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 DH got me a Neal Yards remedies set that had some lovely bits for me and some really gentle bits for baby.

What a lovely idea, something for the mum gives such a lovely message because all the focus is on the baby. A friend arrived with a selection of fresh fruit from M&S: melon, raspberries, pastries etc. I could have cried. Another woman who I didn’t know very well at all arrived with a massive homemade lasagne, it was so thoughtful. And another brought me a selection of products from This Works. They have launched a new perfume that’s supposed to induce relaxation so that could be good…

I would say I really loved getting vouchers. Next so I could browse once baby was the next size up, Starbucks for a little drive thru trip out. Boots vouchers for new makeup. Vouchers for a local cafe. I just found things that meant I wasn’t spending money but could get out really helped. We weren’t skint by any stretch but I did feel we haemorrhaged money on mat leave so was lovely to have vouchers to spend

I bought my SIL some yellow roses and personalised cupcakes when she had her and my brother's daughter.

My brother got me a lovely relaxing massage when my twin sons turned 1 rather than a present for them... was the best present ever!! Just when I needed it most...

A really nice non spill thermos cup - who ever had a warm drink that was warm????

hand cream
scented candle
lovely shampoo/conditioner
lovely scarf - depending on how she feels about her body post birth - if different shape but also for a cover up of feeding out and about

SIL gave me a big lasagna for the kids made with mince and a beef short rib small one for me and DH 😍😍😍 lover her for live

Yes. I got a cosy dressing gown and it was handy.
Nice PJs ( if they could facilitate breastfeeding even better) and pretty Slippers, for those times getting dressed is too much but you still want to feel nice.

My auntie made a gorgeous box with some bits for baby and for me in it. They wrapped an old printer paper box with blue and silver paper and that box became my nappy caddy for 2 years!!

I like personalised items. When my friend had a baby I made some GF cakes and got a personalised rabbit with her babies name on it. Something to keep

My mum bought a special bear with the year on from when he was born too. I love anything personalised.

Id have loved a takeaway voucher or some homemade meals. Flowers don't really cut it, and forbidden foods never bothered me as I didn't eat most of them, but i guess they'd be a good idea.

Maybe make a little hamper with a few things in it for her. I think it's lovely you're thinking of her ❤️

To be honest, anything that is purely for mum/parents I very much appreciated. You go through several months of pregnancy with almost daily being asked how you are or do you need help, to then having your baby and everyone's direction focused on your new little bundle of joy and being rarely asked how you are.

I always remember with my first, my friend sent some presents for my baby and a box of chocs for me and it made me cry that she thought of me too. With my second she did the same but the orders got split and she sent me a message saying "haven't forgotten you, little something arriving tomorrow". The fact she thought of me meant so much more than the gift itself.

Another friend bought me a postnatal massage as she knew I had some back pain post birth. That was a wonderful gift as it really helped me and was thoughtful and was something I wouldn't have bought for myself.

My sister went via M&S on her way to see me and newborn DS in hospital about an hour after he was born. She turned up with a bag of Percy Pigs and a pack of rollitos (I’d been craving them for weeks!)

She is my best friend

My mother in law got me a massage voucher as well as a gorgeous ESPA shower gel

My friend thought her new baby was the present. She said she didnt need anytung else.

A friend from our first time mum
group gave us a massive tupperware box of homemade millionaires shortbread for visitors. They were so delicious DH and I kept them for ourselves.

Someone else bought us a soft toy for DS and some gorgeous Clarins shower gel for me it felt very luxurious and helped me feel awake, half human and slightly pampered in the early days.

You sound absolutely lovely OP and they are both very lucky to have you. Just make sure they know you care about them and are eager to visit but happy to wait until they are ready for you to visit. Also when visiting ask if anything at all you can do to help unlike my DM and MIL.

My friend baked DH and I a lemon cake. I still think about how delicious it was, it lasted us days 😋 It was ten years ago!!! So I definitely vote homemade cake, it was my favourite present after I had either of my babies.

Homemade meals to throw into the oven are always so much appreciated. Also an IOU for Babysitting - whenever you are ready for a break, just let me know and I can babysit for a few hours to give you some time off.

A weeks worth of ready meals! And DH went to the local deli every day for a week and bought me a brie, bacon and cranberry baguette. Delicious.

Someone gave us a pie with the initial of the baby in pastry on. Also a gift box from Don’t Buy Her Flowers with a few nicely picked out gifts just for me.

Kindle if she reads an hadn’t already got one, loaded with books. Being able to read with 1 hand whilst feeding mine was an absolute godsend on the night

My best friend won and then gifted to me a postnatal massage which I used when my LO was about 7-8 weeks old - it was the first time I'd spent more than 10 mins away from her and the first thing I'd done for me in ages.
Admittedly it was carnage when I got home because she was distraught that I'd left her for so long but it was lovely and well needed while it lasted.

Dinner, left on the doorstep, no fuss.

I was going to suggest something like this. At work we bought a bangle for a colleague with their baby’s name engraved on it. It was lovely

From here

https://danielladraper.com/products/silver-full-signature-bangle

I got (and now give to new mum friends) a basket with hand cream, lip balm, dry shampoo, a water bottle, an insulated cup, a couple of pretty notebooks and pens.

made me feel a bit more human, keep hydrated when feeding and write down important things I’d forget otherwise when I was feed/nap trapped.

Homemade food!