To get them a thermometer as a new baby gift?

[TheBabyAteMyBrain]

Mutual friends of me and dh are due their first baby in Dec, they have a large family and friend circle and the child will be the first grandchild, so they will be inundated with cute outfits, blankets, toys, gifts for mum.

Speaking with dh last night I said it would be a good idea to get them a Braun Thermoscan thermometer as a new baby gift as it's been a life saver for us and our two dc. Dh thinks it's a boring gift and we should do the usual personalised blanket or cute outfits. I think it's practical and will be used straight away from first vaccinations and is one of the things people tend to forget to buy when preparing for a first baby.

So, AIBU? Would you have appreciated a thermometer or should I get the usual bits for a new baby?

I think it’s good to get useful gifts. Things like cool trainers for newborns are so wasteful. I’ve seen that loads. I recently bought some baby nail clippers, nappies, wipes, breast pads, bibs, baby hair brush and baby lotion. Basically the kind of things you burn through quickly or forget (like nail clippers).

I actually would have really appreciated that as a present. I prefer practical things as gifts and tend to be quite picky in what I like in terms of baby clothes/blankets so prefer to get them myself.
I know some pp have mentioned it might be boring but perhaps you can make it part of a jokey medical survival kit for new parents? I did a hamper once which included a clothes peg, latex gloves & face mask (nappy changes), ear plugs and a nappy sack with a label saying 'biological hazardous waste' on it. There's a lot of ideas online..

I think it's a great gift

Its the kind of thing most people would buy themselves isn't it? If you want something practical what about a Groegg?

I think it is a great idea. Still use mine over 20 years later.
Obviously I’m a shit parent

Definitely a good present idea! Very practical and makes a change from the usual clothes etc.

I would have lived that.
or a bath thermometer that actually shows the temperature and not just red and green....

@Talcott2007’s emergency bag is a brilliant idea and your thermometer could be part of something like that. I’d have preferred it to those DIY plaster of Paris feet cast things. Stuff that requires no additional work is the way to go.

My DM picked me up brand new unopened Tommy Teepee thermometer and bath/room thermometers from a local charity shop for only a few £s - they'd been gifted to the charity shop by someone who'd received duplicates at her baby shower! I do think it's a useful present but maybe give them a gift receipt with it in case someone else has also had that idea!

I'd buy nappies. Honestly, they are costly but obviously useful! She'll thank you for it later!

i love practical, useful gifts. although i did buy us a thermometer extremely early in my first pregnancy cos I'm weird like that!

I’d have loved a practical gift like that. If it’s the one I’m thinking of then it doubles up as a bath thermometer too which means even if they have a thermometer they could still use it (unless they have a bath thermometer too ).

Ok google is my friend I’m thinking of the wrong one - ignore me.
As you were

I would have returned it, there is no need for a home thermometer - my hands can tell me everything I need to know. If you must have a thermometer, a cheap under the arm (only ones available when mine were born) gives enough info. Honestly trust your instincts, you don't need measurements, they feel hot, have other symptoms - go to drs!

Not rtft but I came here to say that I got a box similar to what @Talcott2007 describes with the Calpol etc in and it was hands down the most useful thing ever!!!

We bought a Thermoscan thermometer when DD was born, it was about £35 and a bit expense but honestly our kids must be sicker than others because we use it monthly! So helpful when the kids are ill, and like others said we've been asked to monitor temperatures and GP, A&E and 111. All usual childhood illness like croup, tonsillitis, bronchiolitis, chicken pox. Our Dd in particular really suffered with sky high temperatures and in the middle of the night it was a life saver for us as new parents. I've bought one as a present for my Sil when she had her baby last year.

Its the kind of thing most people would buy themselves isn't it? If you want something practical what about a Groegg?
Utterly misread this and thought "Yes, I had a Greggs sausage roll on Day 3 but I wouldn't call it a great gift."

Practical gifts are the best but don't underestimate the cute outfit with gift receipt so they can exchange it for what they want/need. Something fun to unwrap and it's useful for later on when the baby has almost instantly outgrown the piles of newborn stuff. We had the practical stuff – thermometer, snot sucker, muslins, etc – because it's on all the lists. Food vouchers are also good.

I've taken DD's temp multiple times and she doesn't have health issues. Just normal childhood stuff like fever accompanying a cold, reactions to vaccinations. You can tell she's hot from feeling her; but you can't tell if she's dangerously so and 111 have always asked.

Great present!!