About to become uncle, would like to buy parents something but clueless?

[WhatAmIDoingOnMumset]

In a few weeks, if all goes as expected, I'll become an uncle for the first time. I've been wanting to buy a present of some sort, whether practical or otherwise. But this is very much not my area of expertise, I have little to no idea what would be appreciated by/useful for the parents or enjoyed by the child. The baby will be a girl if it matters, also it will be the mother's 3rd child but the father's first. Any ideas?

Baby clothes
Sophie la girraffe
Box of chocolates for mum

A basket of bath post natal goodies for mum. Some batch cooked meals to go in the freezer and see if there is anyone nearby who can take in ironing for money and pay for that upfront.

That's probably the three things I would have appreciated the most.

They probably already have a lot of baby stuff especially if baby has older siblings.

Something for mum would be nice. A nice comfortable cushion for example for all the feeds, pamper set would be nice also. A subscription gift card to Netflix/prime video if they don’t have one.

A nice name frame with babies name, dob, weight etc. 'Frame my name' on amazon

When you visit to meet baby, offer to bring lunch (& mean it!).
Jellycat toys are great, or a copy of your favourite childhood book.
Flowers are a pain, chocolate is far better.

Large Jellycat rabbit.

Cook ready meals. They were a godsend in the early weeks so the new parents don’t have to think of what to cook.

When I say large, I actually mean medium! The one that's about £20/£25

A little keepsake like a photo album. Maybe offer to pay for a cleaner? Fill the freezer? Babysitting services for the older children?

Some classic books for the dc, some lovely bubble bath or pampering stuff for the mum. A set of lovely things eg baby bubble bath, a voucher for babysitting, some meals...

The best present I got was from my brother - a chilled delivery of 12 lovely vegetarian ready meals , quite upmarket ones and really nutritious and lovely. Saved my life the first few days.

Agree not flowers. They are just hassle and die and are of no use to anyone

A book called Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes. Stone cold classic.

Chocolate and meal vouchers for the parents. Maybe a toy or book for the older children so that don't feel left out (given they're not related to you, this might depend on how well you know them) and either a Jellycat soft toy (they are gorgeous) or a Lamaze toy for baby would be my recommendations.

Large Jellycat toy, cute baby outfit, baby blanket, cheque written out to baby’s name.
For the parents send a delivery from Cook, take the other two kids on a day out so the new parents can sleep, offer to babysit. For the mum a nice bubble bath (Laura Mercier creme brûlée), or l’occitane hand cream and a box of chocolates would go down very well.

Why not ask? My mother asked what would I most like and it was the pushchair/travel system. It was a bigger ticket item than I'd get from anyone else.
The baby probably doesn't need any more clothes or toys.

I'll add to the voices saying a jellycat cuddly - they are so lovely and suitable from newborn. Also the Sophie la Giraffe is fantastic for when baby starts teething. A lovely baby blanket could also be a nice gift (unless there are a lot of relatives who will knit them).

If it's the mums 3rd then I'm sure they will have a lot of basics.
I would get a special book and a gift voucher (eg Next)

Also agree with jellycat soft toys. Mine have fuddlewuddle and nimbus but they are all lovely.

Why don't you ask them directly if there is something that they would need? My family and my closest friends all asked me when we were expecting our first child, and I was able to give each of them some choices of items off our baby shopping list, e.g. changing bag, bath items, room thermometers, etc. I'm due our second and I've done the same again. Even things like giving money towards larger items like car seats is useful. I've also given the option of getting me coffee shop vouchers this time as that is much needed when off work but on minimal pay! I'd rather have the money spent on things that were useful than just soft toys and bubble bath, especially as pamper time for me is now very rare!! 😂

Boringly, I'm also going to say a Jellycat toy for the baby. DD still sleeps with hers, and she's nearly 14.

For mum, I would buy a really nice shower gel because she might not have time for a bath, whereas a shower is easier to achieve in the early days. One of my friends bought me the most gorgeous basil scented shower gel (yes, I know it sounds odd) and it was the best present ever. It was ridiculously calming and it gave me five minutes of peace when I needed it.

Snacks are hugely welcome for both parents.

Is there a book that you & your brother both really loved as children? A copy of that with a little 'Dear niece, this book was loved by me & your dad when we were little, and I hope he will love reading it again with you' type message might be nice for your brother?

Pasta evangelists order

Can you take the older children out? Even for an hour? We (and they!) would have appreciated this more than any gift you could buy. Take them out, make THEM feel special, give mum and dad a break from trying to focus on baby AND entertain older ones (probably particularly falling to your brother, if I’ve understood your post correctly). Then if you want to bring a material gift too: lunch for them and a jellycat rabbit (I love the ones with flowery fabric ears, so sweet).

Meal vouchers for their local takeaway place.
Take the other 2 kids out to the cinema for the afternoon.
Find out what baby products they are planning to use and fill a box up.
Netflix/prime subscription

Gift for the older kids.

Food you can eat left handed and won't drip on babies head...(snacks )

Flavoured water with the sports type top. (Breast feeding makes you thirsty)