Secondhand music instrument for a gift?

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In the next couple of months I'll be attending a christening of a family friend. It's a much wanted baby and there's little possibility of them having anymore. I'd like to get the baby/parents a well thought of gift but I don't really have an idea.

I had a large christening as a baby and my mum still owns a collection of silver (tat) that I was a) never allowed to play with b) never seemed to get any enjoyment out of as it was all boxed away. I think it's all in her loft where it will be forever more.

Now, both baby's parents are musicians (not professionally) so was thinking of a small violin/ukulele/wind instrument. Both parents are keen readers too so I'm sure they'll appreciate a nice book or series (something quirky as I presume they'll have most popular books). One lot of grandparents are very religious so I presume they'll get a fair few bibles. I wouldn't mind getting something travel related as I'm sure this baby will see more of this world than we could ever dream of.

I'm more than happy for other suggestion around the £50 mark just want something that the baby will be able to get use out of but also something sentimental. Really appreciate any ideas as I'm struggling. Thank you!!

What lovely ideas. I think I'd go for a really nice quality book that you could write a message in. Fairy stories perhaps (they may have a book of them, but you could get a special copy?). If the parents are musicians they may be particular about what instrument they'd prefer and I'm not sure you'd get anything that good for £50.

Not an instrument. It's a lovely idea if you had £500. But £50 is little more than the budget for a novelty or toy.

Books are a fab idea. What about some beautiful pop-up paper engineering books by Robert Sabuda?

My goto is always a print.

www.art-of-illustration.co.uk/

The Moomins ones start at £25 I think. The Blakes and Guess How Much's are more expensive though, start at £85

Agree with pp that £50 isn't really enough to get a decent instrument, only a toy thing

How about a set of books (Peter Rabbit, Winne the Pooh, Thomas the Tank Engine, Gruffalo type things)? Or Emma Bridgewater do personalised mugs: baby's name on the front, date of the christening on the bottom

Would something like this book work? It’s well under £50 but combines the music and book idea (and you could always get something else e.g. a toy instrument to go with it)

www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Piano-Sound-Book/dp/1786030748?tag=mumsnetforum-21

How about a child's xylophone or piano thing. If you can find a well tuned one musical parents will adore you for years. DC were given one that's just slightly out on some of the notes, they loved it, I did not. You can get mini pianos that look like pianos and play in tune - someone I know got lucky in a charity shop so you never know.

Have a look at Outdoor Ukelele - it’s the most brilliant robust all weather all terrain ukelele. My daughter has one and has been backpacking with it for three years. Comes in great colours too. Made in Oregon I think.
You might find one on eBay or on sale ...I think hers cost about 100 pounds.

What about a set of baby percussion instruments? Played by the parents, obviously! That would be well under your budget.
Or a musical box with a traditional song? They're popular gifts at christenings.
Or a charm bracelet with a single musical charm. You could add to it over the years.

A term's worth of Rhythm Time or similar? Or if they already go, a lollipop drum and claves? My DCs have these and a nice set of eight bells.

Omg I love the prints

Have just looked on eBay -
Makala Waterman Oudoor Ukelele are listed within your budget. One is aqua the other seafoam!
It should last him a life time and fun to take travelling.

Not an instrument for £50, can't even get a decent quality beginners clarinet for that!

If you buy a xylophone or toy piano for god's sake find one that is completely in tune or you may as well torture the parents. You cannot imagine how bad an out of tune xylophone sounds to a musical ear, and the vast majority are badly tuned. I know, I tested tens of the things looking for one. Also I wouldn't allow my children to play an out of tune instrument in case it affected their musical ability.

There's a lovely picture book all about the orchestra www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=734989&catalogId=10051&searchTerm=orchestra

www.myriadonline.co.uk/product/eight-tone-diatonic-glockenspiel/

How about one of these? Beautiful sound, the diatonic tuning means however it is played sounds pretty! Quality crafted instrument, and a piece of musical curiosa.
£54 from Myriad so bang on budget.

May I say that if your friends are happy amateur musicians who just play for the love of it, chances are that they will be a little more relaxed about the quality of the instrument. You can definitely get a nice enough second hand instrument for a child for £50. I bought DD a beautiful Moeck recorder for just under £50, it is absolutely fine.
I think it is a great idea to buy an instrument!

In fact, one of these might be nice too:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00IHZYWE0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ref=plSrch&keywords=lap+harp&dpPl=1&dpID=41AhpWLwgHL&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1517001497&sr=8-1
and within budget at around £30. My DDs adore theirs.

You should be able to get some nice percussion instruments for £50. We had a lovely wood and metal xylophone, tambourine, hand drum etc (make sure you buy school-standard equipment from a proper music shop). We also had a wonderful percussion instrument called a rainmaker (we lived in Latin America). I'll see if I can find a link.

I think our rainmaker was something like this www.knockonwood.co.uk/prod/african-hand-percussion/cactus-rainmaker.htm

I love the glockenspiel. It is something special/different/appropriate and could actually be used under close supervision by a the child from quite early on without offending the parents' musical ear.

You could get a 1/4 size violin within your budget if you look around online. That would be about the right size for a young child. DD started playing at 6 on an instrument that size which we bought second hand for £25. It was a perfectly adequate instrument for a beginner as it only had to last for a couple of years and she then needed to get the next size up. Actually we still have it for sentimental reason.

We have a lovely set of children’s percussion instruments (shakers, triangle, that kind of thing) made by tidlo.

You cannot buy a violin worth having for £50, not even a child's one. Not to mention that the violin isn't for everyone and said child may never be interested.

The diatonic glockenspiel on the other hand looks brilliant - fun for both babies and children and even the parents.

Sorry for the late reply as I've been on the late shift.

I'm having a look through all the links but nothing has seemed to be 'the gift'. But then again I'm the sort of person to look for a few months and end up getting gift vouchers.

There's lots of suggestions for instruments which is great but does anyone have any more for books? I remember seeing a beautiful illustrated atlas for children (it was a3 I think in a cartoon style) if anyone has a clue what book I'm thinking of?

I have seen a fair few 1/4 violins on facebook for under my budget this week- original costs about £300. I can't imagine many buying a five year old a brand new instrument for over £300 to begin with? Not like a piano that will grow with the child into adult hood? If anything I think she may get a couple as her dad plays but then it could always be used as a second on play dates?

I saw one of these in person a couple of weeks ago and thought it was a lovely idea - it lasts until they're about 100

Don't give instruments to musicians ('children) :)

Instruments are such personal things, and giving the child his or her first instrument is a very special occasion in all the musician families I know (and I organise concerts and do bookings for bands, so I know many).

Also, if you don't actually know anything about instruments, you will just be wasting your money on most instruments.

If you do want to give an instrument, I'd certainly discuss it with the parents beforehand!