Nice Products You Used

[thinkhorsesnotzebra]

So I know IABU as this is not actually an AIBU but to be totally honest with internet strangers I am struggling after a loss and the pregnancy boards are a bit tough right now.

Anyway, my lovely SIL is due her first baby early 2022. Her family are throwing her a baby shower and rather than a baby present (I will buy that once he is here) I am putting together some nice bits for her to spoil her a bit before/immediately after (if she manages to grab 30 minutes to herself).

I am hoping the collective experience here will provide me with some suggestions of things you used or wished you had been given.

(When the time comes we will do anything practical like food drop offs - even if we knock and run in the early days of them being home!)

Hi! Hope you're okay OP 😊

I did a similar "mum" parcel for my friend. I got her a personalised cute thermos mug (so cups of tea would stay warm when she was busy / distracted!), a bottle of her favourite alcohol, some oversized cosy pjs with a loose waist (she had a c section), some bio oil (again, c section!), a bag of snacks (mini chocolate bars, fun sized sweets etc for quick energy hits when tired), a silk eye mask and some random body smellies!

She said her favourite was the thermos, she uses it every day! Second was the sweets, then the bio oil! But I think the bio oil is more a personal one 😃

My wonderful friend gave me a basket containing dry shampoo, cashmere socks, bio oil, pack of picture frame cards for me to insert pic of newborn, stamps to send out the cards, a lovely face mask, and an ice pack for the undercarriage post birth. This was 22 years ago and the dry shampoo and ice pack were absolute godsends.

How lovely of you to do this when you are suffering a loss. Very best of wishes to you op x

Thank you both for your lovely words and my shopping list!

Cosy socks. Hand cream. A really nice bath soak. Arnica. Bump/body butter. Thermos mug. Amazon voucher so she can load up her kindle

I would say some nice skincare (even just wash/cleanser and moisturiser), some cosy loose pyjama’s. You sound like a lovely sister in law 🥰

Most useful gifts when I had my baby:

Thermal mug with lid - lifesaver, I could drink hot drinks while they were still hot, and better yet I could drink them while breastfeeding without worrying about spilling it on baby!

Didn't get a chance for a decent bath for a good few months unfortunately (breastfed baby, constantly wanting boob which dad couldn't give, most I got was a ten minute shower)

I did really welcome snacks, I was starving the first few weeks and also exhausted.

I did like little pampering things I could do while looking after the baby - so a nice face mask, hand creams, soft warm socks, a good book or DVD to listen to while baby had me glued to the sofa, all the luxuries that don't require time out if you get me

I already have some lovely soothing bath stuff but I was thinking of supplementing it will some fancy shower gel (still lovely but more time efficient). Her current plan is to breastfeed so I was perhaps a bit unrealistic thinking she would get 30 minutes to herself for a while!

I love the idea of small pamper things she can do whilst sat on the couch etc and definitely snacks! I am quite good at baking so I might stick a note in promising a couple of treat deliveries (doorstep drop off if preferred)