What were your unexpectedly lovely post-birth gifts (mother or baby)

[Couchto5ktowine]

A friend is about to have a much longed for baby after a very long journey to get pregnant. We’ve only had sporadic contact in the last few years and she’ll be flooded with the “usual” gifts from closer family and friends but I’ll love to send something to celebrate.

So does anything spring to mind on what I could send? I haven’t made up my mind on whether I’m sending something for mother, baby or both. Budget is probably £50 max and it would need to be posted.

I was given a beautiful book of paintings of motherhood, by all the great artists, upon the birth of my first 23 years ago. I still treasure it.

A hamper with champagne, pate and unpasteurised cheese. All the things I missed and craved throughout pregnancy.

For baby - Sensory muslins from Etta Loves. About £28 so too much to spend on “just” a set of muslins but as a present they are gorgeous.

For mum - Cook vouchers!

For me & DH : chocolate/biscuits/cake, JustEat vouchers, hand cream, This Works sets (pillow sprays etc), home-cooked meals.

For baby: short-sleeved vests in basically any size, same with sleepsuits. Tuppence and Crumble star wrap. Musical mobile for the cot. Soft rattles. Animal comforter that also made a little noise when you scrunched it or shook it. Little toys that can clip on to car seats and prams (like the Lamaze ones). Nice plate/cup/cutlery sets to put away ready for weaning. Toy train that spelled out baby's name. Muslims, dribble bibs. Nappies!

Loads of really really nice letterbox brownies. I think I ate them on consecutive nights at about 3am. Really got me through the first week of breastfeeding.

@Newnamedillydally

A hamper with champagne, pate and unpasteurised cheese. All the things I missed and craved throughout pregnancy.

Oh that’s a good one too!

I think food based presents for the mother are definitely the way to go. You get so much tat for the baby - so many Lamarze toys etc that of course the baby never actually plays with and then no one wants to be gifted it second hand the way you can at least pass down clothes bundles.

Newnamedillydally
A hamper with champagne, pate and unpasteurised cheese. All the things I missed and craved throughout pregnancy.“

Yes this!! I actually did this for myself and ordered an online delivery to be delivered when we got back. Came back from the hospital to be greeted to all the gooey cheeses, pate, champagne etc. despite my tired state it was absolute heaven. Was also only 5pm and I’d been awake for 48hrs, but having our new baby, sitting watching him, with a chilled glass of champagne, cheeses, bread, deli meats and pate was bliss!! So much bliss as I didn’t know at that point what the night feeds had in store!! Ignorance is bliss too!!

A friend got me a nappy caddy full of medicines and creams etc which as a first time mom I didn't even think about! It included the usual sudocrem, metanium, gripe water, cotton wool pads, nail clippers etc. All stuff that really came in handy and I now do the same for people I know giving birth for the first time 😊

DP's friend's elderly mother, who we had never met and still haven't, politely asked if we would mind if she knitted something for newborn DD. She lives far away in another country. We said of course we wouldn't mind. A couple of weeks later a parcel arrived with a tiny, cream and light brown cardigan and matching hat knitted in beautiful soft wool. With a tiny bobble on the hat. We were so touched and treasured those items so much. Favourite gifts or clothes we have ever had for DD who is now 4.

Nappy caddy is one of the best things I was given. Still going strong 2 years later.
It was only a cheap felt thing off amazon but has sections for all the bits and bobs like cream and nappy bags too.

A giant bottle of gin. From my aunt. I love her.

Contigo cup, best and most used gift I've ever received! Then luxury pyjamas and an incredibly soft snuggly blanket (adult sized). And cook voucher. Contigo cup or cook vouchers is a total winner for any new mother.

Also massively appreciated home cooked meals that friends made. Definitely give presents to her rather than the baby!

Oh I remember the car box - which I think you can now get as caddies, for all the Soren let minute things you might forget

So nappies, wipes sudacreme, Caron of baby milk, juice drink, snacks, Muslim cloth, dummies, spare clothes, type stuff

Came in handy when we got stuck or just popping out but stayed longer

Nappy caddy! Meal vouchers and a quick drying hair towel! Also anyone who arrived with a home cooked meal,an hour before dinner time willing to cuddle baby while you ate,or brought coffee and did the same was always well received!

Another vote for food. After a traumatic birth and week in hospital for both of us, we took our precious DD to see her grandparents. They had produced a lunch consisting of everything I missed eating while pregnant. I gorged while they cuddled their only grandchild. It was as so simple but so thoughtful. My in laws really are the best

The ladies from our church cooked for us for the first 2 weeks that was amazing!

One would bring hot food around and then the next person the next night would drop the next meal off and collect the dishes from the previous night.

That was just for our first though! The next children everyone clubbed together and bought us "cook" vouchers (cook are like homemade frozen ready meals)

Big box of chocolates to eat while breastfeeding.
Flowers already arranged and in a container so I didn’t have to do anything except look at them.

If you want something more practical, baby clothes in the next size up… it’s amazing how fast they grow!

The best thing I had was a visit from my lovely friend who brought a small bunch of flowers she had picked that morning from her garden.

A friend I hadn’t seen in ages text me to say she’d dropped off a homemade meal outside our door and then left without expecting an invitation in to see us / the baby. It was such a kind thing to do, especially when we really didn’t need any more clothes etc and were knackered.

Otherwise I think a Hooded bath towel, maybe with some baby massage oil and nice aveeno baby wash is always a nice gift as it’s not something people typically buy but useful to have.

A snot sucker. You get weird looks when handing it over but in about 6 months there'll be a rush of love and appreciation when they've used it at 3am in desperation.
Some 6-9 month clothes - they'll have way too much 0-3, 3-6 stuff.
Something utterly luxurious for mum.