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HELP, I need ideas for a present, what was the most useful present you received?

59 replies

Sushipaws · 22/01/2008 11:54

My Step Brother and his wife had a baby boy last night. Since he was born in the States his birthday will be yesterday but it was after midnight here so we're going to give him 2 birthdays.

He arrived 4 weeks early as his mummy had pre-eclampsia, poor thing, but he was 8lbs, so if he'd gone full term he wouldv'e been huge.

His name is Sean.

I need ideas for a pressie, something small as I'm chipping in for a big family present for his christening too. I thought about a small Taggies blanket, but I think she might have bought one already.

What was the most useful present your dc received?

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NoNickname · 22/01/2008 14:27

Apart from the larger items that close relatives bought, ds received tons of clothes, vouchers, money, teddy bears (11 in total), etc. I think the most useful gifts were clothes in a couple of sizes larger - e.g. 3-6 months and 6-12 months as he had so much newborn stuff that I don't think he wore most of it.

The most well-received gift was a bottle of champagne - for me obviously .

Posey · 22/01/2008 14:31

Bit tricky to send to the States, but the best pressie we had was a friend arriving with dinner all ready, and an afternoon of general helping out (incl vacuuming, washing dishes..)Brill.

BroccoliSpears · 22/01/2008 14:32

We really appreciated champagne too.

Most useful... something small... bibs? Hat? Booties?

Original poster
Sushipaws · 22/01/2008 15:48

I would love to go and help them, but I can't afford to go over and visit.

I don't think I'll send champers, she is intending to bf and is very strict about drinking while bf'ing. She told me I was harming my dd when I had a wee Guiness while I was bf'ing.

So......clothes for a bit older it seems. May have to take a trip to Nippers.

OP posts:
ClareVoiant · 22/01/2008 16:07

the most useful thing we had when ds was little was a vibrating bouncy chair (they prob already have one) but the 2nd best thing was a black and white cloth book and a growbag. Have you considered buying something from amazon.com then you can have it shipped straight to them in the US. Though not as much fun as looking at all the lovely baby things in the shops

AnnakeyRules · 22/01/2008 16:25

For the new Mum (and Dad!) a Baby Feed Wheel

MrsBadger · 22/01/2008 17:07

an actual blanket (not a taggie)

Gap socks (they stay on where others fail)

madamez · 22/01/2008 17:11

THe most useful present I got was a huge wad of Mothercare vouchers - don't know if Mothercare is in the states but presumably there's some sort of equivalent. Otherwise, hats socks and mittens as these are the things that are forever dropping off and getting lost.

TheGiftedandTalentedGoat · 22/01/2008 17:13

dh's sister got dd a wee cashmere hat which was used everyday and i adored.

nightshade · 22/01/2008 20:18

i'm with madamez. boots vouchers, great for lotions, potions, car screens, hats or any other can't live without and have to have expense.

TheMadHouse · 22/01/2008 20:19

Best for baby was a steiff comforter and best for me decleor prolegene gel

ChorusLine · 22/01/2008 20:21

My best present was groceries being delivered to my door! I would suggest vouchers...

midnightexpress · 22/01/2008 20:23

A grobag?

sunshineonarainyday · 22/01/2008 20:26

I would agree with the Grobag idea. I've a feeling they don't have them in the US so this would be a great gift.

thefunkypea · 22/01/2008 20:32

We got a small sheepskin thingey (I think there's a name for the ones designed for babies) - it might be a bit chunky to send to the states, but we used it so much - in the pram, in the cot, on holiday - and it's quite unusual.

Willowwisp · 22/01/2008 20:53

Hmm, probably the best suggestion I can come up with are the Baby Gap socks, they really do stay on! And a Grobag to sleep in, the one that has the poppers under the arms so they can wear it straight away!

Spoo · 22/01/2008 20:58

Sleepy Bear! Makes womb noises when it hears crying. Quite big the US - so she might already have one. Will try to find link - worked with both my boys and they still have them now - but wothout the noise thingy.

Spoo · 22/01/2008 21:00

www.princelionheart.com/site/n_bc_0016.html

SlartyBartFast · 22/01/2008 21:00

i always appreciated clothes for them to grow into ... seem to get lots of first born, but later clothes always appreciated more.

Original poster
Sushipaws · 22/01/2008 23:15

Wow, loads of good ideas.

I love the idea of a cashmear hat or a grobag.

Thanks all

OP posts:
TheGiftedandTalentedGoat · 23/01/2008 08:46

check out the brora sale for cashmere hats! (so excited you liked my idea)

Enid · 23/01/2008 08:54

a nappy changing travel thing

shelleylou · 28/01/2008 20:54

as random as it sounds, i got a few packets of nappies as lil fillers along with a blanket or teddy etc for my son. so something to keep and something sooooooo useful. I know it sounds strange but in those early days using so many nappies it helped to know i had a few less packets to buy.

twirlymum · 27/03/2008 11:55

We received loads of lovely clothes, all next size up. 3-6 months, but no newborn stuff at all! Think everyone had the same idea, so we had to buy Max lots of newborn stuff just so he had something to wear! Be careful if buying stuff too big, as remember the weather will change. We had loads of winter stuff, but by the time it fitted it was the middle of summer x

amidaiwish · 27/03/2008 12:36

The Raggytags on here are gorgeous and very light to post raggytags

Don't forget the mum - some nice handcream maybe?(remember the days of all that hand-washing?)