Co-workers new baby - what to give now that it's late

[HereForTheFreeLunch]

My co-worker had a baby last December. We had a small collection and I tasked someone to send flowers etc. I am a massive procrastinator, turns out she is too. So we ended up too late for various reasons and non-reasons and they left the country for a few months with said baby.

Since then we never got round to sending anything. It's the first birthday coming up. What do I do? Send vouchers? I still have the collection and need to use it. They are travelling again so I would have sent flowers but it's not the right time.

I am too embarrassed to mention it but also need to at least send them the vouchers. But will this mean others whose kids turn 1 will also expect something even though they got the balloon and flowers when they had their babies?

This is such a mess! Help me sort it please.

Vouchers sounds the best thing together with an honest explanation of why now.

I'm a terrible procrastinator myself, you've made me chuckle and feel better about myself reading that!

Just get it done as there will never be another good time once the 1st birthday is over.

Just vouchers with a card saying congrats and sorry it's late.

Sympathies, I do the same kind of thing.

I mean sending it any time in the last year would have been better but yes, do it for the 1st birthday, otherwise what, are you going to wait until the dc is 18? Surely you need to give the stuffASAP, aren't you concerned that if people found out you've kept the collection it looks like you've just stolen from them? I don't see how you can prove you were "going" to send it at some point! I'd be really unimpressed if I was one of the colleagues who'd donated. Even if you give it to her now, you're not actually doing what people donated for.

If other colleagues ask just explain it was for the baby's birth and is just very late - they'll be aware they haven't put in twice so won't think that 1st birthday presents are now expected. Might end up as a win for you as you won't be expected to do collections in the future!

I feel really sorry for that colleague, she probably wondered why she was the only person who didn't get a collection or even flowers!

Send the vouchers & an apology/ acknowledgement that they should have been sent before.

If I'd received nothing from work (as there was an established pattern of doing this for others) either when I went on mat leave or when DS was born it would have felt like I'd been forgotten.

Flowers aren't a great gift when you've just had a baby tbh - another thing to sort out, find a vase for etc! In future I'd suggest something edible instead - chocolates, biscuits etc.

Don't wait for the first birthday just send it with an apology.

Thanks all. Have sent with an apology.

You are all correct - I am not the best person for this.

Unfortunately this is going to come more and more my way so I need to have a formula for next time. Taking on board the point about flowers, I think card, balloon and chocolates - so I can send in 5 minutes flat without agonising endlessly over the 'right' thing to send.

Called them up and had a chat too. They seem pleased - probably because it was unexpected at this time. I did apologise profusely.

Regarding the history and culture of the place, it's been a bit hit and miss. We haven't had many babies and we had something similar with a wedding where the card and contributions was in a locker and we locked down for covid. So it took over a year to get access and retrieve the money and card (all physical at that time!!). That was a valid excuse though unlike mine.

But I will never let this happen again.

Sounds good - you have a plan for another time and the colleague was happy with the explanation. Don't beat yourself up about it. You've made a solution to prevent it happening in future.