practical presents for newborn

[normanthehairdresser]

As my beautiful son parachuted into my life as a toddler I am very clueless about the baby stage.

However a close friend of mine is having a baby on March 16th. Sex unknown. They are short of money so I would like to buy a really useful present rather than the frivolous stuff that takes my fancy in the shops.

Another friend has suggested babygros but I can't find anything that isn't either blue or pink, and lots of weird garments labelled 'all in ones' or 'sleepsuits'.

So what would you have found a real practical godsend for a spring baby? Thoughts much appreciated!

I think baby sleeping bags are a great present because you need a couple (for when he other has been puked on) and they're not cheap. It also wouldn't matter if it was duplicated. Brand name ones are £25 ish but TK Maxx/Asda etc sometimes have them for less.

I would also second the suggestion of pampering stuff for mum as you feel so grotty in the early days.

Don't buy outfits for newborn size, as everyone else will and they'll have loads. They'll never use them all before they're too small! Instead buy an outfit for 3-6 mths, as I got to 3 months and realised he'd suddenly grown out of EVERYTHING and we hadn't pre-bought bigger stuff.

Also, best things we bought/received were:
chocs (ooh yes indeedy)
a little teddy with a pull cord that played very soft tinkly music, ds was mesmerised by it from day 1
a UV sun shade for the buggy/pram
muslins by the ton
wraps/shawls/blankets/cotton waffle blankets
an ear thermometer (from a friend who's a paediatrician! she was spot on)
vouchers

It's funny you should say that about newborn size things, kitbit. My five week old baby has two newborn babygros that fit and a couple of nighties. They are things I bought for his two older brothers and never got round to passing on (thank goodness, I wasn't planning on more children). I refuse to buy any more as he will be out of that size soon. But it seems everyone knows thins thing about not buying newborn sized thing so I have been given some lovely things in larger sizes for all three DSs, and each, in turn, has been very lacking in clothes until they hit about three months, when they have tonnes!

Couldn't agree more Swampster about getting loads of the 3-6 month clothes!

I think people presumed we would get loads of newborn stuff so instead we got loads of 3-6!

It's still fab and v useful when the time comes but my DH had to go out & buy extras, plus we didn't realise how many changes you might go through in a day - hence multipacks of plain white was v handy. Also some people have bought current WINTER wear that's in the shops now ie furry snow suits, in 3-6 month, not realising it will be summer when he's that age!!!

As a compromise, 0-3 stuff fitted (quite large but still fitted) DS when newborn and they are still v roomy now with plenty of wear. May I suggest 0-3 stuff rather than newborn or 3-6?!

Oh and you can't have too many muslins or cotton wool balls or multi packs of wipes!

I sent my friend a couple of bas of shopping the day after she gave birth including wine, chocolate, sticky toffee pudding, finest ready meals.

Then I have bought the baby a piece of fleece fabric which I have bordered with bright fabric, 2 terry towels bordered agai with the same fabric either to lay baby on, or use as a muslin, and 2 small egyptian cotton face cloths again bordered again to use as muslins etc.

Hoping to see baby very soon! She's 2 months soon!

Oldest dc now nearly 10, the item that lasted the longest through all 3 dcs was a wind-up cot music/light go-to-sleep thing. Its the only thing (apart from the heirloom diamond ring from fil) that I remember who gave it to me.

The giver has 7 kids. She knew what she was doing!!!

I've got a 3 mth old DD and ma just trying to think of what I would have liked for her (she was my second baby, so definitely inly wanted practical stuff if i was lucky enough to get presents at all!)

• Babygrows/sleepsuits/vests in size 3-6 mths, so that I had some emergency stocks for when i suddenyl discovered my baby had outgrown her 0-3 mth stuff and the shops were all closed

• as many muslin cloths as possible!

• a friend loaded up some money on to a Boots gift card, which was handy for nappies etc

• a nice sheepskin or fleecy buggy liner? Buggysnuggles are great actually.

• a feeding cushion? good for bf-ing if she is intending to do so...