A thoughtful gift for a new parent…

[Bubblesallaround]

More for the new mum herself. Not clothes, toys etc for baby as I have that. Something thoughtful that she might look back on and enjoy. Or something she would use herself. I’m not sure what… any thoughtful gifts you’ve received or given?

I know you said not for baby but this is genius:

https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/2littleboys/product/the-birthday-yearbook

If you want a milestone book but can only be arsed to do it once a year.

Nice insulated cup to keep drinks warm (my parenting totem is a half-drunk cup of cold tea).

Cosy slippers.

Actually my mum got me a lovely fleecy blanket to wrap around myself and baby on colder mornings while I was (endlessly) breastfeeding and I still have and love it (though DC tend to steal it for morning cartoon watching now!).

Blanket is a good idea. As is warm slippers.

Perhaps some herbal tea? (Fancy stuff)

Maybe not that thoughtful but a just eat/deliveroo voucher. No one wants to cook. Or a 'cook' ready meal box. Or if you have the time, portioned up batch cooked meals would have been amazing

The book "What Mothers Do" or "Matrescence".

Actually when I was pregnant my friends clubbed together to buy me a kindle and it was brilliant because I couldn't read paperbacks in dim light one-handed but I could read the kindle.

Yes!! Those cook boxes look amazing

Voucher for local coffee shop? Coffee out isn’t cheap and encourages mum to get out with winter coming up.

Oh if you go for herbal tea, in Germany in the maternity hospital they had special hidden away teabags just for the breastfeeding mums which were fennel, aniseed and caraway. Labelled as "Stilltee" (Nursing tea) they have this belief which is probably an old wives' tale, that they stimulate milk production. The smell of that and chamomile tea, which they used to give out as well because of it being calming and aiding recovery, takes me right back now!

Vouchers/or money for takeaways. Honestly takeaway was the thing that saved bad days, in the early weeks when I was struggling with a complicated recovery and and refluxy baby.

Not cheap, but the new parent gift I always remember is a fortnum and mason hamper with all the things I couldn't have while pregnant - wine, cheese, patê, etc. And the actual hamper is still in my daughter's room, so I see it and smile all the time!

Hand cream. Being a new mum means washing your hands so many extra times, after nappies, baths, cleaning their things etc. Mine got really dry. A few of them to leave by different sinks.

What about a little spa basket or makeup (or something she wants) for the mum. My mum always says thst everyone forgets about the mum. The baby gets presents and presents to use for the baby. But barely anyone buys just the mum something. The mum gets forgotten about