Sort of a ridiculous present buying question

[toomuch]

A friend of mine recently had a baby. I want to get a lovely present for him (I have something specific in mind), but it costs considerably more than the present she got my son when he was born a year ago. And she would be able to tell.
So do I buy the expensive present, and risk embarrasing her with my generosity? Or would she (or you) not be embarrased at all?

We are both similarly comfortably off btw

Buy the present

If it's something that you want to give him for a special reason, and she will know what that is, give it. Give it anyway - you want to, you don't have an issue about the price differential and aren't going to make her feel bad, are you? So enjoy it!

I'd go ahead and get what you already have in mind unless it's completely over the top - especially as a more extravagant gift won't strain your finances in any way. If she protests that it's too much, you can simply say (in a lighthearted way) that you felt very excited about giving the gift, and if she wants, she can also consider it a partial first birthday present/Christmas gift too.

I'd buy it, I too get excited about gifts and often have DH telling me it's "too much", but I love to give, especially if it's something special.

Be careful you don't start a competition though, whereby the gifts get bigger and better every year - if you're sure that won't happen, then go for it!

Buy it. A gift is a gift.

my friend always goes totally over the top when it comes to buying presents - as a result of this I have had to start spending more on her children too.

I now spend more on her kids than I would for a family member's present.

I would say as a one-off birth gift it should be OK - just don't make a habit of it.

oooh, what is it you want to get?

buy it a gift comes from the heart and not the wallet and im sure she would love it no matter how much it costs

Actually - beg to differ with the others. Although you are sincere and your intentions are good, if I was the friend I would feel wrong footed and embarassed that I hadn't spent more in your case. I think I would feel retrospectively stingy.

However - you know your friend and how she is likely to react. Perhaps she is quite a chilled person and it wouldn't occur to her to feel awkward?