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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider giving this as a Christmas present?

83 replies

Neverwouldhave · 27/10/2019 20:24

My sister is pregnant with her first baby, due in February. I don't have any kids, so don't know a great deal about caring for babies.

I've been thinking about what to get her and her partner for Christmas. I wanted to avoid getting her anything to do with the baby, because it's her Christmas present. Anyway, I've thought of a couple of nice things for her that she'll like.

However, I came across an automatic bottle maker which makes the baby's bottle in 8 seconds, and which can be connected to their phones via WiFi and made to make a bottle from anywhere. I was considering getting both her and her boyfriend one each to be opened together at Christmas, so they could keep one downstairs and one in the bedroom. I thought that might be nice so they don't need to be trailing up and down stairs in winter in the middle of the night to do the nighttime feeds.

Is this a really bad idea? As I say, I don't have kids so I don't know if it's practical, and I don't know if an expectant mother/father would be upset to receive something baby related for Christmas? As I say, it won't be her only gift.

AIBU to consider it?

OP posts:
Naillig222 · 27/10/2019 21:15

That was supposed to be a reply to neverenders post.

OnlyLittleMissOrganised · 27/10/2019 21:17

Please dont get one. There is no accurate way to determine how hot the water is when it hits the powder. So the bottle will not be properly sterile. I'm currently pregnant and the advice I have been given is to avoid them.

Betty777 · 27/10/2019 21:18

Buy her some really nice loungewear - eg cashmere mix hoodies, nice yoga pants etc. She will spend the next six months wearing 'home' clothes and it's less depressing if they are nicer :-)

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/10/2019 21:18

For me that's far too early to buy anything major for a baby.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/10/2019 21:18

I’d have liked a pregnancy massage. Even if I wasn’t a spa person, my sister got me a voucher for a pregnancy specialist who was a bit more medical and really good.

Your sulky friend is a CF. You’re not entitled to anything as a gift.

Babybel90 · 27/10/2019 21:19

I was pregnant at Christmas and remember being really disappointed about getting baby related gifts, firstly they’re not gifts for me if they’re for the baby and I just felt like I was a walking incubator and no longer a person in my own right and secondly I wanted to choose baby stuff myself.

CatteStreet · 27/10/2019 21:19

Like PPs, I've heard (I bf all mine, so the issue of using one never came up) that these machines are dodgy hygiene wise. Formula is not sterile and it's incredibly important to get the water temp right when making up bottles. I'd steer clear, OP. (The faff they're supposed to cut down on is one reason why your sister may end up considering bf after all).

Get them cinema or theatre tickets so they can go together before the baby comes.

Natsel84 · 27/10/2019 21:19

I haven't read all the posts but is your sister having a baby shower ? You could buy her the bottle maker for the baby shower and something for herself at Christmas. Maybe a massage or something pampering for before or after the baby is born .

AliceLittle · 27/10/2019 21:21

That's up there on the list of boring Christmas presents along with with an ironing boards, oven gloves and a tea towel set. Unless she's specifically asked for it, get her something less shit.

CheerioGirl · 27/10/2019 21:23

I’ve got one they are great! I’d be happy with it x

Lovemusic33 · 27/10/2019 21:25

I would buy them posh loungewear/pj’s rather than the bottle maker. I think unless you ask them what baby item they want it tricky to get the right gift.

IDontDrinkTea · 27/10/2019 21:25

I said I definitely wouldn’t breastfeed, the thought of having to breastfeed made me feel a bit nauseaous, etc etc.... and here I am. Eight months later, still breastfeeding. Baby has never ever taken a bottle. Honestly these little people just have their own ideas

Original poster
Neverwouldhave · 27/10/2019 21:27

She will spend the next six months wearing 'home' clothes and it's less depressing if they are nicer :-) She reckons she's going back to work after three Grin I'm sceptical.

I’d have liked a pregnancy massage. Even if I wasn’t a spa person, my sister got me a voucher for a pregnancy specialist who was a bit more medical and really good. I might try and drop into conversation something about massages and ask if she's ever fancied one.

She's into walking and photography so I usually get her things along those lines, but I don't want to get her anything she can't use for months.

OP posts:
Chocolatelover45 · 27/10/2019 21:31

Get a voucher then she can have the fun of choosing her own baby things. Honestly the amount of money wasted by well meaning people on unwanted and inappropriate things, it's really frustrating. If you want to buy things choose nice baby towels or muslins, you can never have too many and it doesn't matter if they aren't exactly what she'd have chosen herself. Suggestions of nice lounging clothes for her would also have been appreciated by me, nice foods also. Hand knitted cardigans, blankets, and presents with the baby's name on are nice too.
Basically anything for the baby is actually a present for the parents for the first year or so, baby doesn't actually care how the bottles get made etc.

justagrumblebum · 27/10/2019 21:31

All these people saying that they aren't sterile etcGrin my tommee tippee perfect prep was a life saver. I couldn't breast feed. I couldn't. I tried my hardest, tried ebf, took dd to be weighed at 9 weeks to be told that I was starving her and that there was no solution except to ff. And if I didn't, then she would be admitted to hospital and I would be reported to ss! Needless to say I went straight to Boots and stocked up on Aptamil.

It's a lovely and thoughtful present, but as pp have said, perhaps try and chose sometime 'more about her' for Christmas.

BillHadersNewWife · 27/10/2019 21:32

I'd get them a lovely blanket...a really gorgeous one. They're beautiful and useful when you have a new baby. You can cover yourself in them whilst you sit up with the baby at night.

Chocolatelover45 · 27/10/2019 21:32

Other than voucher, I would not give the above until baby born though, unless at a baby shower

pooboobsleeprepeat · 27/10/2019 21:33

Imagine if there was an invention that made milk instantly, at the perfect temperature, tailor made for each baby, would decrease the risk of breast cancer and childhood obesity....oh wait 🤔

Original poster
Neverwouldhave · 27/10/2019 21:39

Imagine if there was an invention that made milk instantly, at the perfect temperature, tailor made for each baby, would decrease the risk of breast cancer and childhood obesity....oh wait Women are perfectly entitled not to want to breastfeed. It's their prerogative entirely.

I obviously will be buying the baby other things, but not for Christmas. I'll give them those presents when he's born. I just thought that this one may have made the parents' lives easier.

OP posts:
CatteStreet · 27/10/2019 21:43

If she's into walking, you might consider getting (for the birth, not necess Christmas) a sling or a supportive, minimal fuss baby carrier, like an Ergo or Manduca, or (brilliant for the first few months) a Marsupi. (NOT a Baby Bjorn, they're rubbish for the baby's hips/spine).

20viona · 27/10/2019 21:45

Sounds like an ace present!

AllTheProsecco · 27/10/2019 21:54

Oooh yes, I like @CatteStreet's idea. I'm not a big walker but I absolutely love my slings. We've got an integra and a couple of stretchy wraps. Honestly couldn't live without them.

Spied · 27/10/2019 21:59

My first thought was it will be a faff to set up and probably won't work properly.
It will be used (or attempted to be used) once.

Penguin34 · 27/10/2019 22:15

What's the machine? Is it really 8 seconds??

My Tommee Tippee perfect prep was the single bast baby related item I had!

Penguin34 · 27/10/2019 22:15

Although for a baby shower, not for Xmas pressie