To ask what the duck to get a friend who's had a baby

[Fattygettingthin]

Please help me! I haven't a clue what to get her and the baby. She had him about 3 weeks ago and we're seeing them tomorrow.

What do you wish you had as a gift after having a baby? What was your favourite gift? What did you appreciate most? I've got her some Aiden and Anais muslins but that's it :/

Help! Aibu to call on Mumsnet so she doesn't get just a pack of sick cloths

John Lewis have some absolutely gorgeous cotton baby blankets which are great most of the year

A and A Muslins are lovely. Posh shower gel is just about the only pampering gift she will have time (just about!) to enjoy.

I'd say something for the mum such as a pamper basket or Badedas bath gelee (good for healing stitches). I got loads of stuff bought for the baby but nothing for me.

Things I got that I said thankyou for but were kind of useless -

• Blankets (I got soooo many)
• Clothes for the wrong season (baby born in Dec and got winter coats for when she was 6 months old which was obviously June)
• Stuffed toys (again, received tons)

Cake! Thats always a winner. And flowers.

And I always appreciated nice baby outfits but in a few months bigger size (remember to take into account what season it will be and not buy summer stuff for winter etc) Because I bought basic essentials myself and it was nice to have some high quality just for fun items to dress the baby in when they were a bit bigger. So id go with that (unless you really dont understand the persons taste and feel you couldnt get them something they would like)
I always like to get stuff that I wouldnt have just bought myself anyway, as a present... so not 'essential' stuff which idve already bought for the baby but something luxury that I probably wouldnt have had the time or money to buy what with everything else.

Get a little care package for HER. Everyone always does stuff for the baby.
A magazine, a bar of chocolate, a little bottle of wine, a coloured tea light candle, some fancy tea bags, a little bubble bath. A CD or DVD she'd like.
Stick it in a gift bag as a new mum first aid kit. You can get all of this at a decent supermarket in 10 mins flat.
Weirdly the Radox bath salts that come in a box are about a quid but are awesome (and I tend to prefer fancy Molton Brown / Korres stuff)
Someone did one of these kits for me and it made me SO HAPPY.

Voucher for gusto or hello fresh with discount code.

I used to get a 9 to 12 month sleep suit and vest pack. Along with a £10 m&s voucher for the two can dine.

Oo, also, also, if you get her a Charlie Bigham ready meal from Waitrose she will fall to her knees and worship you. 😍

I just had my little girl a week ago and my fave gifts have been a giant box of chocolates, a winter velvet dress, tights and cardie set for the baby from M&S, a box of luxury bathing stuff, a giant bunch of flowers from my parents, a really beautiful embroidered baby blanket, a summer dress for the baby from Monsoon which is for next summer, bunting with my daughters name on.

My favourite presents -
Ready meals (especially home cooked)
Books
Cutlery / crockery sets for when they're a bit older
Things for their room - John Lewis do some lovely animal silhouette 3d type pics. I also received some personalised bunting with baby's name on which I'd never have picked but looks lovely in the room
Teething necklace for baby to play with while feeding
Cake. Lots of cake
Luxury hand cream
Someone got me a cushion for all the time I'd be spending on the floor!

I found lots of clothes people got me were lovely but not practical (buttons at the back, frilly dresses, clothes the wrong size for the season which is always tricky unless you know what growth curve they're following)

Baby clothes? A first teddy?

i always buy my friends vouchers for afternoon tea or a nice bottle of something. the babies get enough (I have 2 DC and this stuck with me after someone bought ME gifts). Shes carried it for 9 months, given birth and is now having sleepless nights. spoil your friend :)

Too late for tomorrow, but I always get new babies a starsnug from tuppence and crumble. They are like little shaped blankets that you can put on babies in car seats. I loved them for mine and is more of an unusual present....plus they are just incredibly cute!

One lovely friend bought us an m&s dine in for 2, was much appreciated!

Anything will be appreciated though.

You're a great frirnd for asking this! Get something that's just for her; not many people think of that but it makes a huge difference at a really bonkers and potentially very draining time! A good book, special shower stuff, whatever she's into. Meals are also great. Enjoy your visit

A friend of ours turned up with a giant bag of quick, easy to cook and eat food. Supermarket pizza, fresh pasta and sauce, pre-prepared fruit and salads, fresh soup, fruit juice plus biscuits/chocolate etc. It was probably the best gift we received!

Homemade food we could bung straight in the oven (casserole/stew was fab)

Nice cheese and biscuits

Snacks that are easy to eat with one hand (posh biscuits!)

Cake.

In my defence, breastfeeding is hungry hungry work!

The present I enjoyed most was a good friend who got me some Clarins shower gel as a nice treat for me (which was a nice luxury) as well as a lovely outfit and Christmas reindeer for our first born Christmas DS.
Another friend got me wine and chocolates instead of buying the baby something which was refreshing after all the baby gifts.
Most of the clothes I exchanged as I had far too many in the first three sizes.
Depends how old the baby is, how organised the friend is in terms of clothing and whether you have the same tastes and what they have already bought need etc. Muslim squares were fab for my first sicky baby but I already bought these myself. Also I was quite traditional and put DS in a lot of white and simple soft baby grow type outfits for the first three months but some babies are kitted out like little old men and women from almost day one in denim etc.

Oh with my second another lovely friend from my first time mum group brought me a big massive tin of delicious homemade caramel shortbread for us and visitors. It was so delicious DH and myself wolfed most of it.
Most gifts were a blur to be fair as I had two babies within 13 months of each other.

Do you know her well enough to send her up for a long bath whilst you look after the baby and do some laundry / dishes?
Audible subscription for when she's up for night feeds / really early mornings when there's nothing on tv?
We loved a White Company footless all in one in 3-6 that we kept for "best" and a Ralphie one too. Did weddings and christening without too much fuss.
I imagine JL has some darling baby crockery sets. We still use our lovely Emma Bridgewater stuff years later! (For the cat...)

I think 6 to 9 months is the age people Least buy when getting clothes. Hand cream was a great present and although I probably didn’t appreciate it at the time as it felt like something else to do, I really like the photo album we got now I’ve had the time to fill it. It’s lovely to look back over. I also would have loved a cleaner for a few hours (in fact still would )

I liked getting bigger clothes, we had so much 0-3 stuff DD barely wore some things.

One of our favourite gifts was from friends who bought an older outfit (6/9 I think), roses for me and beer for DH! I also got given a fruit salad all chopped up and orange juice on the side. Sounds daft but I really loved it! It was so nice to have fresh fruit and it lasted several days.

I’ve breastfed 2 babies and never needed to us a breast pad. Its not a gift, it’s like receiving sanitary pads. Essential, but not something you want to open in front of guests. Plus at 3 weeks she’s probably sorted with that kind of thing.

Muslins for the baby and something nice for your friend sounds perfect. Chocolate, wine, food, voucher? Those were my favorite gifts!

My favourite and most useful gift was a set of 7 hooded towels.

Muslins yes useful, blankets.

But also something for her. Depending how well you know her, her favourite bubble bath or perfume, chocolates, drink thermos (cup or flask) she'll be drinking more if bf and in this heat nice to have a drink that stays cold if you can't move cos baby's fell asleep on you and is in an easily wakened phase!

I paid for my sister’s Amazon Prime account. She was ever so grateful.

I paid for my sister’s Amazon Prime account. She was ever so grateful.

This is a good thought - an Audible subscription would be amazing too. I listen to so much radio drama/audiobooks when I’m at home with the baby