To ask for ideas for gift when a baby arrives

[Needideas]

NC as timing is potentially outing.

Sister and BIL are expecting their first child in the next few weeks. We don't have children so can't base on experience.

Please could you give me ideas for things you'd have liked to have recieved when yours were born - up to about £100.

They've got the basics and I don't want to go for the obvious clothes or nappy cake etc- I'd really like something that you wouldn't obviously buy for yourself before/ at time of birth.

[woodwaj]

A sleepy head pod!

[somelikeitmild]

Food! Plastic containers with meals portioned out so they can be put in the freezer then simply microwaved. Definitely the best gift we received from DH's friends. Oh, and his sister got us a £100 voucher for a fancy meals in wheels type service. Took us a while to use because it involved googling and looking at a menu but it was just fantastic. Food food food and you'll be forever thanked and talked fondly about.

[foxessocks]

My mum gave me a lovely sort of hoodie dressing gown thing which I put on when feeding my dd in the night which was great cos I got really cold. I also used a thermos in the night so I could have a hot cup of tea! (I had one already but would be a nice gift!)

Muslins and dribble bibs were handy. Lots of babygros in different sizes were great. Scratch mitts and cotton hats. Blankets.

My mum and dad got us a moses basket and stand. My fil got us a baby monitor. My mil got a bedding set. A friend got us a bouncy chair which was just so useful.

I also love the idea of treats for the parents and food vouchers of some sort! For takeaways or ready meals! We got chocolates and a big box of krispy kreme but I would have loved some vouchers for easy meals.

[BYOSnowman]

I always send food! A hamper, cakes,cook vouchers

Then when I wos it the baby I take an outfit for 18-24 months

[minijoeyjojo]

A Morrck baby hoodie was one of the best things I bought when I had my baby. Never have to worry about disturbing the baby my taking off layers, just unwrap a blanket.

www.morrck.co.uk/shop/

Also baby milestone cars are lovely.

Plus some home cooked food - you're too tired to think about eating so some food that is within easy reach is invaluable

[tappitytaptap]

I definitely got too many clothes. My favourites were home cooked meals, snacks, books and one of those playgym mat things with the dangly bits which make different noises. Also maybe a voucher for a photobook of baby's first months? We didn't get bought one but my husbsnd is making one

[Me624]

Best gifts we had are the baby gym and baby bjorn bouncer The gym and bouncer were both bought by family members before the birth which was handy as we got them all set up before DS arrived. Smaller things - muslins, especially giant ones, Infacol (a friend did us a little care package which included two bottles of this, amazing stuff), toys and books.

Worst gift - flowers. Lovely thought but we got loads and the last thing you need when you are trying to get your head round a newborn is having to keep finding vases, try and arrange them, top up the water etc - all the ones I was given died really quickly for that reason!

[Fresh01]

My brother and sister in law just gave us a small teddy when DC1 was born but offered to buy us a highchair of our choosing when we needed it. When she was 6 months old and needed it and I was still on maternity leave it was great that someone else got us it. Also it hadn't cluttered the house with all the other newborn bits you need.

[scarednoob]

Sleepyhead and playgym and baby bjorn bouncer are probably the best things we bought in that sort of bracket!

[Barmaid101]

Definitely a blanket, taggy and cuddle cube from the cuddle company!

[Dakin1]

A sleepyhead would have been an amazing gift if you have £100 to spend. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00ACK676E/ref=mpssa111?qid=1462216464&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=sleepyhead&dpPl=1&dpID=31wnUkxk-kL&ref=plSrch

[ValancyJane]

No clothes, we had loads. Much as I appreciated them, every time I unwrapped then I did ungraciously think 'yay, more things to wash'. (I know, I was very sleep deprived!). I liked when people got us Lamaze toys and things for the future like a set of books!

[Oriunda]

Aden and Anais giant muslins - I've 4 of them and I still use even now that DS is 4. BF cover, buggy shade, sheet, blanket - endless uses. I always get new mothers them as a gift.

[GruffaloPants]

Also maybe takeaway vouchers? That would have been great!

[BusyCee]

Best baby basket I got was full of fresh fruit and veg, dried fruit (constipation can be killer when establishing BF'ing, but also easy to dip your hand into and eat), peanut butter, crackers, fruit cakes, fruit juice, basically loads of healthy snacks you can eat one handed and are filling and restorative. Also good quality ready meals (Cook).

[Run247]

Some of my friends arranged a roster among their group of friends to cook a bi-weekly dinner for the new friends. A drop and run, where the cook would literally come over and drop over a freshly cooked dinner.

You could maybe do that yourself, or find a home chef delivery to make their first weeks a little easier?

[Needideas]

Thanks for the replies so far- some great ideas although ghostys made me laugh!

[Ilovewillow]

Aden and Annais muslins and bibs, gorgeous, extra large and so useful! Burts Bees toiletries. restuarant vouchers for mum and dad (for later in yr when they can leave baby)!

[JuxtapositionRecords]

Ohhh I love those star blankets costa what a great idea!

[GruffaloPants]

Nice blankets, muslins and towels are all good and it doesn't matter if you accidentally replicate other gifts.

I would have liked one of those in-ear digital thermometers - they are about £40.

We were given Ewan the Dream Sheep for DD, which was a lovely gift.

[Yika]

For the mum: YY to hand cream. A friend also got me a nice fleecy nightwear style hoodie which I used a lot when night feeding or lounging on the sofa feeding (there will be a lot of feeding going on).

For the baby: some of my favourite gifts were nice practical things like children's towels - you can use them for years. Some gorgeous things in Zara home (also blankets, soft furnishings etc)

Baby mat, gym or cot toy would be nice.

[SmallBee]

Cook vouchers or similar. Really delicious meals that go from freezer to oven with minimal effort.
People got this for us and it was wonderful. Never underestimate the restorative power of hot food.

[JuxtapositionRecords]

How about a nice box of essentials ie
Muslins (can never have enough)
Dummies (not essential but a good just in case thing)
These are amazing www.mothercare.com/Brush-Baby-Chewable-Toothbrush/605087,default,pd.html&loadMoreCurrentStatus=1&returnCgid=babycare_health_dentalcare&returnSrule=null&start=&returnScrollPos=737
Metanium nappy cream is great
Little bottle of vegetable oil which is recommended for baby dry skin on newborns
A swaddling blanket
Handcream (hands get so dry with washing them all the time after nappy changes etc)
Some lovely chocolates

Or you could take a risk and get them a sleepyhead which is about £99 but a life saver for sleeping!

[Cornettoninja]

uk.babyhaven.com/summer-infant-soothe-and-vibe-portable-soother.html?fee=16&fep=12150&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google+shopping+uk&gclid=CKXCpI6atswCFdIV0wodG_4Jaw Link for the vibrate thingy.

A sling is a nice idea, but I would err on the side of caution simply because I tried about three before finding one that suited both me and dd. It'd be a lovely gesture to find out about her nearest sling library and go along with her and the baby with the offer of buying her which version she gets on with though.

[DeadGood]

Seconding a Cuddledry towel (or similar).
Love To Dream swaddle.
And every time you go, take food with you, and make sure it's in disposable containers.