What's the best present you've received for your newborn?

[sintrawest]

My friend has had a baby and I'd like to get something thoughtful maximum £30-£40 (though great if it's under). They already have a little one (18 months) so already have the basics.

What's the best and most useful present you've received for your newborn? If there's anything also for 18mo that would also be great as I was going to get something for them too.

I've not had kids yet so no direct experience! Thank you!

Not necessarily useful but I got given a jellycat teddy bear baby loves it and it was so thoughtful as he can keep it.

We got given a lot of clothes that don't fit now so I would go for something with a longer lifespan.

The little soft black and white contrast baby books from Amazon.

Amazing how early babie focus on them.

Or a little lamaze toy.

A really lovely roll up height chart in a tube. They are 5 and I still us them now to keep a record and they stay as new in the tube.

Honestly mist newborn presents are pretty pointless because they’re in them for such a short period of time it feels like you barely use them. If they’ve already got an 18 month old they won’t need anything and I’d feel like presents are a bit of a waste esp if they’re not having more children

a JL voucher would be nice as they can spend it on whatever they want

For my second baby I loved:
A super soft hooded towel (the ones from my oldest had gone a bit worn and scratchy)
Some nice, practical clothes that were her own - wondersuits are fab sleepsuits with 2 way zips
Lamaze soft toys with sensory bits on
A personalised sign for her door and book ends for a shelf in her nursery
Wonderbly do some books that can be tailored to the child which are also very lovely

We got eight different snuggly comforters for her so I don’t recommend those!

For the older one, wooden ice creams. They sell them in John Lewis, JoJo Maman Bebe, etc. My toddler is obsessed with hers.

Tuppence and Crumble star wrap.I didn't get it for newborn DC1 as I didn't know about them but bought myself one for DC2 and have just bought for another baby because I love them.

The perfect blanket for pram, buggy, sling, swings, car seat, etc. They are both brilliant and really cute.

Posh frozen ready meals she can bung in the oven when in the newborn haze!

A baby sheepskin - have bought for several babies and they always seem to go down well.

This!

I came on to recommend Tuppence and Crumble star wraps but I’ve been beaten to it! I therefore second this!

For the 18 month old I’d recommend the Melissa and Doug A3 sized reusable sticker pads as they’re easy for little ones to do themselves and nice and quiet for playing next to mum whilst she feeds baby! They were an absolute hero buy for my eldest when I had DD2.

Best gifts I got:

a Cook frozen meals box
a baby mobile my DD loved
a flourless chocolate cake by post

I also liked all the baby clothes, blankets, toys etc. but those three were my favourites 😂

One of those vibrating chairs. Something like this. This one is a bit higher than your budget but it would send my DD to sleep in a few minutes.

www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-GYC82-Fisher-Infant-to-Toddler-Rocker_GYC82/dp/B08D76FK62/ref=asc_df_B08D76FK62/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500802668790&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10570871968029857334&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045804&hvtargid=pla-1209843690941&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

They probably have everything for the baby so a new outfit for 3-6 months (winter clothes) if the older child wasn’t born in the same month/s is useful as they might have more summer clothing.

Second the jelly cat suggestion, my DC love them.

For the older sibling some sweets or wooden toys would be nice.

and if all else fails, I loved getting a spa voucher,
something for me.

Tuppence and Crumble star wrap!!!

IKEA Spoka ghost nightlight. Still in use many years later!

Also a buggy cosy from Jojo Maman Bebe. It was brilliant for winter walks with wriggly toddlers.

Amazing ideas, thanks all!!

Deliveroo vouchers. Best gift we were given. No time limit, no extra clutter, just food of our choosing when we needed it.

Food, food vouchers or make them something!

Morrck blanket. Fantastic product. We have several for car seats and pushchair.

Sock ons. I was given some and now always put a pack in with whatever I buy

I agree with the Sock Ons suggestion. I came across them by accident when my eldest wqs about 4 months, having already lost numerous socks. They are absolutely brilliant & I think I only lost one sock after that because I forgot to put them on that day. They come in a huge range of colours for about a fiver - look on Ebay. I literally give them to everyone I know who has a baby, maybe with a board book or similar if I want to spend a bit more.

Honestly get something for me the parents rather than the baby!

best gifts we got were deliveroo vouchers, anything food related so we didn’t have to attempt to cook with newborn 😂

someone got me some lovely bath stuff and I got a voucher for a local nail place I go to which was so lovely to get to use and have some time to myself!

most people probably have everything for the he baby

Best present I got - and have passed on to other new parents - to great excitement from them is

Ready meals - naice ones. An order from Cook if they deliver in your area. Or a Waitrose order of ready meals or Ocado (they have M&S).

The first few weeks /months are a series of grabbed meals - especially if breastfeeding and I went days eating just rolls and choclate one handed.

Knowing there was going to be a lovely dinner for a week or whenever things got on top of me was fabulous.

Literally the most memorable present and other people I've done it for have said the same.

A bath thermometer