‘Everything you didn’t know you needed hamper’ for new parents

[Giftser]

Some very dear friends are having a baby soon. I am sure they have the big items and everyone will obviously buy the clothes and nice bits. So thinking of putting together a small hamper of useful ‘everything you didn’t know you needed’ items to save the obligatory new parent dash to the 24hr supermarket 😅

So far the draft list is…
Infacol
Gripe water
Metanium
Milton wipes
Scratch mittens
Mam Air Dummy
Raspberry tea (to promote labour)
Lactation tea
Peppermint tea (for oversupply)
Ibruprofen
Paracetamol
Movicol stool softeners

Any other essential must haves that you cherished pre or post partum?

tea tree oil. Dissolve in a little breast milk or full fat cows milk and chuck in the bath - heals you up so quickly.

This. I just used breastmilk on sore nipples, worked a treat and coat nothing..infacol was the only thing I used from that list. Chocolate on the other hand...

I didn't dodge that bullet, but I did eat a tonne of fruit and drink lots of water.

It was still fucking awful the first few times.

The one thing I really appreciated was the misting setting on the shower head.

Still think it's weird OP despite your updates, I think you should read the room here and adjust your list. Sorry.

Much of that stuff is going to be wasted; you're projecting your own experiences on them when everyone's experience is so, so different and unique, that's what makes it so amazing in a way.

I would have found that hamper of stuff overwhelming, and I needed to figure out some of this stuff for myself, or ask friends and family for advice when the topic came up.

Yep I totally get you. MN probably wasn't the best place to ask. I knew some people would react like that, someone said it was patronising which was typical MN 🤣 You're a lovely, thoughtful friend!

Colief

This is so lovely! I did similar for a friend, but on a smaller scale. I included nappy cream, Calpol, infacol, and a mini nuby teether because mine had started teething at 3 months when they still have tiny mouths!!

I would add to your list, a really soft newborn baby carrier: my recommendation would be either a close caboo or a mamaruga zensling. Both are easy to get the hang of, and fit with your theme of having something to hand before you realise you need it.

Its absolutely lovely of you to do this but I do agree with others that it's not whst id want either. I just had a baby 5 weeks ago. I already had a lot of that stuff myself if not most in prep for her. What I really appreciated was food, a few hand creams, body lotion stuff and actually clothes in bigger sizes.

Its such a lovely gesture of you but go down the luxury route with chocs and so forth. She'll definitely have the stuff you are giving her in that list. And ignore anyone being unkind on here, everything you are doing is meant with love.

It’s a great list Op & totally agree that you don’t know what you need until you need it!

i’d add sudocrem & tea tree oil plus nice muslins (as you can never have too many!) & Sophie giraffe for the cute factor.

Extra long phone charger! Large water bottle with flip cap that can be operated one handed while breastfeeding or holding a sleeping baby. Snacks!

How funny - I loaned my Zensling recently which was one of my most prized baby possessions. I loved it so much.

The recipient (a close friend) NEVER used it and gave it back a few months in. She had a baby that didn’t mind being put down; mine was an avowed Velcro baby.

Just goes to show that what works for yours is no guarantee for the next baby. We never used muslins really as mine was not sicky, and we’ve never owned a Sophie Giraffe.

I received a basket like this with my first. Yes I didn't use everything but I appreciated it soo much. I felt cared for in the hardest moments and the toy basket it was in was used until it fell apart a decade later. I'd consider a snot sucker and saline spray, baby vapour rub. My first had a cold at 10 days and we didn't want to use calpol.

Motion sensor night lights. They are great for putting in hallways and bathrooms etc when you're walking around at night doing feeds and things but don't want to wake yourself and the baby up as they have a gentle, warm light.

I think you sound lovely and thoughtful OP. Someone sugges Ubereats/M and S voucher/Cook meals earlier though and I think thats a clear winner. You are doing a really kind thing.

Though I'm reeling at the news that metanium is no longer available. That stuff was outstanding though less so when your toddler paints the carpet with it

We used muslins for everything @applegingermint - put them on changing tables before changing baby (or anywhere outside the house when putting baby down), used them to lightly go over the pram for extra shade (being careful not to trap heat in the pram), cleaning up spills etc etc and I still use a couple now to lay on my dresser when I’m doing my make up (& my kids are long past the baby stage). They were just so versatile & easy to bung in the washing machine, drying in no time! My DCs are teens now & this thread is making me miss the baby stage!

Anyway Op, you sound like a lovely friend! I’m sure that whatever you include, your friend will very much appreciate the thought you’ve put into it.

What a lovely thought Op. I can barely remember what the baby days were like tbh. My eldest is 35. But on reflection,I would have loved some nice ready meals to put in the freezer, herbal bath salts, a chilly water bottle,chocolate and snacks, herbal teas.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that'd I'd have appreciated all of your list!

My first grandchild is imminent and I've been reminded of a few things it'd be handy to have just in case so thank you!

If they don't need them then great, but, like you say, it may just save a twilight supermarket trip when they're exhausted and desperate!

Little nail clippers
Panty liners (loads)

I didn't use and wouldn't want the dummy (nipple confusion but ok if formula feeding?), scratch mits (nail clippers instead?), herbal teas (I don't believe tea would have curbed my oversupply), gripe water, ibuprofen as stuck to paracetamol in early weeks, stool softeners (I had a traumatic instrumental birth with my first but no mention or need for them), milton wipes. That would leave the paracetamol which I always have in anyway, Infacol which I only used for my refluxy one and the Metanium. How about something more general that you know you need but everyone definitely does need like nappies (we used cloth but having disposables in for nights away and when you haven't done the laundry is always useful), muslins, vests (people buy outfits and sleepsuits but rarely just vests), wipes (again we mostly used cloth but sometimes used disposables, we like Water Wipes), rattles (the O-Ball is great for tiny babies to hold).

I really wouldn’t have wanted a hamper with loads of random bits and bobs that I may or may not use.

But since you’re looking for suggestions - a large water bottle with a straw top for drinking water one handed when you’re feeding

Far better (in my opinion) would be some home-made ready meals for the freezer that just need to defrost and go in the oven.
eg:
shepherd’s pie
lasagne
moussaka
fish pie
salmon fish cakes
lamb tagine
chicken curry
chicken and leek casserole
etc etc