Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

105 replies

Stressedout1980 · 11/04/2023 22:33

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

OP posts:
EssexMamisoa · 12/04/2023 05:25

Cook meal vouchers went down a treat here. Otherwise a nice outfit from somewhere a little more pricy than I’d tend to go to for day to day items (ie jojo mama, or even Trotters depending on the mothers taste)

EssexMamisoa · 12/04/2023 05:27

Oh I also received a letterbox afternoon tea from M&S!! It was fab!! Give me all the cake post partum as a new breastfeeding mum! And only about £20/£25

AverageJoan · 12/04/2023 05:44

Another vote for some kind of food deliveries. The best gifts we got in those first few weeks were prepared meals so that we didn't have to think about making dinner on top of everything else.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General shopping
SmallElephants · 12/04/2023 06:42

I see others have already pointed out she may not be able to accept a high value gift. Social care/ health/ education/ childcare probably not (social care definitely not can’t speak so well for the other professions!)
what about a nice card made by your daughter and something worth up to £10?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/04/2023 07:01

I know my dd really appreciated chocolate! - and friends/relatives bringing a meal that was ready just to shove in the oven.

Just a little present, but I once gave a set of bibs to a colleague’s dd for her first - she was apparently very pleased because she’d never realised just how dribbly babies could be!

WooWooWinnie · 12/04/2023 07:06

M&S vouchers were our favourite - got myself a nursing bra, a few bits for baby and some nice food.

Roundaboutabee · 12/04/2023 07:13

Honestly half of the things listed here I wouldn’t have liked and/or I already had. Even things like cook meals really on you having a freezer with space.and such a generous gift that I couldn’t use would have made me feel real sad (so definitely get a receipt!)

When I was on maternity leave and didn’t have much money, it felt so lovely to be able to go and treat me or the baby to some the baby with vouchers people had given. John Lewis vouchers were spent on stuff or on nice food, boots vouchers on baby toys or their (at the time) nice baby clothes etc.

Sweetener12 · 12/04/2023 07:26

Another vote for tuppence and crumble, or do vouchers. This way you could be at least semi-sure the gift would be useful.
If you know her and her likes, then maybe something personalized would work. We got our collegue a monthly calendar planner when she was preparing for her maternity leave, but we also knew she uses planners and it would be a useful gift. If you don't know that for sure, go with something neutral.

DappledThings · 12/04/2023 07:47

I also loved the star wrap and have bought them for friends since. But then I also thought sock-ons were brilliant and had no use for muslins, especially those outsize ones.

TheBirdintheCave · 12/04/2023 07:56

LincolnIsle · 11/04/2023 22:47

The best gift I received was a voucher for a meal delivery service. We ordered a few dinners and a lunch with it which was priceless in those first few days when even cooking can be too stressful.

Yep! Most valuable thing ever. I get them for all new parents.

RoseMarigoldViolet · 12/04/2023 07:58

Voucher or just give cash.

I remember being given so much stuff that we didn’t want. And I’m sure that the givers had meant well.

MILLYmo0se · 12/04/2023 08:00

My colleague and I (we work in childcare) decided recently we were buying every new parent we knew a bumper pack of waterproof name labels 😂
Anything food related is good imo

gettingolderbutcooler · 12/04/2023 08:25

Cook vouchers or just see what she likes and order them yourself.

whatyoulookingfor · 12/04/2023 09:14

For me it was all those things that you don't know you need until its 3am and baby is unsettled and you are at the end of your tether for example infacol, calpol, nipple shields/nipple cream, chocolate, small bottle of wine

Original poster
Stressedout1980 · 12/04/2023 09:14

Thank you everyone - there are some amazing ideas here. We don’t know her that well, well I don’t anyway so we will have to unfortunately give the really personal ideas a miss - nipple
cream and home cooking although I agree they are would be so useful. It’s my daughters worker so we don’t know her personally but know it is her first baby and she takes nutrition quite seriously - mentioned being on a pregnancy diet for non - health reasons. I’m leaning towards a white nose box, the blankets and cup mentioned and/or vouchers but will try and respond to some more of the suggestions as the day goes on

OP posts:
Original poster
Stressedout1980 · 12/04/2023 09:16

RoseMarigoldViolet · 12/04/2023 07:58

Voucher or just give cash.

I remember being given so much stuff that we didn’t want. And I’m sure that the givers had meant well.

I would do this but unfortunately work policy means she can’t accept. They can accept gifts at management discretion - as long as they can’t be considered a bribe basically!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stressedout1980 · 12/04/2023 09:18

Comfies · 11/04/2023 22:36

I am going to be a bit of a buzzkill and say that you can't really predict this sort of thing and you might get it wrong if you try too hard to be different...

Things I liked getting were bath towels, sleeping bags, babygros, nappies (we used cloth nappies with dc2), baby classes paid for.

If she is in any way likely to want to useckoth wipes or nappies you could get her a voucher for cheeky wipes or the nappy lady, but it's quite niche and you wouldn't want to assume that

No that’s a very fair point - I may have to think more practical than special as we don’t know her that well and wouldn’t want to offend/waste money

OP posts:
Belmondo · 12/04/2023 10:30

Just bought a Tuppence and Crumble star wrap off the back of this thread! I had a similar fleece one for the car seat years ago and it was very useful, but had completely forgotten it.

Another useful thing I used to buy for people was a changing clutch - like a v slimmed down version of a changing bag (essentially a folding mat with wipes and nappies inside it) that you can stuff in a normal bag. I used that for years.

RoseMarigoldViolet · 12/04/2023 10:38

Maybe take the surprise out of it and just ask her for specific details of what she would like?

AHelpfulHand · 12/04/2023 10:43

What i did for people when expecting is a basket of things that you wouldn't think of, or you may not need yet.

for example….

teething rings
a baby brush
a baby toothbrush and toothpaste
ear thermometer
teething gel
room and bath thermometer
nappy cream

Wheresmycider · 12/04/2023 10:44

A very good travel mug with lid (personally i love my Yeti) Game changer. Less likely to spill, and to still have a drink that is hot when you finally get the chance to drink it is heavenly.

ObiWanKanobi · 12/04/2023 10:46

I was given soooo many clothes which was lovely but if you want to give something different then practical is best. We were given a nuby rapid cool which is something I probably wouldn't have bought myself due to the expense but has been fantastically useful and i use a lot.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 12/04/2023 10:53

hels71 · 11/04/2023 22:51

Sock -ons were the most useful thing we got. Little things to put over socks to stop them falling off!!!

Tights are even better, that's how I stopped my baby boys pulling their socks off!

MariaVT65 · 12/04/2023 10:56

Hi OP.

Someone mentioned ‘my first cold’ pack which I’d agree with. Vapour bath/olbas oil etc. Calpol will also always get used, and is recommended to be used with the 8 week jabs. Teething powder also a good one.

I also personally found that I got far too may clothes gifted that were 0-3m and 3-6m, but then had nothing for 6-9m, so maybe older clothes, or also weaning bowls/cutlery etc.

Snacks for mum to take to hospital as well, as postnatal care is useless.

Lullabies2Paralyze · 12/04/2023 10:58

Some bottles and some formula, even if you want to breastfeed it can take a while to get going and it’s always handy to have some formula on stock in the cupboard for emergencies.
I breastfed and never used nipple cream or breast pads, didn’t need to so it was a waste. Some nipple shields would have been handy earlier to help with latching.

id say some really nice chocolate for after the birth for he energy (you can get pregnancy chocolate! I got some in some pamper kit) but if she’s on a pregnancy diet for non health reasons it sounds like she didn’t want to “get fat” and probably wouldn’t appreciate the chocolate haha.