Second child - what was useful?

[HeyMicky]

My friend has just has her second child. What can I get as a gift? Same gender, born 23 months apart so similar sizes for seasonal wear. I don't want to give her stuff she doesn't need - what did you actually need second time around?

I'd still go for clothes or a toy. It's nice to have something new rather than an older siblings cast offs always.

Wrap sling.

Vulli teether, Sophie giraffe/chan/gnon.

Vouchers, then she can choose what she wants.

I always say this, but a sling. Some sort of stretchy wrap and (ideally) a bit of help from someone who know how to use it. Hands free is v useful second time around.

She's an established baby wearer, but good idea. And I'll be taking a meal anyway. More something for number 2 that won't overload her with crap

What about a lamaze toy for the baby? We had one for ds but friends bought a different one for baby girl and she loves it. Ds is also getting a bit territorial about his baby toys!

I know we didn't actually buy that many baby toys first time round, so maybe that? Or new lovely muslins? I highly recommend muslinz, they're huge, soft and very handy.

Or a nice photo frame? For a picture of the new addition as you've usually got loads of their older sibling but none of the baby... :)

Food, food, food.
The absolute best present we got when DC2 was born was 2 days worth of M&S ready meals for me (veggie), DH (meaty) and ds (3), complete with sides, puds, naice biscuits, decent t bags, a bottle of milk andvsinebfruit and veg.

DVD of "lost and Found". It is a very sweet, very gentk toddler story and ds watched it when I was feeding dd. It's just the right length. It's a few £, got it in Sainsbury's.

Our dc were mad on sticker books at that age, how about one of those for a character that her dc1 is currently enjoying? Also offering to take them to the park or somewhere similar for a couple of hours would probably be appreciated.

A nice toy for her dc2, something small but a bit more upmarket than most (no plastic) would be nice.

Take a couple of meals if you can too, something easy to reheat in a container that doesn't need returning. Fish pie, moussaka, lasagne type things in those foil takeaway type containers work well.

Token gesture for baby and actual gift for eldest. Babies just don't need anything really. My ds1 loved books I could read while feeding and aquadraw stuff so he could 'paint' without too much supervision after ds2 aarrived. Agree teethers/comforters are not really passed down like other toys. Baby clothes would probably be wasted imo.

Thanks all

DS2 has a giraffe that he loves. They are ridiculously expensive for a chew toy so the kind of thing you never buy for your own child, they only come as gifts!