AIBU for asking you for ideas for a baby

[Helpwanted21]

Hi,

Let me preface this with saying I do not have children myself. I have a friend who is pregnant with their first child and whilst I have agreed to get them a present that they love but couldn't afford themselves I wanted to do more. The friend is currently stressed out about money and how they will afford a child. I would like to alivate this somewhat I have decided I would love to make them a big hamper (I know you can buy hampers but often they are over priced and don't contain enough stuff) so what I am asking here is for ideas of things I can buy to put in this hamper......It can be anything that would be useful for a new parent and thinks that would be used day to day but are added costs that would help. I want this to be useful for the first year of life and am thinking about stuff like nappies and bibs all the small things that soon add up....so please put everything you found useful with your children in that first year that I can include in this hamper!

Thanks in advance :)

Oh and clip-on mobiles/toys for the buggy

I would get some sets of cheeky wipes, for bums and faces, with the tubs. They are quite expensive to buy altogether but will save your friend on the cost of buying wipes for many years!

And teething rings! You can get nice wooden and cloth ones and they also help with entertaining them and teaching hand/eye coordination

Spacemasks

My baby uses sleeping bags now but I’ve always got these off eBay for a fraction of the price and hardly used, very good quality ones.

I am currently writing all these suggestions on a list! Thank you all I really appreciate it I was a little worried about posting here as I don't have a child myself! I would like to add that money isn't a huge issues for me whilst I'm not rich I do have enough money to make this a hamper for mum n baby that's substantial!

Alot if placea get a free baby box so check what's in that first
I would ask her! If she's really struggling there might be something like a car seat or buggy you can put money towards

If your friend is likely to get gifts from other people then I wouldn’t bother with hats / bibs / blankets etc as I found that was something lots of people got me. I would second something like a cheeky wipes set as it will save money long term, some decent sleeping bags, essentials that are a little bit pricey like lasinoh nipple cream/ breast pads (cheap ones are useless), snuffle babe, a small touch nightlight for night feeds, ear thermometer. If you’re in Scotland then bare in mind the free baby box will have a lot of essentials already.

‘Gro Bags’ (a brand of baby sleeping bags). They saved my life when ds was a newborn. They probably need around 3 and can be a little pricey for someone on a low income. It means they don’t have to worry about blankets when it comes to safe sleeping.

An electric steriliser if they plan to bottle feed.

A couple of Lamaze baby toys.

A shnuggle baby bath (amazing- saved me from dropping ds in the water!)

Big pot of Sudocrem

A couple of packs of washable wipes plus tubs for clean/used wipes and small wet bag for taking them out and about. So much easier to use than disposable wipes, and will save a lot of money in baby wipes over 3+ years (+ better for environment)
A couple of ikea LEN babycare mats - they're large but thin so fold down very small, we use ours for everything from changing (unlike the teeny mats you get they are big enough for toddlers) and are so handy as tablemats when weaning/playmat for smaller baby etc.

Also looking further ahead weaning things are really useful and not something people generally buy as newborn gifts, a decent blender, sleeved bibs and spoons / bowls etc are really useful from 6 months onwards

You sound lovely OP

One thing I've used consistently is the no frills plain Argos baby bouncer for £20 babies have all loved it and easy to move round each room - lifesaver for me

I would ask her if she’s considered reusable nappies and wipes. They are a huge cost over 2-3 years buying every week.

If so:
Cheeky wipes - just the wipes. You don’t need the whole kit, we just put cloths under warm water and in old Tupperware at each change.
Tots bots easyfit nappies - they adjust, lasting from newborn ( or a few weeks old if tiny), until potty trained. Each about £15 each. Even a couple would save a lot of use part time

Cardigans - age 6months+. Everyone buys smaller sizes, and you do, but by 6-9months you have ran out and they are most expensive per item than a multi pack sleepsuits.

Lindt red balls - cos they are tasty, and convenient to eat one handed.

Toy for baby pram/ car seat for 6+ months

I wonder about having an honest discussion with your friend about this and perhaps giving her a cash gift or appropriate voucher so that she can choose for herself.

I found that a lot of baby gifts were well intentioned but not what we wanted or not appropriate. And it was almost upsetting as we were on a very tight budget.

Sleeping bags - they take a lot of the worry of what to dress baby in at night and the worry of blankets moving etc.
A bath thermometer- some can double up as a room thermometer. If budget permits it Gro Egg thermometers are great too (though a separate one will be needed for the bath).
Do you know where the baby will sleep (Moses basket/ next to me, etc)? Spare sheets for that are incredibly useful - we found we were stuck with only two after two consecutive big vomits!
Great idea about making the hamper a bath - and another big vote here for shnuggle baths.
Some people prefer nail files or little scissors for baby nails, but I found baby nail clippers to easiest (and least scary!) to use.
Vitamin D drops - babies should have them from birth.

What's your budget?

DreamEgg white noise machine
Muslins - lots of them
Breastfeeding pillow/nipple balm if breastfeeding
Bottle Steriliser if not breastfeeding ?
Bodysuits/vests in a few sizes
babygros in a few sizes
bibs
Something nice for the mum such as good quality body oils, creams, micellar water for quick make up removal (bioderma is great!),

I'd say some nice, easy to remove PJs for Mum for whilst she is in hospital and slippers and a light weight dressing gown - ideally dark colours.

Metanium (that shit is expensive but fantastic!) The small pots of sudocrem for the baby bag, the calpol sachets instead of a big bulky bottle, nappies in a variety of sizes. Nail clipper sets - I didn't think to buy one but my friend did and I used it constantly as babies nails grow so quickly.

Maybe a voucher for a restaurant for when parents feel up to going out?

Vitamin d drops only if breastfeeding I thought, the formula has vitamin d in it.

This is lovely, my SiL did this for me. Most things have been mentioned, she included a Tommy tippee set with a baby thermometer, nail clippers etc which was super handy. Baby towel with a hood, Child's Farm products as they are expensive but lovely

Mushroom teething you - mom of a four month old who's just started teeth and was having bright red sore hands the amount she was gumming on them, the mushroom cap fits over their hand and there's sprouts for them to chew, it's lightweight and she can lift it and wave it about by herself, we love it!

Oh lansinoh too and an ear thermometer. Braun thermoscan.

@123deepbreath that’s genius- I need one (well then baby does) - thank you!

And anbesol liquid.