Xmas gift for my wife a new mum

[dharpernz]

Hi,

I'm new to the site, so apologies if this has been asked.

My wife is just about to give birth to our first child, and I'd like to know what a new Mum would appreciate for Christmas? We have a cleaner and I've made food for the freezer which will last until about February, so I'd like something for her, (she's not really into shopping). As I have no idea what she will feel like, if she's only given birth a month ago I thought I'd ask the experts.

Any help apprciated
Thanks

Pandora bracelets can be divisive. Some like them. Some loathe them big time, and as another charm turns up year after year, they're the bad gift that keeps on giving.

You sound like a good 'un :) It might be best to have a chat with her about her desires for going off alone - for the first year I wouldn't leave the baby's side, for the second, I was off out at every course, class and workshop going. She might be thinking along the same going-out/having a break lines, or she might be more satisfied staying put. You can't really guess that one alone.

11 years ago my sister bought me a fabulous cashmere wrap after my first DC was born, it looked and felt wonderful. Perfect cover for breastfeeding when out or just snuggling on the sofa at home - I remember it being especially comforting in the middle of the night/stupidly early wakings! I wore it on my wedding day and still bring it out and wear as a shawl on summer evenings and a scarf in the winter. The kids all still love to snuggle in it with me!

You could look at the travel wrap company

I think a pring out of this thread, to show that you care enough about her to get her the right thing.

If you usually buy her art is there anything that she would like that features a mother and a baby?

I always wanted a locket from my children that said mummy on it and I didn't get that until after my 3rd would she like something like that?

Bracelets aren't a good idea with a newborn - their skin is very delicate!

Re somewhere to stay - what about Canopy & Stars vouchers? You can book treehouses, shepherd's huts & plenty of other 'unique' places to stay & there's places that are baby friendly but equally there's places where you can spend most of your stay in a hot tub under the stars if you find that she is happy to be baby free for a night or two.

My other half booked through there for us to stay in the Scottish Borders when our baby was 6 weeks old & it was perfect - secluded enough for it to be relaxing & for me to not get too anxious about disturbing anyone when the little one cried at witching hour.

A sling? Or vouchers for a sling consultation with an extra promise of buying her a custom horsey sling? That's what I'd like (but not horsey). Then a stay at some nice family focused cottage and walks on the cliff top as a family.

I've mostly requested an interruption free bath and a lie in for this year though my daughter is 2!

A voucher to get new makeup from department store or something if she's in to that kind of thing? I noticed you say she's not a very girly girl though so realise that might not be helpful, although I don't consider myself girly and I am quite in to make up.

Also wanted to say I think its really touching that you're putting so much thought into it. My DH regularly buys me any old crap. Or nothing at all

Things I appreciated at that time were:
Post-natal massage - you could get someone to come to the house
Mani and pedicure - I don't have these often and am not very put together but they made me feel human at a time when you feel like an animal
Some quality casual clothes, like cashmere trousers and hoodie, so I could feel dressed and ready for visitors but still basically wearing pjs - h&m have some at the moment, or there are lots of nice expensive brands
Nice coffee machine so she doesn't have to faff about with a cafetiere?
Is there a museum or cafe nearby you could get her a membership for - basically somewhere she could go and walk around with baby when it's cold and have a cake and coffee - may not be relevant for your location
Liked the nice long coat idea, also some boots that are easy to get on and off - no time for laces once you have a baby!

I stopped wearing jewelry once I had dd after I lost my wedding ring in a sleep-deprived fog...

Thanks Good advice, I won't book any time away or apart until we have had the discussion. I'll add it as a 'voucher' in the book and she can use it when she's ready.

She's just bought herself a wrap!

I've already got a family art piece so I'm going to leave that, but maybe add a photography voucher.

Thanks for the Canopy & Stars suggestion I'll have a look at them as a potential for the voucher

I'm too organised we already have a sling.

I want it to be about her and what she needs as so much focus will be on the baby between now and then.

I'm trying to think of what I appreciated at that stage. My husband bought me a long cashmere cardigan which was very much appreciated- not only did it keep me warm over the winter but it covered up my enormous post partum body. He also gave me a cashmere blanket (clearly I have developed a taste for cashmere!) that was lovely and warm during night feeds. And a nice leather Storksak nappy changing bag that looked a bit smarter and less like a changing bag [[https://storksak.com/changing-bags?cat=49]]

By the way I'm impressed that you've filled the freezer with food etc even if no one else is (my husband is better at ordering take aways...) Good luck for your new arrival!

My 2nd DC is 4wo so I'm currently at the same postpartum stage as your DW will be by Christmas. Personally, all I want at the moment is to be clean and warm which is harder than it sounds.

• Get some lavender oil in now. If your DW needs stitches then she needs to keep clean but can't have bath stuff other than lavender or tea tree oil until they dissolve.

• Nice bath/shower stuff for after the first couple of weeks. Regardless of whether she bf or not her milk will still come in and it gets very messy. I stink of sour milk at the moment. Also, the bleeding. I've asked my entire family for bath stuff for Christmas. Anything to make me feel clean for 5 mins before I'm covered in milk, sick and other fluids (sorry) again.

• new pjs (nursing ones if she plans to bf), fluffy socks, hat/scarf etc. A blanket for the couch for those long days on the couch. I really really feel the cold at the moment and it is apparently fairly common.

• PP suggested netflix subscription - yy to this!

• fill the cupboards with nice treats. Don't comment when she eats them all. Replace regularly.

Sorry if that's quite boring but don't underestimate comfort!

I did the voucher book thing for my dh, I bought a lovely notebook with nstural paper and included things like head massages, facials and back massages. (Dh is very touchy feely so likes this kind of thing)
For me it was because money was tight but it's a nice personal gift of your wife likes that kind of thing.

Also, I'd love a cleaner and a freezer full of meals so well done on that front.

Some people have been a bit rude I think. It's lovely that you're thinking of something special. When you say she's into horses, does she ride? Own a horse? I got an eternity ring which I really liked. Clothes wise I felt really low and frumpy so don't think I would have wanted anything. I got a Louis Vuitton neverfull which was nice to use as a posh baby bag

I am due DC3 a week before Christmas and would love some pampering bits for myself so I can lock myself in the bathroom for an hour or so at the weekend - it's a break but nothing that takes me away from a newborn and feeding etc.

The promise book sounds like a lovely idea. Thoughtful and can be used when the time is right rather than having anything pre booked!

What about a really nice baby changing bag, have a look at Tiba & Marl, they do lovely bags that dont look like changing bags, very stylish! I would have loved one of those after having my baby.

I second the nice coffee machine idea too, I got one last Christmas and it made a world of difference during night feeds 😴

Another idea for the promise book - an afternoon tea somewhere really nice. You can also use this while baby is little as hopefully he will sleep for longer periods!

Another one for nice cardigan. Also some nice tracksuit bottoms for the house. Post pregnancy body is hard to dress and you just want comfort.

I've just treated myself to nice skincare from kiehls. I make the effort to do it in the morning and evening as my treat.

How about a box set? Something like the west wing is great when spending hours feeding!

A decent camera?

I had DD at this stage a few years ago. Now about to have DC2 and have asked for various things. A few things I really appreciated that Christmas or have asked for this year-

• new pjs, nursing specific ones are fantastic at this stage.
• lovely bath/skin/make up stuff.
• DH got me a new kindle, which I see you have already done, could you get a kindle unlimited subscription for the year to go with it?
• voucher for a hair cut/massage treatment etc
• vouchers for some new clothes. I was so sick of the sight of the stuff I had lived in the last year that this was easily my favourite present.

Good luck!

Yes, second new clothes when she's ready for them. I was desperate to get some new ones at the end of pregnancy.

And babies are only newborn for a short time by definition, bracelets are for life Op said its not her thing anyway.

Box set as well, dh and I really bonded over a few series when in a sleep deprived fog, it gave us something else to talk about.

Ooh yeah decent camera is a nice one if the budget fits.

To go with it you could get a present for/from the baby which is these: www.amazon.co.uk/ASVP-Shop%C2%AE-Landmark-Moments-Milestone/dp/B013T1HUXQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479834060&sr=8-2&keywords=baby+milestone+cards

From the baby, Is there a possibility to book a newborn photo shoot when baby's here, and surprise her with one in a frame or a canvas?

A new good camera would be really nice, or book her a massage/facial at a spa. Luxurious pyjamas and fancy slippers, candles, good skincare products, bath products, new hairdryer/curlers/straighteners, cardigan, boots, coat, vouchers for her kindle. Journal/planner would be a good one too, and a beautiful bunch of flowers. You know your wife better than anyone and you sound very considerate so I'm sure you'll come up with something she'll love 😊

If she rides, how about the opportunity to ride out for an hour every week whilst you babysit? That would be really good for the soul. (horse mad mum here).

Also, one thing I found really useful was a nice stylish handbag backpack big enough to take a nappy change and a few baby bits. I could put it on my back so I had my hands free for the kids

Some nice bubble bath, candle, magazine, nail varnish stuff and most importantly an little bit of time to enjoy them