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Original poster

Is beer an appropriate gift for new parents?

58 replies

Teacher12345 · 25/07/2020 07:25

DH close colleagues are having a baby. She is being induced right now. DH mentioned that everyone will get them stuff for the baby and he thinks we should get them some beer.
I am not so sure. It seems a bit inappropriate but then the mum isn't BF and they are both extremely responsible (and the husband has waited for this baby for decades as his ex wife was infertile) and some of the nicest people I have ever met.
Would you buy some beer for new parents?

OP posts:

HoneyBee03 · 25/07/2020 08:03

We got given a few bottles of fizz but my favourite was a nice bottle of gin with a bottle of tonic. It was really thoughtful - we didn't need to pop out to buy tonic, and as I was breastfeeding I could just have one drink in the evening rather than having to open and get through an entire bottle of fizz.

If I was given a nice selection of beers, I'd also have been very happy! But then I really like beer.

Original poster

Teacher12345 · 25/07/2020 08:05

@Trinketsfor20 why? Dh wants to buy his colleagues beer - I think it isn't appropriate but this may well be because I have the idea (socially constructed I guess) that new parents don't drink beer.
I want impartial opinions on whether or not you feel it appropriate to give two responsible adults beer to celebrate the arrival of a much wanted baby?

OP posts:

airo · 25/07/2020 08:06

Beer + bunch of flowers + small baby grow is what I would probably go for in this case...

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daisypond · 25/07/2020 08:07

Yes, it’s fine, if you are sure they both like it. I think it’s a rather good choice. I have many a friend who like beer but not wine or champagne or Prosecco and wouldn’t want those “celebratory” drinks.

Babamamananarama · 25/07/2020 08:10

You can drink beer when you are breastfeeding!! As long as you are not drinking to excess and endangering the baby's safety it's fine. The amounts that get into your breast milk are minuscule.

Personally: I like beer, I would have appreciated beer. But I would have been slightly annoyed if it had been bought just for my husband to drink.

Original poster

Teacher12345 · 25/07/2020 08:11

Thanks ladies. Definitley not just for the husband. I checked that she drinks it too.

OP posts:

dinosaurtin · 25/07/2020 08:15

We often buy alcohol and chocolate for friends with newborns. It’s just what we would have liked when ours were tiny. Rather then yet another pair of dungarees that whilst lovely really needed to be taken back to the shop for a different size.

Iwantacookie · 25/07/2020 08:18

Entirely depends on the parents.
I brought one of my friends a bottle of vodka as a baby present because we have that type of relationship and I knew she would appreciate it.
It was very well received

donkir · 25/07/2020 08:22

Have a look at the company Don't but her flowers. They do some great sets not just for mum but for couples too.

EasilyDelighted · 25/07/2020 08:22

I'd get something for the baby too, although I do drink beer (and wine) alcohol was not something I even remotely wanted in the early months of broken nights and early mornings. We had some lovely gifts for the babies when they were newborn, teddies, early toys etc, they were much more appreciated than the bottles of fizz.

okiedokieme · 25/07/2020 08:24

Champagne is ok, personally I would go with a meal box voucher or supermarket gift card if baby stuff isn't needed

ShirleyPhallus · 25/07/2020 08:24

[quote Teacher12345]@ShirleyPhallus really? How judgemental of you.[/quote]
Ok I’ll bite. Yes, judgmental of me to judge you for a ludicrous post that judges women who drink while breastfeeding and somehow manages to assume that people who wait years to conceive somehow find their children more precious than those that don’t

I am not sure if your OP is naive or stupid or both really

Original poster

Teacher12345 · 25/07/2020 08:24

Easily delighted - see I hated all the teddies when mine were born! So many and then you are guilted into keeping the bloody things because "X bought that".

OP posts:

KizzyWayfarer · 25/07/2020 08:25

Bottles of nice beer are actually more practical than fizz for a new mum who likes them, since one bottle each or one between two is a lot less alcohol than having to drink a whole bottle of Prosecco.

Original poster

Teacher12345 · 25/07/2020 08:27

@ShirleyPhallus Actually - I put in the bit about breastfeeding because I knew others would point that out (and they did about 5 posts in!). I also at no point said that there baby was more wanted than others - that is something that you clearly have a bee in your bonnet about.
If someone else had posted that, there is no way I would have thought "oh does that make my child less wanted".

OP posts:

KizzyWayfarer · 25/07/2020 08:27

I don’t mean just get them one or two bottles, but that they could be drunk over a few nights!

EasilyDelighted · 25/07/2020 08:28

I loved the teddies! We didn't get huge numbers of them it was mainly clothes. The worst thing I was given was babysitting vouchers a few days after birth when I was a total hormonal mess, I remember smiling politely at the giver and bursting into tears when she left at the thought of ever being parted from my pfb.

ShirleyPhallus · 25/07/2020 08:30

[quote Teacher12345]@ShirleyPhallus Actually - I put in the bit about breastfeeding because I knew others would point that out (and they did about 5 posts in!). I also at no point said that there baby was more wanted than others - that is something that you clearly have a bee in your bonnet about.
If someone else had posted that, there is no way I would have thought "oh does that make my child less wanted".[/quote]
Why on earth would you add this in: the husband has waited for this baby for decades as his ex wife was infertile

And saying how “responsible” the parents are.

The whole post is just very odd. Hence the face.

MarshmallowsOnToast · 25/07/2020 08:33

In my opinion, it's a better idea than another load of teddies, blankets, bibs & vests.

These are nice but we received so many as gifts, more than we could ever use so whilst nice they will end up unused.

I had a baby 9 weeks ago and would have loved takeaway vouchers, nice biscuits (was starving sat up all night with newborn) and a nice bottle of flavoured gin which I'd missed during pregnancy.

Original poster

Teacher12345 · 25/07/2020 08:40

@ShirleyPhallus because I know people on MN have the opinions that A: drinking with children present is irrisponsible - ever, and B, that men are lazy and do not pitch in with childcare. Perhaps it was more info than needed but it is true.
Perhaps someone infertile could consider this insensitive but my DH and I suffered with seconadry infertility and it is unfortunate but we do not feel offended by the mention of it.

OP posts:

Spottybluepyjamas · 25/07/2020 08:42

Definitely a good idea! I was exclusively breastfeeding and still enjoyed having some nice wine or beer in the evening! They've probably got heaps of baby stuff like bibs and clothes etc. Nice to give them something that is for them, and makes them feel like people again

I didn't get my best friend anything for her baby when she was born, but I did get her and her husband a few bottles of their favourite wine, which I know was appreciated more!

Passthecake30 · 25/07/2020 08:42

If a man suggested that a good present would be beer I’d personally think that they were just thinking of themselves. However, in this case I’d probably go with one of those packs of 4 bottles and a gift card.

PotteringAlong · 25/07/2020 08:48

I have the idea that new parents don't drink beer.

JingleCatJingle · 25/07/2020 08:51

If they both like beer, get beer!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 25/07/2020 08:55

Im not anti because it’s alcohol it’s because it’s not a type of gift usually given. Flowers, fizz, a baby outfit etc. Yes! ....btw teddies are utterly pointless

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