To ask what your favourite baby/pregnancy gifts were?

[Jesusweptagain]

I am attending a close friends baby shower in a few weeks and want to avoid getting her anything useless or impractical. I know her sense of style & have bought an outfit for once the baby arrives however I would like to get her something practical or for herself for the baby shower. All the big things I.e. playmats have been purchased already. She is a close friend so I dont mind spending up to £50 on this gift. Any suggestions? I was thinking of a Ewan the dream sheep but open to ideas!

Also, a matchstick monkey teether! and agree with a previous poster about toys - people buy you lots of teddies and comforters but don’t tend to buy you rattles or toys.

Sock Ons - helps to stop little wrigglers losing socks. Aden and Anais muslins, swaddle blankets and baby sleeping bags. And my 5 year old still falls asleep to Euan the Dream Sheep every night! If it helps, I would say my least favourite (or least useful) were personalised birth date pictures/ frames/ name decorative. There are really only so many of these you can display.

My cousin made me a hamper with body creams, bath oil, facial scrubs and a bottle of prosecco. I was strangely taken aback as I'd not expected anything for me but this was definitely something that felt really thoughtful.

Also the tuppence and crumble star blanket. Loved it. This time round I'd like one of the car seat blankets.

Definitely it was my friend who got me £50 worth of just eat vouchers!
These lotions and potions and the mugs/cups and other tat and especially baby clothes were just tat that either got thrown away or donated.

Cosy long soft cardigan to use as a dressing gown and cover post baby bod
Someone kindly bought me ome from Zara Home.

Create a baby first aid kit. Nothing like being in the middle of the night with colic and realising you don't have anything.
Decent thermometer
Nappy cream
Calpol (for when a bit older)
Saline drops/sucker
Colic medicine / gripe water
Etc.

Then add a few treaty bits for mum too.

Was something I bought myself, but absolutely couldn't live without it now- a nursing cover/apron. Wish I'd had it for my first 3! So, so useful, goes everywhere with me.

The best gifts I got were a knitted blanket which 3YO DD still uses for her nap at daycare and newborn sleepsuits because I didn’t buy anywhere near enough because I heard too many stories of whopper babies going straight to 0-3 months! I’d say avoid flowers because our house looked like a florists and finding vessels for them all was a huge pain, and also soft toys because we got so many, probably over 20 Jellycat rabbits alone.

Agree about food- we were sent a Cook delivery both times, amazing to not have to think about dinner! So grateful to that friend and have done for others since.
Large swaddle muslin - so useful for sick,blanket,sit on, cover pram up...
More expensive clothes I cant afford like Bonds Wondersuits , cool designs and easy zip
Off to google this crumble and stars blanket!

Swaddle Up sleeping bags - DS kicks of blankets and during the hot weather we just had him in a nappy and a swaddle up.

Star wrap - great for in the car or sling

If you are thinking about getting something for when the child is older, GrabEase cutlery is great.

For her, some nipple balm if breastfeeding ( I preferred MooGoo to Lansinoh) and a good hand cream as she'll be washing them a lot after changing nappies.

Monkey teether
Merlins magic sleep suit
Baby massage oil from Neals yard and mama bath oil
Velcro swaddles
Lots of home cooked food that fitted in the freezer. I reckon a fresh shepherds pie was our best present!!

Mama mio products. Really good quality

I agree with baby sleeping bags, my DM got me one and it was the only way my DD would sleep as she always kicks the blanket off and gets cold. I also appreciated blankets as DD was born in Winter and they get dirty quicker than I imagined, especially now in the Summer I pop her on the floor outside on them. I got given A LOT of nipple cream, none of which I've ever used even though I EBF but I know my friends who BF did use a lot of it in the early days. I got given a memory box with DD's name carved into it which was beautiful and I've loved collecting things to put in it.

The favourite presents we received when our children were born were personalised Jane Hamerton bath towels (not baby size). My children still use them, they're excellent quality and my go to gift for close friends now.

I also loved a voucher for a home massage and a case of wine!

Mothercare vouchers and a beautiful lullabies CD.

I second the giant Muslins, so so useful. And indispensable if the baby is a puker (mine was )

Pampering stuff for me - sheet face masks, body yogurt, soap

Felt a luxury to enjoy a shower after baby so was nice to have some nice things to use

Work mates got me a Le Creuset cast iron casserole pot. Still cherish it years later.

"thirding" the cook vouchers recommendation. Hands down the most useful present we received. My DH can't really cool but he could be in control of that which was so helpful.

Skip Hop whale bath was amazing, has a three level system depending on age of child. We personally didn't get on with Ewann, found him way too loud and too sensitive to noise, we love the Marpac Hushh for Baby white noise machine though!

Ewan the dream sheep was my favourite baby item

That and a baby swing that had white noise installed in it.

I got this one for both kids and will buy one again if I ever have another baby

I got given a swaddle and a travel blackout blind which has been by far the most useful thing. It wasnt immediately useful though.

I did a hamper for a friend. Nice pjs (button down for bf), ribena, sanitary towels, handcream with a pump top. Cant remember what else I put in.