help needed in buying present

[valleygirl]

My friend has just given birth to a baby daughter 2 months prematurely - she is at home now, but her daughter will be in special baby unit for another 8 weeks or so - what suggestions do you have for presents to give to mum and baby? Do I wait til baby is older to give her something and buy something for mum in meantime?

all suggestions welcomed!

Do you have or could borrow a video camera. You could make a nice little "video diary" for her.

that's a nice idea doormat, but alas do not have access to one -what do new mums REALLY want - presents for baby, or presents for themselves?!!!

Both! In practice I got much more for DS than for myself (3 bouquets). If the baby was born suddenly at that age she might not be fully equipped so it might be worth asking if she's short of anything. Also might be short of really small size clothes. What about a photo album/photo frame? Some nice moisturiser or lavender bubble bath.

If by any chance you can knit then you could make some really small clothes for her daughter that she could use as dolls clothes when she's older. I have to admit to being sad enough to only want baby things not me-things when I had my babies. I would play it safe and get something for the baby, I think.

this has happened to a couple of friends of mine. Tiny sized clothes are useful - both mums didn't want to go shopping for them themselves (every minute spent at hospital beside baby's side) and husbands were hopeless - so you could ask her if you could go and get mini vests, sleepsuits etc. Also in the SCBU they often wear tiny hats - you could get one of those. Otherwise since you have 8 weeks before the baby comes home you could order something personalised - eg a baby blanket - with name and date of birth on it which is always a nice keepsake. You could always tell the mother that you've ordered something for the baby which will be ready by the time she comes home.
For mother - can't go wrong with some very relaxing decadent stuff for the bath - anything with lavender in it - or otherwise just a lot of help, since she will be completely focussed on hospital and any offers to do things which she won't want to spend time on (like shopping for things for the baby) will be really well received.

good luck!

what about a "cheque book" of favours you will do for her - baby siting washing cooking a meal etc that will give her more time with her precious new one?

Also a botle of champagne for the day baby comes home. i loved that

my two friends were slightly superstitious about too much celebrating until their baby was out of SCBU - so champagne is a good idea but I wouldn't give it until the return home. one of them wouldn't even unwrap gifts of baby clothes until she had been given a definate date for her son to leave hospital - said she found it too difficult to look at clothes he might not wear. Mind you, he was born at 27.5 weeks which is a bit of a different kettle of fish to 32 weeks...

Our dd spent three weeks in SCBU and while we had lots of presents etc when she was born - A chequebook of favours sounds great. Even making up some meals etc for them to have. We wanted to spend as much time as possible at the hospital and when we got home at night - the last thing you felt like was cooking dinner. I would have loved it if someone offered to clean the house/do laundry, bring round a meal that just needed reheating..... not very exciting but sooo helpful and practical.

So if you wanted to do something like that for the couple and then when the baby comes home buy something really lovely.

From the Baby Show, I would thoroughly recommend My Puku as the most delicious soft merino wool baby clothing I have ever come across. Whilst I was there, a friend of a friend had a prem baby - only 4lb 3oz and I got a wrap, little hat, booties and vest from them. Not cheap by any means (£11 for the vest but it was ribbed and will stretch).

I bought the stuff at the fair and posted it to my friend, who was delighted as was the recipient mother. Absolutely gorgeous.

Unfortunately the website isn't up and running completely yet. If you do go to them, tell them I sent you as mumsnet would be a good place for them to advertise.

Thanks for all suggestions - I have contacted my friend to see if she has anyone who is doign stuff like cooking, cleaning, and whether I can go doen one night to helpout with the more practical and boring stuff - that was a particularly useful suggestion as she is out from 9am to 10pm at the hospital at the moment.

Also I have e-mailed My Puku to see if they can send me a list of what they have - and I mentioned that I heard about them through Mumsnet!

I'll get something more personal for her too - which I have soem time to muse over.

But thanks everyone for all your helpful advice.
vgx