Gift Ideas Please!

[BassMama]

My brother and his gf are about to have a baby in a couple of months.. I want to get them something really great as a present as they literally spend a FORTUNE on my DS, all the time.

I am really stuck though as they have everything (new parents shopping syndrome i think its called!) I have given them DS's crib, babydan and baby bjorn baby carrier thing, and they have already got a cot, bugaboo, car seat, high chair, bouncy chairs, tiny love gym etc etc.. they even already have stair gates and things! They live in a HUGE house, dont know if maybe there is something that would be handy for big house folk? Thought about outside toys like climbing frame or something, but i dont know if they would want that in their fancy landscaped garden! (plus its completely useless for at least 1.5 years!!)

It has to be really special, really nice, useful, classy..

ANYONE please help me with ideas!

bumping to hopefully get some reply..

DS used a swing from about 4 months (a bucket type seat) and would go on a slide by himself at 15 months - so outdoor stuff wouldn't necessarily be useless...

How about something they can all do together - a weekend break? Swimming lessons? Music class? Or a magazine subscription each?

A couple of my friends who have had baby #2 recently were given treats like a cleaner for 2 or 3 days or a personal chef for a week...

Will keep thinking for you.

Buy them some hours from a Post natal doula!

Ooh they are good suggestions - They have already got 2 holidays planned so thats not much use.. Dont think they could get much more time off work!

Magazine subscription was what i got SIL (can i call her that even though they arent married?) for christmas.. great minds eh!

They have a cleaner already.. do you see what my problem is!

Like the idea of the swing though, may suggest it to them as they have very recently had their garden done so not sure that they would want it..

The other problem I have is that they have shedloads of money, and I dont! Like she has bought the BEST of everything, so whatever I get has to be top-notch...

AAHH its so hard!
I just really want to get them something great, they are incredible with my DS and they take him overnight sometimes, take him out for the day a lot and are ALWAYS buying him (expensive) gifts. Plus she has had an awful pregnancy, lots of hospital trips, bleeding, miscarriage scares etc..

They really deserve something GREAT.

Like I said.. a post natal doula. The support that they would get would be worth 3 cleaners and all the tea in china.

Oh, the post partum doula is a great idea too - we did that for a friend and she loved it!

I'm trying to think what people I know have been given:

A friend in the states had a personal concierge who ran errands for them- went to the post office, picked up some shopping etc.

Some nice relaxing bath stuff for her (Molton Brown etc)?

A session (or several) at a photography studio - you can get a year long one where you go with the baby at 3 6 9 and 12 months. Not sure where you find out about that though. Might be nice as it's not the sort of thing you buy yourself but is nice to keep.

The photography thing would be PERFECT only thats what they got my parents for christmas from Venture photography (which was so cringy BTW, we all had to hold hands and tickle each other and things.. photos are beautiful though so it was worth it!) so that would be a blatant copy of their gift!! (plus it cost them £1200!!!)

Anyway, she loves Molton Brown (how did i not think of that?!) I am thinking maybe i can make them a sort of gift hamper, bath stuff for her, a voucher for a spa treatment or something, maybe a nice bottle of champagne.. Any other ideas? baby related and something for my bro..

How frustrating!

I think a hamper type of thing is a good idea - I got a couple when I had DS

You could put in it:

• a personalised blanket for the baby (embroidered with the name)
• a nice bottle of champagne
• maybe a book each for all that spare time they'll have(!)
• a baby book to record those 'firsts'
• a hand/ foot print kit for the baby
• photo frame/ album
• Gift certificate for kodak or snapfish etc so they can have their photos printed ( I would have LOVED that)
• molton brown goodies for each of them (they do nice men's stuff)...

am running out of ideas!

John Lewis do a really nice baby hand and foot print thingy, framed how you want with baby's name on it. Looks lovely on the wall of the nursery.

You could add to your hamper - Baby sitting vouchers - they will thank you by the time the end of the first year comes!!

Wow thanks guys thats great. I got the nhand and foot prints from John Lewis when DS was born as a gift so that could be a good idea, as i know they love my DS one.

I got them a baby photo album for christmas but a frame would be nice. They have a digital camera with a printer so they are sorted for photos.

Babysitting vouchers are a great idea, but as i work full time nights i dont think they'd ever get the chance to use them!

Does anyone have any ideas of something really unusual.. something that noone else will get them?

Just had my third and a couple of friends gave prezzies to me instead of the baby - v welcome!! Could give her manicure/pedicure etc etc. Or could you make something personal - eg sampler or one of those special collage pictures catalogues seem to charge a fortune for?

what about a digital photo frame?

do they have a changing station and matching drawers - there are some really lovely ones, or a rocking chair with footrest for your SIL
(I always wanted one of those - they look perfect for feeding).

a rug for the nursery?

if you look at the back of mags like Junior they have loads of ads for unusual and beautiful (and expensive gifts).

snap littlapin - x-posted .

I would have loved the digital photo frame (still would)

Wow guys - thank you so much!
Am still thinking about the poto frame thing - and i'm definitely going to make a basket of treats for Bro and SIL.

I have decided to go for a photo frame and a rattle from the Tiffany site. I dont know why i didnt think of it before!

lots of lovely ideas - i love that red envelope site.... fantastic!