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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Help - gift ideas for expecting parents?

8 replies

tammylouise · 15/12/2013 16:30

My brother and his wife are expecting their first child, a girl, next month. They've asked for all their Christmas presents this year to be baby stuff. There are a lot of people buying presents for this baby, including prolific knitters and sewers, and including people who have a lot more money than me. I was hoping to get them something they would consider special, or at least just something that they won't have ten of already. But I'm completely at a loss. I really want them to be pleased with my gift. Does anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
cravingcake · 15/12/2013 17:15

If in doubt vouchers for Boots or Mothercare will definitely be appreciated.

You could arrange for some professional newborn photos to be done, costs vary a lot depending on how many you get so you may want to ask someone to go in with you on this or just do a simple package.

Practical things could be a snowsuit, special blanket for buggy, or a toy like a glow worm. Books to read to baby are always something they will appreciate so if you know of their favourite childhood book that would be special, or the Thats Not My.... range are good first books & reasonably priced.

ChristmasYoni · 15/12/2013 18:34

I got a belly casting kit which was sooo much fun and I still have it hanging in the nursery as a special memory of how big I was!

Lilicat1013 · 15/12/2013 19:33

I had a baby of January this year and I had this wrap for his carrycot:

Leap wrap

It was lovely, it kept him so warm and he looked so cute in it. I could carry him round wrapped in a little bundle. They don't seem to be in stock but they are usually around £35. Prices vary though, I paid £15 for mine, it just came up that price on Amazon one day. They do loads of colours.

ellesabe · 15/12/2013 19:49

I was also going to say a photoshoot - either a bump one or a newborn one

TinyDiamond · 15/12/2013 20:13

gin

Chocolateteabag · 16/12/2013 00:35

Any pottery painting places near you/them? I am taking dc2 as soon as he deigns to come out (Edd tomorrow) and wish I'd taken ds1 earlier but didn't occur to me in the first few foggy weeks. You could get them a voucher to have a hand/foot print done with help (so it turns out right and without smudging)

Other gifts which will be appreciated after the birth will be cleaning, cooking, ironing - all delivered upon and done with minimal intrusion on "baby time"

Ewan the sheep is a good toy to get, as are slightly bigger baby clothes 3-6 months

zipzap · 16/12/2013 01:06

I was going to say whatever it is, don't get something for the baby, or if you do, get them something too. Before ds1 was born (due in May) I got a load of baby stuff and was still at the stage of being superstitious and not getting him anything so was freaked by having all this stuff that needed storing, would have been hanging around too long to take back if there was something wrong with it and also by being seen as just a vessel for ds1. DH got plenty of presents of his own that were things that he liked - books, food, etc etc. The baby was for both of us and yet he didn't get any baby things and I didn't get anythings for me (sorry, I know that sounds a bit like I expect presents, I don't, but I didn't expect there to be such a clear division in the way that dh and I were treated).

However, as they've asked for stuff... How about some of the nice smellies that are suitable for pregnant women or for just after birth, also suitable for babies... some really nice handwash as you suddenly have to start to wash your hands a gazillion times a day and the normal stuff I used suddenly my hands became all manky as they couldn't cope with it (I had one of the Korres ones - loved it. Also had their leg gel for pregnant legs which was fab). and ditto baby-friendly hand cream.

I don't know if they are planning on breast feeding their dc - I know I was but wasn't able to in the event, which meant I had to run out and get bottles, sterilising stuff etc all in a panic. I later discovered the mothercare sterilising bottles which you could put into the microwave by themselves, without the need for a steriliser - they acted like their own little steriliser. They were fab - no faffing around with sterilisers, the bottles stayed sterile for ages after so long as you didn't open them and they also acted as mini sterilisers for ds's dummies when needed. Having just one bottle like this in by me would for a reasonable price have meant that in the early days if I needed to give ds1 a bottle of ebm or a carton of milk I could have done, without the expense or hassle of going down the whole bottle feeding route. When ds2 came along, he did take to breastfeeding and it was great, he had very few bottles. But the ability to give him the occasional bottle in the early days when I was too sore or in too much pain or so sleep deprived that it meant somebody else could - was fantastic. I did use different teats in them, not the mothercare ones, but that is something that depends on what the baby likes.

As I said - it was a fantastic back up plan to have in by me - although I suspect the shops probably hate it as it means they sell you a bottle (and then maybe a box of 6 later on if you do start to use them regularly) rather than the big expensive steriliser and starter sets that they must make much more money on!

hallowisitmeyourelookingfor · 16/12/2013 09:46

I would also say not to get anything baby related.
They are getting loads of it already, you won't know if your present will be duplicated, you presumably will buy them something for the baby when it's born, and they are their own people as well as prospective parents (even though they have asked for all this baby paraphernalia!)
Anyway, I would probably get them something like cinema tickets or a giftcard for a local restaurant. Something for them to go and do before their new baby arrives.

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