Newish parents - what to get?

[Vroomfondleswaistcoat]

Up to this year I've always got DS and his wife something that aligns with their interests - she's very into crafting and he loves cooking and Lego. But this year they have a baby. Now I want to buy them things that see them as 'people', not just Mum and Dad, but obviously they have little time for crafting or doing time-intensive hobbies.

So I need to think of some things to get them that make it plain that they are still people in their own right but that don't need an investment of time. I've got some nice toiletries but I am trying to think of some more personal type things that aren't all about the baby. Any ideas?

A voucher for a meal at a nice restaurant or an afternoon tea to have a date

A homemade gift hamper with lots of nice bits in there they like

Vouchers for shops they like

It’s strange because you want to get them gifts for them as individual but you are asking Mumsnet. You know them very well. If you want to get them something specifically tailored to them as individuals - we can’t really help

Of course you can. The poster above has suggested meal vouchers or a hamper, both of which are excellent suggestions. I just need ideas.

So you’re after gift ideas for a couple that isn’t time consuming.

Or that they can easily do with a small baby around. ie not making complex Lego models or spending hours crafting as per their previous hobbies.

Definitely vouchers for meals out. Especially if it's places where they can still take the baby and don't have to stress about finding a baby sitter. Even just somewhere like Costa would be nice too and something I would have loved.

Just don’t get them anything to do with the baby, it’s really not hard. Having a baby is no reason to not get them a craft or Lego set if that’s what they enjoy.
Doing a craft or building some Lego is perfectly do able with a baby at home.

They can and should still do their hobbies now they have a baby. As you say they are still people. The baby will sleep, and get older. Buy the same things you know they like (saying this as someone with very small children, who loves to read but didn’t get to do it enough for a while. I still asked for books, and now have a great TBR shelf to get through)

Deliveroo voucher! Wine!

Meal out vouchers are a good shout but only if they have a babysitter of course.

Get them something along the same lines as before.

You could do them a night in hamper - voucher for a prime film rental, deliveroo, popcorn, chocolate, nice dressing gowns? Or vouchers from Cook are often very welcome for new parents. A digital photo frame, family photo shoot, family zoo membership/national trust passes/merlin passes.

Why not get similar as you always do? Babies don’t do much - I had time to do stuff!

A hamper of nice snacks and drinks. You don't need to go all out with a basket. I've given hampers in tote bags or even gift bags and always gratefully received.

Because as soon as you have a baby you stop being a person?

I would have been really happy with mummy themed gifts for my first Xmas as a mum, matching PJs, a ‘mama’ and ‘mamas boy’ matching jumpers etc

I dunno why you’re getting a hard time. I definitely didn’t have time to do Lego

how about toiletries
vouchers for places they may like to go out, or order in from
audible subscription for the late nights or pram walks
some nice pjs or loungewear

also I know it’s a gift about being a parent but I really wanted a sentimental gift for my first Christmas as a mum, I got them for dh and both sets of grandparents and they loved them but no one thought to get one for me, so I would suggest that personally, particularly if it’s just part of their gift.
and I would have loved if someone printed all the photos I was sharing and put them in a photo album for me.

Baby sitting vouchers ?

Thank you to those who have suggested gifts. To those who are doing the 'oh you just carry on your normal life as you did before' - not when you both work full time and have a baby that doesn't sleep you don't. They don't have time to do their previous hobbies - that is what they have told me and that is what I am honoring. So not so much that I don't WANT to give them stuff relating to their lives Before Baby, but that THEY don't feel they have the time to invest in them at the moment.

I have no idea why everyone is so wedded to the 'just buy them what you bought before, they are still people' - if that was the case I wouldn't have come here asking for suggestions!

I am with you. I had a non sleeping baby (my first) and my life absolutely stopped for a solid year.

When i had my second years later (too scared to have another one) and he actually slept, it was a completely different experience. I would have laughed and maybe cried if someone had said "here's something for your hobbies" with my first.

I had five and they were all non-sleepers, so I have total sympathy with my DS and his wife! They both have very responsible and tough jobs and they simply don't have the brainspace yet for hobbies to recommence, although I am sure they will be back with the Lego and the crafting when their baby is older (they're only having one, decided as they've had such a bad time with this one!)

So far vouchers and hampers are winning out, and a yearly pass for a local attraction is looking good.

To those who are doing the 'oh you just carry on your normal life as you did before' - not when you both work full time and have a baby that doesn't sleep you don't.
Not wedded to them but things like a hamper, a voucher and toiletries would to mean seem like they have lost their previous identities and now are time-starved parents (which they probably are) but they are still individuals.
You know them better than I do.

Nothing against hampers or vouchers but they're a bit what you get people you don't know all that well. A fabulous luxury hamper would be great but not a little one.
Toiletries - yes to ones you know will delight them, otherwise no. Something like a lovely Christmas version of a luxury advent calendar sounds great but would DD have time to faff about with the contents?

This is exactly one of the reasons I started the thread. I want presents that don't just feel 'generic' (if I do a hamper it will be a luxury 'foods that they love but wouldn't buy for themselves' jobbie), that take into consideration that they are parents now and their time is, mostly, not their own, but still show that I think of them as people and not just Mummy and Daddy.

There have been some great ideas - I have no idea why some people have taken such umbrage at my thread as it might come in useful for other parents of newish parents who are finding that time is a luxury - and I'm still picking up more ideas as I go along.

They share care of their daughter fairly equally but as she's still largely bf, my DIL ends up more tied than my DS. So it would be pointed in the extreme to buy him an intricate Lego kit ('look at how much fun he can have because he doesn't have to feed the baby or spend ages pumping!') and as she is a teacher she's more in need of rest and recuperation than another 'thing' that she's required to make or do. Plus I don't want to give them gifts that need organising or pre-booking - that's just another job to fit in when they are still dealing with the return to work after mat leave.

So I'm still open to ideas, folks!

it might come in useful for other parents Indeed.

So it would be pointed in the extreme to buy him an intricate Lego kit ('look at how much fun he can have because he doesn't have to feed the baby or spend ages pumping!') and as she is a teacher she's more in need of rest and recuperation than another 'thing' that she's required to make or do. Plus I don't want to give them gifts that need organising or pre-booking - that's just another job to fit in when they are still dealing with the return to work after mat leave.
I can't argue with any of that.

I had visions of people buying new parents the sort of presents that seem to always appear on gift guides.

Presents for new parents are hard. I got lots of 'Baby's First Christmas' outfits and DC was too small for them. They were well meant but by the time they'd have fitted it would have been Easter.

What about vouchers for a spa day or session? There are some near here which are around £50-£60 for a few hours with lunch or, depending on budget, a full day or evening one? With a promise of babysitting thrown in. I’m a teacher and would love that even though my babies are in their twenties now!! Be lovely for them to get some relaxing together time.