Gift for new mum work colleague?

[squashedalmondcroissant]

A work colleague of mine who I'm quite friendly with is going on maternity leave soon.

I want to get her a little gift for the baby, I already have an idea for this as she has quite a niche interest and I've seen something small and very cute that would be perfect.

I also want to get her something just for her as I know that often people only get gifts for the baby and most just sort of forget about the woman who did all the work 😂

When I was pregnant and postpartum I know I spent a lot of time in the bath but I don't think she even has one in her flat so I can't go with my own experiences on this!

Any ideas? She lives quite far from me and I don't drive so I can't give her any practical support like meals/cleaning, etc.

I think this kind of present is more about the gesture than the gift itself iykwim. I've done various combos of flowers, chocolates, fluffy socks, hand cream, coffee voucher, coffee cup, water bottle.

I always buy Badedas bath products for a new mum, supposedly helps you heal after delivery.

A nice travel cup - contigo as pp said
Nice chocolate - hotel chocolate
Brownie / cake delivery
A nice blanket or shawl (old fashioned but there are some nice ones)
Fancy Shower gel

I def didn’t want hat/socks/bibs as they were never used. Muslins neither. and no blankets, so many cute blankets but they aren’t cellular.

for the baby my favourite gifts were little cute toys/comforters (we also had a couple of home made blankets and cardis which I will always treasure) for me I’d have loved coffee shop voucher.

Two things for my baby that I loved were Lamaze toys, and a pair of socks that were designed to look like tiny Converse. They were so cute.

I'm guessing it's a token gift thing you are looking for and I think the ideas of handcream or coffee type mug are good, or a nice insulated water bottle. I always got insanely thirsty whilst breastfeeding but regardless of how she feeds she'll need to keep her fluids up.

It's a lovely thought OP.

I didn't read all the posts so if these have also been suggested then I agree with them...

Cosy socks
Some little snack pack things of nuts etc (you might have an idea what she likes)
A non toxic candle
Face masks

See, my experience is exactly the opposite. We got showered in comforters and DD never even looked at them.

While hats, bibs, muslins and blankets were always used. One blanket (toddler size bed) was in use until DD was around 9 and it is actully still in her room and a recent inquirey if we want to put it away was seen as if I wanted to throw away her Taylor Swift hoodie.

Cellular blankets are good for sleeping but I preferred others for the buggy, car seat or just to put on the floor somewhere else and DD could lay on it.

A week of min prep meal deliveries?

Love that you still have one of your daughters blankets :)

our babies have used the comforters as things to chew on! Cute they are all different!

guess the message is, gift whatever you fancy unless you know otherwise

You could put together a self care kit.

Period pants or something?
Some of that solution they do for after births.
Breast pads
Luxury body cream
Something for her hair (post partum hair loss)
Some nice tea bags (to help her sleep?)
Energy bars or something she can eat on the go whilst breastfeeding for example
A comfy lounge set
Some breast milk booster biscuits or the like

I love the range from

How about a Stanley cup with her name engraved?

Another vote for either Deliveroo or similar vouchers or a Cook delivery or similar.

Some of these seem a bit over personal it for a work colleague you are friendly with. I definitely agree with hand cream and food delivery or posh ready meal vouchers. I went to a baby shower once where everyone also bought bath stuff for mum and it was kinda embarrassing, as if we were trying to say she smelled. She really didn't! Also, the idea that I could have had a bath when I had high needs babies and a partner that works away would have been utterly unimaginable for me, so do consider her circumstances too.

We have these, they are amazing!

At work a couple of the parents have had kids in the past couple of years. One of the men went of on Pat Leave and we all did a collection for him/his wife and bought meal subscription with it so they could select meals to be chosen to their house for a few weeks with it. Apparently his wife said it was the best thing ever as really allowed them ti box relax more those first couple of weeks.

Another lady we bought a voucher for a massage at a spa.

We tend to stick with cash/vouchers so it can be used practically there than on little outfits. There are a number of parents who often donate and collectively we say that’s what we would have all preferred rather than something really ‘cute’. If that makes sense

Deliveroo voucher and some shower gel

Tacky AF