Ideas for new Mum pack

[FairytalesAreBullshit]

I thought I'd get loads of ideas on here. If you were to get a hamper with new Mum stuff, what could you have really used post birth and in the first few months, that might escape your mind, also might escape others.

One thing I'm thinking of is a baby sling, I don't if they're different sizes and if you need a book on how to tie them up?

Mum will be trying to BF too, so does anywhere do like special stuff for BF Mums, like lactation cookies premade? Would the tablets be a good idea too, or are they if you need them? I think it was fenugreek tablets.

Is having a basket old fashioned or something useful? Or is there an alternative now that's a lot better.

I've not had a little one in so long I know that trends have changed.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I wouldn't get a sling - they are quite personal in how they fit

Lansinoh is probably better than fenugreek tablets, which she may or may not need

Hand cream is always good, as you wash your hands so often!

A DVD box set for watching during BF marathons

Lansinoh nipple cream for breastfeeding. Before and after every feed. Incredible stuff.

Slings are very personal but I had the Close Caboo for mine when tiny and it was superb. Convinced lots of my friends to buy one too and they were all total converts.

Maybe a travel thermal mug for tea and coffee? You never get to finish one with a newborn. Or a nice water bottle as important to stay hydrated for breastfeeding etc. I wouldn't bother with the cookies/tablets etc initially.

I'd love easy to heat/eat food and a nice dressing gown. Also cookies/treats.

I often do a 'basket' for people having their first baby but I use a nappy bucket with ribbon round it. I put in Napisan, metanium, a baby book or two, hand cream etc.

Infacol. Happier baby = happier mum (it absolutely saved my life, especially when trying to wind for half the night after feeding)

A variety of snacks - I got so sick of chocolate, biscuits, cake, crisps etc. Nuts and fancy crackers were fab.

What a lovely idea, you sound like a lovely friend

I loved Epsom Salts as I found they really helped sooth the aches and pains. Also beautifully scented bubble bath (provided she doesn't have sensitive skin). I'm not in the UK though so not sure if they would be allowed under current advice.

Burt's Bees banana hand cream is lovely for those who like the smell of bananas.

One friend made me a quick spruce up kit which was brilliant - face wipes, cleansing pads, deodorant wipes, that sort of thing which can be done whilst lying on the sofa or in bed.

Another friend made me a big jar of cookies, that was fantastic.

Slings were a lifesaver for me too, but can be a personal choice. In the past when I've bought them for gifts for people I know are sling lovers I've always gone for Kokadi's Wunderland range, really beautiful fairytale-esque pattern and amazing quality. I had several, Ewan Im Wunderland being my favourite as the "dark" version of the wunderland series with its full moon, bats and werewolves

I got an amazing survival pack from an amazing friend. It had Lansinoh, paracetamol, ibuprofen, chocolate, dummies, nappy rash cream, a water bottle, tissues, cereal bars, postnatal vitamins - loads of stuff.

Oh yes, and Kokadi's Magicland ones are also lovely, as are the UK company FireSpiral.

Thank you, I don't know if they're a sling person, I guess it is really quite personal, as for fabrics, colours, comfort.

I guess a pamper pack would be nice, like some short cuts if in a rush.

I've seen it's all about lactation cookies and food that gives you energy for feeding. I thought maybe a company might have picked up on these and commercialised them.

I think buying a sling for someone is a bit like buying a them a buggy - not a typical gift, usually they're a fairly expensive purchase so most mums would probably prefer to choose it themselves.

I also wouldn't bother with fenugreek tablets - I don't think they're necessary unless she's specifically needing some sort a remedy for undersupply...! Feels a bit personal.

I like the travel mug idea, the snacks and the "freshen up" kit suggested.

Really comfy but stylish pyjama/loungewear bottoms are great when you have a newborn, so you can lounge around the house but not look too ill/sleepy if an unexpected visitor drops by! Obviously only if you know her size though.

I had an suvival pack too...pre made milk, chocolate biscuits, hand cream (good quality due to handwashing after changing nappies), a small pack of nappies, a toy, a dummy, a muslin, nappy cream etc. It was amazing. Kept going into her bag for bits for months afterwards!

This isn't quite a hamper, but for the money you're spending, it's worth mentioning: the best thing I was given was a pre-loaded kindle. An alternative would be one of those lights which clips on to a book for reading in the dark.

As far as hamper-type stuff goes, disposable (or washable) bra pads, baby bath stuff (cradle-cap shampoo and body soap) and previously mentioned linasoah cream and hand cream (L'Octaine is my fave).

I'm currently bf my second (she's 4 weeks old). Things I find useful are muslins, you can never hVe enough and you can get some lovely ones (Aden & Anais). A big scarf to cover up when out and about; my DH has just bought me a lovely new one to replace the one I used before and maybe a nice fancy water bottle? I'm constantly thirsty and go everywhere with a bottle of water.

earth-mama-angel-baby bottom spray

natracare intimate wipes

CAKE

Muslin squares (we get through so many as we have always used them around our twins necks when feeding or for reflux), infacol, sudocreme, Aveeno baby wash, nice minimally scented hand cream (nutrogena hand cream is great- the pump action one), snuffle babe nasal drops, snuffle babe vapo rub, lanisoh, a water bottle, Julia Donaldson books (I'm just looking in my baby unit as I type this) I particularly like "Room on the Broom" and "Tyrannosaurus Drip".

Sock ons and Dribble one are also amazing (amazon seems to have these for the best price at the minute).

Don't buy scratch mitts or hats or socks as you get lots of those.

You sound like a really lovely friend.

Lanisoh, definitely.
Hand cream is lovely too, as are a couple of magazines (even better if they're the small half sized ones as easier to manage while bf) I never read magazines but still really appreciated them in the first days! Boxsets are also excellent.
Personally I never really used muslins, bought loads for dc1 and most are still in original packaging.
Snacks you can eat one handed are brilliant too - cake, oat bars, chocolate, nut/seed mixes....
Light scarves are great too - I used them as bf covers, shades for over the pram for the sun, even as a light blanket on warmer days!

Thermal cup, snacks - biscuits were my go to everytime, belvita bars I devoured as seemed to sustain me longer.

Lavendar oil - good for healing and also good for sleep in the future dotted on a hanky helps encourage sleep.

Magazine subscription - I could never settle to a book and never managed to predict when I was in for a long feed so ended up with just TV - box sets would have never been in the wrong place!!

Muslins, Lansinoh, also good.

Also I had baby toothbrush, toothpaste, sippy cup, nappy cream as baby shower presents - friend who was a mum said it was the kind of stuff you needed and it was handy to have in the house already.

Another one saying Lansinoh.

Wouldn't get bath cream though as I used one after a c-section and got it infected

Is there any specific vitamins you're depleted in post birth? Or just a generic post natal vitamin? (They weren't around when I was PN)

ear-plugs
gin
3 week holiday to a spa in Thailand

going from what I wanted when my daughter was a newborn!

There a breastfeeding multivitamin if she needs it, I did because I always felt tired when bf.

Things I liked:

Nice Hand cream (for dry nappy hands)

Posh water bottle (always thirsty when you have working breasts, and let's be honest you won't be leaving the sofa for a while)

DVD box set or Netflix is she does not already have.

Any food, even better if it can be eaten 1 handed.

Starbucks vouchers!

More food....

Comfy clothes/slippers

Nice shower gel, no pamper products though, as you won't get time!

Hair bands or things to make your hair less of a target/temptation for little hands

The purple lanistosh nipple cream also makes a fantastic lip balm.

Someone got me cooling breast pads, that you pop in the fridge, they were great!

Dry shampoo was a godsend when DC were babies.

I wouldn't get a sling. I ordered one online when I had our eldest and when I tried it on it hung almost to my knees. I had no idea they came in different sizes. Nipple cream, I never used and I bf for three years. Neither of my boys took to dummy's.

A subscription to a mother and baby magazine? I bought parents magazine till my youngest was about 5.
Nursing pillow and covers?
Sudocreme. I wish I'd bought shares in that!
A nice set of baby cutlery
Book about feeding baby/making baby food/at what age to add different foods.

Best gift we got? A friend cooked some meals for our freezer.