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Original poster

Are these silly ideas for a new mum present?

54 replies

nappyaddict · 27/01/2011 15:44

A book - is she really going to have time to read it?

Bath oil - again is she going to have time to have a nice indulgent long soak in the bath. And will the chemicals and fragrances irritate down below?

Make Up

Vouchers for a meal out - might not be practical to take a baby and might not want to leave it for a long time especially when breastfeeding?

Footspa

These ones I think are definitely OK?

Cake and champage

Vouchers for a local takeaway that delivers

Lansinoh and breast pads

Voucher for a nursing bra

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Cies · 27/01/2011 22:02

I was given some smellies, and still have the bath salts that went with them. The body lotion and shower gel were used up straight away.

CappuccinoCarrie · 27/01/2011 22:09

best present I had was a hand delivered hot starbucks with my favourite muffin. mmmm :)
our friends do a rota of evening meals for a couple of weeks for each other which is bliss too.
magazines for dipping in and out of is a great idea.

Cyclebump · 28/01/2011 10:02

Mmmmmmm coffee. There's a Costa coffee in the hospital where I'm due to give birth and I'm planning to instruct all visitors that want to give gifts to come bearing lattes.

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EauRouge · 28/01/2011 10:10

I would have loved a thermal, non-spill mug when DD was tiny, I had to get used to drinking cold tea because I always ended up getting distracted.

Books and DVDs are a great idea for all that lying on the sofa BF in the early days.

Ohforfoxsake · 28/01/2011 10:29

Yes! Thermal mug! Brilliant!

how I longed for a hot cup of tea, or to finish a meal before it was stone cold!

zayla · 28/01/2011 10:33

Chocolates were definitely my favourite present although also enjoyed the cheese I was given after not being able to eat nice cheese for nine months. We got some champagne, but haven't drunk it yet due to antibiotics/cosleeping, but guess we will eventually!

putthekettleon · 28/01/2011 10:46

what, you mean some people actually get presents for the mum, not just baby clothes?? Wink

All I remember getting were flowers (which I liked) a bath set from Lush (nice idea but still haven't used it) and chocolates (def the best one by far)

I think a DVD boxset is the best idea, if it's a first time mum. Or a voucher for her favourite shop so in a couple of months when she has lost some of the baby weight she can treat herself to something nice.

skybluepearl · 28/01/2011 23:26

I got a fab box of things i wasn't allowed during pregnancy - so various lovely mouldy cheeses, pate, mussles, oysters, champagne, chorizo. Then also various home cooked meals for the freezer and some retro cocktails! Just lovely!

skybluepearl · 28/01/2011 23:29

I was also given some homemade childcare vouchers (friends looking after the older kids) and 4 homemade cleaning vouchers (friends giving up 2 hours to run a hoover round my home).

tomatoesontoast · 29/01/2011 09:20

skybluepearl sounds like you have some lovely friends

OmicronPersei8 · 29/01/2011 09:38

I always make a big cake for friends who've just had a baby.

Best present I had were a freshly cooked meal delivered every night for a week; the worst was a guide book to Morocco. Both were from my mum.

OmicronPersei8 · 29/01/2011 09:39

were? was

gourd · 30/01/2011 18:41

Alcohol's not much use if she's breastfeeding, especially with a new baby where you have no idea when the next feed will be so can't time a drink for when there will be a long gap. Maybe it'll be OK if you give one of those small bottles (i.e. 25cl). We still have wine in 75cl bottles that was given to us last Xmas because I found out I was pregnant then. Now my DD is five months old, but I'm b/f-ing and my partner doesn't drink at all, so I probably won't open a full size bottle of wine till next Xmas unless it's for friends to drink - or to use most of it in cooking! I'd suggest fruit smoothies, sparkling grape juice drinks and/or other freshly squeezed/pressed fruit juices as a nice alternative.

The presents I found most useful were ready prepared meals for my freezer made by my Dad and dried figs and prunes (very tasty, providing lots of much needed energy and, ahem, helped get things moving again after giving birth!!!)

gourd · 30/01/2011 18:43

Also agree that nice foodie things that she wasn't able to enjoy in pregnancy would be good - such as blue, soft/rind-washed and/or non-pasturised cheese... mmm!

Frawli · 30/01/2011 20:09

After I had my first baby my favourite present was some really nice hand cream, as you always seem to be washing your hands with a tiny baby and it made mine go all dry. Every time I used it I thought of the friend who gave it to me and thought how thoughtful it was of her and how lucky I was to have such a nice friend Smile

Something edible would have gone down very well. Chocs, or maybe a nice fruit basket or something.

I got given some nice fizzy wine but tbh although I didn't manage to breastfeed I felt too sleep deprived and messed up to open it for a while and when I did I didn't enjoy it as much as usual because after a year off booze and still being sleep deprived it went to my head so could only have one glass! A small bottle and some chocs would've been more practical.

Do you know if she's able to breastfeed? If not might be best to steer clear of breastfeeding gifts as she may be upset if she feels guilty or upset at not doing it.

I got given some bath things but didn't use those for ages either, had an unanticipated section so getting in and out of a bath was too awkward for a few weeks.

drjane · 30/01/2011 20:50

I had my second baby a week ago and I REALLY wish someone would buy me a big box of nice chocolates and some flowers. And maybe some champagne.

Bath stuff is nice, but you can't use it for a while, especially if you end up with a CS or stitches.

Don't get the BFing stuff - she'll probably have bought that herself. PJs also a good present - get stretchy, luxurious ones with a long-cut top to fit massive post-birth boobs.

Thirstysomething · 30/01/2011 22:05

I got a huge tin of brownies and biscuits from someone which was great because so many people come round to coo over baby and end up needing tea and treats ... and I needed them for those midnight feasts/feeds!

Takeaway voucher idea is genius -- def going to copy that one.
A group of us got together for a similar (but more expensive) idea:
here
cost a bomb but we each chipped in fifteen quid or so and apparently was delicious.

bacon · 30/01/2011 22:17

Oh joy another "present culture" Is it really that necessy and is it expected 'cos I never did - isnt just the hubby that gets a nice bunch of flowers?

More bubble bath, hand creams no not really.

Hair/beautician appointment and you'll babysit?

I'd liked my friend to pop over, make a slap up lunch, wash up and do a quick clean while I'd have a shower and brush my teeth...Perfect!

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 31/01/2011 14:49

Lansinoh - not all BF mum's will want to use this

bessie26 · 31/01/2011 15:02

my best new mum presents were

  • home made food parcels - e.g. portions of lasagne to go in the freezer
  • hand cream - all that hand washing takes it's toll
  • baby sitting promises - my mum paid for some post-natal yoga classes & babysat so I could go to them
  • chocolate - I can never get enough Green & Blacks, especially when bf! Grin

I don't think I would have had the brain capacity to read a book (magazines would be ok though), would only have drunk a tiny bit of the champagne due to bf, and breast pads/lanisol/nursing bra are all a bit too practical to seem like a nice "present" to me

vez123 · 01/02/2011 11:53

Anything that makes her life easier as a new mum! Love the idea of cleaner for a month. Food parcels also great! And cakes are lovely. Wouldn't give her bubble bath.. I used to be a regular bath taker but have not taken a bath since DS (8 months) was born, only showers.. You never know how she will feel about 'down there' after birth so she might not want a bath.
My best present was a lovely hooded sweatshirt jacket from a friend of mine that she gave me alongside toys and baby clothes. I have worn it so much on my maternity leave, it's practical, cosy and nice!
Another great present for the baby is a grobag, if you want to shell out on one.. I think this is what I would give my best friend.

Gonzo33 · 01/02/2011 13:30

I think they are all lovely idea's. The bath stuff one definately is. My work got me a "New Mum" pack from lush at the time. It really was lush!

Honeybee79 · 01/02/2011 14:17

Cake and champagne all the way . . .

BornToFolk · 01/02/2011 14:27

Definitely cake. A friend made me an apple cake and it was lovely. Easy (and delicious!) to eat while feeding or on the run. I went off chocolate immediately post-birth, wierdly enough.

Quenelle · 01/02/2011 16:57

The best presents I got were homecooked meals from my friend when she came to visit. She also did a nappy change while she was here and offered to do the ironing.

Agree a DVD boxset would be good, and how about an audiobook for nightfeeds?

Also think the thermal mug idea is brilliant.

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