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!

I thought sock ons were awful! They fell off, or were hard to get on, or easy to get lost cos they were so tiny

Our newborn is 2 weeks old now and our favourite items are:

• soft hooded towel - we didn't get one ourselves as we thought they might be a fad but they're brilliant for bathtime. The hood makes all the difference
• chunky colourful books - we read to our newborn when she's awake enough. Her favourite is the hungry caterpillar (read: our favourite 😍)
• clothes in 3-6 months and above. We realised we had probably too many newborn and 0-3 months clothes that we bought in prep so it's nice knowing that baby has some 3-6 month and older clothes too
• any sort of food. My sister bought over an enormous tray of lasagne ready for the oven and it made the first week so easy as we didn't have to think about what to make.

Oh my! They are super cute!

I know. I'm putting one in the picture tomorrow for my friend and part of me wants to keep it even though my DC grew out of them years ago. I am being insane!

Nicest present we received honestly was a voucher for nandos and the cinema beside it.

With a wee note that said, remember to take time for yourselves too.

The height chart in a tube sounds so cool, I’ll keep that in mind for when I need to buy a baby gift

I feel bad, I don't remember what people bought. I wish I'd got deliveroo vouchers.

Morrck car seat blanket

Ewan the dream sheep

Muslins.

Both my kids puked a lot and we went through loads! You put one on your shoulder between you and baby at all times, on the mat for them to lie on, etc.

A stretchy wrap sling

Take the 18 month old out for as long as they would be happy with you for. If it’s an hour on the park, grand. If you can stretch that with bribery and ice cream to 2 hours, better. If you know that 18 month old really well and they love you, take them out for the whole bloody day so mum can ACTUALLY sleep when baby sleeps/have 15 minutes of peace. Trust me, this is the best present you can offer. Yours sincerely, a mother of 2

Cook vouchers were a pain for me. Didn’t have the freezer space or the mental capacity to choose from their long list of stuff. JL vouchers were the best, and I remember what each person who gave me them bought as I took a photo to thank them when I bought something.

Reading another poster, Deliveroo vouchers sound amazing! Sometimes you fancy something in particular and that would have been great to be able to order what you want when you want!

A piggy bank with her name and a label around the top but to write our wishes for her, and put it in. DexH and I put every £2 coin we came across and now it's full. She wants to open it and use the money to go towards her dream trip to Greece. She is 12 now and I just love the whole thing. And I can't wait to see the messages we wrote!

Best gift I got was a voucher to get my hair done at a place I couldn’t normally afford.

For DCs a nice onesie with year of birth, all mine have one that Ive kept for them.

I got some nice organic cotton baby grows and clothes which were lovely.

A coffee shop voucher- Costa, Startbuck or her fav independent. I would thank you for that!

DD was given a traditional teddy bear by my aunt and she still treasures it today, at 21.

My parents went the practical route and bought nappies and other practicals. Being on maternity leave meant I was grateful for anything that saved us a) a shopping trip and b) a few quid.

Tuppence and crumble star wrap, or depending on whether they're having a girl or a boy the respective Iconic Women or Notable Men muslin from here - I got one when I had DD2 and used to get so many admiring comments.

muthahoodgoods.com/products/iconic-women-swaddle-muslin

Posh ready meals, pre prepped veg, puddings, custard, good tea bags and good biscuits.

11 years in its what I remember, and it's what I give.

I was going to say toys. Hardly anyone buys toys because a baby doesn’t actually need one. Then bam one day you need a million and they are quite expensive.

But with Xmas coming up maybe I would focus on newborn.

A giant bottle of infacol? 🤣

For the baby - a star wrap. Brilliant things. But tbh the baby is fine - get the parents a bottle of fizz / good coffee / a Cook ready meal in as large a portion as will fit in their oven or freezer.

The woman down the road who bought me eight portions of lasagne and held my whingy son until he fell asleep - I’d have married her.