Present for friend having a baby?

[yellowraincoat]

Hey guys, I don't know if this is the best section for this, maybe someone could suggest a better one if there is one?

My best friend is about to have her second baby. Her and her partner live overseas, although she is having the baby in the UK. So I can't really get her anything too big or heavy. I don't have kids myself, so not really too up on what is handy.

I want to get her something useful, for her first, I got her a bag of things like calpol sachets, nappy bags, baby wipes etc. I know it's not really exciting, but I wanted it to be something she used.

Any suggestions? I am quite skint, so nothing more than about £20. Would also like to get her something small for herself.

Something she can use up before she goes back overseas? Chocolate, nice mug, Teapigs teabags, biscuits and a little something for the baby?

A pedicure or other pampering before the baby is born. A nice pair of pjs for afterwards, that she'll be happy to wear all day long for the first few weeks

Chocolate. Ideally with booze in. Perfect for those night feeds. :)
Organising going for a pamper session is really hard with a newborn.

Biscuits or something filling is another option - maybe in a nice tin that she could keep?

Hmm, I was thinking of getting something for the baby more than for her. I'm not sure she's really into "pampering" as such, and she lives in quite a small town so it might be difficult for her to get something like that done.

Would you have appreciated something more for yourself than for the baby then?

One of my favourite gifts was fancy hand cream cos you end up washing your hands so much (and yes I did prefer gifts for me - DD got loads of presents for doing not very much).

Could you find / do you know a local cleaner you could pay to do a couple of hours cleaning for her? I would have loved that as a present! Or how about some fancy (M&S, Waitrose) ready meals for her freezer? I agree on the presents for her thing rt than the baby.

Hm, interesting, maybe I'll rethink then, was v much focused on the new bairn.

Something like hand cream could be good, she is at her parents right now, so not really sure a cleaner would be appropriate, don't want them thinking I'm trying to say they're scrubby!

Definitely agree with chocolate! Or make her a dinner like lasagne or casserole and take it round. If its her second baby she'll already have everything she needs.

Waitrose baby bottom butter. It smells delicious, is great for baby's skin and great for mum's hands too - something for mum and baby!

Otherwise what about some baby massage oil and a lovely book on baby massage?

My favourite gift with ds3 was from a friend who gave me a box of miniture heroes and a baby blanket from asda that could go in the tumble dryer. Just what I needed for my first winter baby. It was the first time someone had got me a present too so I really appreciated it. I also loved this toy that another friend gave ds3. He's 10 months old now and it's still his favourite toy.

I really appreciated friends who brought round food I could hove in freezer/overn so I didn't need to think about cooking at all. ANyone who offers to take DS for a morning in the park will be my friend for life!