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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

What would you put in a breastfeeding gift basket?

74 replies

LupusinaLlamasuit · 23/06/2009 15:44

Really want to do this for someone about to have a baby for the first time but worried that some of the things I have in mind might be seen as presuming it might go badly!

So I'm thinking of the following:

Breastpads
Card with websites, BF helplines
Gift voucher for nice nursing bra (Figleaves? Anita?)
Two stretchy vests in her size
My old Jack Newman book

And then I was going to have in a parcel-taped box with 'Only Open in Case of Emergencies' on :

Lansinoh
Jelonet
a feeding cup/dropper

Is this last bit a bad idea? What would you add/lose in either category?

Thanks

OP posts:
differentID · 23/06/2009 15:45

I would add big bar of chocolate to emergency box!

meep · 23/06/2009 15:48

I would move the Lansinoh out of the emergency box - practically everyone I know used it at some point.

A savoy cabbage?

Some healthy snacks?

A good book/dvd?

KingRolo · 23/06/2009 15:48

A nice flask (the Orla Kieley one?) for all the water she'll be drinking during feeds!

meep · 23/06/2009 15:48

actually - chocolate sounds much better than healthy snacks!

Habbibu · 23/06/2009 15:50

Surely chocolate isn't just for bf emergencies?

A freezeable gelpack to sit on - my stitches were sore for a bit, and with afterpains I did get quite achy when feeding.

And yes, DVDs - comedy good!

belgo · 23/06/2009 15:52

Green & Blacks hot chocolate is a must.

pigletmania · 23/06/2009 15:53

Yes gimmie a bar of chocolate any day lol. Does the person want to bf, this can be quite a sensitive issue for some people.

Original poster
LupusinaLlamasuit · 23/06/2009 15:55

yeah piglet, I dunno. I was going to sensitively ask her first and then bring out the basket!

OP posts:
Rhian82 · 23/06/2009 15:55

Ooh that all sounds lovely. Chocolate a definite yay, and I think the voucher for a nice bra is the best thing on there - I've never been able to afford a sexy nursing bra, and I would have adored a present like this!

Ooh and I love the Fairtrade M&S vests - about £7 for two. I had a few from before I had my DS, and started living in them after he was born. They're perfect for wearing under other clothes, really stretchy and you can just pull one side down under your bra to feed really easily and keep your tummy warm!

LovelyTinOfSpam · 23/06/2009 16:05

Nice teabags/bottle of water/nice glass to remind her to keep her fluid levels up, especially in this weather! I always forgot to get a drink before I settled in for a feed!

Snazzy muslins?

Chocolate a must. Or nice biccies. Mmmmmm.

Stayingsunnygirl · 23/06/2009 16:05

Further to the chocolate suggestion, how about some nice nibbly snacks, both savoury and sweet for her to have to hand when feeding.

Rhian82 · 23/06/2009 16:18

Muslins could be a good suggestion too - we didn't buy any before DS was born as they seemed really expensive for what they were. A friend bought us a pack of three, and we ended up having to constantly wash those three for a week or so before we could get hold of any more!

BelleWatling · 23/06/2009 16:25

I have nothing to add but think this is a lovely gift idea

Bettymum · 23/06/2009 16:30

No point having nice nursing bras. They just get soaked in milk three times a day, even with the pads in .
Muslins very very good idea, if you're BF you need hundreds or so it seems.
I really do think you need to ask her if she's planning to BF, if she's not she might be a bit to get a load of BF advice line numbers. I think it's a really really lovely idea to do the basket BTW, I just think you should ask before you put it all together.
And you definitely need to put chocolate in there either way .

NorbertDentressangle · 23/06/2009 16:35

Depends on the size of the basket but how about one of those V shaped pillows -I found it excellent for both lying baby on to get them high enough and for propping me up to get comfortable and in the right position.

mrsflux · 23/06/2009 17:11

a thermos mug!

useful for any new mum as it'll help you actually drink the cup of tea you made hours ago!

Babieseverywhere · 23/06/2009 18:51

What about a nice basket with a handle which her DH can keep stocked for her and big enough to hold the things you need for every feed at the start. i.e. bottle of water, TV remote, Telephone, book/magazine, snacks, spare nappy, muslims, breast pads etc.

Mintyy · 23/06/2009 18:53

Sorry but lol at muslims! V nice idea for a gift .

paisleyleaf · 23/06/2009 18:57

That breastfeeding politics book they're talking about on another thread looks good.
But I'll be honest - I don't know if a breastfeeding gift basket might be pressure iykwim
A pamper gift basket with weleda. vitamin E oil etc might be easier

Original poster
LupusinaLlamasuit · 23/06/2009 19:06

I am worried about it seeming a bit pressured. But on the other hand, lots of people start their BF experience in the dark don't they? I did. And would have been grateful in the middle of the night to know I could express and cup feed if necessary. Or some Lansinoh for sore nips in hospital.

But that's with hindsight. In advance, maybe I would want to find out for myself.

Agh. I've got gift angst now.

OP posts:
belgo · 23/06/2009 19:08

I wouldn't call it a bfing basket, I would call it a new mother's basket because all new mothers will need and enjoy those things bfing or not.

Pippinella · 23/06/2009 19:10

I think its a lovely idea! I preferred Kamillosan to Lansinoh myself and it smells lovely due to the camomile oil - just the smell of it now brings me out in a snuggly pink tinted baby haze - ahhh!

How about some fennel teabags and porridge oats?

kitkatqueen · 23/06/2009 19:15

~If she wants to bf then go ahead and give the gift - the best gift I had was my neihbour turning up on my doorstep handing me a tube of kamilosan and saying. "ive just been to the breast feeding support group for you, they are lovely, now go and get this sorted out"

She had obviously had a run down on my latching problems from dp.

I think the biggest gift is your obvious support and that may mean more than all the lansinoh in the world...

deffo add chocolate too and do give give the gift

PrettyCandles · 23/06/2009 19:17

Most gifts for new mums will be most welcome however they intend to feed.

Glad to see you've not included any smellies or self-pampering stuff! I don't know who ever finds the time for that with a newborn, (besides, my skin was always too sensitive for the perfumes in the products).

How about including some pretty little cards with 'gift vouchers' taped inside them: babysitting/hoovering/meal-cooking/ironing/shoulder-to-weep-on/etc and your name and mobile on each one.

sazlocks · 23/06/2009 19:19

I think its a great idea. The best BF gift I got was from a friend who made me a breastfeeding cake. Actually it was really a christmas type cake but without the icing and marzipan. Just a really, really dense fruit cake. It took me 3 weeks to eat it and I had a square and a glass of milk with me every night. Cos it had so many nuts, seeds and fruit in it was filling and healthy.
One of my friends has a 12 week old and I texted her every few days to see how she was getting on with BF and generally. She struggled loads but has said that my support helped her hugely so agree with above poster -its your support that will probably be the most important thing to her.