Did guests bring you precooked meals when you had a newborn?

[Redcargidan]

Not an AIBU but a question. We have a newborn baby. Multiple people have asked me if our friends/family/visitors have brought things like precooked meals in tupperware (that can just be put in the microwave) when they visit, that sort of thing.
Nobody has done this and nobody did when our eldest was a newborn. In truth, nothing would be more appreciated right now than a meal I did not have to cook. Is this a thing? Do other people generally do this, or are the people that have said it just expectant?

I am fighting the urge to spend a fortune on takeaways because we are way too tired to cook, and am VERY jealous if other people generally receive precooked meals from visitors!
YABU - this isn't really a done thing
YANBU - this is a thing

The temptation to ask people to bring these instead of clothes that will only fit baby for 1 week when they come round! (Joking but wish I had the balls to do this )

Well, bully for you. Have a medal.

Actually I was in good enough shape to cook as well, but not everyone is, and I'm not a smug enough arsehole to tell everyone else to get on with it. And I have a husband who was competent in the kitchen.

We're a 'don't ask don't get' type of family so nobody would think to offer this but would definitely bring something if asked.

Yes. But then I love to cook. Often coupled with a voucher for 10 hours of cleaning if they don't already have a regular one. Or ironing.

I do ready made meals for family members when they first leave home too: meals for 4 in tupperware so they can host a dinner party and be owed back.

Eldest 2, no. Because our friends were young and having babies, like us.

Youngest child, yes, because we were older and our friends had the time resources to do it. It was absolutely lovely.

I do it for people now. A younger colleague had a baby last year and I took round a lasagna and an apple pie. She was very pleased. Also dropped in flapjacks when I was making some anyway - just doubled up and popped them over.

This. Even when I had my 3rd so had 3 under 5 at home and my husband nipped out to the shops and never came back!

Some of my friends did and some brought bags of ready to eat snacks and treats, a godsend! Made me wish I'd done the same feeling friends before I had mine, and I vowed I would do it next time someone had a baby so my sister gets home cooked meals when I cook in bulk and cakes et now she has a newborn.

I wouldn't have offered. I might have pointed them in the direction of the kettle though.

Nope, no help or anything from anyone.
I had anticipated this and batch cooked a lot of meals which I froze before the birth, it was a godsend actually for neither of us to have to buy or prep food if we couldn’t be arsed. Plus that way you get food you know you’ll enjoy!

We stocked up on Allplants ready meals and my lovely sister also continuously brought easy to heat/eat food (like homemade samosas). It was really helpful though I didn't feel I could really cook properly for months!

I had a friend who did this for me and it really stuck with me, I appreciated it so much. So, Whenever I visit someone with a newborn I always prepare something simple but home made like shepherds pie or macaroni choose that they can just pop in the oven.

No.

But someone sent a basket of muffins which was much appreciated.

I didn’t get any but I have made a giant apple crumble and box of buttery flapjacks for friends with newborns.

When my daughter had her first baby (she lives in a very nice area) She was contacted by a lady to asked if she would she like some meals. She was asked if her or her husband had any dietary requirements or allergies. The lady said she could have 5 days of meals and she could start them whenever she wanted!
A different person, came to my daughter’s house each day with a lovely meal they had cooked! All free
My daughter then went on a list to make meals for new mums/families.
The lady that initiated this has retired, my daughter has now taken on this role and with the help of past and present mums who took part has continue this for the last 8 years.

I couldn't imagine anything worse for my mental health than staying in bed for 40 days.

My late MiL would arrive with a rotisserie chicken, salad, and loads of nice stuff from Waitrose on her way to us, perfect

If you count the pizza delivery man as a guest, often.

I would have loved to do this for any new parents, but I thought it was over the top. Maybe I will do it now it seems it is for the most part appreciated

my family always appeared with bags of Waitrose/ m&s instant stuff and I always bring a selection of homemade meals for the freezer when I visit new parents - plus a cake for those breastfeeding calories!

I might get the COOK new parent meals it looks nice and would be one less thing to worry about. Hadn’t come across it before.

For friends that have newborns we tend to do a group gift that contains bits for baby, bits for mum and a cook voucher so the couple can get delivered some of the cook meals.

No we didn't get anything. The 1st time we were very unprepared and we got home late and had to scramble for food. 2nd time I made sure I had several meals frozen. In fact I had ingredients in to make another batch but she came earlier than expected so other half had to make it while I was in hospital!

no one did for me

tbh there’s no excuse for not having time to cook one meal with newborn

it’s not that hard to throw something in oven or cook fresh pasta for 3 mins on the hob!

Only my mum. She'd bring things like lasagne and casseroles. Or she'd go to the butchers for us and get their ready meals, made on the premises. They are the type I usually get for people who've had a baby or bereavement. Do you have a butcher near you that makes them? They are a life saver to have in the fridge (and they can be frozen) Easier, cheaper and nicer than a take away.

The cleaning voucher is a brilliant idea.

I’m adopting that for my friend who is having a baby next month 👍🏾

If I go to see a friend who has had a baby I always take a lasagne or shepherds pie type meal that I’ve cooked. I usually take a 4 portion one so it will feed them twice.

My Church do a 2 week meal rota for new parents. They can have it when baby is born or when a parent goes back to work. It is extremely popular…..not surprisingly.

To be honest, a lovely dinner that can be shoved in the oven and ready in 15/20 mins seems better than another babygro to me.

Taking a Cook meal or similar is also great. It’s just something less to think about and I think that once you’ve got kids you forget how overwhelming g the newborn phase, especially first time, can be.

If I’ve made a meal, I haven’t done a super special meal. I’ve just made some extra portions of whatever I’m cooking. Some people on MN say they would t like a meal, but in most cases we are talking about good friends bringing something…..it’s not really different to going to their house to eat. What’s not to like?

The other th8 g that can be nice is to take a meal and actually eat it with the new parents. This is good if people are sociable and relaxed enough o want people over, but relieves them if the burden of hosting and cooking. Everyone can be sick if takeaway, which is the go-to otherwise.

I think lots of people wouldn’t consider cooking for a friend or colleague though….because they feel u dear pressure to make something amazing, or quite simply are prepared to splash some cash on a gift but do t want the effort of cooking. But a bolognaise or a shepherds pie is exactly the kind of thing that’s useful…doesn’t have to be a big deal.