressedways · 23/08/2019 16:52

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 · 23/08/2019 16:59

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 · 23/08/2019 17:01

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

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families

foxyfemke · 23/08/2019 17:04

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 · 23/08/2019 17:06

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 · 23/08/2019 17:07

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.

Original poster

FairyFavour · 23/08/2019 17:12

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

OP posts:

ExpletiveDelighted · 23/08/2019 17:12

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

Original poster

FairyFavour · 23/08/2019 17:14

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

OP posts:

Original poster

FairyFavour · 23/08/2019 17:15

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

OP posts:

duebaby2 · 23/08/2019 17:24

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 · 23/08/2019 17:30

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 · 23/08/2019 17:32

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

8by8 · 23/08/2019 17:35

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

Original poster

FairyFavour · 23/08/2019 17:53

What about Ellie?

OP posts:

toastfiend · 23/08/2019 18:03

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 · 23/08/2019 18:07

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 · 23/08/2019 18:11

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 · 23/08/2019 18:14

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 · 23/08/2019 18:23

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 · 23/08/2019 18:24

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 · 23/08/2019 18:35

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 · 23/08/2019 19:12

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 · 23/08/2019 19:15

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

feelingsicknow · 23/08/2019 19:15

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

Flip

1 2 3 4