What’s the loveliest present you’ve received as a new parent?

[Olderandboulder]

I’m very excited about the imminent arrival of my DS and his DP’s first baby. We are going to do the decent thing and stay away until they’re ready for visitors, but when we do go, I’d like to take something special for the new mum. She’s been so brilliant through quite a stressful pregnancy, and deserves something lovely. They’ve already got a stack of baby stuff from various friends and family, so I don’t want to add anything else to that.
Does anyone have anything, practical or frivolous, that they were given as a first time parent that really hit the spot? TIA

I got gift envy when someone was given a really nice picnic blanket - their child was about 6 and they still got loads of use out of it.

Our favourite things were

• homemade meals, especially things for the freezer
• 'Cook' vouchers
• Baby books
• Bath book - we got one from a friend and have used it nearly every day from when our baby was newborn!

soft trouser and shirt style pjs and a lovely snuggly dressing gown. These were perfect for cosy evenings and early mornings when I didn’t have the energy to get dressed properly.

Just wanted to say you sound like an absolute dream. I wish my MIL had been so understanding and thoughtful when I had a newborn!

For me, easy to heat and eat food was definitely a winner. Bonus for snacky things you can eat one handed, like samosas!

When my daughter was expecting and near her due date I went up to see her (6 hours away) and spent a couple of days batch cooking in her house to fill her freezer. I didn't stay in her house so she didn't need to ensure I had somewhere to sleep, I shopped for all the ingredients and filled up her cupboards with easy things as well, and I took her to a big Boots to get bottles, teats, formula (both powdered and instant, nappies, nappy cream, wipes, anything she thought she would need for herself for the first few weeks. I made sure that when I cooked I left the kitchen at least as tidy and clean as I had found it, I cooked the evening meal for everyone when I was there, and I brought all the containers for the meals I cooked.

A lovely top that you know she’d like. After my first born, I felt so scruffy for weeks on end in my old maternity clothes as I didn’t fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes. With my 2nd, I bought a lovely Boden tunic before the birth and was wearing it within a couple of weeks and felt so much better!

A couples massage that they can use within 12 to 18 months.

Not sure if it still happens, but many years ago when my son was born and received so many clothes that he would not get chance to wear, I returned lots to Next and Mothercare in return for vouchers which I used for him later on for things that were needed. Such a waste otherwise…,,

If she has a c section I would definitely recommend a gift voucher for scar therapy/massage. Someone got me this as a gift recently.

A hamper of nice, easy to eat snacks for eating during night feeds and nice lip balm/hand cream

A little memory book type thing, there's 'the story of us' or 'mums one line a day'

Ready cooked meals

If she's planning to breastfeed then money towards a lactation consultant/cranial osteopath if needed and if there's any difficulties. If she's keen to breastfeed now then you could mention that the offer will be there if needed so if they can reach out if it's tricky to begin with.

Thank you all so much for these brilliant responses. I’ve already bought a couple of things from the suggestions. I’m honestly in awe of you lot having children in these complicated times - there’s so much more information, misinformation, and just STUFF to think about than when I had my DC.

I would have loved nice biscuits to offer the stream of guests, and anything tastefully personalised for my baby (eg a print with their name, weight etc)

Gift set from Clarins with bath oils, shower gels and body creams and some massage tool. Lovely and indulgent and very safe for breastfeeding

A pandora bracelet with a charm that had 'mother' on one side and 'daughter' on the other

I made a mum hamper, all nice bath bits, nice lip gloss, body mist, in the middle I put 2 mini gins a lemon, tonic and an ice bag, as long as not breast feeding, I also took 2 nice steaks a fresh prepared veg x

Lots of food - snacks, meals for the freezer, nice coffee/tea. Especially if the mum is breastfeeding, she will be needing many many snacks!

Omg I had one of these and it was amazing!!

Huge congrats- you sound like a lovely MIL

My mum wrote me a beautiful card about how proud she was of me and some memories of when I was a baby, and also brought a constant supply of food as well as quietly cleaning and taking away washing while I was here, and keeping nappy supplies topped up.
My PIL can’t and don’t do as much practically but still buy all the nappies now two years later, which I think is so generous.
I’m sure you’re on this as well but I really appreciated people waiting to be asked if they wanted to hold him as well as baby being handed back to me or DH when he started crying! Also try and avoid wearing strong scents and always wash your hands when you arrive/before you hold baby- I know it sounds obvious but those were things that really meant a lot to me!!

Make a personalised voucher for a night of free babysitting & get them a meal voucher so they can have a date night when they're ready to have a bit of adult time together. It's a lovely present for parents that still need to be themselves & not just new parents.

The best things I got were:
Delicious home-cooked meals that just needed to be heated up.
A small Camelbak as I was so thirsty from all the breastfeeding.

I think most new mothers would also love a massage gift certificate and you could offer to walk the baby around in the pram while she has the massage…

I totally agree with other people saying food. My parents raided COOK and filled our freezer with lovely pies, ready meals and desserts. Bonus points if they can be eaten with one hand rather than needing a knife and fork.

It was by far the most useful and memorable gift we were given.

Do they want you to stay away? We didn’t want our parents to stay away!

What really helped me was parental support buying the big items and meals being made for us.

One of the best gifts for us was a set of really beautiful bibs from France. It meant that even in a plain babygro, the baby always had something lovely.

Honestly these made my day every time I put them on my DC!

Some lovely, cosy PJs with matching dressing gown and new slippers?

Or a luxury throw with a matching hot water bottle for sofa snuggles with the baby.

My friend's Mum paid for a maternity nurse to ensure my friend got a few proper full night's sleep in the early days. My friend still raves about it 20 years later.

When I was born ,a neighbour who my mum trusted would come along to look after me and let mu Mum have a nap for awhile. That must have been very helpful for the first week or so.