Most useful baby gifts

[mojito55]

One of my friends is pregnant, due in June, and I would like to get her a few bits that she will genuinely love and find useful. Could any parents please share with me what items you were really pleased you had, during the third trimester of pregnancy and the first year or so of parenting?

My mum got me and my sister a plastic jug and a rubber ring. Plastic jug for pouring water on your bits during those first burning wees, and a rubber ring to sit on so our stitches didn’t hurt. Invaluable

A Shnuggle bath was one of my favourite gifts, my LO loves it and it's so much less faff than a standard baby bath. You can also never have too many muslins but you can definitely have too many soft toys and bibs!

Pregnancy wise there wasn't really anything I needed/wanted and can't think what sort of stuff you'd need. Perhaps something along the lines of the My Expert Midwife products for labour and post birth?

I think practical things for later on are really useful, as they're the things nobody usually gives (as opposed to newborn clothes, which you get overloaded with!)

Things like sippy cups and plastic spoons/bowls for when they start weaning, teething rings etc.

One of my favourite presents was a Calpol plug-in decongestant; sounds so dull but it's the kind of thing you just don't think to buy yourself until it's too late, and it was invaluable when my baby had his first cold.

I would have loved a voucher for a massage or osteopath apt (judge based on your friends interest) for after the baby comes.

If you buy clothes for the baby- buy 3-6. She will likely have way too much newborn and 0-3 :) I really appreciated the people that thought to do this!

Comfy new PJs for mum ( I was so grateful for these - it's all I wore anyway in the first few weeks)! Kick piano for zombie cub (by far his favourite toy).

Ooh, is it me?! I'm due in June!!

I'd like a plate of oysters, the stinkiest mould ripened soft cheese you can find and gallon of top notch malbec please!

If your thinking more baby related things then Ewan the dream sheep is my top pick if she hasn't bought one. I've held off buying a lot of clothes on the basis that people tend to buy outfits for babies as gifts. Muslin squares, the trendy ones to have are aden + anais, is I'd like those but wouldn't spend that much money on them myself so we've stocked up on cheap ones from sainsburys. I've also treated myself to loads of Neals Yard bath stuff as having a nice bath or shower when I'm feeling a bit grotty is nice and their stuff is nice and pungent.

Handcream
Chocolate
Baby bath support
Black pyjamas
Blankets
Lavender oil

were my most useful gifts. Or practical stuff you don't want to spend money on, like a monitor, thermometer, carseat etc.

Sock ons!

At my baby shower I was given a couple of pamper packs, nice bath bits and lovely fruit teas. I absolutely adored them.

Get your friend a cheese box once baby arrives or local ready meal delivery service x

Things for later on I loved the most, because by then I’d had months of no sleep and not having to think about buying weaning stuff / bigger sized clothes / larger sized sleeping bag made me love my friend that gifted them too me so much it was slightly weird!

White noise generator. They are brilliant! I was meant one by a friend and found it really helpful at getting baby to settle but wouldn't have bought one myself.

Moo Goo Mudder Udder balm. Everyone I've bought it for preferred it to Lansinoh.

Aden and Anais giant muslins

A voucher for a restaurant so the new parents can have a date night!
Or vouchers for your friend to buy herself some new clothes/manicure voucher

The babies get so spoilt not as many people think about the mum!

Ewan the sheep, gro egg, swaddle blankets were the handiest things we received :)

I'd agree with large muslins, especially for a summer baby. Useful for so many things. Light blanket, putting down as a floor mat, sun shade, Moses basket sheet when all others are pooped on, cover for breastfeeding if desired... I was given 3 large ones when mine was born, and I still frequently use them. Was also given several standard size ones, which are great for sick, milk dribble etc, but the big ones are amazing.

Tuppence and Crumble star wrap - so much easier than pram suits etc..... and Ewan the dream sheep

My mum got me things like infacol, gripe water, snuffle babe all things that were brilliant to have in. Also things like nappies in a bigger size, baby wipes and bath things for the baby were really helpful.

Baby flower bath mat www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baby-Bath-Tub-Mat-Blooming-Flower-Sink-Bath-For-Baby-Infant-Blooming-Lotus-FO6/273006845992?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49920%26meid%3D1e1c2eec7e744b3c84af58c1b9187786%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D272978938988%26itm%3D273006845992&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Baby thermometer

Similar to @LRL2017, my friend made me a basket of must have products for the baby, but with post its saying why she'd included.

It included metanium (her preferred cream), Calpol, olive oil for cradle cap, Lansinoh and so much more. Was great to have it all there for when I needed it (no midnight jaunts to the chemist).

Stretch mark prevention oil
A lovely, soft dressing gown for those early hour feeds
Post labour massage/spa voucher would be amazing

For baby:
A white noise generator
Feeding pillow - amazing!
Geo egg room thermometer

That was meant to be gro egg*. If her baby is due in June with height of summer I used to get so paranoid with temperate of room for newborn, it was ideal having one of these for peace of mind.

A card for a coffee shop nearby

I found a gro-bag to be super useful. Also Lansiloh nipple cream was an absolute god-send. Comfy slipper socks or a gown would also be lovely as she'll be spending a lot of time at home for the first few weeks.