what's a good present for a brand new mum?

[nomoremagnolia]

hi, can you wise ladies suggest a really good present for a brand new (24hrs ago) mum? going to visit her and the new baby (who i have plenty of presents for) and i'd like to take her a really good/thoughtful/useful present.

Can you suggest anything that someone bought you or something you wish someone had?

Thanks in advance.

Green & Blacks chocolate is good, useful and thoughtful!!!!

It's not really a present but I appreciated people bringing me magazines when I was in hospital, even if you're only there a couple of days.

She probably has most of the essentials so go for nice extras like pampering things - oh or vouchers for M&S / Topshop / some clothes shop so she can choose something for herself later... or a Boots giftcard if you want to be practical... these were all things I really appreciated.

xxx

I always buy Crabtree and Evelyn 'Hand recovery' which is an amazing hand scrub which leaves them feeling lovely.

I figure that all the handwashing you do with a newborn leaves your hands very dry.

chocolate, always a welcome treat for a tired new mom.

or doula vouchers... doesn't the MNer who's a doula do vouchers you can get for a few hours of doula help?

Chocolate - high cocoa content means high in iron, good if she is bit anaemic, and still yummy if she isn't.

A genuine offer to pop round soon and do the washing up/put a load of washing on/hoover for her (as she will be sitting in the middle of the house in shock and awe with small baby)

a card with www.mumsnet.com written on it

Hand cream, good strong stuff - all the washing of hands and stuff that goes with a new baby can really screw with your skin (IME).

An offer to babysit whilst she goes to bed for a couple of hours. That would've been my idea of bliss.

Someone bought me some gorgeous lavender bath oil when dd was born. One of very few gifts for me, rather than the baby.

If she's breastfeeding & you know her well, a stack of light (in both senses) books to help her through those 3.10 am feeds - Agatha Christie eg.

I've given friends (again, have to know them well) a pretty, comfy (eg drawstring) skirt because you do so get sick of still wearing your maternity clothes, & you haven't the energy/time/space to go shopping for more.

I don't know whereabouts you are, but I have loved getting these - great to nibble on. and nice to have something nice to offer guests.

Re chocolate, my SIL gave me a huge tin of Charbonnel & Walker posh mocha drinking chocolate, which lasted for ages and was fantastic.

green and blacks chocolate or chococolate cake and a bottle of champers.

also i was given a pamper box. it was full of stuff from lush (my favourite shop for smellies) and i really appreciated it as all attention is normally on the baby.

Someone gave me a nice mug with a lid; only way I ever got to drink a cup of tea while it was still hot. Dp also gave me a really pretty big sparkly hair clip, which was so nice to have when I wanted to look a bit presentable for visitors but no chance for shower/hairwash.

wow, what a great response!
unfortunatley we live too far away to be babysitting (i'd love to - we're ttc and need the practice! - at babies, not ttc! ) or cleaning the house if we lived nearer i'd offer to be her maid. thought about mags etc - she is breastfeeding. will get her some chocs (there's a thorntons next to where i work) and the hand cream - great idea. keep suggesting as we're off to visit tonight. also thought of getting champers and trying to get copies of yesterday's papers? is this a good idea or will they get lost?

toenail polish - love it! a totally frivolous present! definitely on my shopping list!

hand cream (sooo much hand washing), cake or biscuits (preferably home made, so she has something to offer guests as well as something to nibble on), the offer of babysitting, maybe some nice new pyjamas (IIRC I spent the first few weeks in mine)

Well I have just spent my £50 space Nk voucher on lovely body cream for my 3 friends who are giving birth in the next 2 months. So at least they can smell yummy...

Well I have just spent my £50 space Nk voucher on lovely body cream for my 3 friends who are giving birth in the next 2 months. So at least they can smell yummy... even

if they don't feel yummy...

Neals yard sell lovelt indulgant presents for new mums. They are great gifts to recieve as they are not somthing she would probably buy for herself.

I do doula gift vouchers, and i know marslady does and i tihnk lulumama! I know id have rather been given a present off time to relax than another babygro!!!

Cx

what a great thread - I shall email it to all my friends and relations so they get some ideas for what to buy me in a few weeks

I found this so useful I buy one for all new baby mates

I was on my third by the time I got this but I love it

A home-cooked casserole or pasta sauce, or some sort of upmarket ready meal from
M & S. Plus vegetables ready prepared or a salad.

LOL at the thought of brand new mums not having time to shower but yet finding time to smother themselves in expensive body cream.