What was the best thing you got when you had a baby?

[NewYoiker]

My friend has had a baby and hopefully I'll get to visit this month :) I don't have any children but we had a still birth at 33 weeks and a lot of miscarriages so we've given up, however we've never got to the point of getting any gifts which frankly was good as we did have to get rid of all the nursery stuff.

Anyway, please can you help me find a good present for a new mum/ baby? As I have no fucking idea anymore, if you'd asked me when pregnant I'd have said gin for me after pregnancy . There is a mamas and papas near me and a boots and a Jojo maman bébé so I can get a few nice things but I don't know what to get. Please help. This is the first time I've felt able to get a present for a friends baby after our loss which I know is awful but I really have struggled.

for you xxx

I think you should get something for your friend. Bring her nice snacks and drinks, nice hand cream and hair serum, maybe a mini bottle of champagne.

I got these sorts of things and it was lovely. It means you don't have to look around baby places too.

So sorry for your loss.

I'd always say food. Some nice frozen meals from Cook for example so she has something tasty to eat that she doesn't need to prepare?

You're a lovely friend.

My friend bought lots of little bits for me and put them in a hamper, like shampoo, body cream, chocolate, socks, etc. It was the most thoughtful gift and the only one I actually really remember looking back now!

My boss went to the effort of finding out which hairdresser I used and bought me a voucher for a cut, colour and treatment. Was a couple of hours of heaven.

Sorry for your losses

You sound like a great friend. Funny that you mention the bottle of gin...that's exactly what a friend bought me this week as a postnatal gift...very gratefully received! I'd get that for her and a token gift for the baby

I’m so sorry . I’d go with Cook ready meals or equivalent.

A load of ready meals/fresh fruit good too. Also I had a couple of really lovely blankets that were used loads and I still have years later, so could be something to consider too.

Some very expensive shower gel and other bathroom bits. I felt like crap but the shower gel smelt lovely and left a lovely scent. It was so nice to have a little luxury and it really made me feel better!

The best presents I got were

Really nice shower gel (Molton Brown)
Best quality baby grows (M&S, John Lewis etc not cheap Tescos which are great but I can buy them!)
Chocolates

An hour here and there from my mum when she took the baby out in the pram for a walk so I could shower/nap. Saved my mental health more than anything else. Also she didn’t insist and it was for only an hour or so, so I never got the ‘mum guilt’ of leaving my baby with someone else. Nowadays I’ll happily leave them all weekend but in the early days just an hour was enough.

Pate, Camembert and fresh French bread from the bakers. It was so wonderful I cried.

The kids got lovely bits too, all of which were used and some of which we’ve kept for their memory boxes. But I remember that crusty bread and pate so ridiculously vividly.

Gin! Meals. Jojo babygrows. You sound lovely. Lots of love op xx

I got some very grown up, feminine pyjamas with a very forgiving waistband.
They made me feel quite pretty ☺

Food! High calorie eat in the hand food! For the baby, I’d get crazy booties, or an outfit that’s a bit too big for summer. I’m so sorry for your loss, a good friend will understand if it’s too much on the day.

I’m so sorry for your losses. You’re an amazing person and friend. DS is 6 and I can’t remember what we got as baby presents in the main but he still has a Little White Company Teddy from his Godmother.

A friend of mine turned up with food and another turned up with red wine and smelly cheese, it was amazing!

You sound like a lovely friend OP.

Today 05:15 Soulsista14

My friend bought lots of little bits for me and put them in a hamper, like shampoo, body cream, chocolate, socks, etc. It was the most thoughtful gift and the only one I actually really remember looking back now!

^^ This!
I was going to say the same thing. My friend put in a few bits for baby and for me things like a bath bomb, a book, a miniature bottle of wine, cereal bars - it was incredibly thoughtful and I now do it for my friends x

I think either cute outfits (parents can just buy cheap stuff if other a buy a few nicer things:) or the gift we found most useful but is a but not a boring practical one is a changing mat clutch bag. It fits easily in the backpack of baby things and can fit in everything useful for changing baby. Didn't realise how useful it was until baby was here and hownis gets used every time we're out and she needs a change

My go-to baby gift is a star wrap from Tuppence and Crumble here.

They're great for wrapping the baby in easily and work in car seats as well as peaks. I loved the one I was given.

Sorry for your loss. You sound really thoughtful.

Peaks Should've been prams!

I second everyone saying expensive shower gel. Having a shower was the only thing that made me feel normal! Plus better quality muslin cloths. My mum got us about 20 from John Lewis and they are a godsend. Much nicer than the cheap ones we bought.

I'm so sorry for your losses. I hope that some day you will find peace with it and you will be rewarded in some way. 💕

For a new Mum I'd send cake/biscuits/cup cakes. A friend of mine did that and I've never been more grateful for anything in my life.

So sorry for your losses, OP, that truly is a horrendous time you've gone through

Definitely nice ready meals

I’m so sorry for your losses.

The best presents I had included a John Lewis Voucher so I could choose clothes myself online and get it delivered, offers of help for a couple of hours, Sophie Le Giraffe, brightly coloured soft muslins, lovely shower gel and hand cream and FOOD!

The less useful presents included flowers and plants (you’ve got a newborn - it’s another damn thing to look after).

So sorry for your loss.
The things that are most remembered.
A build a bear with the same DoB. A morrk blanket (like a star blanket) for the car seat.

My mum paid for a cleaner for 3 months, that was great.

Definitely something for your friend, not the baby, we were totally overwhelmed with baby gifts, very generous but there’s only so many soft toys and baby clothes that you need.

A home cooked meal was lovely, any nice foodie gifts or body stuf.