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

A cosy dressing gown and a yeti straw flask for the night feeds, meant I was cosy when I was up sorting baby and I could fill up my cup at bedtime and it would still be lovely and cold by the time I needed a drink in the night.
I bought myself a Merci maman necklace with DD's name and date of birth on when she was born if you were looking for something more personal. I've worn it every day for 4 years now and it's still perfect.

Definitely, Definitely food. My friend made me a tiny with cheese and courgette muffins, chocolate brownies and flapjacks.
I was exhausted and ravenous it felt like heaven having those to eat over the week.
Also maybe a little set for her from neom. So she can pamper herself with lovely scents.
And reassurance rather than advice. Tell them youre so proud of them, they are doing amazing, such natural parents..shes glowing with love, mitherhood suits her so well...rather than oh I used to do this!! A new mothers confidence is such a fragile thing.

You seem like such a wonderful MIL!! Another one here for some home made food or just eat vouchers. It sounds strange but I remember feeling so stressed after my first baby and receiving gift bag after gift bag of new clothes - all I could think of was how I was going to have to wash and tidy them away 😅 . There's gorgeous personalised books you can get on wonderbly too. The best gift I received as a ftm was a bjorn baby bouncer. They're very expensive so I definitely would have just got a cheap version for myself but it was amazing as had somewhere to put the baby down to shower etc

My sister bought me a Stanley cup which was brilliant as I was constantly thirsty in those early days.

My mum and MIL also kept me stocked up on biscuits for the night feeds and nice hot chocolates!

The very VERY best 'gift' I received as a new mother was to be told I was doing a wonderful job looking after my baby and that they knew I was going to be a great mum.

My son is 17 now and its discontinued but my mum bought me a bottle of magnifique perfume, I was confused at first, like a birthday present. But she said it was because I was magnificent and I wore it and felt so 'done up' and a bit special in an otherwise grubby, tired time and it was just lovely. The smell took me back to that time each time I wore it. She also brought me her home made quiche to hospital as I was sick if hospital food.

Homemade flapjack and lasagne! 🥰

My friend bought me a fluffy marks and spencer dressing gown and my favourite chocs, was perfect

Spa day was the best. Close behind were deliveroo vouchers and dinners from Costco that you just stick in the oven!

I was in hospital with my son and my mom and dad brought me some good sushi to the hospital. Id been craving it my whole pregnancy. Also my mom batch cooked for me which was just the best thing ever. I went into early labour (32 Weeks) and remained in hospital until I gave birth a week later . I was allowed to stay with my baby while he was in neo natal. So I hadnt really got the house in order or 'nested', my poor husband did his best between running up and down to the hospital, which wasnt local. So my mom made sure we came home to a fresh house, fresh beds, a full fridge, flowers all baby washing completed, ironed and hung. Then she was like im so sorry I forgot to put banners up. Like come on super women. So yeah I can only add to what others have said with the cooking and being helpful.

Love that you are respecting their space as well. 😍

Anything that makes life easier! Meal kits were a godsend with my first but home cooked sounds even better. New pjs are always nice, button topped if breastfeeding. With my second I'm going to buy a weighted memory bear and send off some of her first outfits so I can always remember how small she felt but that would be ages before she would actually get it so maybe not the best idea for this... A pamper hamper maybe?

I will say I found flowers overwhelming as you have to put effort in to them so personally I would say not flowers

Omg same! Although it wasnt when I was pregnant but when I had my hysterectomy ironically I received 3 different bunches in one day and then a few others. I could barely walk and couldn't deal with them so you can imagine the boxes, the actual flowers everywhere, it wasnt enjoyable at all.

For me its was from my mum I was crying that nothing fitted me that wasnt pj's and I felt horrible when people wanted to come meet baby as I had nothing to wear.
She went out and got me matching sets of trouser and jumper low effort but I felt so much better. Showered straight into them I started then crying at how nice it was to wear something comfy and no pj's

A homemade curry, microwave rice and naan bread left on doorstep by a friend, and a parcel of homemade buns from an aunt. Anything edible, that doesn’t require thinking or organising!

This wins!

You sound lovely.

For me, for just me, I’d have liked clothes vouchers to sort out my postpartum wardrobe. Or a fancy shower gel. Or a voucher for a blow dry. But you know her best.

My cousin, who I'm not even that close to, hand knitted us the most beautiful baby blanket in the softest yarn imaginable. That little blanket is just full of love - the time and thoughtfulness she put into mean so much. I've never been quite able to express it to her, but yeah, we love it and use it every night :)

I agree with the batch-cooked meals that people have said! I would also say someone doing some tidying/cleaning would be awesome so they can stay in that magical bubble without any worry.

I was lucky enough to also have a midwife visit every day for the first 2 weeks, and then once a week for the next 2 months, and think this should be standard in the UK too! She was invaluable in terms of taking proper care of my recovery, helping breastfeed and ensuring our LO was tracking along nicely. Private midwives do exist here though so if you can wangle that as a gift - fab!

This is what my ILs got me, with nuts/things I could snack on and my favourite chocolate gingers. I was really touched and surprised.

How about a lovely silver bracelet

batch cooked meals! My and hubby both had surgery within a week of each other (his foot) and having a friend bring us a meal was sooo appreciated we didn't have to struggle too much in the kitchen to heat it up compared to a full meal (would have been nice if our families thought to do this 🙃😂)

Best present we received was a selection of M&S ready meals

Agree with nice food suggestions. My parents came with bags of lovely food. That was great.

I think before I had children I would just buy new parents nice clothes for their child and such things but now I definitely focus on the parents. Children don’t care about their clothes but parents really appreciate something to make things better.

A lovely Neal's Yard hand wash. It was a present from a colleague who had also fairly recently had a baby. She said she'd been amazed at how often you washed your hands with a new born, so a nice hand wash was vital. I thought that was so thoughtful.

When my twins were born, a friend gave us a silver spoon for each one. I still cherish them.

This thread has been well timed and very helpful!

My best friend has just had her first, and I’ve been trying to get their bundle together.

So far the baby has a teddy, a Harry Potter teether (dad is super into HP), “The World Waited For You” and a beautiful Classic Fairytales book.

Mum has cookies, cheese (because she’s obsessed with it) and a pamper set.

I do think dad has been a bit neglected, and may buy beer. 😂