I'm sure this has been done to death but humour me

[Guylncognito]

Best gift you received as a new mum? Best friend is due to give birth any day, it's her first. I want to get her something useful for Christmas, but also something special so she still feels like she's got a gift too.

I'm planning on sending her some cook vouchers when the baby arrives. What did you appreciate/use most in the early months of being a mum?

Check if she has a local COOK first, we got those as vouchers and it was a pain in the arse going to collect the food 😂 you had to spend £40 I think for delivery and the vouchers were £20.

A feeding pillow, a really good one, I’m not breastfeeding but support under my elbow when I’m bottle feeding or just holding the baby makes a big difference.

A lovely wool long cardigan that can be slung on and best of all has pockets.

A chillys bottle with a lovely design. You get very thirsty and pinned to the sofa with a sleeping baby.

Definitely Badedas stuff for the bath. It makes the water not sting and it smells lush. It’s on offer in Boots at the min.

Maybe a tin of biscuits or something, I found them quite useful to have when people were calling round to see the baby in the early days, you could offer them a cuppa and a biscuit without having to take time to prepare anything. Or she may also like a cuppa and biscuit during night feeds Xx

Does she like coffee? I got a gift card for a coffee chain and it was lovely to take my baby out for a walk and end up at the coffee shop (by which time baby was usually asleep).

Lovely PJs, socks, slippers
Hand cream and lip balm
Nice box of biscuits/brownies/cakes
Coffee shop voucher

baby gros and sleep suits in the bigger sizes: 3-6 6-9 months etc

oh for myself- never got anything for myself lol- a coffee voucher for starbucks would have been heaven sent

Thanks everyone - really useful ideas here!

A flask so that I always could have a quick cup of tea and some nice shower gel because hot tea and washing are luxuries with a new born

Yes, a voucher for a local coffee shop would be well received! One of my friends gave me 5 chocolate bars and a note saying my husband wasn't allowed to eat them, that was an awesome gift 😂.

Babies don't really need anything, I would rather not have got most of the gifts i've received and have exchanged as many as I can. Treat mum instead, based on her preferences - I would hate bubble bath because I don't enjoy baths, but am a chocolate fiend.

All I wanted was cake and for someone to watch my baby while I had a sleep!

Someone got us M&S vouchers for the dining dining £10 (think it's £15 now)

Dine in for *

My Mum gave me a tub of fabric stain remover. It’s one of those things that you don’t realise you need until the baby arrives.

Mine was a house coat that was like half length. It's soft and fluffy bit not super thick and was perfect for night feeds during the summer. Now I put it on and open it up and have my boy in it with me while sitting on the couch. Sizing up is a good idea.

Like PP have said, a feeding pillow, a nice cosy house coat (definitely with pockets) and a flask/cup that keeps hot drinks hot as she will forever be forgetting about the brew she’s made.

Things I would have loved to receive… a cosy blanket for sofa naps, a white noise machine (though Alexa is generally good for this too) some nice coffees/teas and loads of chocolate and biscuits 👍🏻 Also those nice slipper socks for the colder weather.

Baby monitor

The best present I had was a handmade nappy cake! It had different toppers on it such as nail clippers, a brush, dummies etc. It was just made out of nappies (obviously!). Another thing someone done for us was after coming out of the hospital, they cooked extra food and brought it over for us! It was definitely thoughtful and such a wait lifted off our shoulders as there was no need to cook, wash up etc! More quality and bonding time with the baby!

Friends kept giving me feeding pillows and I couldn’t stand any of them 😂 a pile of my own cushions could be arranged in a much more custom fit!

A friend gave me a nice Neals Yard set of moisturiser, massage oil and something bath-y targeted at new mums. That was lovely.

Offering to watch baby for a couple of hours while I got my hair cut.

A friend bought us a home delivered afternoon tea. Was such a wonderful kind present and the best by far.

@PenelopeVonDelius

All I wanted was cake and for someone to watch my baby while I had a sleep!

This is the correct answer! And to fold baskets of clean washing and put it away, wash a sink full of dishes, and bring over a hot meal.

A starsnug especially for winter baby. Can put them in car seat with them so really Useful