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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Best 'new baby' gift

37 replies

securegal · 03/04/2011 19:47

I was wondering if all of you lovely ladies could give me some advice. My best friend has given birth to a lovely little girl today and I wanted to buy her something to say congratulations. I don't have children and am aware that she is likely to be inundated with bunches of flowers. I'd like to buy her something luxurious for her, and something for baby, but would like to give her something that she'd actually really like. What were the best presents that people bought for you? What do people who just had a baby really want (apart from sleep)?? Thank you so much in advance!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Iwantpizza · 03/04/2011 20:02

Practical Stuff:

-Pre washed Muslins (you never buy enough)
-A load of frozen meals they can heat up and not think about (think homemade Frozen lasagne, Chilli Con Carne etc)

Do a few hrs of cleaning for her?

Or if you want to buy something, maybe a Marino wool blanket, post natal massage? Or better still, if you are really flush maybe some time with a post natal doula?

theborrower · 03/04/2011 20:13

Do not buy cutesy pink clothes or cuddly toys!!!! She will be inundated with impractical and ill fitting outfits from other people, and babies aren't even interested in soft cuddly toys (they don't 'do' anything). I'll be honest - lots of clothes went back and we've just ebayed the rest (wish we had been less polite and returned even more).

IMO a nice gift for mum wouldn't go amiss because no-one gets mum anything - perhaps a nice pamper gift like luxurious bubble bath or hand cream, or a voucher for a massage or hair cut. Maybe even a small bottle of fizz so she can share that with her partner at some point (but not a full-size one, as she probably won't manage more than one glass!). Or nice chocolates :)

For her baby, I think maybe a nice Lamaze toy (toys that 'do' stuff, that is, rattle, rustle, are brightly coloured, have mirrors etc), a good teether (Sophie Giraffe? Or a Manhattan toy?) or maybe a few nice baby books? They will last so much longer than clothes.

lucamom · 03/04/2011 20:14

My sister brought me a lovely basket of muffins/cookies/mini green & Black's chocs, which was really useful in the early days as I could grab something whilst breastfeeding, and also had nice things to offer visitors.

Food related too, but not to forget the Dads, when I visit friends with new babies I always get something 'iced' in Thorntons with the baby's name and DOB for Dad (usually something like a teddy bear). A bit naff maybe, but the thought seems to be appreciated. Some new Moms might like it too

As a 3rd timer, I personally just appreciate anything from any of the luxury bath ranges I know I'll no longer be able to justify/afford now baby's here (Molton Brown, Loccitane etc)!

bessie26 · 03/04/2011 20:44

nice bubble bath/moisturiser, chocolate or home made meals to go in the freezer - my friend made me lasagna in tinfoil trays I could just pop straight in the oven

taytotayto · 03/04/2011 20:53

im due in two weeks with db number 2 and id love it if someone gave me a voucher for some beauty treatments and perhaps a load of baby wipes and nappies for the baby as they are soooooo expensive and essential. i always buy wipes for my friends and although at first they seem surprised they always say they were really glad of them. with dd i got way too many clothes that she never had time to wear or were too small. i agree with the idea of doing some cleaning or cooking i would love someone to do that too.

breatheslowly · 03/04/2011 21:00

theborrower is right about the best things for the baby - our DD has had hours of fun from her Sophie Giraffe and Manhattan Toy Whozit. We also took loads of clothes back as we had been lent perfectly decent clothes and lots didn't fit.

I was bought some bath stuff, but I am not really into that sort of thing as I just shower with minimal products. You will know whether your friend would like that sort of thing. I would have loved a massage or going into summer a pedicure would be lovely. Otherwise chocolates are great. I agree that flowers aren't too good as we didn't have enough vases and you have to top the water up.

BuggyBabe · 03/04/2011 21:31

Best for mum - my best was a text at about 5pm saying don't worry about dinner tonight and then a homecooked meal delivered to the door at about 6.30pm and a tub of ice cream!

Best for baby - Skibz bibs, they really came into their own when teething started.

shushpenfold · 03/04/2011 21:33

I second the homecooked meal, and, with hindsight, a reliable and loving babysitter for their first soujourn out of the house without the baby.

sh77 · 03/04/2011 21:54

gro egg room thermometer
decent sized blankets for swaddling
muslins
don't buy clothes - we were given a lot if newborn stuff that ds is growing out of v quickly.
agree with op re teddy bears - we were given some gorgeous ones but they sit on my cabinet as ds not too interested in them at the moment.

minimuffy · 03/04/2011 21:55

i second the lamaze toys and muslin cloths. i noticed that tescos have started doing the lamaze range, dd(17wks) loves them. and you can never have enough muslin cloths!

Original poster

securegal · 03/04/2011 22:29

Wow - thank you so much for the fabulous response. I am going to visit her at the hospital tomorrow, so will buy some luxury bubbles (molton brown do shower gels as well, I think, so you can use for bath or shower) for her perhaps some lavender oil etc. When she comes home I'll get my apron on and throw a couple of lasagnes together. Thank you all so much for the great tips - it is good to know what people actually want. I didn't want to get her something that would be useless! Thanks all!

OP posts:

greenzebra · 04/04/2011 11:25

When my friend had her first my mum and I did a baby box full of essentials like wipes, cotton wool, muslin squares, sudocream, and other practical stuff that you would probably use in the first few weeks and saves the mum or dad having to go out and get them. She was chuffed, she had had so many clothes and toys and stuff for baby when it was older that she didnt need.

Also I deffinitly think a beauty treatment or a hair cut something that she doesnt think she will have time for, you could look after the baby and send her for some me time to make her feel like a person again and not a baby feeding machine.

greenzebra · 04/04/2011 11:26

can you be my friend?

I hope someone does this for me after my LO is born this may!

BikeRunSki · 04/04/2011 11:30

Meals, definitely.

nocake · 04/04/2011 11:47

We ended up with loads of pastel coloured cuddly toys when DD was born, which she ignores. The best toy we got was a Whoozit that she loves. We were also given some lovely clothes but it's better to go for slightly bigger sizes (3-6 months) because they will probably already have enough newborn and 0-3 month clothes. Don't forget to buy clothes that will suit the weather when the baby will be wearing them. A 3-6 month snow suit is not much use if the baby is born in March.

And meals are definately a winner.

grubbalo · 04/04/2011 12:07

Oh meals are fantastic - I still remember the tiramasu my neighbour made for us the day I came home from hospital with DS2!

Although just to say, I have always loved getting clothes - particularly something a bit more "luxury" that I wouldn't buy - so instead of a set of mothercare rompers which are nice and practical, one really nice posh babygro is also lovely. I would say though - I buy much better clothes for babies now I have children, I used to go for the "cute" things like dungarees, pretty dresses etc - I now realise that in the early days all you want to do is put them in a romper suit or something as they get through about 6 outfits a day....

You sound like a really lovely friend to have!!

Adair · 04/04/2011 12:09

GAP socks
Chocolate

systemsaddict · 04/04/2011 12:13

An insulated mug so that your tea is still hot when you finally get a chance to return to it 2 hours after you made it.

Runoutofideas · 04/04/2011 12:16

My favourite gift when dd2 was born was a lovely blanket. It was handy for throwing over her in the buggy, lying her down on in people's houses, and even now she's nearly 4 it sits on a chair in her bedroom looking pretty. Much longer lasting than clothes or toys.....

theborrower · 04/04/2011 12:25

Only thing about buying clothes is, I find that people buy things that aren't too my taste (at all - don't they know me at all!!!), impractical things with lots of buttons down the back (which are impossible when baby is tiny) or in our case, everything was the wrong size/season. DD was 5lb 4oz when she was born in the summer. She is 8mo and still in 0-3 clothes. For example, we were given a snowsuit for ages 3-6 mo which she couldn't wear (and won't be able to wear this year), as well as winter dresses/summer dresses that were, of course, all the wrong size, and no gift receipts to exchange or in some cases, an idea where they were from. Even some stuff that was in 3-6mo are stuff she won't be able to wear when she is bigger because they are leggings with feet, and she is nearly crawling (and thus by the time she fits them she can't wear them).

I'll never buy clothes for a new baby again.

BikeRunSki · 04/04/2011 12:26

My friend, mother of 3, says "No entry without pie" when people come to see her new babies.

oh4goodnesssake · 04/04/2011 14:15

Agree with Adair GAP socks are the best and the only ones which stay on. A great present

kirrinIsland · 04/04/2011 14:44

I got a box of bits and pieces from my work pals when DD was born - wipes, cotton wool, nappies, etc and a Boots voucher - all very useful and it all got used. Another friend gave a box set of Beatrix Potter books - it'll be a while before DD is interested in them but I thought it was a great gift. I also got loads of clothes, mostly very nice, and I've tried to make sure they all get worn but I don't think they will be...

BarbieLovesKen · 04/04/2011 14:46

Sorry, didnt read all so sorry if this is just a repeat but the nicest gift I ever received post baby (for myself, that is) was a voucher for my hairdressers!. I felt I looked like crap after having ds and was lovely to have an hours pampering on the day of his christening to spruce me up a bit!!

breadandhoney · 04/04/2011 14:52

Give her the offer of your time. Bath products etc are all well and good but i didn't get a chance to take a bath til my DD was 6 months old!! I would offer to do some housework for her or cook her a few meals for the freezer. I really needed help around the house when DD was born as I was struggling with bf'ing and was totally overwhelmed by the whole thing! I was very shy about asking for help, even though i was certain i wouldn't be! Just remembering to feed myself was a chore. A big plate of sandwiches for the fridge was one of the best presents i was given - from my mum! It meant there was something there ready to eat for a couple of days. Or if you live nearby take some ironing home with you.

It is not the physical gifts that are remembered from the early days - it is the help and support :)

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