Thoughtful newborn baby gift thats something you don’t know you need

[Stressedout1980]

My daughter has a brilliant worker that we’ve just found out is pregnant and in her last trimester (recent sessions have been virtual so this wasn’t visible before) we would like to buy her something for her first baby that’s a little different but particularly something she might not know she needed/is helpful/unique /special, etc

Budget is about £50 -£60. Thanks in advance x

A Bodum travel cup has been one of my most essential items. Otherwise a family member gave me a 'first cold kit' with snot sucker, vaporub, Calpol, medicine dispenser etc in it which came in very useful!

A big bottle of Malibu and full fat coke best present ever!

I wouldn't both with a gift for baby she'll probably have everything she needs. Had so many doubles when my youngest was born it was such a waste. Get something for her it will be much appreciated.

Champagne was a good one and cake

White noise machine
Sock ons
Star snug 💯

I'd go for a voucher and something for the mum.

Tuppence & Crumble star wrap - my best gift and what I now buy all my friends! A bottle of champagne was also a very unexpected but appreciated gift! Or some nice books for baby, like "on the night you were born'

Cook voucher, nipple cream, bra pads for leakage, muslins muslins muslins.

I've bought a couple of winter pram suits/ snow suits (not sure what the right name is for them lol) which have been appreciated, especially when it isn't winter yet as it's not something they have thought of. Obviously got a bigger size
I also loved sock ons! More for when they are toddlers though.

I've just given a new baby a money box with a 50p which felt like a good gift!

JL or M&S vouchers, for baby
Meal vouchers, Costa voucher, plus something personal to Mum.

I had a cake with my baby's name and dob written on it for day home from hospital. Took a pic of baby with it.
I bought lots of cheap washcloths to use at home instead of baby wipes. I wipe baby's bottom with toilet tissue first to get off as mush as poss then finish with a warm wet washcloth which can go through a bleach wash if necessary.
I used thin-ish flannel squares for swaddling instead of muslin as I liked them better because they were easier to snug baby up in.
Yes to nipple cream. I used pure lanolin, bonus use for dry lips.
I found that I didn't need a lot of nb sized clothing as I swaddled baby mostly in the first three months. Gifting outfits for later stages is thoughtful keeping seasons in mind. A special baby blanket, maybe for home from hospital is nice, too. I also had led (battery) candles to use at night for lower light. I'd just turn them all on around 10pm or bedtime and leave them on all night. I had some in the bedroom, a few in the hallway and some in the living room where i'd often sit to nurse middle of the night.

White noise machine and thermal coffee cup for mum (coffee always ends up cold when dealing with baby) x

A nappy caddy. Inexpensive but so useful. Keeps wipes, nappies, creams and all other bits and bobs together 😊

A really nice blanket for the baby.

A soft toy that sings a lullaby, good as part of bedtime routine.

A playmat (you can buy them in a box from smyths)

A baby box (a box to put their memories in such as hospital name band, for example)

A piggy bank

A subscription to Netflix, Disney +, etc if they don’t already have it

Swaddles/sleeping bags

Tbh different people find different things useful and it can be hard to know what will be used. Food is a good one to even just a big box of snacks or a voucher for domino’s or whatever.

Everyone always says those tuppence and crumble star wraps on these threads but I wouldn't have used one. They're made from polyester fleece so they can aggravate babies with eczema and if they caught fire they'd melt on them. Some people only like natural materials.

It's really hard to predict what people will like for a new baby. I would have liked pretty muslins instead of the basic ones I bought myself, food in some form, or a nice cotton playmat.

I did an online shop for my friend from sainsburys and put a few easy meals in like fresh pasta and sauce, nice sourdough bread and butter thinking they might eat a lot of toast... , nice tea bags and coffee, some nice snack things and bottle of wine / few beers, treats for their dog etc. She absolutely loved it and said she found it so thoughtful

@Avarua2 not once, can't stand them!

@Stressedout1980 you sound lovely. But I honestly don't think you can choose something she's guaranteed to love &/or find useful! Different lifestyles/different needs/different tastes.

Either vouchers or a few bits you love from a nice shop with an exchange card.

my go to tends to be a blanket, a baby grow, and a jelly cat toy. From one shop with an exchange card. And depending on how well I know them, a hand knitted cardigan.

even if you just get a card I'm sure she'll appreciate you thinking of them x

Coverall bib - like bibado
In-ear thermometer (Braun is great)
Nose Frida - nasal suction device for snot
Car seat blanket/Snuggle bundl
Silicone suction plate for 6 months +
Pram shade net (good from birth to 3 years) - makes it dark for a sleeping child in the pushchair.

Cross body coffee cup holder (Etsy has some designs), pram coffee holders never seem to keep it straight.

Car seat blankets are so so useful and people don't tend to buy them for themselves. I have a Kura Organic one and have used it and loved it with my 2 babies.

Meals were the most helpful gift I received.

• juat eat/deliveroo voucher
• boxes of nappies
• tonie box
• story books
• babygrows/sleepsuits
• gro bag
• light projector (stars and planets etc in the ceiling. Baby adores it)
• white noise machine
• bath thermometer

Gifts I liked that I didn't know I needed:

Pram sleeping bag
Electric baby nail file (so much easier than nail clippers, I wish I had taken this to the hospital too)
Nice Child's Farm toiletries (love the smell of these but never would have bought them myself)
Sensory black and white newborn cards/muslins
We got a lovely hamper filled with useful bits - nappy cream, teething gel, Milton etc as well as books, nappies and a couple of outfits. Felt very personal and chosen with care.

Things I would have liked and will prob buy for people in the future:
White noise machine
Vouchers for a cleaner (I'm sure some people would hate this though)
Car seat blanket - only discovered the existence of these thanks to this thread and it would have been soooo useful
Cuddledry towel

The most helpful, useful and appreciated gifts I received were homecooked meals / ready made food / vouchers to get food.

Everything else she is likely to have / a matter of taste.

You're spending quite a generous budget, it'd be sad for it to go on something she doesn't really like/need.

Voucher/subscription to food delivery service/COOK type thing/Uber Eats voucher would be my bet.

Definitely not something like a silver photo frame / engraved money box / old fashioned 'christening' type gift.

Homemade meals that just need reheating. Bonus points if they can be eaten one handed!