Suggestions for things to put in a gift at start of mat leave?

[Youcantscaremeihavechildren]

My friend is about to start mat leave, dc #2. I'm just finishing my mat leave bu I want to give her a little present of useful things prior to the birth.

It's got to be fairly cheap as I'm skint!

I thought...

Lavender oil, for baths after
Clary sage in a carrier oil for her DH to manage during birth if she wants it
Some cake
A Costa coffee voucher
A mug with a lid
Some sticker books etc to keep her son busy if she's busy with baby
A tiny bottle of red wine. She loved a tipple and I never wanted to open a whole bottle as it would go to waste but just fancied a small glass now and then open the whole bloody bottle now though

Is there anything else I could include? Just small things, with xmas coming up we're a bit skint. She'll be going to hospital to have the baby and obviously I'll get him something later.

Chocolate always good for me

Of course! How could I miss that!

My phone is playing up so it so slow to load up so I made a mental list & it's incredibly similar to your list. I would just substitute cake for chocolate & add tea tree oil for after the birth (I've been thanked by 2 friends for giving this at their baby showers! ). What a thoughtful gift

Forgot to add maybe include a few books or DVD cheap from a charity shop in her favourite genre like chick lit, si f y or who done it (not baby related! ) as I've heard some women talk about being bored on mat leave?!

Cake, wine, a DVD box set. Not books as if she chooses to bf she won't have a free hand.
I'd advise against the clary sage too, but only because I personally would find it overbearing if a friend tried to foist aromatherapy on me (and I really wouldn't be into it). If you're sure she's really into that sort of thing though, and used it with her first child, go for it.

Thanks guys, she's got a kindle and her DH has tonnes of films on their entertainment thingy so I'll leave those, but everything else is great, tea tree oil definitely, great idea. V soothing for those stitches..fx she doesn't have any..^looks at ds big head^

Fingers crossed she doesn't need it but I was very glad to be given some tea tree oil! As for books, I always forget how out of touch I am as I'm not big on technology. I was thinking the books would be great for before baby arrives but I forgot she already has a child so it's not that kind of mat leave! I did read a lot of complying with my 1st whilst breast feeding as she fed for so long! Good luck to your friend.