Help me choose a gift for someone expecting first baby.

[tissueboxandcandles]

It is 3 decades since I had my DC. What was the most useful smallish gift you received when having your first baby? Something a bit different from a babygro or blanket. I am looking for inspiration.
TIA

A nice large muslin from somewhere like Aden and Anaïs and some child's farm bath stuff are my current go to.

A Moby Wrap:

https://amzn.eu/d/5LqVIJX

You can get knock-off versions for half the price

I think this is so very personal. One persons essential is anothers useless. I would have loved if you made me dinner when I had a new born.

My favourite was a little kit with sensory toys :) black and white cards/toys with different textures and materials

I buy children’s books. The ones I remember from childhood. With an inscription on a separate piece of paper tucked inside. Hungry caterpillar, tiger who came to tea etc

I know, but it is somebody a long way away who has been very helpful to a relative. So, not someone I know, but would like to give a small gift as a thank you. It is tricky when you don't know the person but still want to be a bit thoughtful.

I always buy thing for the mother - fancy chocolates for example. When we had DS, a couple of people gave us a copy of their child's favourite book too which was very sweet (albeit they both gave us the same book!)

The book is a nice idea. We still have the copy of "Goodnight Moon" someone bought for us when expecting our first 37 years ago!

A really large hooded bathtowel, at least 1x1m. You can never have enough of those.
Or a towelling poncho, we got one from 6 months onwards and it was a lifesaver for swimming.

Definitely chocolate for the mother.

Thank you. Some lovely ideas.

Sleeping bags for baby

A white noise machine

Baby or new mum toiletries

Hand cream for mum

Portable changing mat kit

Baby milestone cards

Vests and babygrows one size up

Bath toys

Soft scrunchy books

A baby activity gym playmat

Bunch of frozen microwave healthy meals for mum eg from cook

Breast milk boosting tea

I was given a little hand painted bowl with bears on it by my friend’s parents. It’s still in use today - after 24 years! - for dips or cutted up pear etc

Or otherwise yes, a nice little book or something small, that can be kept in a memory box when they’ve grown out of it is always lovely. I know you said not a blanket, but just thinking of the things I loved and kept, and I still have one of those little fabric squares with a teddy attached that DS had as it’s in all his baby pics.

And yes maybe some hand cream (or boob cream!) for mum instead/as well as something for the baby.

A nice cutlery, plate set with a cup for a toddler.
Bath toys

Thank you. Mumsnet is great for good ideas.

My most useful gift was a little basket with a thermometer, nail scissors, baby medicines, teething drops, sippy cup, baby cutlery, that type of thing...a book is a lovely idea too.

Some beautiful/useful things we've received as gifts and I've also gifted:

The large sized hooded baby towels from The White Company (my eldest is a tall 4 year old and still using his)

Someone sent us COOK meals voucher. Was fantastic. Especially if you live too far away to drop off a lovely home cooked meal.

Deliveroo/ubereats voucher. Fantastic treat for mum and dad that they can save for a tough day.

Classic children's books such as The Gruffalo, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, The Tiger Who Came to Tea. They don't stay little newborns for long and blink and they'll be enjoying stories so it's always nice to get the collection started.

When my sister was pregnant I bought her a nappy caddy and filled it with boring essentials. Calpol, infant ibuprofen, sudocrem, yellow metanium, a teething toy, baby shampoo, a thermometer, a baby toothbrush and toothpaste. That sort of thing. All consumables that they might not need right away but were ready and waiting for them.

Short sleeved vests and sleep suits in larger sizes. A year round staple for babies so it doesn't matter what season it is when they're wearing them.

These beautiful bibs with a wooden tether toy makes a lovely small and useful gift that I get for others having a baby. They're so soft and absorbent, handmade by a lovely mama.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Littlealtd?load_webview=1&bid=9FV2IctsufYGOWxXumgAkiySIiIV

Also a big fan of these beautiful rattles. I've been gifted several and bought lots for others.

www.pebblechild.com

I was given so many clothes. I was thrilled when someone gave me a set of small child size clothes hangers. Also hand cream - I was washing my hands so much this was really appreciated. Dark chocolate - good for iron levels. Almonds for calcium.

I don't know how much you're looking to spend - and I know you said no blankets! but my go to are the tuppence and crumble star wraps. Mainly because I just love the name tuppence and crumble but also everyone I have bought them for has said how much use they have got out of them, and they're super cute. They also do bath towels if that's more your thing!

I remember my BF getting me some Crabtree & Evelyn bath salts for healing my lady bits. So appreciated.

I got this for my sister and she loved it. Tiny newborn nail clippers, snot sucker, salene nose spray, Calpol, teething powder, sudocrem, thermometer, scratch mittens, plus a little sponge bag for everything.

Cook voucher or Deliveroo/just eat etc voucher.

A voucher for a coffee shop

Next size up bodysuits and sleepsuits and fabric bibs because you'll probably still remember how frequently these need to be washed. Baby toiletries and books are good too. Someone else might already have bought the couple milestone cards, blankets and sleep bags, play mat etc so I'd avoid.