AIBU to ask what you'd buy for a good friend's baby shower?

[Shasha17]

I have been invited to my first baby shower and I have no idea what to bring! What would you bring? If you had a baby shower, what were your favourite gifts? Are baby clothes okay? If so... How many?

Help me wise mumsnetters!

What about a nappy caddy/organiser that she can put the essentials in to save having to search around during the night? Maybe a nice thermos that she can fill up before bed so she has hot drinks ready for the night shift as we're into winter now. Or a portable power bank for her phone/tablet. Nothing worse than being stuck under a sleeping baby with a dying phone!

Following!

I have a baby shower in December with no gift list and she's not finding out the sex. Such a pain in the arse

I always put together a new mum survival kit - coffee cup with lid, chocolate, wine, calpol plug in, nipple cream etc

Get something for the mum..not just the baby.

I would've loved a voucher for a cleaning company for a few weeks after I gave birth.

I've just bought myself (had my baby on Wednesday) some wardrobe dividers.

I asked my husband to grab a newborn onesie. I asked him if he was sure it was newborn.

It was 0-3.

I'd put in a small battery powered fan, an insulated mug, some Lansinoh cream, some of her favourite snacks and for my best friend I put a small touch lamp for night time feeds. Then add in a few bits for baby or if it's a very good friend ask her if there's something specific she'd like for the baby.

Voucher for takeaways ! Or “sock ons” as my son spent an awful lot of babyhood trying to remove his socks

If someone gave me a bottle of wine and an insulated mug when I had my baby they’d still be in the cupboard as I don’t drink booze or hot drinks, but then if you were a decent enough friend of mine you’d know that already (IYSWIM). They’d also know that I’d highly appreciate chocolate and baby clothes, especially the bigger sizes and muslins.

But then I never had a baby shower and was just grateful for the lovely post-birth gifts people picked out (which didn’t include wine or mugs)!!

@mnahmnah

I always put together a new mum survival kit - coffee cup with lid, chocolate, wine, calpol plug in, nipple cream etc

I've done something like this before without the wine. Put some nice handcream in it and shower gel for when she finally gets a shower!

I bought my friend a amazon gift card and baby clothes.

I've bought a teething set that I've found DS loved. Also bought a sensory toys set he loved. And some dresses. Three separate gifts.

I didn’t have a baby shower - lockdown but wouldn’t have had one anyway. I’ve been to a few but they’ve pretty much all said no presents just wanting to get together with friends before baby arrives - and then everyone has brought gifts anyway!

I would get something for the mum - I’m a bit
funny about buying gifts for a baby that hasn’t arrived yet. I bought one of my best friends some lovely toiletries that were good for use in pregnancy and after birth, some of her favourite chocolate and a voucher for a nice local restaurant that did take away so she could use it either before or after baby arrived.

Things I received after the baby arrived were a nice travel mug plus a cup holder for the pram, fancy teabags and hot chocolate and some brownies, space mask eye masks which are pricey but amazing, hand cream (lot of hand washing with nappies) and bio oil for my c section scar.

I wouldn’t personally get anything that presupposes how she’s going to feed. I had loads of breast pads, nipple creams, feeding bras and tops and vests etc (not gifts, bought myself) in the full expectation of breastfeeding. I was completely unable to and having to deal with them/ give them away afterwards made me feel really really shit and even more of a failure.

nothing

I never had one so wouldn't ever care to attend one.
I'd however talk to my friend after the birth to find out what she actually needs: pot of food brought over, sort some loads of washing, taking baby for a walk so she can have a minute to breathe or nap.
she could call me at 2am crying because bf is hard or I'd happily do her food shop.
I just prefer to give my time.

Something for the mum. Not into baby showers at all and I think baby should be celebrated once they've arrived safely. A friend of mine told me she once a shower at around 37 weeks and then the pregnancy ended in a stillbirth days after 💔

Really good quality muslins. They’re so much better than the cheap ones, but when there’s so much to buy, you feel silly paying £25 or so. But as a gift, amazing

One of the best gifts that I received was a Just Eat voucher, so that we could have a takeaway. It was so helpful after DH had returned to work and I'd had a bad day and was unable to cook.

I have never been to one and always buy a gift after the baby has been born. To be honest, I find the idea of a baby shower a bit grabby….probably will get flamed for saying this, but so be it. If I would go, I would buy the mum to be a small present (maybe some chocolates, bath oil) and a small toy for the baby or a piece of clothing. I wouldn’t buy something expensive because I would still want to gift them something nice after the baby is born.