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’ve already decided that if/when my dc have kids I am going to offer to pay for a weekly cleaner for a year. That would have been the best present anyone could have bought me!

A homemade marbled chocolate-orange cake.
I lived on it for about 3 days.

25 years ago and still fondly remembered!

I was given food, chocolate etc but my favourite present was a little board book one of my friends bought for me, "My Mum" by Anthony Browne. It's such a sweet book without being saccharine or over-sentimental. It was nice to have a book that made mums feel like superheros.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/327348/my-mum-by-browne-anthony/9780552560207

Waterstone's have quite a few useful things like this, including a flexible one you drape round your neck. It's for reading but your post made me realise how useful it could be!

I received a lovely bracelet from my sister with DD's initial and DOB on the inside, and my mum gave me a craft box of various things to "do" went I felt up to it, plus a charming ornament that looks like my childhood pet (I appreciate thpugh that knick-knacks are very personal, and I would avoid unless she happens to collect a certain set). MIL bought me a minitures set of Decleor products, which smelt divine, and made the hospital showers post-birth far more bearable!

Congratulations!

One of the best memories I have of having my boy is my Mum walking in with a huge lasagne, ready to just be put on the oven. I was starving, exhausted and elated.

She also brought me what can only be described as a Charcuterie to hospital! 🙈🤣

I got spoilt, but I can't really remember the lovely gifts I was given and from whom, but I remember moments like that with so much love and joy. How lucky was I.

Ask them what they need and when. If nothing then cook. Will mean so much more than chancing it. 🥰

Depending on your proximity/resources:

Take photos of the new mum with her baby.
Offer to help sort any jobs that they haven't got round to in the house - returning unneeded items/fixing things/framing /hanging pictures.
One of the best presents was a friend coming round with loads of smelly cheese and stuff I hadn't been able to eat, cutting it into small enough pieces that I could eat it one-handed while holding the baby (having already offered to hold the baby while I ate).

I loved having comfy but nice looking new pjs. Made me feel a bit more put together and fresh. You could get some with a matching gown. I really like the modal ones from Chelsea Peers. Also a bottle of Aesop body wash - felt like a little treat each shower (and shower more likely than a bath with baby who wouldn’t be put down! It’s expensive but lasted months). I never use hand cream which others have suggested so it shows we are all different! A necklace with the baby’s star sign would also be a lovely gift if you know her style - I think one with the baby’s initial might usually come from the husband?

some nice pampering toiletries for me. i was happy with them with my first but the second was in SCBU so i was staying at the hospital as well. this was at the old hospital i had a room to myself and the bathroom was shared i think with four other rooms. it was nice to have a bath at night made me feel a bit more human

A lovely friendly happy face at the door and hands holding a bag of hone made meals for us! My wonderful friend whose 20byrs older than me and knew the struggle of the newborn era

The best ever was a neighbour who came round with 8 tupperware containers of ready made meals that I just had to heat up

Second best: Six months membership of a meal delivery service for 1-32 nights a week for when I was exhausted.

Third best: A voucher for a local cleaning agency to do 3 hours a week for 3-4 months when I was just too exhausted to clean but also having lots of visitors.

4th best: Luxury moisturiser to help me reconnect with my body. Very expensive aromatherapy candle (OK Jo Malone lavender)

Flowers were nice but ultimately not helpful.

Good point - she’ll definitely need hand cream for all the handwashing for nappies etc

I bought my children a year's subscription of nappies each time. It took a lot of financial pressure off and it was a reminder throughout the year that I was looking after them indirectly.

Didn’t receive anything. My mother and parents-in-law arrived to see the new baby and expected us to wait on them hand and foot. Would have loved it if they’d brought a lasagne, or even some sandwiches, or even some bread and hummus to make sandwiches. And they stayed for days, never lifted a finger. I was recovering from severe haemorrhaging and blood transfusions, and learning to breastfeed which was v challenging. DH and I were too shell-shocked and stunned to stand up for ourselves, we were like zombies. Sigh

I adored all the hand knitted and crocheted items that we received from family and friends. These ranged from a small crocheted square to complicated designs for cardigan and trouser sets, hats, booties, blankets…just loved all the care that went into the making of everything.

Wow so many of you on this thread have extremely thoughtful and kind family & friends.

A basket of bakery treats. Perfect for eating one handed whilst breastfeeding or holding baby and not wanting to move.

a friend of mine came round and brought samosas and onion bhajis, stuffed vine leaves, arancini balls, olives, dips and pitta bread. Excellent one handed eating food.

ditto. A klean kanteen normal mug sized flask - several of them!. DH could make hot teas and coffees leave them by the sofa when he went to work and I was sorted.
DITTO KK water bottles. Filled with squash or water before he left and left them lying around the house for me!!!

a rocking nursing chair with a foot rest plus an armrest hanger thing. For keeping the TV remote. My phone. iPad. Book. That KK flask and water bottle. Close to hand.

a Hana baby wrap sling for keeping baby close whilst I walked to the shops or did the house work. Plus time with a LOCAL sling library or consultant to learn how they worked and find the right ones.

hours with a fabulous post natal doula. Her job was to make sure after 6-8 weeks that I was confident and happy about leaving the house with the baby and without anyone else. Was a life saver with #1.

hours with an excellent LOCAL IBCLC to provide real time breastfeeding support. It’s much harder than it looks and these guys are the best qualified to help.

membership of the local David Lloyd gym. They had a creche and took baby for an hour or 2 almost every morning from about 12 weeks - ie once the post natal doula had stopped and DH was back to work and aunties best mates etc were less available . Again a life saver. Allowed me to meet mum friends. Get fit. Have some me time without feeling stressed.

we also did baby swimming there which was excellent. And I used the hairdresser and beautician there as it was easy with the creche. When I went back to work I often used it if I had work to do and no child care on my NWDs. Or just to chill with the coffee and a paper.

avoid vouchers for anything . They tend to be wasted.

another idea is to make food and deliver it. Or order some pre made food to be delivered in the first few weeks. That can be heated up. Makes life so much easier when the only choice is whether to heat up a moussaka or a curry!!

I’d forgotten that these are an excellent gift
csn be used for everything. Sunshade. Sitting on. Emergency nappy. Burping cloth. Hat. And. Because they are brightly coloured they don’t get lost in your bed or when you are out!
https://www.thenappygurus.com/bright-coloured-muslin-cloths.html

A lovely lounge suit rather than pj that she feel more put together for visitors

MIL got us a beautiful wicker hamper when DS was born. As well as all the usual baby bits it had a cosy dressing gown for me, some bubble bath/ new mum toiletries and a blue bracelet

A charcuterie board - I got one after major surgery (they weren’t a thing when my children were born) the best present ever.

@YourWildAmberSloth
something like this ?
https://thepillowhome.com/products/backrest-pillow-with-arms-adjustable-headrest?currency=GBP&country=GB&variant=48281415811408&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=ae1930fae4ab&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=21711545483&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21711546446&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy6vMBhDCARIsAK8rOgm7KZ57lwmteIFnzkwLVU2xBSuDKRMGy3hT3e6m4WEnzHmBbmJY__oaAtnpEALw_wcB

My dd's favourite gift was from me😊
A generous COOK voucher. They deliver to the door.
Plus regular deliveries of one pot meals they just had to heat up (home made)

I just don't think you can go wrong with food. (providing it's food they like of course)

A bottle of wine to open on his 18th birthday.

Fortnum and Mason biscuits. Eye wateringly expensive but the tins can be reused and the biscuits are absolutely incredible. Worth every single penny!