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 can’t think of anything I was gifted for myself. Everything was for the baby. But what would have been useful would be some essentials your not really up to leaving the house for in the early days. Things like tea coffee biscuits fruit some bread and crumpets maybe some milk. For mum to snack on if she’s not got chance to prepare a meal.

If they don’t need any of that how about some nice toiletries, PJ’s fluffy socks. You can hold baby while mum has some time to herself make herself.

Ohh yes nappies is a good one as well - obvs not a treat for the Mum but the cost does add up so I’m always grateful when my mum brings over a pack !

After having so many visitors, my fav gift was a friend who bought half of waitrose with her for a picnic style lunch, and washed up before she left!

As well as the lovely food suggestions I would look at a Snoo to help them get baby into a good sleep pattern. They are expensive (about £1,350) but you can also hire them for about £70 a month… I think that would be very well received. Wishing you and your family all the best with the little one

A friend of mine brought me breakfast, then held baby while I went for a really long shower, and when I got downstairs she'd loaded the dishwasher too. Never forgot it.

Hand cream - just about anything with a tiny baby involves a teeny human susceptible to bugs, so you wash, and then something gross that's come out of one of said teeny human's orifices...

My child

Second the hand cream. A big tube of the Loccitane 20% hand cream was a life saver as my hands were ragged from all the hand washing. Also the cook vouchers or a batch of home made meals for the freezer is IMO the best gift you can give. I cooked a load of meals for a friend while she was having her second baby and filled her fridge/freezer before she came home from hospital. She still talks about it to this day.
if you wanted to get something for mum and baby then I would recommend a stretchy “mama's bonding comforter baby carrier” about £20 on Amazon but was brilliant for calming baby and contact naps. Not hands free but great for extra cosy snuggles for bonding time and I used it all the way up to late toddler years when kids were upset and needed a snuggle. The light compression is great for their nervous system.

We knew we were having girls so my parents bought me a necklace each time with their birthstone in.
I love the idea that when I'm gone they'll be passed down and they'll have something given when they were born that is personal to them and has been treasured by me.

A 10 minute power nap

My adult child received some chocolate brownies in the post from a friend after they had their 2nd same sex baby. They raved about them, thinking the best present ever. They also received a Cook voucher which they loved too.

thats a really lovely thing to do. A voucher for a spa day or a voucher for a massage something to spoil the new mum

How lovely of you, your son’s partner is very lucky to have a MIL like you!

Cook vouchers were a lifesaver when we had a newborn. For her, what about some lovely nightwear - IfOnlyIf do beautiful nighties. Some cashmere socks or nice M&S button up PJs if she’s breastfeeding. Some nice eye patches or a face mask so she can feel easily pampered.

An M&S snack hamper would never go a miss - cookies, flapjacks, nice chocolates, and some healthy bits and bobs.

I drank so much water while BFing so a big Stanley cup would make a great gift!

Congrats on becoming a grandmother :)

What a kind & thoughtful person you are.
Food was the best thing we received- I’ll never forget my sister showing up with a cooked chicken

A really nice dressing gown - white company do lovely long ones. I got a lovely set of post natal toiletries from “my expert midwife” some nice bath soak, spritz for discomfort (down there), lovely balms and ointments. - Really kind of you to put in thought about getting something for new mum x

My best friend gave me some Epsom Salts for the bath. Sounds strange but she’d had her first baby 7 months before me and she was right that they really helped with the healing. Also a family friend baked me a huge tin full of Welsh cakes. Great for visitors and for snacking during night feeds.

My aunt left an amazing tub of homemade cakes on our doorstep (didn’t want to disturb us). A friend sent us chocolate brownies in the post which were delicious!
DH bought me a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser and a mixed box of hot chocolates to use with it, we still use it all the time!

Definitely easy food and snacks. The things I’ve cherished and kept are things like steiff bear, & handmade blankets (which still get used). Don’t do what my ILs did and turn up with a massive suitcase of newborn clothes. When we already had enough. And lived in a tiny flat.

I received a beautiful bath robe from Peter Alexander from my 2 close friends. It was so soft and cosy with a huge hood. I had my baby in August (winter in Aus) so I lived in this.

Two large bags of jelly babies from my younger sister

Luxury brownies and a Cook voucher. We really appreciated not having to cook in those very early days.

Meals we could stick in the oven were brilliant & my mum brought me a tin of brownies so I had something nice to snack on/offer visitors. She also gave me a luxury body mosituriser & handcrean which were great as my skin was so dry & sore. The suggestion of a nice blanket is good too - I would've loved that. Enjoy being a granny!

Depending on her style, a necklace or bracelet with the baby's initials on (lots of lovely ones online).

Brownie or cake boxes.

Vouchers for Just Eat, Food Hub or somewhere they can buy nice ready meals (they may have already stocked their fridge/freezer - if so, it's a pain to find room for things!).

Knitted cardigan with the baby's name on the back (Etsy).

If breastfeeding, homemade lactation cookies.

A heatable, washable throw.

Super soft button down pyjamas in a bigger size (that lovely stretchy jersey material) + lots of fluffy socks and some slipper socks.

Nice pyjamas and pamper stuff, my daughter appreciated that so much.