Suitable present for new mum of twins?

[tearinghairout]

She is a workmate of DH, first-time mum. She had twins by CS a couple of weeks ago & we're going to visit them tomorrow. I'm assuming that they have all the babygros etc. So if this was you, what would you like? Ideas please!

How about something for the mum. I'm sure a gift voucher for a facial, manicure, pedicure would be greatly appreciated. She needs to be pampered.

What budget and how friendly are you with her?

The best presents I have had (not twins though) have been toys that people have found that their DC really liked - a whoozit, chime to go on a baby gym, sophie the giraffe and giant muslins for swaddling.

I have twins. Dinners for the freezer were an absolute lifesaver. Also any sort of cake. If you get a manicure type voucher for her, make sure it has a long date - she probably won't leave the house for months!
Erm... other things - a 'book light' so she can read while feeding at night without waking the babies too much - you can get them from Smiths and they clip on the back of the book. If she has an ipod, an itunes voucher so she can get some talking books (I can recommend 'Shackleton's Endurance' - nice and long and it makes you feel like someone else has gone through something more tortuous than bf twins through the night!)
A box set of her fave DVDs to watch while feeding.

A really cosy, fluffy dressing gown? She'll spend alot of time in the night up feeding them and it gets cold. I don't have twins but have 2 night wakers and the first thing I grab is my trusty dressing gown ( but then I do live in a cold, old Scottish flat).

OK, thanks chums. I will defo get the book light & I'll take along some stuff for the freezer - I did go mad stock up before Christmas & have plenty I can grab. Thanks for the ideas. xx

An insulated mug. I left freezing cold cups of tea all over the house due to being interrupted by the pint-sized tyrant before I had a chance to drink them, and I only had a singleton.

Definitely food for her freezer. Make sure it is in a microwaveable disposable container - she won't remember to take it out the night before and will not want to think about having to return a dish. And when you are there, do not let her make you a cup of tea. Go to her kitchen and make it yourself. Even if you don't know her, and have never been in her house before. Also don't stay long, she'll be pretty shattered, if the children are sleeping then she should be too, and if the children are screaming she might not feel comfortable/confident enough to feed in front of people yet.

I know all this sounds harsh, but I've been there and the best visitors are the ones that know when to leave . Go back in 5 months time when she is feeling more human, and the kids will be more interactive too!

On the gift front - I realise I've digressed into a rant, sorry - one of the best gifts I got was a musical night light projector thing. The boys love it and it really helps them settle at night.

Our ante-natal teacher said that when people asked her what the baby needed as a gift she would reply "what the baby really wants is a nice casserole"!

People don't need stuffed toys, babygros or most of the tat they sell for babies in shops. Bring her dinner and a cake, and like GibberingGinger says, don't stay long!