To ask what the nicest or most useful new born gift you got was

[DotDashDot24]

Would like to get a (small) newborn gift for an acquaintance.

What is the nicest or most useful small gift you got for a newborn?

(This will probably have to fit in a child's school bag).

Thank you 🙏

A voucher. John Lewis is the most useful I think. Trouble is you don’t know what they have already, or they have strong views on certain things. Failing that a large muslin, I found them useful.

A takeaway voucher (or similarly a Cook voucher). Really helpful to have food taken care of.

Massive muslins. Still use them now in the park to dry stuff, emergency wrap if they pee themselves, cover up bodies if no spare clothes.

My kids are 3&5

A work colleague bought me a flask type thing that you put hot water in and it keeps a bottle warm. He said he and his wife used theirs absolutely loads. I breastfed for the first six months but after that it was a godsend. Brilliant gift.

A whoozit toy, kids loved them from about 12 weeks and it was so handy to keep them amused in their buggies or on my lap when we were out and about.

These muslins. Gorgeous!

https://www.johnlewis.com/aden-anais-gots-organic-cotton-muslin-swaddle-blanket-pack-of-4-animal-kingdom/p110478359

A rockit! Our neighbour gave us one and it's a game changer for keeping baby asleep in the pram. Cook vouchers are amazing but they have a minimum spend for delivery.

Dinner (but not so easily put in a school bag). I’d second the giant muslin idea - they’re so useful and just a bit more than I’d have to treat myself but so useful (especially for babies born at this time of year).

A contigo mug! Kept my tea hot for hours when I got distracted. And takeaway vouchers

Tomy star musical cot thing. Sent my son to sleep so well. When he could get onto his knees he’d switch on himself to send him back to sleep if he woke up.
He used it until he was about 10 years old 😂

Someone turned up with a sourdough loaf and pastries from my fave bakery. It was so thoughtful! Massive muslins were also great, still using them now in various guises.

Nice muslin squares.
Baby massage oil

Lon time ago now but the most useful was one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lekebaby-Portable-Changing-Wipe-Pocket-Cushion/dp/B0868GLHMS/ref=asc_df_B0868GLHMS/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=427886437605&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2713034216676708013&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045894&hvtargid=pla-911750996097&mcid=e7a9f2ba46d63161bce013ccd5b34fa1&ref=&adgrpid=102603551034&th=1

My favourite was leather booties like these
https://www.dottyfish.com/product/over-the-rainbow-91

Digital thermometer, an in ear one. Still use it now for all us 15 years later!

Best gifts I got were:
Friend gave me a box of chocolates, the only gift that was for me, not the baby and a blanket which was brilliant as he was born in January and my older 2 were both summer babies so I didn't have many blankets.

With ds4 one of the mum's from my older son's class have me a card signed by all the other mum's and the staff. Also ds was in nicu and in those days you had to order the school dinners by ticking boxes on a slip of paper that came home in the book bag every week. The TA's in my older two's classes did the slips for me and gave them to the office staff on the right day so I just had to go in with a cheque for the rest of the term.

When ds5 was born ds1 was 8. One of the girls in his class gave me a card she had made herself.

Maternity pads.

1st baby - naive.

Opened them and thought why has she given me massive sanitary towels and why is she so insistent in me packing them in my hospital bag?!

Soon figured out!

Whenever I go to a baby shower now I ALWAYS stick in some pads!

Cake

Lumi portable white noise machine

Or a 3 pack of baby sleep suits/body suits. You need 100s the first 6 months or so

Someone bought me 3 little coloured tupperware-type pots to put baby food in. Once my baby was starting solids, I used them loads. Really thoughtful gift.

A blanket. A really nice soft one that washes easily.

They're so useful and you can never have too many!

I'd buy a Sophie La giraffe or a Ewan the dreamsheep.

@McSteamyorMcdreamy I second this! My friend gave me a little pack of things like maternity pads, nipple cream... I really liked it because it was an acknowledgement of the messy physical side of things. I felt like she was saying 'it's OK to talk about this'. But it depends how well you know the person.

Obviously it's not a gift you're going to send in a school bag, but I thought I'd comment anyway for anyone else reading the thread who it might be relevant to.

Edited to say the huge box of chocolates that someone else sent me also went down very well postpartum!

Reusable wipes
Plastic tubs
Jellycat bunny
Small fleecy blanket
Insulated spill proof mug
Posh baby bath
Sweet treats

Forgot to add, something I bought myself, not a gift but when ds3 had awful reflux these Terry squares in bright colours from tots bots were amazing for catching vomit and they looked nice too. My youngest is 9 and I still use them all the time.