Gift hamper for second time mum?!

[NoSleepMum7]

A friend of mine is pregnant with her second child and I’m wanting to make a gift hamper for her, I don’t really like what comes in a lot of the pre made ones you can buy online. We were pregnant together with the same due date last time she was pregnant, and I felt like everyone just seems to forget the mum exists once the baby is here. There were loads of gifts for baby but no one thought about even one thing for me. I don’t know if that sounds selfish, but I know that even though I was mega grateful for all the baby gifts, I still felt kinda sad that no one thought about me, just the baby.

So I wanted to do something for my friend this time around so that she doesn’t feel like that! I want to do a little gift box of things to help her out (will also be doing a separate box for baby!) so what do you guys think helped you out after your baby? I want a mixture of nice self care bits and also helpful practical stuff. I’m going to get her some comfy clothes, like big t shirts and comfy bottoms. Maybe some bath bits, face masks, etc.

Any ideas for this box would be great! Thank you 💜

Don't get her clothes. She'll know what clothes she likes. Shower gel and chocolates are good ideas.

Hand cream
Chocolate
Book (nothing too serious, just a holiday read)
Hair bobbles
Big pants!
Socks
Posh coffee bags (if she drinks coffee)

The thing is not everyone feels that way, I remember being given shower gel and the like and thinking "I'd really rather they bought things for the baby", also by number 2 it is likely she'll have stocked up on all the things she found useful last time and her house will probably be more cluttered. So I'd stick to chocolate, shower gel, tea, magazines etc that can be used up, no alcohol unless you know she'd definitely appreciate it, again we were given fizz and the last thing I wanted was to make myself feel even more tired, having got out of the habit in pregnancy. I think clothes are a bit much, most people prefer to choose their own and its heading into expensive territory.

Lovely idea!
Personally, I wouldn't have wanted clothes. But, I'd have loved things like a candle, book, chocolates, sweets, bath stuff, fluffy socks, nice slippers.
What a nice friend you are!

I booked my friend in for a massage ( well a voucher) but her husband was so wet he couldn't parent alone for an hour so she never used it. I would go haircut next time. But I do know her very well.

Nice ready meals, including ones for the older child.
Preprepped veg.
Puddings
Custard
Teabags and biscuits

Best present I ever got, delivered by DC1's godmother the day we came home with DC2, and what I've given every second time parent I've known since.

I'd just do a hamper of nice snacks.

Vouchers for manicures, massages etc are only any good if she has someone who can reliably look after her child/children at a time she wants the treatment (depending on if the gift is given pre or post birth).

Thank you for the ideas so far - I have spoken to her husband too as he’s a great friend of ours (and he’s how we all met!), he was the one that gave us some ideas of big baggy t shirts as that’s what she likes to wear otherwise I totally wouldn’t be getting clothes as I know it can be kind of hard to guess what someone else’s choices are clothes wise. The food idea is amazing, I will totally do that, thank you!! It’s nice to get some ideas for vouchers too, he’s a capable dad so I would imagine he’d be happy to watch the kids if she went for a manicure or massage! Amazing ideas, thank you! 🥰

Honestly, it's not necessary...I don't need anyone to buy me shower gel or socks

Offer to babysit while she gets her hair done or something

My DH was capable and willing to look after baby but I didn't want to leave mine for anything non-essential in the first few months, no way would I have gone for a manicure or massage or even haircut. I remember feeling quite upset when someone gave us babysitting vouchers. Hormones all over the place! No to candles as well too much risk of forgetting to blow them out with tiredness. So food gets my vote definitely.

I don't think clothes but if you wanted to get her something to wear you child dp pajama store vouchers! Nothing like a fresh pair of luxury pajamas!

The posh coffee bags upthread idea sounds amazing 👏 or tea, whatever she drinks

Sheet face masks? No mess beauty treatments...

Earplugs 🤣 (joke)

Could do... not child dp ffs.

Cook vouchers? We've actually used Cook meals more on our second time round than the first. First baby, DH could still cook whilst I looked after the baby, once there are two DC, the juggling is much harder and neither of us wanted to started cooking late if bedtime had been a nightmare.