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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

what was the baby gift you got from work?

110 replies

Merryoldgoat · 12/10/2021 11:41

My very lovely assistant accountant is going on maternity leave and I want to get her something nice. Budget of £70-£100

What did you get as a gift that you really liked when you went on leave? Or are vouchers preferable?

I was taken out for tea as my goodbye but we can’t do that for her so trying to think of alternatives.

OP posts:

TinnedPotatoesRock · 12/10/2021 12:36

Definitely not a nappy cake, I'd be so disappointed with that. If the gift is for her, not the baby, vouchers would be good or put together a hamper with her favourite things in.

edwinbear · 12/10/2021 12:40

DH and I worked together so our work had a collection from both teams. Our colleagues were very generous and between them, we had about £200 of John Lewis vouchers, plus a beautiful keepsake book from the White Company and a teddy. I also received flowers after the birth. It was perfect as the vouchers were incredibly useful for picking up bits we hadn't realised we'd need after DS arrived, but there were also a couple of token presents for DS to keep.

Wagglerock · 12/10/2021 12:42

M&S voucher
Lovely teddy
Mum to be box that was very appreciated

Second time round got a nice hamper of baby stuff

Original poster

Merryoldgoat · 12/10/2021 13:36

Oh gosh! Lots of ideas!

Looks like vouchers at the winner.

I’m making her a blanket anyway so she’ll have a little gift and I will also get flowers.

Thank you all

OP posts:

NeverTheHootenanny · 12/10/2021 13:40

My colleagues have been very thoughtful both times.
For my first pregnancy they got me some nice clothes for the baby.
For the second baby they knew that I had loads of baby stuff so got some stuff for me instead (a candle, spa voucher, chocolate and Prosecco)

MilduraS · 12/10/2021 13:42

We do John Lewis vouchers for maternity gifts. There's one near our workplace so easy to spend and mum can choose if she needs something for the baby or something for herself.

NeverTheHootenanny · 12/10/2021 13:42

If you do want to get something for the baby the Bonds Wondersuits are beautiful. It’s the kind of thing I probably wouldn’t buy as they are pricey but would be a lovely gift.

degsydoodoos · 12/10/2021 13:44

With my first baby, someone organised a whip round and I got a big card signed by everyone, with about £150 of Mothercare vouchers. (Showing my age now!) Was great as I used them to buy a few bits that I hadn't been able to afford. Second and third babies I didn't get an office present but with one of them, I can't remember which, my close colleagues put together and got me a spa voucher for after the birth ,.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 12/10/2021 13:46

Amazon voucher and a card signed by the whole team.

Two is us were due the same week, so the office threw us a "baby shower" which was just tea and cake and they handed the gifts over and our managers did a little spiel about how amazing we were .

NCsobroke · 12/10/2021 13:48

I was given a hamper with body lotions, baby bits - nappies creams and couple of baby grows, dvd of ‘mama Mia here we go again’ (as this was baby number 2). At the time it was lovely as I’d only been there 9 months before going on maternity so wasn’t expecting a fuss - however I think most people would prefer vouchers.

Sceptre86 · 12/10/2021 13:50

dh got given a next voucher which will be useful as it isn't our first child so we have lots of clothes already. I can then just use it to buy stuff for baby as and when I need it. I got given baby clothes and a music set which I am looking forward to using. I would get a sensory set and then a voucher for a large shop like Next or John Lewis so they can but what they need when they want. The parents can also use it on themselves if they want.

DeepaBeesKit · 12/10/2021 13:53

Voucher - it was great as we bought a next to me crib which we hadn't budgeted for (we had the pram top for when baby was tiny then just the cot), I really liked the next to me and we used it longer than expected.

maofteens · 12/10/2021 13:54

Work didn't give me anything but a voucher would be most useful I think.

2tired2bewitty · 12/10/2021 13:54

Breast pump 😂. I did ask my manager if the (mostly older male) Partners would be comfortable with that, but I think she just got it anyway. The other two I got JL vouchers.

FawnFrenchieMum · 12/10/2021 13:58

I got a baby bag (they asked me if I already had one and told me not to buy one!) filled will useful bits but with both children I got a baby steiff bear, not for everyone but I really like that it was something different and something to keep.

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 12/10/2021 14:00

Vouchers unless you know what she wants

John Lewis

WeatherwaxLives · 12/10/2021 14:00

I had a hamper. Baby socks / bibs / bits like that. Some creams and stuff for baby. Some for me. A bottle of wine and some other food bits I loved but couldn't have while pregnant. Some cans of coke as I was massively craving them, much to everyone's amusement.

I also had some vouchers, some for spending (mothercare, M&S, etc) and some for stuff to do. I felt really guilty that I never used the gel nail voucher they got me - never had it done before and didn't want to waste it before baby came as I would have had to remove them in the hospital. But afterwards, who has time to have their nails done?! I didn't really think that through! So that one expired which was a shame.

I seem to remember the vouchers were all in separate envelopes marked with the date I should open them spread out over a few weeks pre and post due date.

maras2 · 12/10/2021 14:04

Front fastening nightie in peach from Mothercare.
Rocha John Rocha posh body spray.
6 baby vests and 6 sleep suits from Mothercare.
I'd only worked there for 12 months so was quite taken aback.
Nurses are really the most generous people to work with.
That little lot, between 5 of them, must have been the equivalent of one person's monthly salary.

EatYourVegetables · 12/10/2021 14:06

I got flowers addressed to a wrong name. Don’t get that.

ChristmasFluff · 12/10/2021 14:11

I got a teddy and some flowers when baby was born, and a card when I went on maternity leave.

But the chronic fatigue group I ran made a beautiful quilted baby blanket that I still have today, over 20 years later. I still have the teddy too (it was one of my son't favourites), but I love that blanket, and the work that went into it, so much.

Caelus · 12/10/2021 14:13

Work didn't get me anything either. Agree a voucher is a nice choice.

Goldenbear · 12/10/2021 14:14

For our second child DH was given a baby box of organic clothes, booties, bibs from a high end shop and they bought me a £100 spa voucher even though I didn't work there with them, feel terrible about that though as it expired as I couldn't find any time to go.

JustKeepSw1mming · 12/10/2021 14:20

A written warning and a 'well done' on whatsapp

Skyeheather · 12/10/2021 14:27

£90.00 cash in an envelope (which was great because I could go and buy exactly what I wanted), a card, flowers and a fancy helium ballon which was still going after baby arrived!

girlmom21 · 12/10/2021 14:39

@JustKeepSw1mming

A written warning and a 'well done' on whatsapp

Presumably the written warning was unrelated?

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