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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
ErrolTheDragon · 12/10/2021 14:42

I didn't get anything when I went on maternity leave.
They sent some sort of flowers in a pot when DD was born though.

takenforgrantednana · 12/10/2021 14:43

i was given a basket of flowers, just the once even tho i had 3 kids

Dutchesss · 12/10/2021 14:53

Vouchers are a great choice. Flowers are not great, as others have said they require clipping, watering and then cleaning out loads of vases and dropped petals when they eventually die.
Vouchers for spa days or afternoon teas can often expire before use, especially with new mums. I received a lot of creams and baby oil but gave them away as they were not products I would have used on my baby.
I found older sized clothes (6 months+), vouchers, muslins and edible treats for myself to be really nice gifts.

Franca123 · 12/10/2021 14:59

I was told they had an amazon voucher which they would forward to my email. Never reviewed it which was a bit annoying / awkward / worrying / upsetting. My boss was a wanker and a bit dodgy. Second time round, I didn't know anyone in the office as they were all new and it was covid so got nothing. Funnily enough, was quite pleased when I got made redundant whilst on maternity leave!

Franca123 · 12/10/2021 14:59

Received not reviewed

SnoopDogisamenace · 12/10/2021 15:02

A rocking horse. Absolutely beautiful but large. In the roofspace now
being kept in case I ever have grandchildren.

AmigoingcrZy · 12/10/2021 15:05

My partner and I work for the same business and we were gifted £150 cash, lots of baby clothes, photo frames, chocolates, bibs, muslin squares, blanket with Baby's name on etc. Felt super spoiled to be honest and very blessed to have been gifted so much 🙏

HectorGloop · 12/10/2021 15:08

DH's work gave us a beautiful woollen blanket when DS was born. It became his blankie and it never left his side when he was little. He still sleeps with it now (he's in year 1) and loves it enormously. It would be the first thing I saved in a fire.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/10/2021 15:09

@JustKeepSw1mming

A written warning and a 'well done' on whatsapp
Shock
OP posts:
bakingdemon · 12/10/2021 15:11

A box of chocolates when I left but then they sent me a Fortnums hamper when the baby arrived. Vouchers for somewhere like John Lewis so you can buy the baby stuff you want, or vouchers for somewhere like Cook so you can fill the freezer are good.

Gumboots29 · 12/10/2021 15:14

I got Treatwell vouchers so could pamper myself when I got some time and flowers when the baby arrived. Very thoughtful.

You can’t go wrong with vouchers for John Lewis.

FangsForTheMemory · 12/10/2021 15:16

One of my colleagues made it very clear she wanted luxury body care from a particular high-end company, so that was what she got. Another was known for loathing bath smellies and lotions but loved eating out so she got an afternoon tea voucher.

gwenneh · 12/10/2021 15:17

I got £500 in vouchers as a company gift, some cot bedding as a personal gift from the CEO, some adorable baby clothing and a handmade card from my team (the card was in the nursery colours and is framed), a lovely baby changing bag that attaches to the pram from a close colleague, and £100 in Just Eat vouchers when the baby arrived so we could have a nice meal.

The vouchers helped pay for the car seat we needed, and the food was VERY welcome!

luckylavender · 12/10/2021 15:20

I got a steriliser, a baby grow and a couple of photo frames.

Firstbornunicorn · 12/10/2021 15:21

Nothing from my work because they are awful, but DH’s colleagues got us a load of baby clothes in 6m+, a baby bath towel and some baby body wash and shampoo. I thought it was a great gift.

Lemonysherbet · 12/10/2021 15:21

A really lovely hamper full of all sorts of baby stuff and a balloon. It was so sweet. It was during covid lockdown so had to be sent by post

Mommabear20 · 12/10/2021 15:24

Absolutely nothing! Both times! I was very appreciative! No need for extra crap in the house! I'd defiantly go with gift cards if you want to get anything.

REDHERO · 12/10/2021 15:25

I had a really difficult pregnancy and gad to ho on sick leave. The new boss used the opportunity to say I was exaggerating and I was too ill to bother to put it right. I never went back and no gift. I didn't actually care since my baby was extremely ill.
One contacted me years later to say they should not have believed her.... life's too short to care about the little things

Bopahula · 12/10/2021 15:27

My most treasured gift was vouchers so I could have a piece of jewellery made using my babies hand/footprint. I chose to add a little money to it and had both done and added to a silver bracelet. I still love it 8 years on. :)

Pontypandytaxpayer · 12/10/2021 15:29

Vouchers with a small gift to open. I got £100 of John Lewis vouchers and a lovely baby towel.

imisscashmere · 12/10/2021 15:52

A card with lovely messages, a bouquet of baby clothes and - I think - some John Lewis vouchers.

From DH’s work - a gift box from Happy Box London with lots of gorgeous bits in it, and a box of cupcakes.

Latenightreader · 12/10/2021 16:08

Work didn't get me anything but the volunteers had a whip round and gave me an envelope of cash. I used it to buy wooden train set components (we were in the heritage transport sector) which my almost three year old adores. I have rather a lot of fun with them too... Some friends gave me an Asda voucher (v useful for vests), and I had a Cook voucher too. Cook food was lovely but it was a faff to get to the nearest one so it didn't get used for a good few months.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 12/10/2021 16:12

I’d choose her some lovely high quality practical things, like a nice blanket for the baby, some wooden baby toys like the rainbow balls or graspers from Grimms (things babies like to fiddle with or chew), maybe one of those night lamp sheep things that she can put near the cot (the type that plays white noise), a cute stretchy hat that the baby won’t grow out of too fast. I think vouchers sometimes backfire for new mums as you can’t always face the shops when heavily pregnant or with a newborn. And they can seem a bit impersonal?

ChewChewPanda · 12/10/2021 16:16

I got a couple of sleepsuits, some chocolates and flapjacks, a children’s book and a £200 JL voucher which we put towards a pram. I think a little gift to open with a voucher to get something bigger is perfect.

JustAnotherUserinParadise · 12/10/2021 16:32

My work got me 2 vouchers - jojomamanbebe and a local deli/food place, both lovely.
DH's work got us a naff pink gift basket of baby stuff which is crap - we're not really into pink stuff (didn't tell people we were having a girl to try and avoid all the pink). It's too horrible to regift and can't be returned so it'll probably end up in the charity shop

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