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

My friend made me a massive lasagne and a massive shepherds pie.. I cried with gratitude!!

Fresh loaF of bread, pate, brie and chutney

I made my SIL a breastfeeding bundle full of things to help her with that like a little Hakka pump, breast shells and reusable pads and nipple creams and hot and cold pads for her bra.
I also batch cooked and went round to help with garden and cleaning. I'm going to do similar for my sister.
I'll also get her some of her favourite goodies

The thing I appreciated the most was practical help and a pretty bracelet my mum got me with my daughter's date of birth on the inside

One of the best things I bought myself when I was late in my pregnancy with my firstborn was a towelling bathrobe, several sizes too big. It's brilliant for when you're being constantly spewed and pooed on, for breastfeeding, for quickly getting decent after a ten seconds shower if the baby is crying, for skin to skin in the early days and later when they're ill. I still use it now my youngest is almost 3. Also some nice toiletries so she can look after herself a little bit. Nothing that requires effort or time, just like a Soap and Glory set or whatever.

Also feed them. Don't turn up without a meal in hand for the first six months.

Hi, I'm available for adoption, just fyi.

Some really nice matching pjs that I didn’t feel like a total slob staying in all day

A hamper with all the things I was not allowed to eat during precnancy! Brie, pate, stilton, sushi, baileys chocolates.

I literally ate the Brie like a juicy apple!

Homemade food. I didn’t have to think about cooking for the first month or so after birth and it was soooo good.

A care package just for me that included my favourite treats and a bottle of nozecco. I was delighted to be thought about as all other gifts were for the baby.

Going with the food theme here. A fantastic friend bought round a delicious homemade chocolate cake. She didn't come in, just handed me the tin on the doorstep and said we'd catch up soon. It was a godsend for giving to visitors when they came. About two weeks later when it was much quieter on the visitors front she bought me another and this time came in for tea, cake and baby cuddles. It was one of the most thoughtful presents I received.

How lovely, OP! While it wasn’t a present and something I bought myself, one thing I enjoyed was an eye mask. I had one with gel in it and it felt nice on the eyes after waking all hours for feedings, especially at night and as I tried to rest or nap along with the baby’s schedule.

My neighbour made a raspberry pavlova which was absolutely to die for!!!!

A handwritten letter saying how nice but difficult motherhood is.....

How much do you want to spend? If a lot then a snoo was a the best gift we were given.
I was very skeptical and would never have spent that money myself but my god it was incredible. I still credit that as the reason my child sill sleeps 12 hours a night with no wake-ups 95% of the time

Such a lovely thing to do

A basket of posh muffins

I love my artipoppe carrier very special and stylish.

Card with £20 and instructions to buy ourselves a takeaway… 25 years ago and this covered an Indian banquet !!! Was lush when knackered from feeding and no sleep! Such a thoughtful gift - was so grateful.

You sound lovely, OP. My in laws didn’t respect me like this and it caused a lot of trauma to both me and my husband even 8 months on.
Honestly the best gift to us was those that respected our space untl
we were ready

Cashmere bed socks and a high end body lotion

Yummikeys necklace engraved with baby's name and dob

Good ready meals. I think they were Waitrose. And posh hand cream. You’ve no idea as a new mum how much handwashing you’ll do and how badly it’ll wreck your hands and nails!

One of my friends did present me with a lovely bag filled with chocolate, wine/treats etc just for me that was lovely. A heated mug is nice so when you make a brew and forget about it it's still warm. Maybe those mitts/hand warmer that stay attached to the pram, you can get heated ones too. A Netflix or similar subscription. If you want to spend £££ an amazon echo show to help them stay organised and they can link everything to make it voice activated (ask them first though). A newborn photoshoot (you need to do your homework and chose a decent photographer) my brother did this for my sister and I, it was a great present (he's very into photography so the person he chose took some fab pics). Something personalised (an ornament or something) off etsy, there's lots of stuff on there. A necklace/bracelet with the babies birth stone and room to add more. Maybe a voucher for a restaurant (make it clear you are giving it them so they can go out as a family not wanting to have their baby). Cash to spend however they like, my in-laws gave us £500 for whatever we wanted to spend it on.

I'd steer clear from anything breastfeeding related, it's very presumptuous that she'll want/be able to breastfeed (I did breastfeed for years but I'd have been a bit put out if my mil gave me breastfeeding gifts). Also batch cooking gifts wasn't my thing either, you are off work and sat around on mat leave/paternity leave, why on earth can't the man cook a meal? It's the one time my husband had the luxury of time to cook some decent fancy meals.

The best gift you can give though is to be respectful of her choices and give her space just after she's given birth. Don't be be weird/possessive, never say "my baby" and never take the baby from the mum, if she offers a hold great, if they cry you say "do you want them back?", don't walk off out the room with them. Don't greet the baby and ignore her, she isn't an incubator. Just be respectful and chillout, you have the rest of your life to form a bond with your grandchild. She'll thank you more for this than all the fancy gifts you can give her.

A really nice expensive changing bag? Or nice bag that could be used as a changing bag? I loved the look of the Fairfax and Favour baby bag, or Gigil changing bags.
Voucher for her favourite coffee shop or brunch spot so she can just take herself and baby out for coffee whenever they fancy it.
Voucher for a hair cut or nails etc, along with a hand written note saying that there is no rush, she can use it in 10 months time if she likes, and you will look after the baby whilst she has it done :)