What else can I put in my Gift Basket?

[MadameChinLegs]

My friend is due her first baby at the end of July and for her gift, I have put together a basket full of goodies. Im on a shoestring budget, but have managed everything (except the basket and nappies) for £1 per item. I'm wondering if there's anything else I can add to make her life easier with a newborn...

nappies
wipes
nappy sacks
bottles of johnsons bath, shampoo and baby oil
cotton buds
sudocreme
funky pair of socks
teether
sippy cup
little spoons
set of linking rings
set of stacking cups
bar of chocolate for mum

Obviously not all the items will be used straight away, but just stuff that will come in handy as and when.

anything else I could add (and what wouldn't break the bank?)

Ive bought a lovely pull-bow and cellaphane and tissue paper for presentation

More stuff for mum.... an 'I promise to babysit' voucher, gorgeous bubbly bath stuff, powerful hand-cream (all that hand-washing after nappy changes and your mitts go like sandpaper)

I was given a lovely gift basket like this after having DC1...my dear friend put earplugs and a pack of condoms in it! (Mind you they'd already had three children so forewarned is probably forearmed!)

I think your basket contents sound just perfect as is, what a lovely friend you must be. You could add a home-made voucher for an hour or two of watching the baby so Mum and Dad can have a stress free snooze, or to do the bread/milk shopping once a week for those early hazy days.

I like the idea of a Babysitting voucher! I have my own baby, so it's not like she'd be leaving her DD with a novice.

Condoms is a brilliant idea too, might tuck a pack of those in, and im sure ive got an unopened pack of ear plugs around here. Good idea re: hand cream, have put some of that antibac hand gel in, so will add a hand cream.

I am loving putting it together, keep going into DDs room to admire it

Might have to do one for everyone I know who has a baby

A card with both mumsnets and Kellymoms web address!

White noise cd.

SIL did a basket for me. Oh how we giggled at the nipple cream but oh how grateful I was 2 days later! Ditto for the calpol 2 months later after her DCs injections.

Oooh, Calpol.

Infacol (one of those things you think will solve all your problems and inevitably doesn't, that'll save her getting her hopes up)

Think it's a lovely lovely idea, if it was me I'd like lots of treats to eat in it (especially if she's breastfeeding). Condoms is a v funny addition too...

Definitely hand cream, I have put a little notebook and pen in when I have done similar gift bags for writing down when you've fed, questions for midwife or HV, thank you notes etc. (I was very forgetful in the new born haze...) And also a packet or two of biscuits to feed visitors. (though she obviously does not have to give them to visitors if she doesn't want to!)

footcream...my feet were really swollen after my babies.

scratch mitts
breast pads
brie cheese
pate
whatever else foodwise you cant have nowadays

If she likes reading, then a couple of small, fun, brainless books that can be easily held in one hand while doing night-time feeds. Georgette Heyer saved my life in the early weeks. As did my Ally McBeal and Inspector Morse box sets, but that's a bit expensive for a gift basket!

Also, Lansinoh if she's breastfeeding.

Can I also just say that this is such a lovely thing to do - I'd have been so chuffed if anyone had done something like this for me! As it was I practically wept on my dad when he brought me a bag of fudge, because it was something for me. All the gifts for the baby were massively appreciated too, but just a little something for me as well made me feel so much better.

Water bottle- never felt thirst like the first few weeks of breastfeeding!

I have a couple of un-read 'easy reading' books....could I put them in? They haven't been read, would that be rude?

I don't see why you shouldn't! Mind you, I'm always happy to get thoroughly second-hand books anyway. :) But no, I don't think it's rude at all.

My friend did this for me when I had DS and it was lovely. I liked the calpol and weaning spoons because I had thought so hard about the newborn stage that I hadn't got anything for later on, and I felt so organised having them waiting in the cupboard!!

I second the handcream too, or really nice soap - even a small bar which wouldn't be £££ - to make all that handwashing feel like a treat.

'Treat' might be a bit ott, but you know what I mean!

I don't have a baby so could be completely wrong, but what about little snacky bits for during night feeds? Even if they are packets of dried fruit etc. I've also heard MNers mention flasks to keep hot drinks in so they last longer.

I hope I have a friend like you when I'm pregnant, OP

Dp eats jelly babies when he runs (long distance) so a couple of days after my friend was home after her dd was born i put a few packets through her letter box as she wasn't ready for visitors.

She reported that they were very handy to keep her energy up while feeding at stupid o'clock, and relatively healthy too :)

Thanks everyone! I just keep wandering into DDs room where Im keeping it and gazing at it. It's so pretty.

I will add some jelly sweets, definetly. Friend doesn't like cake (I know, I know, it was a shock to me too), so sweets would go down well.

I got Holland and Barrett ones,because they purport to be healthy!